Music is not only an art form but a source of endless fascination. The eccentric composer John Cage, who passed away in 1992, left behind a body of work that continues to captivate enthusiasts and intellectuals alike. His compositions are far from...
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Music has inspired people since the beginning of humanity. It fills us with joy, sorrow, and every emotion in between. It is the reason we choose to learn an instrument. For many, playing music is the primary way we express ourselves. We learn a...
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We are not perfect beings, and there is no such thing as a perfect performance. As musicians, we judge other performances, and we are judged by others. What is far worse than the judgment of others is the judgment we place on ourselves. Throughout...
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As a performer, teacher, and student, it took me a while to understand the benefits of memorizing music and trusting oneself. I don't mean to imply that musicians who perform with sheet music are less than those who play without it. Just like most...
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The first time I was asked to accompany a choir on the piano, I was only 14 years old. Even though I could play the songs quite well on my own, keeping up with the ensemble was a challenge I had not yet experienced. It tested my sense of time and...
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As a piano instructor, I have noticed that some of the most common problems students struggle with are rushing, missing notes or jumps, evenness, rapid position shifts, chords, and trills. The fixes below have helped many of my students, and I...
Read more The term music theory is something that’s often thrown around a lot, especially when it comes to music education. But what is it and why should you care about it? Music Theory is the study of the language of music to better communicate and...
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3 Reasons You Should Practice With a Drone A drone is a continuous pitch or stack of pitches that plays for most or all of a musical piece. It is what the bagpipes do for Scottish anthems or what the tanpura does for Indian ragas. I have found a...
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There is something special about watching an artist or band perform. The performance can transport the audience in time and give them the space to sit in a particular mood, feeling or energy. Making the music come alive takes many years of...
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During lessons, you’ve probably heard words like: intervals, and ear training. But what exactly do they mean? Interval: the distance between two notes. Always count your first note as 1. Ex: C to E is a 3rd because C is 1, D is 2, and E is 3. ...
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You want something new to listen to. Where do you go? For me, growing up, that meant turning on the radio or hitting up one of the local music stores. There are so many choices out there, and new music keeps coming out every day. Where do you...
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When taking music lessons, one may think it’s only for young students since most children enjoy extracurricular activities, but who says adults can’t enjoy lessons as well? There’s a journey that comes with learning music. Adults who take on music...
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