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How to Tune into the Perfect Music Instructor for You

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Pop music reigned at Wednesday night’s People’s Choice Awards, with Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and Maroon 5 earning the top music-related awards as voted by fans.  We’re not surprised, seeing as Katy Perry recently tied Michael Jackson for having the most #1 singles from one album.

Whether you yearn to be the next Katy, or just earn first chair in your orchestra, it will take hard work, dedication and a commitment to practicing to get there.  Yesterday we discussed some tips for avoiding injuries as a musician, including warm-up exercises, stretches and proper posture.  But if you’ve been playing for a while and adopted bad habits from the start, it may take the expertise of a professional music teacher to help you correct those habits.  While YouTube videos may be good for learning a couple of guitar chords, they don’t provide the one-on-one feedback that a private teacher will.

Music lessons are a very personal experience, and finding the best teacher for you is often half the battle.  Here, TakeLessons Student Counselors Kathleen V. and Danae G. explore the most important things to consider when finding a music teacher:

First, think about why you are learning to play your instrument.  Are you trying to get a scholarship for college?  Are you a stressed-out business executive unwinding after work?  Are you an aspiring artist or rockstar?  Do you just want to have fun and check this off of your bucket list?  Once you have that figured out, you’ll have a better idea of what you need in a teacher.  Of course, use your intuition to feel everything out. For a student to grow to their full potential and learn the most effectively, safety and comfort are very important.  For example…

- Has this teacher had a criminal background check done?
- Have you seen any letters of recommendation or feedback from previous students?
- Are the lessons taught out of a safe and comfortable home or studio location?

Next, you want to find out about quality. This is something that causes many people to be misled.  If you lower your standards too much, you will end up taking lessons for double the amount of time, causing you to pay far more in the long run and feel frustrated with the lack of progress.

Here are a few more questions that may help you to make a decision:

- Does the teacher have credentials to teach?
- Are there any videos of the teacher performing or teaching that you can watch to get an idea of their style in teaching or performing?
- What level does this teacher teach up to? (Beginning – Advanced)
- Does this teacher work best with adults or children?
- Is this teacher connected to a reputable affiliation?
- How many years of experience does he/she have playing? Teaching?
- Does the teacher have group lessons and individual lessons available?
- Is there any type of Money Back Guarantee if it isn’t a perfect fit?

Music is such a fun, creative way to express yourself, and with the perfect teacher at your side, you may be surprised at how quickly you excel!  Still have questions?  Leave us a comment on our Facebook page – we’re happy to help!


 

 

 

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Posted in Becoming A Rockstar, Drum Lessons, Guitar Lessons, Music for Adults, Music for Children, Piano Lessons, Singing Lessons, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Common Musician Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

The Red Hot Chili Peppers announced a slight setback to their upcoming U.S. tour yesterday – the kick-off gig, originally scheduled for January 20th in Florida, has been postponed until March due to frontman Anthony Kiedis’ recent surgery to remove a crushed sesamoid bone and correct a detached tendon in his foot.  Kiedis has been suffering from foot problems since 2007′s Stadium Arcadium tour, after he jumped off a bass drum and broke several bones in his foot.  The rescheduled calendar of shows can be viewed on the band’s website.

Even if you’re not jumping around on stage, musicians of all kinds are prone to injuries.  Especially if you’re a beginner, it’s important to know how to play your instrument properly in order to avoid injuring yourself over time.

In order to protect yourself, consider these important tips for musicians to prevent injuries:

Assess Your Instrument: Is your instrument the right size, shape, weight and height for you? Would an adjustable chair, footstool, strap or cushion make you more comfortable?

Know Your Body: Choose pieces that are reasonable for your body to play. If you have small fingers, playing repertoire that requires you to stretch beyond your finger span is a recipe for disaster. However, if you really want to learn a particular piece (or you need to learn it), make adjustments to make it easier to play. If you are a student, let your teacher know right away whether a piece or technical exercise is causing you pain.

Appraise Your Playing Technique: Is your body relaxed? Are your hands, arms, neck, head and core positioned to allow for fluid and comfortable playing or singing? Are you moving with the music? Are you using excess movements? Is your fingering logical and comfortable?  Videotaping yourself is a valuable method to assess your playing technique.

Evaluate Your Non-Musical Activities: Desk and computer work, sports, dancing, carrying heavy objects and hobbies can adversely affect your body.

Do Warm-Up Exercises and Stretches: Musicians are sometimes called “small muscle athletes.” Stretching exercises and gentle warm-ups result in increased range of motion, strength, coordination and flexibility.

Take Breaks: One’s muscles, ears and vocal chords need regular breaks to return to their relaxed state. Not doing so tricks the body into thinking that “tense” is the “relaxed state,” resulting in chronic pain and stress.

Engage in Active Sitting: Most musicians remain in a seated position for extended periods of time. Active seating helps ease chronic back pain, promotes correct posture and maintains general health.

Overall lesson here?  Music should be fun, not painful!  Take care of yourself to ensure many musical years to come.

