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...
Read moreBuilding Your Repertoire
So you just finished performing your new piece that you've been working on for months, and now it's time to put it away and move onto something new. While it is exciting to begin something new, it is important to keep up with your old music. By...
Read moreSlow Practice and Sleep
Imagine getting better at a musical instrument twice as fast, with only half of the effort you are currently putting in. Sounds crazy, right? Well, if slow practice isn’t a priority, then music learning is not at its optimum. The same goes for...
Read moreHow Long is This Going to Take?
This question puts a lot of pressure on all involved - on the teacher to meet the unspoken goals of the student, on the student who feels that progress is not coming quickly enough, and the overall environment of the studio. There is never an easy...
Read moreInstrument Upgrades
As a teacher I often get questions from guitar students and parents about choosing an appropriate beginner instrument. However, I’ve noticed that I rarely get questions about upgrading instruments and often see students playing on instruments they...
Read moreAppropriate Performance Attire
The dilemma: it’s the night before your performance and you are not sure what to wear. If you are like me, your internal dialogue might go something like this, “I know the standard concert attire for years has been black...JUST BLACK!?” “It is...
Read moreWHY PRACTICE? Three Different Perspectives
The YOU Perspective: I don’t think it is stated enough, but the more you practice and put in the hard work, the more music gives back to you. And that’s a direct benefit to you. The more effort you make, the more rewards you will reap, and music...
Read moreBecoming Inspired to Achieve
Have you ever been to a live concert by your favorite artist and then returned home, only to have the strongest desire to practice your instrument or voice? I call that being “Inspired to Achieve.” Often times in our daily lives, we get bogged...
Read morePracticing Performance
Developing practice skills are of paramount importance in our personal and musical growth. However, there is another level of practice that is often overlooked in the studio. That is: practicing performing. I have spent many years practicing and...
Read moreThe Importance of Reading Music Notation
Being able to read music is one of the most essential elements in early musical development. We often hear different approaches in introducing music to students. It is believed that learning music is like learning a new language and should be...
Read moreKeeping Your Instrument In Tune
No instruments make music by themselves. Their value is revealed when someone has the audacity to pick them up and try to make them sing. Our capacity as humans to act upon the world and our ability to breathe life into inanimate objects...
Read moreAppreciation Leads to Progress
Having been welcomed into SAMA so pleasantly made quite the impression on me. Though the changes have been new, many of the experiences I’ve been through before many times and have learned many things from them. As a young person myself, I highly...
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