In the land of sunscreen and Popsicle stands, it can be all too easy for kids to forget all of the techniques and songs they learned in the last 9 months, so it’s important to keep them engaged in music in some form.

Many families take advantage of the extra time available by adding in additional lessons or extending the lesson duration, giving kids a head start on their instrument before the next school year starts. For students shuffling between family visits, camps and other vacations, a flexible lesson schedule can be ideal.  If committing to a weekly timeslot is too difficult, speak with your child’s teacher and call our support staff to switch over to the “Flex” plan.

Of course, the opportunity isn’t restricted to the youngsters: with the longer days and carefree attitude the season usually encourages, it’s the perfect time for musicians of all ages to get started.  Since some teachers will have more open availability as students take breaks, use that to your advantage and secure an after-work or weekend timeslot.

But best of all?  We’re offering a special Memorial Day promotion to help you get a jump start – now through May 25th, new students are eligible for one FREE lesson with the purchase of three lessons.  For a longer commitment, book our Quarterly plan and receive two free lessons with the purchase of eleven lessons. Browse our certified teachers, find an instructor near your home and begin a summer to remember!

To find out more and take advantage of this special discount, call us at 877-231-8505 and connect with one of our student counselors!  This offer is available to new students only, and is not currently available for online booking.  Lesson plan pricing will return to normal for all billing cycles following your initial purchase.

Photo by Loren Sztajer.

Suddenly, the idea of doing anything sounds much better than running through piano scales and exercises.  “I’m not feeling… inspired,” you might say, or maybe one of these other excuses.

Well, the character in this animation short we came across can definitely relate.

Sound familiar?  If you can relate, head on over to our Facebook page (don’t forget to “Like” us!) and share your thoughts: When you’re struggling to practice, what do you do to get the focus back?  How do you quiet your mind when all it’s doing is racing with stuff not related to the piano piece in front of you?

Want more expert tips and advice? Sign up to receive email updates for piano, guitar and more!

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Even if you’re technically just standing still, in reality your whole body is working when you’re singing.  Your muscles are active from your head to toes as you stand straight and tall.  Your blood is pumping and your abdominal muscles are definitely engaged as you inhale and exhale.  Basically, your entire body is your instrument! Pretty cool to think about.

We love these recommendations from the Finding My Singing Voice blog – consider adding these unconventional “warm-ups” to your routine:

1. Drink water – Most singers already know how essential proper hydration is, but just the act of swallowing is beneficial, too.
2. Drink hot tea – For singers with allergies, tea can help to wash down phlegm and clear the nasal passages. Other hot drinks will also work, but watch out for too much caffeine – it can dry the vocal cords. Tea has additional health benefits (it’s loaded with antioxidants) and half the caffeine (or less) of coffee.
3. Yawn – Yawning is the ultimate throat and palate stretch!
4. Stretch – Singing involves the whole body, and unnecessary tension anywhere can have a negative effect on the voice. A good side stretch can help open up the ribcage and free up your breath. (See also: Can Yoga Help You Sing Better?)
5. Meditate – Mindfulness meditation is the practice of focusing the mind, usually by observing the breath and disengaging from thoughts. It’s a great way to calm anxious nerves and tame self-criticism.

Now it’s your turn – what other activities or routines do you practice to get ready for a performance?  Head on over to our Facebook page and share them!

You might also like…
-Find Your Voice as a Singer: 4 Tips That Work
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Photo by Synergy by Jasmine.

Today, we encourage you to think about why you play the guitar.  Dreams of shredding on stage with Steve Vai aside, most musicians would cite the emotional connection to music as a big motivator.

Guitar practice, after all, is like a form of meditation; think about it: there’s a reason that art and music therapy have become a booming industry. The ties between human emotion and music are unmistakable. (Need extra proof?  Check out this video of a nursing home resident and his reaction to music from his era.)

Many spiritual advocates encourage the act of living “in the moment,” a mindset that will help you leave the past behind and stop worrying about the things you can’t control in the future.  For some musicians, getting “lost” in the music is natural.  For others, it may take some practice.

So how can you add a little zen to your guitar playing? Here are some great tips for a zen guitar practice session, as originally published on Guitar Habits, one of our favorite guitar blogs:

Solitude
The best way to practicing this way is in solitude. Tell your family when and for how long you are going to practice. Ask them to give you some privacy for the time being. Find yourself a room in the house where you can have some peace and quiet. Create your own sacred hide out where you can play your instrument, where you can practice without distractions (turn off all electronic devices) and work on becoming a better guitar player or songwriter.

