It is widely accepted that the best environment for concentration is a quiet one; however the majority of students in the US say they prefer to study while listening to music, and in fact the highest achieving students are even guiltier of this.  Why do students do this?  To block out more distracting noise, to motivate themselves, to stay awake or to calm nerves… Whatever the reason, it’s important to find music that will serve your needs, while causing the least amount of distraction. The type of music a student listens to while studying contributes to how much information she can retain and how well she can focus.  The most common type of music students report listening to while studying is popular music.  However, if a person chooses to listen to music while trying to complete a task, is popular music really the best choice?

No!  Classical instrumental is by far the better choice.  Inspired by the findings of “The Mozart Effect,” I researched this further for my senior thesis in college.  I had 112 participants and my results were statistically significant.  I found that, on average, students score 90% on spatial reasoning tasks conducted in silence, 83% when listening to classical instrumental music, and 72% while listening to popular music with lyrics.  This means that your choice of music could affect your GPA by a whole letter grade!  One of the reasons for this may be that, due to a person’s capacity for attention, lyrics inhibit ability to focus.

Interestingly enough, I found that women are not only more likely to listen to music while trying to complete a task, but they are also more likely to become distracted by it.  So, girls: try to study in a quiet environment, but if you must listen to music, make a good choice and go for classical rather than popular!

To sum it up, it’s best to study in a quiet environment.  No matter what the reason, students are more likely to study while listening to music than to study in silence.  So, make a smart decision and go for classical instead of popular – it could make the difference of a whole letter grade!

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Does music help YOU study?  What kind of music do you turn on when you’re hitting the books?  Stop by our Facebook page and let us know what helps you!

Kelly K. teaches piano to students of all ages and levels in Vancouver, Washington.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music from Scripps College, and joined the TakeLessons team in August 2011. Sign up for lessons with Kelly, or visit TakeLessons to search for teachers near you!

Photo by billaday.

Without an in-tune instrument, any techniques you try to learn will be offset – not to mention your neighbors might complain! Check out these 3 straightforward steps that go into violin tuning, as originally published by Lumuel Violins:

Step One:
Comparing the sound difference between a reference tone and the sound of your violin.
First, you’ll typically need a source for generating reference tones for each of your violin strings. Reference tones can come from a number of sources such as a piano or a tuning fork.

Step Two:
Using the violin pegs to tune the sound of each string most of the way close to the reference tones.
Many problems can happen at this stage. Sometimes the pegs are really hard to turn. They appear stuck or when they actually move, the pegs feel like they are turning through sticky gum or tar. Yet another problem occurs when the peg is easy to turn, but as soon as you let go, the pegs won’t stay in place, but loosen up again. (Your violin teacher can help you combat these issues!)

Step Three:
Fine tuning each violin string to match the reference tone (or at least very close to matching).
To fine tune a violin, you need to hear minor pitch differences between the reference tone and the sound of your violin. This is not easy for many beginners. To put things in perspective, it can take years of ear training to discern very small pitch differences.

With proper training, you can hone your ability to tune your violin by ear.  Once you’ve mastered this skill, the sky’s the limit!

Thoughts, questions or other comments?  Share them below, or stop by our Facebook page and share with the community! Want even more expert advice?  Sign up for email updates here!

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Photo by Bob Jagendorf.

Since drums are loud, some people may want to purchase electronic drums instead of acoustic drums. Electronic drums are only worth getting if you get quality—and quality is usually priced around $3,000.

Here is something to consider: electronic drums (advanced as they may be) do not replace the authentic feel of acoustic drums. Electronic drums will give you a good sound regardless of how you hit them.

Acoustic drums only sound good when they are played with good technique. So, if a student learns on electronic drums and then tries to play acoustic drums, he/she will sound terrible. But if a student learns on acoustic drums and then plays on electronic drums, he/she will still sound good.

