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…
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…
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…
From talking to many students recently it is evident that there are some holes in the education of the modern-day orchestra. The symphonic orchestra has it’s roots in the Baroque Era, was solidified in the Classical Era, grew even larger in the Romantic Era and essentially has stayed the same ever since. Here are a…
In this article we explore the question of whether or not being able to sing is a skill that can be learned or if it is a natural gift given to a select few. The process of learning to sing is much like learning a language; both from scientific and from anecdotal evidence you will…
As I get older and continue to teach younger generations of students, a slew of retrospective thoughts come into my mind. Here’s a list of things I wish I had done a little differently while I was younger. I can’t say I regret much in my music career, but I do wish to share these…
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…
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….
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…
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…