Often, at the beginning of a lesson, I like to recap the last week’s lesson and ask my students to recall what we discussed in the last lesson and what goals we had set for the coming week. I try to encourage students to set more concrete weekly...
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We are in the swing of summer now, and we are not focused on daily routines like we are when we are in school. Our summer vacations put our focus on fun and relaxation, and our practicing tends to slip. That's okay. Do your best to stick to your...
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Summer is a great time - a time for fun with family and friends, a time to relax, a break from school. While these are all good things, it's important not to forget about your instrument during this relaxing season. Learning an instrument is about...
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Electric guitarists, when learning a new song or piece of music from a method book, it's important to focus not only on mastering the rhythm, note reading, and dynamics of the music, but also on achieving the correct tone needed to make the music...
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As we are in the midst of our recitals we all might be wondering, why do we perform? Why is it so important to participate in the recitals? It’s all about setting goals for ourselves! Committing to perform motivates the musician to improve...
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Much has been written on how to practice, but not much on how not to. I think sometimes it is important to mention certain habits or situations that are not conducive to a successful practice session. So let’s cover a couple of no-no’s for the...
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If you were to build a house, you would lay down a solid surface to build upon. The most important aspect to keep a house standing for years to come is the firm foundation. The same applies to music; strong musicians develop from working on...
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Many set what they believe to be “realistic” goals so that they are easier to obtain. But goals that are big, ones that are challenging, those are the ones worth sacrificing for. Those are the ones that inspire us. When we started San...
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Recital time rolls around again and thus the dreaded question from your instructor, "Have you signed up for the recital yet?" So many students wonder why their instructor pushes performance at recitals. There are a few reasons for this. Challenge...
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“So how was your lesson?” Parents of young music students will inevitably ask this question many times throughout the course of their child’s lives, and it usually occurs during that special time period immediately following a...
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Your teacher is there to give you guidance and instruction on how to practice your instrument. What I wish to address is the importance of making the most of each of lesson. Chances are you simply have ONE 30-minute lesson a week. That is a very...
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How do you know if music lessons are right for you or your student? This question doesn't answer itself quickly. How did my parents know that music was right for me?Well...they didn't. They really couldn't have. But why then did I end up...
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