It would be a bold assumption to assume that a drummer, even owning an electronic kit, would never want to venture out to play an acoustic kit. So, I think it is best to learn on an acoustic kit. If afterwards a person wants to own an electronic kit as well, that’s fine. My objection is from the standpoint of learning and what’s best in the long run.

Here are some other options for handling the noise:
-Only practice during the day.
-Purchase a set of drum mutes (rubber pads that greatly reduce volume). (~$70)
-If you don’t have drum mutes, use hand towels.
-Purchase a drumset practice pad set. (~$100-$170)

This is an excerpt from Adam’s book, “Crash Course: Drumming Manual”

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Adam C. teaches drums, guitar, music recording, music theory, percussion and songwriting in Riverview, FL.  He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of South Florida, and is active in the music scene around the Tampa Bay area.  Sign up for lessons with Adam, or visit TakeLessons to search for teachers near you!

Photo by nzgabriel.

Everything is going great!  And then suddenly, like black clouds rushing into a sunny sky, the measure is filled with never-ending runs of sixteenth notes and accidentals galore.  And just like that – your fingers freeze.  You think, “Wait, where was I again?”

This “start and stop” habit is something that many pianists face, even if the piece is something you’ve played before.  While you’re not always going to be playing a song perfectly, that dreaded pause when you hit a tough passage can be pretty unnerving.

Here are a few tips to help:

Tip 1 – Practice sight reading strategies.
Before you even begin your practice, it may help to take a look at the piece as a whole:  the time signature, genre and even the style of the composer. Understanding these basics will help you get into the right mindset, as opposed to racing through etudes, exercises and then songs without recognizing the differences.

Tip 2 – Practice slowly.
Practicing with a metronome is a great reminder to slow down – and sometimes, that’s all you need to master a tough phrase.  Take a good look at where you’re tripping it up – is it a certain accidental or one chord that catches you off guard?  An entire measure? One line that’s particularly scary? Once you’ve pinpointed it, simplify.  Start by practicing just a few notes.  Then, start at the measure before and work your way in. You can also simplify further by practicing one hand at a time.

Tip 3 – Practice effectively.
This might be the most important tip to keep in mind, so lazy students, take note!  Running through a song and ignoring the tough passages isn’t effective practice.  When you hit a roadblock, attack it right then and there.  Otherwise, you’ll just be practicing the same mistakes over and over, and they may become harder to fix once they become habits.

Moreover, the way that you think is also a huge part of effective practice.  If you’re so nervous about a certain section that it’s all you can think about, you won’t be playing at your best.  Stay positive and relax – your fingers will follow suit!

How do YOU avoid the “start and stop” habit when practicing the piano?  We want to hear your tips!  Stop by our Facebook page (don’t forget to “Like” us!) and leave a comment.

Learn even more piano tips and techniques – sign up for email updates here!

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Photo by Victor Bezrukov.

Similar to a guitar player plucking one note and then building it into a chord, learning how to harmonize will create that rich, full sound when you’re singing with a group or a choir.  Think of it this way: imagine a “band” made up of just one lone clarinet player.  It might be a good solo, but add in the low tubas and high flutes, and presto – it’s a whole new experience for the listener.

Singing harmonies, however, can be tricky.  Lead lines may come easy to beginner singers, but excelling at harmonies requires an understanding of note relationships and chord formations. Finding a great voice teacher, therefore, is a must if you really want to improve.

As you get started, check out these tips from the Eclectic Musician blog, another great resource for singers:

1. Put on some music and start experimenting with your voice. Harmony is, essentially, multiple pitches at once. One way to proceed is to put on a favorite song and start singing whatever comes to you. Try some high notes, low notes, long tones and short tones. By definition if you are not singing the melody (i.e., the tune) you are singing harmony.

2. If you are having trouble breaking away from the melody, drop the words. Listen to the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”. During the first verse, it’s just Paul singing alone. In the second verse, on the word “minute,” the other guys come in singing “ahhhhh.” Think about how much easier it is to just pick a note and stick with it, rather than come up with a distinct harmony line! Still, it’s completely legit. You can add aaahs and la la las to just about anything to practice.

