In Issue VI of Center Stage Mag (released today!), we sat down with John Brautigam to learn some valuable tips on how to cover a song. Have you ever wondered how to take a song played by an entire band and make it sound good on one instrument? Or, what to do if you can’t…
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The Luck of the Irish
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Saint Patrick’s Day is a largely recognized holiday not only in Ireland and the US, but also in countries including the UK, Australia, Brazil and Argentina. In fact, you can see people from all over the world celebrating the heritage and culture of the Irish on March 17th every year. However,…
Four Brilliant Minds Born in March
This month we celebrate the birthdays of quite a few influential composer’s: Frédéric Chopin (March 1, 1810) Johann Sebastian Bach (March 31, 1685) Franz Joseph Haydn (March 31, 1732) Stephen Sondheim (March 22, 1930) Starting with the Baroque master himself, J.S. Bach is routinely considered one of the, if not the number one most influential…
10 Most Common Mistakes Made at NYSSMA
NYSSMA is approaching and we want to make sure you are prepared for your performance! We’ve created a list of the most common mistakes people make at NYSSMA so you can avoid these NYSSMA no-no’s. Bringing photocopies. NYSSMA requires original NYSSMA approved scores of your piece. You are not permitted to use photocopies during your…
Black History Month Soundtrack
Every February we observe Black History month. We honor the legacy of our music and where it stems from. We would not be where we are today, or have the music we have now if it wasn’t for those in the past. In the 1700’s, West African rhythms and chants were brought over to the…
Love is All You Need
Happy Valentine’s Day! Although Valentine’s Day is not an official holiday, it has become a very special and wildly known day to celebrate our loved ones. However, this doesn’t have to be limited to just romantic partners. Traditions such as “Galentine’s Day” have become more and more popular, where you get together with all of…
Handel & Mendelssohn
This month we celebrate one Baroque era great and one Romantic era prodigy. George Frideric Handel (2/23/1685 – 4/14/1759) and Felix Mendelssohn (2/3/1809 – 11/4/1847) were respectively two prolific composers of their time. They each saw fame both during and after their lives – a feat not always achieved by even the most famous of…
Happy National Mentoring Month!
January is National Mentoring Month and mentorship is very important to us here at Center Stage. All of our instructors take pride in the fact that they not only just teach their students, but also encourage and inspire every student to pursue their passions in music. Mentor is defined as an “experienced and trusted advisor”…
“Melody is the Essence of Music.” – Mozart
This month we celebrate the birthday of one of the most famous composers of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (b. January 27, 1756). Known as a child prodigy, Mozart was composing large works by the age of six until his untimely death at age 35. His influence is felt even today, especially in the world…
How to Kick Performance Anxiety to the Curb
Performing can be an exciting experience! Being on stage, in the spotlight with all eyes on you, can also be a bit nerve wracking. We’ve found that these few things help us get into the swing of a performance and kick nerves to the curb: Be prepared! Before performing, make sure to have practiced your…