Slow down
Slow is the way to go. When you practice licks, solos, chord progressions, or anything at all, you first need to practice things slow. We are all eager to play faster, but we also need to play fluently. Your fingers and your brain need to get used to new moves and shapes. Be patient and take your time. Concentrate on clear notes, steady rhythm and guitar fluency. Make sure you can play things perfect slowly and then build up speed gradually.

Pause
Take a moment to breathe and release the tension from the muscles in your fingers, hands, arms, shoulders and back. Let them rest for a few minutes. Go through a small relaxation exercise for great results: Focus on single parts of your body and relax them one by one.

Self-fulfilling prophecy
You design and live the life you create. Buddha said: “All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” Therefore banish all negative thoughts like: “I can’t do this,” “This is impossible,” and “No way this is going to work.” If those lines enter your mind you will just say to yourself: “I let you go now.” Replace that with positive, motivational and inspiring thoughts like: “I will get there,” “I’m becoming a better player with each workout,” “I’m working on something cool here” and “Practice makes perfect.”

What do you think of these tips?  Are you “zen” in your guitar playing?  Stop by our Facebook page and share your thoughts with the community!

Learn more about guitar – sign up to receive email updates with even more expert tips and advice!

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Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography.

Like many kids, I grew up hearing pearls of wisdom from my mom that sounded like they belonged on an after school special. You know the ones: “A penny saved is a penny earned,” “Actions speak louder than words,” and other sayings that I usually returned with a cringe or an eye roll.

And like many adults, I now find myself thinking back on those phrases and making the connections to real life.  I guess mothers really do know best – and those little sayings apply not only to important life lessons, but they can be adapted to learning music, as well.  In fact, your mom probably taught you several lessons that can translate to your success as a musician – even if she couldn’t sing a note in tune, or still doesn’t know the difference between the violin and the viola (cue the eye roll).

I’ve put together a list of 5 “momisms” that I think especially ring true – no matter if you’re tackling a completely new instrument, refreshing your memory of the instrument you played 20 years ago, or striving to make it as a professional musician.  Wherever you’re at, and whatever you’re struggling with, sometimes we all just need a bit of motherly advice. So with that special day coming up, let’s give a special shout-out to all the moms out there – to the years of support, advice and words of encouragement.  Happy Mother’s Day!

1. Practice makes perfect/Do your homework.
This one is pretty simple – just like you had to do your homework to pass all of your classes in school, there will be things to work on and practice if you’re going to learn a new instrument, song or technique.  My mom even used to suggest that if I didn’t have any homework that day, I should create some.  While I never took that advice (sorry, Mom), I see her point now. Whether you’re memorizing multiplication tables or the Circle of Fifths, there will always be homework.  And if you really want to improve, forget your excuses and just do it.

2. Reach for the stars.
I think sometimes we all need to be reminded of this.  Sure, you might have other responsibilities: work, family, errands… the list might go on and on.  But the simple fact is: if you want to learn an instrument, do it! It will take commitment, and you’ll need to set aside time. You’ll have “homework” that might not be fun.  But much like everything else in life that requires hard work, the end result is always worth it.

3. Everyone makes mistakes.
Again, another good reminder that we sometimes forget as adults. Most children don’t think much of their mistakes, and are quick to turn around and give it another go. So why, as adults, are we so hard on ourselves when we mess up?  I played the flute for 10 years, but after taking a two year hiatus, I was incredibly disappointed to find I was struggling with a few of the high register notes.  The muscle memory was there, but my embouchure had already lost much of its strength. I knew it would take some hard work to get back to the point where I left off.  Which leads me to the next piece of advice…

4. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
When I say this, I’m referring to how you talk to yourself – you know, that little voice inside your head, your inner critic.  The key here is knowing when to silence that voice, and how to give yourself honest feedback without being too hard on yourself.  Instead of berating yourself if you played a wrong note in a performance, take it for what it is – a learning experience – and move on.

5. Patience is a virtue.
You’ve no doubt heard the story of the tortoise and the hare, proving that patience in the long run will help you through to the end. This can absolutely be applied to your music lessons, and should be kept in mind especially when you’re learning something completely new. You’re not going to pick up a guitar and be a pro in a matter of a few days, so patience is key here. Take it one day at a time, and eventually you’ll get there.  And if you don’t?  As my mom would say, at least you took the first step.

- Suzy S., TakeLessons staff member and blogger

Readers: What have YOU learned about music from your mom?  Stop by our Facebook page and share your own story!

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Photo by sscornelius.

• Whenever you handle your violin bow, try not to touch the bow hairs with your fingers or hand. The natural oils on your skin will impact the ability of the bow to grip the string.

• Put a small amount of rosin on your bow before playing. Hold the rosin in your left hand, place the bow hairs flat on the rosin and slowly move the bow back and forth on the rosin. Rosin provides the bow hair with friction in order to produce a sound when the bow is pulled across the violin strings.

