When I began my musical journey at age 10, I was fortunate to be surrounded by friends who were doing the same thing I was. Being a musician can be an extremely isolating lifestyle with little reference to how you are actually growing. Some of...
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In life we often approach a new challenge with two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. The fixed mindset believes that your qualities are carved in stone. For example: “I’m not a math person, so it doesn’t matter what I do, I...
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SAMA Student, Rhylie W., recently sat down with SAMA admin Elizabeth Lopez for an interview about her experience attending a summer music camp at Berklee College of Music. Elizabeth: Was the process of getting admitted difficult? What were...
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With fall already upon us, many students are already feeling the fatigue of a new school year. It’s definitely a difficult task to juggle music with homework, friends, and other extracurricular activities, so how can we make music an important yet...
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Learning a new piece of music can be a daunting and sometimes even a tedious task. After a while a routine develops, and we can approach each new piece the same. However, music is not a uniform expression of thoughts and emotions; each piece is...
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“Why can’t I just play my instrument?” is a question that you probably have asked yourself during a particularly frustrating lesson. It’s understandable that frequently learning your instrument can feel like it takes over you life. However...
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Students and parents often ask “what should I (or my child) go over during practice sessions at home?” Usually, instructors will remind their students to always review the material covered recently in lessons. This material normally consists of...
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As a piano teacher, I am often asked by students and parents whether memorizing the music is required for the recital? And the answer is "it depends". If you are an advanced student or a college music major, you are often required to memorize your...
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“Knowledge is power.” It’s that quintessential phrase that we all know and is often used as a reason to further our education and skills. But when does this phrase become harmful to both teachers and students in the learning process? Students...
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Happy May! For this month’s instructor column, I have included a musical brain teaser for all of you to try and solve. There is a hidden message embedded exactly twice in this short passage of music. In the spirit of capitalism, I will award a $5...
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If we get sick, we take medicine. It might taste bad or be difficult to take; however, it is intended to help us. Likewise, using a metronome during practice might not be very enjoyable for some people, but it could be greatly beneficial. The...
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Having an instrument that is easy to play is very important. Learning to play the guitar is very difficult and can be frustrating when you're fighting the instrument. Just like cars need a tuneup, guitars need a setup about once a year. ...
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