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How to Expand Your Musical Palette (and Why You Should!)

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

classical music composersYou probably can pinpoint your favorite type of music, or at least a few favorite artists or composers. But why limit yourself? Listening to every genre – even ones you’re not particularly excited about – is an important part of expanding your musical palette. Read on as Grand Rapids, MI teacher Marty L. explains…

 

As musicians or music-appreciators, we all have our favorite genres. You will most likely find me grooving to the new Red Jumpsuit Apparatus EP (which is pretty cool) or expanding my palette with some of Asheknazy’s recording of Beethoven’s piano sonatas (my favorite composer). You will not, however, find any of my radio presets on any country station. Ever. It’s just not my thing.

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5 Rewarding Ideas for Volunteering With Music

Friday, April 12th, 2013

volunteer musiciansYou’ve been practicing and taking music lessons for a while. Are you looking for your next musical challenge? Playing with other musicians is one of the quickest ways to improve, and with National Volunteer Week coming up (April 21-27, 2013), why not make a impact in your community by volunteering your talents?

 

Here are some ideas to get you started…

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Teacher Spotlight: How to Build Rapport with Music Students

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

build rapport with studentsTeachers – what’s the secret to really connecting with your students? Developing a great relationships with students is a key to success. Read on as Denver music teacher Kristopher E. explains…

 

 

Education is a journey shared by teacher and student alike, and the journey is that much more enjoyable when it is a musical one. I work in a high-risk school district as a brass instructor and substitute teacher, and I want to share two of the most important lessons that I have learned over the passed two years: communication and being positive.

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And The Grammy Goes To…

Monday, April 1st, 2013

Grammy Awards 2014What do the GRAMMY Awards and music educators have in common? It might seem strange to think about big stars like Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce taking music lessons before they were famous, but trust us – most musicians, at one point or another, had the close instruction and encouragement from a music teacher. And now, music educators nationwide will get the recognition they deserve!

During February’s telecast of the 55th Grammy Awards, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation Neil Portnow, Honorary Board Chair Ryan Seacrest and multi-Grammy-winning artist Justin Timberlake announced that the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy are partnering to recognize music teachers with their very own GRAMMY Music Educator Award.

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How to Balance Technique and Making Music Fun!

Friday, March 29th, 2013

making music funAs with any skill, learning how to play music requires a certain amount of practice and commitment. For private lessons to truly be successful, though, there needs to be a balance of making music fun and educational. Read on as Elk Grove, CA teacher Kevin B. explains…

 

Like many people, you probably have a favorite composer, musician or song.  If you were asked why, what would your response be?  Would it be the lyrics, the mood, or maybe the orchestration?  Though these things may not always be evident, and sometimes confusing, they are essential components to music creation.  As a musician, how are we supposed to learn these components?  More importantly, how do we balance learning, theory, technique, and having fun?

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