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Beyonce has been the center of pop culture attention lately, following her Inauguration Day performance, and love-it-or-hate-it Super Bowl spectacle. The singer is often praised for her vocal range and powerful sound – but perhaps her most well-known stylistic specialty is her use of melisma – moving between several notes in succession to create a dramatic, “bluesy” effect. The technique is attributed to gospel and jazz music, but has become more mainstream as artists like the late Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Christina Aguilera have incorporated melisma into their style.

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There are tons of benefits to playing duets, whether it’s with another violinist or another instrument altogether. Read on as Washington DC music teacher Kaushik S. explains…

Duets/duos are an integral component of comprehensive music training. In covering the importance of duets in learning music, there are two primary types that will be covered.

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Playing the violin should be fun – not a pain! Some arm fatigue is normal when you’re first starting out, but anything more than that may be a sign of poor posture, technique or instrument placement. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you practice and play…

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After you learn the basics of playing the violin, you can start exploring more exciting techniques and tricks. Double stops, for example, are when you play more than one string simultaneously, which can add a lot of color and flair to your playing. However, it’s not the easiest technique to master. We found a great read on All Things Strings online, jam-packed with tips to help you along the way; here’s an excerpt to get you started…

Preparation
First and foremost relax, relax, relax. Any tension in your left hand will quickly tie it up and cramps are sure to follow. Don’t mistake tension for strength. They are very different sensations.

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New to the drums? Learning how to set up a drum set properly should be your first priority. Read on as Mundelein drum teacher Jonah D. shows you the way…

Before I even touch the drums I have to set up my drum throne.  I adjust the height so that I can lift my legs easily using my thighs.  I start with a height that puts a 90-degree angle at my knees.  I sit higher up, but you can raise or lower the seat to make it comfortable.  Sitting too high or too low will actually impede your ability to play.

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