What other precautionary advice has helped you?  Share your thoughts by leaving a comment on our Facebook page!

 



Image courtesy of http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/red-hot-chili-peppers.

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Posted in Drum Lessons, Guitar Lessons, Music Performance, Piano Lessons, Practice Tips & How To's..., Singing Lessons, Violin Lessons | 1 Comment »

5 More iPhone Apps Great for Music Lovers

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

What a year for Apple – iPhone sales are still through the roof, Siri continues to be a hot topic, and Steve Jobs is now being recognized with a posthumous Grammy award for his part in revolutionizing the music industry.  Nowadays our smartphones help us with anything and everything, it seems; it’s hard to imagine living without them!

But besides organizing our calendars and feeding our Angry Birds addiction, the iPhone is a great resource for music teachers and music fans alike.  Check out our original list of 5 apps for music lovers – now, here are 5 more especially great apps for teachers to check out, courtesy of www.funmusicco.com:

1. ACappella – This simple song recording app can be used to record voices into tracks that can be played at the same time or one by one. The user can adjust the volume, tempo, and time signature. The app was designed for ease of sharing files: song URL’s can be posted to Facebook and Twitter or shared on a special website called “SingSing.” ($1.99)

2. Notes for Little Composers – Designed for ages 3 and up, this app can be used to introduce beginners to music notation and basic composition. The user taps on the treble clef screen to make notes, hear the names of notes, and create simple songs. Ideal as an accompaniment to starting music lessons. ($0.99)

3. Ear Trainer – This app is designed for beginning to advanced music students, and provides exercises on intervals, chords, scales, and relative pitch. A virtual piano keyboard helps you recognize the notes that have been played. Individual progress is tracked so that users can pinpoint areas of strength or weakness. ($6.99)

4. ImproVox– Record your voice into your device and create harmonies as you sing. This app demonstrates effects such as reverb and echo, and enables you to generate 4-part harmonies in different styles. ($3.99)

5. TabToolkit – This guitar tablature and notation viewer can be used for learning guitar and practicing music. The interface shows a fret board or keyboard with finger positions and/or standard music notation. Upload tabs from your computer or download from the Internet. ($4.99)

What other music apps do you love?  We want to know – click on over to our Facebook page and leave a comment for us!

 

 

Image courtesy of http://www.appstorehq.com/playthisnote-guitar–iphone-89811/app

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Just Breathe: Tricks For Mastering Breathing For ALL Instruments

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

Lady Gaga released her 13-minute “Marry The Night” video this week, resembling more of a short film than a typical music video.  But with Gaga – or the Mother Monster, as she calls herself – what else did you expect?  She continues to influence the music world today, one theatrical video at a time.  And along with her creativity, one thing is for certain: she’s got the golden pipes of a true star!

While you might think good breathing is only important for singers and for wind instruments, the truth is, it’s essential for everyone to master.  Proper breathing means you’re more relaxed, which helps with any performance, on any instrument.  Here are some great exercises that will help musicians of all kinds, as published on the Music Made Easy blog:

For Singers:
If you are a singer, your whole body is your instrument, so in the following exercise, try to be aware of how your body feels in relation to your breathing.

- Focus on your posture and your breathing. Standing, make sure your feet are at shoulder-width distance apart and you maintain a relaxed and grounded posture, feeling the support of the floor.
- Place the palms of your hands just under your rib cage so that your fingers are just touching.  Focus on your natural breathing and notice how your fingers come slightly apart as you breathe in, and as you breathe out, they come together again.
- While doing this, mentally check your body for any tension and purposefully relax muscles in you neck, shoulders, arms, upper and lower body which may be tense.
- On your in-breath, through your nose, count that breath as ‘one’ and release it naturally through your mouth and adding a relaxed vocalization.  Be aware the whole time of the movement of your diaphragm as well as relaxing your body.  Try to exaggerate the ‘out’ movement of your stomach, so that the air flows deeper into your lungs.  Then let the air out, making sure all air is expelled.

For Piano Players:
- Place the five fingers of your right hand on any consecutive five white notes above middle C and press down all the notes at once.  Your left hand should be relaxed by your side or on your lap.
- Focus on your posture and your breathing, sitting on the edge of your seat with your feet flat and firmly on the floor, so that your weight is on your feet.  Relax your wrists and make sure they are in line with your hand and the tips of the fingers are resting on the notes as the weight of your arms help to press the notes down.  Fingers should be rounded and comfortable.
- Focus on your natural breathing.  Mentally check your body for any tension, purposefully relaxing any muscles in you neck, shoulders, arms, upper and lower body which may be tense.  Continue to do this throughout the exercise.
- When you take a natural breath in, lift up your 5th finger (while all other notes are held down) about a centimeter off the key and when you naturally breathe out, press the key down again. Repeat the exercise, this time with the 4th finger (this will be difficult at first).  Remember the 5th finger should be holding its note down now too. Repeat the exercise through 3rd, 2nd and 1st fingers and then do the same exercise over again but with your left hand, choosing notes below middle C and relaxing your right hand in your lap or by your side.

