Learning how to practice is an important skill. There are so many different methods and ways to approach learning and practicing, yet, there are many musicians that are unaware of how to practice away from their instrument. As a pianist, most...
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Hi, students and parents of SAMA! As one of the newest members of the SAMA family, it's been truly an honor meeting so many new faces eager to learn the art of the violin. Part of that honor has been figuring out where all 50+ of my new students...
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When I first started learning how to play piano, I had no idea what classical music was. It wasn’t until my first piano teacher introduced me to pieces by Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin that I remember thinking, “Oh! I have heard that piece in a...
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Figuring out when and how much to practice can be daunting, especially if you are learning a new instrument. New students tend to overwork themselves if they are passionate about succeeding. They often get frustrated at their lack of immediate...
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When taking lessons, it can be a bit challenging to keep up with everything you are learning as well as finding time to just noodle around on your instrument. However, I believe it’s important to find time to sit with your instrument and just...
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One of the activities that impacted me the most during music school was not actually part of the curriculum. Mr. Patrick, my music theory professor, encouraged us to spend time listening to music. I spent countless hours in my school’s music...
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How can our imagination help improve our performance in music? When I first began playing piano I never understood what my teacher meant by the phrase “bring your music to life." I realized that when I played music, I was playing like a robot. I...
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"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." - Albert Einstein As a young teenager, I took private lessons at a private music school much like San Antonio Music Academy. I have a brother 5 years younger than me who was...
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In my first lesson with any new student I think it’s important to establish a common ground by getting on the same page with things like previous music experience, expectations for lessons, and vocal goals. Since I’ve started teaching, I realized...
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Music is something I have studied, thought about, and practiced most of my life and yet only understood little. I thought this might be a fun chance to peek into the science behind music and also think about some of the reasons we study it. The...
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With many students having more free time at home during this pandemic, I know each and every one of you is wondering how you can spend all of your extra time perfecting your musical instrument. Have no fear- I have compiled a list of some useful...
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Playing the piano is multifaceted. As pianists grow, the way that we play the piano should grow as well. In the beginning, we learn about note names, dynamics, and articulation. These are important factors in our success as pianists and...
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