• After playing the violin, gently clean it with a soft, clean, lint-free cloth to remove rosin build-up on the strings.

• When you are not using your violin and bow, always place them in your case. They can easily fall and become damaged if you leave them on a chair or another surface, even temporarily.

• If you use a shoulder rest or shoulder pad, always remove it from your violin before putting your violin back in its case.

• If your violin ever has cracks or the seams begin to open, take it to a music store, violin maker or luthier to be professionally repaired. Never use commercial glue to repair cracks on your violin. Instrument makers use a special glue for violin seams and repairs.

Continue reading and learn even more tips at ViolinOnline.com.

Join the conversation – stop by our Facebook page or sign up to receive email updates with even more expert tips and advice.  Looking for violin lessons near you?  Search for a violin teacher in your area and book today!

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Photo by Mitch98000

Choosing the right drumsticks can be as selective as buying a violin bow for violinists, and you may need to test out several different types before settling.  There are also a few factors you’ll want to keep in mind, depending on the sound and genre you’re going after.

Practically every style of music has an appropriate drumstick that goes along with it – are you drumming for a heavy metal band or with a marching band, for example?  You’ll want thicker drumsticks to handle the abuse and absorb the shock.  Trying your hand at jazz?  Consider a lighter and smaller drumstick.

Here are a four things to start you off as you select your drumsticks, courtesy of Vic Firth’s website:

Thickness
The thickness of a drumstick affects the overall weight, projection and strength. A thicker, heavier stick creates greater sound and offers increased durability. A thinner stick is lighter, faster and plays with greater ease. Generally, you need to match the thickness of your stick selection with the style of music that you play, and the volume in which you intend to play it.

For jazz, latin and fusion playing, the most popular stick choice is the 5A (dia. = .565″), although you might want to experiment with something a bit thicker if you find that the stick doesn’t produce the volume that you need (or if you tend to break sticks easily). If you play rock, pop, or anything outside the ‘acoustic’ setting, the 5B is a popular choice (dia.=.595″). Hard rock or metal drummers might want to step up to an even larger stick.

Taper
The taper affects the feel and behavior of a pair of sticks. A long taper produces more flex and a faster response, while a short taper is stiffer and offers additional strength. The amount of taper and location of the “shoulder” (where the taper begins) determines the balance of the stick. If you’re looking for a stick that feels “front end heavy” (heavier on the tip) and offers more power, find a stick that has a short taper and strong shoulder.

Tip Shape
The tip shape is critical to the overall sound a stick will produce on drums and cymbals (the sound difference is more pronounced on cymbals).
-A full “tear drop” tip produces a dark, rich cymbal sound (more lows).
-A “barrel” tip produces a broad sound. Great for studio work.
-A small round tip produces a brighter cymbal sound (more highs).
-A large round tip produces a “fatter” sound.
-Nylon tips produce the brightest sound and are the most durable.

Length
Drumstick sizes and the length of the stick affect its leverage and “reach” around the drum set. Even if two sticks have the same diameter, they can have drastically different feels because of length differences.

These things considered, you’ll want to test out different drumsticks and see how they feel in your hands.  Consider your drumsticks an extension of your limbs – what feels most comfortable?  Don’t be afraid to try out several different types and experiment, and you’ll figure out what works best for you.

What kind of drumstick sizes or types do you prefer?  Share your thoughts with the community – head on over to our Facebook page!

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Photo by Kuba Bozanowski.

A few months back we published an article about beginner sight reading that struck a chord (yes, pun intended) for many of our readers, and this article takes it one step further.  Sight reading as a technique can make a world of difference as you progress in your music lessons, especially if you’re preparing for auditions, as many require a sight reading portion.

We love this article from PianoCareer.com, exploring some of those key details to keep in mind, whether you’re playing the piano, violin or any other instrument.  Here are the first four things to consider:

1. The genre. First of all, analyze the genre: it’s obvious that an Etude has a different meaning than a Nocturne, a Ballade, a Prelude or a Barcarole. Study the history of each musical genre – this way you’ll learn a LOT about the meaning of the pieces written in that particular genre. For example, when you’ll play a Minuet you’ll be aware of its gracious dancing character; when you’ll play a Toccata – you’ll want to create a sparkling, dynamic character; an Impromptu will immediately make you think about a free improvisation; and so on!

2. The tempo and character indications. Take a look at the indication at the beginning of the piece. Many composers, besides writing the tempo (Largo, Adagio, Moderato, Andante, Allegro, Presto, etc.) also indicate the main character – for example giocoso, cantabile, dolce, grave, maestoso, lamentoso, etc. These indications are immediately ‘shifting’ our focus to the needed feeling and atmosphere!

