Despite the not-so-seasonal Christmastime weather, here is a list of holiday tunes to get you into the spirit! Some are popular pieces very much engrained in our culture, while others may be pieces you’ve never heard before. 1. The Nutcracker, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Perhaps one of the most famous Christmastime works, The Nutcracker, a ballet,…
Center Stage
December Composer Birthdays
This month we celebrate the birthdays of the late great composer, Ludwig van Beethoven (12.17.1770). Beethoven is often ranked as one of the most influential and greatest composers ever to have lived. Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany. His father, Johann was a local musician, who forced Ludwig to practice at odd hours of the…
History of Rock and Roll Part III
In this continuation, we will discuss the rock music of the ’80s and ’90s. At this point in time there were many new amazing bands and new genres, but rock had somewhat reached a pinnacle. With an increasingly bloated sound in the 80s, the 90s ushered in a new renaissance for rock music. While the…
Rock and Roll Part II
n this installation of the history of rock and roll, we explore the decades of the ’60s and ’70s. This is arguably rock’s pinnacle of achievement, ushering in the superstars we have all come to know and revere. While American rock and roll was still going strong with artists such as Elvis, something was brewing…
A History of Rock and Roll, Part I
This month we explore the roots and evolution of rock music, beginning with its inception in America. Rock music has a deep history, which is full of facts that you perhaps have never known before. We begin with the pre-history of rock and roll and how it came about. Rock and roll was a musical…
November Composer Birthdays
This month we celebrate two highly influential composers of the first half of the 20th century: Aaron Copland (b. 11.14.1900) and Benjamin Britten (b. 11.22.1913). Both paved the way for creating sonorities that were later considered characteristic of their cultures (American and British, respectively). In addition, both of these composers wrote music that was accessible…
Spooky Compositions: Getting you in the mood for Halloween!
From as early as the Medieval Era, there have been compositions of music that sound spooky or creepy to our ears. Here are a few examples you can listen to in order to create that eerie ambience for Halloween! 1. Dies Irae: The Dies Irae is originally a Gregorian Chant from the early Medieval Era….
World Music: Africa
In most music lessons, we tend to concentrate on music of the Western tradition, classical being the main one. I would like to take the time to introduce you to some instruments and music styles of other countries/continents that you may have never heard of before. In this article we will explore the instruments of…
Virtuosos of the Classical World
The month of October shares the birthdays of two of the most talented composers/performers to grace the world. Franz Liszt, born October 22, 1811 and Niccoló Paganini, born October 27, 1782 are known as virtuosos. A virtuoso is a musician whose talents are on a professional and seemingly other-worldly level. These gifted individuals break down…
Why Posture Matters
Whether you play an instrument that requires no breath (ie. piano, violin) or one that does (ie. woodwinds, brass, voice), proper posture is the fundamental key to performing properly and in a healthy manner. Without proper posture, execution of phrases can become difficult, not to mention various health problems that may arise. Here are a…