Blog
By John Hart
Every subject, including sight-reading, has its grammar, logic, and rhetoric. (These 3 terms are referred to as the “Trivium”, a term often used in classical education.) The “grammar” of a subject is the knowledge base—a pool of facts. The logic stage is where we put those facts together in an orderly way, and the rhetoric phase is where we put it all together and so something meaningful and creative.
By Dr. Kate McKenzie
Like many, last night I was glued to the TV watching The Oscars, and my favorite aspect of the award show is always the music. Even after years of studying, practicing, thinking, living and breathing music, I still am in complete awe over how powerful of a role music plays in telling a story.
By Andrew White
We all know that keeping in great shape is important in so many areas, our physical health, our homes, our vehicles, our belongings, and definitely our musical instruments! Whatever instruments you play, it's not only important to know how to play the instrument but also how to maintain it. Let's take a look at a few ways we can best care for our instruments.
By John Hart
Whether you want to start a new instrument, reengage or simply continue on with your current instrument, it’s good to take a moment to consider your purpose for taking lessons. Dream a little! What is it that you want to be able to do with your music? In time, who would you like to be playing for? Are you interested in learning how to improvise on an instrument, or do you prefer to stick with written notes?
As a long-time music teacher and performer, I believe that a well-rounded musician needs to be able to do the following:
In my next 3 blog articles, I will address each of the topics listed above: sight-reading, improvising, and accompanying.
By Kate McKenzie
It’s never too early to start thinking about how music can help you achieve your collegiate goals. No, you don’t have to major in music at a world-renowned conservatory to continue to study music, perform in ensembles, or even get a scholarship. Most universities have several large ensembles that are open to to all students, and they often have scholarship money to to attract talented musicians (including non-music majors) to their program.
By John Hart
Everyone loves music around the holiday season. We hear it in the stores as we shop, on the radio as we drive, and on the TV; but each one of us can become more intentional when it comes to incorporating music into our family holidays. Here are ideas for parents to discuss in preparation for these special times with our families:
By Destin Smith
Over the years, I have heard a number of interesting sayings. For instance “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” or “A watched pot never boils”. One saying that has stuck with me goes like this: “How do you eat an elephant”.... do you give up?........ the answer is.....“ One bite at a time.”
By Nathan Pulse
Hi everyone, it's the end of the summer and I'd like to talk about something that seems very obvious but often times get overlooked by younger players. The thing I am talking about is listening. One of the very first things a music teacher will ask his/her students is "Who do you listen to?" It is always surprising to me that the answer is very often "I don't know" or "I don't listen to (insert your instrument here)".