3. The style of the composer. Even if two pieces have the same title or genre – they may still have entirely different characters – being written in different epochs, by different composers. For example, let’s compare a Prelude by Bach with a Prelude by Chopin, or a Prelude by Rachmaninoff with a Prelude by Debussy! Yes, the genre is the same – but the character is inevitably different, being a reflection of the composer’s unique approach (and also of the style of the epoch).

4. The time signature. Time signatures are extremely suggestive when it comes to the character and meaning of the music. A 3/4 time signature (or 3/8, 6/8, 9/8) is usually indicating a dancing character; 2/4, 4/4, 2/2 suggests a more ‘balanced’ structure. There are also unusual time signatures like 7/8, 1/4, 5/8 – usually being inspired from folk music – which again tells us a lot about the meaning of the piece!

Continue reading Ilinca’s article here.

Readers, what do you think? What helps you when you’re sight reading a new piece? Leave a comment below, or head over to our Facebook page and share your thoughts!

Learn more insider advice for musicians -  sign up for email updates here!

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Photo by DaGoaty.

If you don’t master the art of proper breathing, it will haunt you throughout all of your lessons, practice sessions and performances.  This is one skill that you can’t fake!

The most important step is learning which muscle movements are associated with singing.  Your voice teacher can show you how to monitor yourself and recognize the difference between shallow and deep breathing.  Outside of your lessons, here are 3 steps to remember for correct diaphragm singing:

1 – Breathing exercises. Even as you practice singing every day, you must practice breathing for at least ten minutes. Sit on a rug on the floor with legs folded, your hands resting lightly on your knees. Inhale slowly until you feel the air reaching your stomach expanding it . Hold the breath as you count to ten in your mind. Then exhale as slowly as you inhaled. This exercise is a must for any aspiring singer.

2 – Check breathing while singing. Keep your palm on your solar plexus (abdomen) when you start singing simple scales. If you are breathing properly then you will feel your palm being propelled outward with your stomach movement. This can help you get control over your voice and improve your singing technique.

3 -  Sing with an open mouth. Just as we realize the need to take deep breaths, we should also allow air to flow out freely while singing. So it is important to sing with your mouth open and your throat muscles relaxed. This helps with proper diction, voice throwing and volume control.

For additional tips and information, we recommend this SingingLikePros.com article. Looking for music lessons? Search for a voice teacher near you and learn more about the TakeLessons program!

Thoughts, questions or want to share your own tips? Stop by our Facebook page and join the conversation. Want to learn more about singing?  Sign up for email updates to receive advice from the experts, singing exercises and more.

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Photo by michael_swan.

On the other hand, for some musicians it’s all too common to mistake visualizing for… well, daydreaming.  If you sit down and close your eyes, intending to memorize a piece of music, make sure to catch yourself if you start thinking of other things – other (unrelated) goals, your concert tickets this weekend, or what you’re going to have for dinner tonight, for a few examples.

In order to really help you succeed with your visualization strategies, we found these 3 great tips over on the Classical Guitar blog that are right on the money.  Check out these strategies and focus on one at a time.  Spend a good chunk of time on the technique, and who knows – you might find yourself a visualization convert:

1. Visualize the Piece
This is the most basic of visualization techniques. Simply find a quiet place and visualize the piece you wish to mentally rehearse. See your fingers moving and hear the piece in your mind’s ear. At first it’s okay to move your fingers a bit while visualizing, but try to ween yourself off of that habit as soon as possible.  Since you’re not allowing your fingers to go on auto pilot and finish the piece for you, this sort of visualization will greatly enhance memorization.

2. Visualize the Performance
For those of us don’t play a concert every week, stepping on stage can be terrifying. Another mental rehearsal technique is to imagine yourself on stage. More importantly, imagine yourself after the performance. Imagine the feeling of success. See yourself walking on confidently and walking off after the successful performance. Capturing these feelings of success before the concert can play a critical role in building your confidence before even setting foot on stage. (This is an excellent strategy for overcoming stage fright!)

3. Think Ahead of Your Hands
The final method is so effective you’ll wonder if you accidentally sold your soul for more guitar skills. This method should be done while playing or practicing, and is essentially thinking and looking ahead of your hands.

After your left hand plays a note, your eyes should shift to the location(s) where the finger(s) will be placed next. Imagine your left hand in this new position–see it there with your mind’s eye. Unlike the physical preparation of your fingers, this practice method deals with mental preparation.

For more tips, continue reading the article here.

Your turn: what visualization techniques help you the most?  Share your own experiences – head on over to our Facebook page and join the discussion!

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