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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Incorporating new literature into your practice sessions not only challenges you as a musician, but it also puts you at a significant advantage by providing new ways to approach your instrument. As musicians, our goal is to have musical...
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Everybody is under intense time pressure these days, and musicians are no exception. Here are some tips that can help you make the most of your practice time! ⦁ Get organized by Prioritizing! Which pieces do you have to work on most? Teachers...
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You know that nervous feeling right before performing in front of people? You know that feeling where your stomach starts turning, your mind starts racing at 100 miles an hour, and all you can think about is how much you wish you would have...
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