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…
Music
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…
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…
Four Tips To Spark Creativity!
“Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world.” – Brene Brown Harnessing your creativity can be an extremely exciting task. It opens up your imagination and allows new ideas to flow. Anyone and everyone can tap into their creative spirit, but beginning the creative process can prove to be the hardest part,…
Happy New Year!
It’s the second day of the new year and it’s time to get to work on your resolutions. What are your goals for 2018? What is it that you want to bring into your life? What are you leaving behind in 2017? (Tell us in the comments! We’d love to know.) We’ve included a few tips…
What Are You Doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve?
The holiday season is coming to a close but we still have one more celebration to go, and it’s a big one! New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest party nights of the year. Stay safe on New Year’s by staying in and inviting some friends over. We’ve included some easy recipes for drinks…