For Drummers and Percussionists:
Tension in the body and breathing are linked.  If you are able to focus on your breath, you will be able to purposefully relax your body.  It is important to be able to relax because tension can interrupt your ability to play when you are attempting new and more complex rhythms and/or soloing.

- Focus on your posture and your breathing.  Sit on the edge of your seat with your feet flat and firmly on the floor, so that your weight is on your feet, and the palms of your hands resting on your legs.   You can also stand, making sure your feet are at shoulder-width distance apart and you maintain a relaxed, yet grounded posture.
- Place the palms of your hands under your rib cage so that your fingers are just touching.  Focus on your natural breathing and notice how your fingers come slightly apart as you breathe in and as you breathe out they come together again. While doing this, mentally check your body for any tension and purposefully relax muscles in you neck, shoulders, arms, upper and lower body.
- Count your in-breath, through your nose as ‘one’ and release it naturally, being aware the whole time of relaxing your body and the movement of your diaphragm. As you breathe in, try to exaggerate the ‘out’ movement of your stomach, so that the air flows deeper into your lungs.

For Wind Instruments:
Developing good breathing technique is vital for playing a wind instrument because it dictates the way notes begin (intonation), the sound quality of the note (tone quality), how long you can hold notes (sustaining), how loud or soft the notes are (dynamics) and how you get from one note to another (flexibility).

- Focus on your posture and your breathing.  Sit on the edge of your seat with your feet flat and firmly on the floor, so that your weight is on your feet, and the palms of your hands resting on your legs.   You can also stand, making sure your feet are at shoulder-width distance apart and you maintain a relaxed, yet grounded posture.
- Focus upon your natural breathing.  While doing this, mentally check your body for tension and purposefully relax any muscles in you neck, shoulders, arms, upper and lower body, which may be tense.  Continue to do this throughout the exercise.
- Breathe in through your mouth for two counts and be full of air by the end of this count then breathe out through your mouth for four counts, being empty of air by the end of it.  When you breathe out make an ‘s’ sound with your mouth (like a snake).  Make sure you push all the air out.

Readers, what other breathing exercises have you tried that have helped you?  Stop by our Facebook page and leave us a comment!

 

 

 

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Tips and Tricks: Memorizing Music Made Easy

Monday, November 14th, 2011

As a music enthusiast, you’ve probably already heard all of the studies on music education.  It’s no secret that learning music as a child helps with confidence levels, math skills, and goal-setting.  But this latest story sheds even more light on the benefits of music.  The Society for Neuroscience presented a case at their recent annual meeting of a 68-year old German cellist with a brain infection that wiped out his memory, leaving him in an amnesiac state, unable to remember much of his past.  Yet miraculously, doctors found he could still remember scales, rhythms and intervals of music he once played before the illness, and he scored normally on a standard test for musical memory.  The case furthers evidence that musical memories often endure long after other memories are inaccessible.  Now that is the power of music!

When you’re first starting out learning an instrument, memorizing music is an important, although sometimes difficult, task – even if your memory is intact.  Practice sure makes perfect, but we also wanted to share some additional memorization tips to keep in mind:

1. From day 1, practice your music with the intent of internalizing and memorizing it. Don’t wait until you’ve learned the piece to begin memorizing it.

2. Use good fingering and use it consistently. It will take a lot longer to learn the piece if you are using different fingerings every time.  Writing your fingerings in the score will help (especially if you decide to use fingering other than what is indicate in the score).

3. Always memorize the dynamics, articulations, and other markings on the page along with the notes. Don’t wait until you have the notes mastered!  It’s difficult to go back and fix things later.  It’s better — although perhaps more tedious initially — to learn it right the first time.

4. Watch your hands as you play. Closing your eyes all of the time isn’t a good idea: when performing, you might look at your hands and suddenly everything looks foreign.  Get used to watching your hands.  Look for patterns as you play.

5. Practice slowly. If you play with a fast tempo as you are trying to memorize, you are strengthening mostly your muscle memory (which is not enough, on its own).  Practicing slowly is harder, and forces you to strengthen other memories, like your visual, tactile, and intellectual memories.

6. Memorize in small sections, usually just four measures at a time — but sometimes two measures at a time may be necessary.  Once you’ve gone through the entire piece in this manner, try doubling the number of measures and going through the whole process again.

7. Repetition, repetition, repetition! Don’t be discouraged if you return to the piece the next day and find that everything you worked on memorizing yesterday seems to be gone from your memory.  It’s part of the process.  Re-memorize those sections.  Each time you return to a section, it will become more solid in your memory.

Once the music is in your head and you’re not relying on a music stand, you’ll have much more freedom to really feel the music and become a true performer.  We hope these tips help you along the way – and we’d love to hear any others that have helped you!  Make your way over to our Facebook page and leave us a comment!

 

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