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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
For most of you who studied music in high school or college, you’ve been in a performing ensemble. These ensembles are usually run by a music director, or a conductor. Knowing the role of the conductor and how you fit in with them will help you to become a better player and ensemble member. 1….
Continuing on last week’s blog, here are a few more genres to explore this summer. I encourage you to especially listen to songs or albums you’ve never experienced before! Funk/Soul/R&B: I Got You (I Feel Good) [album] or any other album, James Brown Songs In the Key of Life, or any other album, Stevie Wonder…
As the school year winds down, I am giving my high school students summer listening lists. They are not required to listen to anything on the list, but it serves as a jumping off point for music they are interested in listening to. Here, I share my own list that contains some music that I…
The Impressionist movement took place in the late 1800s in France, sparking a new style of music. With jazz influences from America, melded with traditional classical elements, composers were able to create a soundscape of music that was unheard of before. The Impressionist movement is a sub-genre within the Romantic era, a period in time…