Students who practice at home generally excel faster and better than students who do not. However, at home practicing is sometimes hard to accomplish due to time management or just a lack of knowledge on how to properly practice. We asked some Center Stage parents to reveal their secrets on successful at home practicing. Here…
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Back to School: What you should prepare
Going back to school each year requires preparation in the weeks before. Here are a couple of things to expect and to help you get ready if you are a music student or interested in becoming one. (This list starts at the third grade only because ensembles are limited in the grades prior to that….
Perfect Pitch
Absolute pitch, more commonly known as perfect pitch, is a phenomenon that occurs to just a few people. Perfect pitch gives a person the ability to identify any given note immediately without having to “figure it out”. Much like in the way we can identify colors immediately, perfect pitch functions similarly to those who have…
Phrasing: What You Need To Know
In the music realm, phrasing is an integral part of making any piece of music shine. Without phrasing, the notes on the page remain soul-less and devoid of any real life. This article aims to explain phrasing and how to execute performing a phrase properly. A phrase is essentially a musical sentence. It is a…
Five Signs That You Are Progressing as A Musician
Performing a piece at a recital or concert is usually a good sign of the progress you’ve made as a music student. But what about day to day progress? Or perhaps, week to week? Being able to track your progression throughout your practice week is important, not only to size up where you are in…
5 World Instruments You Need to Check Out
The summertime is a perfect season to explore new types of music, preferably firsthand. Whether at a concert or through a recording, take a look at these five instruments that you’ve perhaps never heard of before! 1. Didgeridoo: This instrument hails from Australia. It is a wind instrument used by the indigenous peoples of this…
Drum Maintenance
Taking care of your drums is important not only for increased lifespan, but for tonal quality as well. Here are a couple tips to keep your drums in top performing condition. 1. Storing: Drums that are made of wood are affected by the weather drastically. An increase in humidity will cause wood to swell, while…
Effect of Parents on Students’ Practicing
Practicing is naturally an integral part of any music students’ daily regimen. Especially at a younger age, a parents’ influence has a profound effect on the development and progression of a students’ musical abilities. Here are a few tips for parents to help their children practice more frequently and more efficiently. 1. Make sure they…
Practicing During the Summer
Doing any disciplined activity during the summer can be a daunting task when all you want to do is have some fun in the sun. Here are some tips to stay focused on your instrument while you enjoy the warm weather. 1. Set a schedule: If you set a schedule and stick to it, chances…
Music vs Sound
What is music? To some, it would be a series of pitches, forming a coherent melody. Duke Ellington would have said “it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!” And yet to others, music could simply be sound itself. In this article we discuss music of the 20th century and today and…