3. Learn existing harmony parts. If you have the opportunity to sing in a choir, you will learn a specific harmony part to sing against the melody (unless your part actually is the melody). This is a great way to experience how singing harmony is supposed to feel, and develop the independence to stick to your part even when someone else is singing a different part.

Also, seek out the harmony parts in the music you listen to. You might start with call-and-response type songs (if you’re not Gladys Knight, you’re a Pip – can you pick out your part?) and then try out some closer harmonies where two or more parts are moving together in the same rhythm. If it’s not fun, you’re doing it wrong – pick stuff you really like.

Continue reading the article for additional tips here.

Readers, what do you think? What tips have you learned when it comes to learning harmony?  Share them with the community – stop by our Facebook page and leave a comment!

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Learning how to take care of a guitar can seem like a mysterious and difficult undertaking. When I was first learning to play, I was surprised at how much care and attention goes into keeping this instrument sounding great. Between tuning, cleaning and changing strings, at times I felt more like I had invested in a strange new pet than of a guitar. Over time, I found that learning when to change my strings actually made my guitar sound a lot better, which helped me to become a more confident player.

Many factors go into determining how often you should consider changing your guitar strings. Dirt and oil from your hands can build up on the strings, causing the sound to become sort of flat or dead. (Learn how to clean your guitar strings here!) Strings stretch out as they are played and eventually do not hold tune well any longer. Additionally, steel strings can rust, which not only affects the sound of your guitar but also makes it kind of gross to play.

If you are playing for several hours every day, you might want to change your guitar strings as often as once a week. If you aren’t quite ready for that much string-changing, washing your hands before you play can help reduce the amount of dirt and oil from your skin that gets onto your strings. However, if you have extra sweaty hands when you play, you might want to change your strings a bit more often. If you notice your guitar doesn’t hold tune as well as it used to or the tone sounds less rich, you might notice a vast improvement if you just change your strings. Personally, I like to change my strings a day or two before a performance. Not only does it make my guitar sound better, but it helps me feel more prepared to succeed.

– Megan L., TakeLessons staff member

Thoughts, questions, or want to share your own tips?  Head on over to our Facebook page and leave a comment! Want to get more expert advice to help with your guitar playing? Sign up for email updates here!

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Photo by meddygarnet

Particularly if you’ve just purchased a new violin bow, it’s important to learn how to apply rosin properly before you begin playing your violin.  The rosin makes the hairs on the bow “sticky,” allowing them to grip the string and produce a good tone.

First, when applying the rosin, make sure you’re covering the strings with an even coat.  If you end up with too little rosin, your bow may not have enough grip.  Apply too much, and you may end up with a squeaky tone (and rosin dust everywhere!).

Read on for additional advice from the pros at Kennedy Violins:

After you’ve applied rosin to the bow for the first time, a lot of rosin dust will probably go all over your violin when you first start to play. Don’t be alarmed by this. You can simply wipe it off with a soft cotton cloth after you’re done with the initial rosining of your new bow. The next step is to play the violin for a little while to work the rosin into the new bow hair. Once you’ve done this, reapply a little bit of rosin to the bow (perhaps 3-6 passes) and play the violin some more. If you do it right, you’ll have a new bow that plays without creating excessive rosin dust.  If you are habitual about wiping down your bow and violin every time you play, your violin will stay looking new for a very long time.

When your bow gets to the point where you have to put more force on it than you like to create the amount of sound you want, it is time to apply more rosin. You’ll probably only have to go up and down the bow 3 or 4 times to get the correct amount of rosin on the bow. In most situations, you’ll only have to rosin the bow per 3-5 hours of play time. People with stringed instruments that have thicker gauge strings like basses, cellos and even violas will probably end up rosining their bows a little more frequently than violinists. It is not uncommon for a violinist to apply rosin every 6 hours or so of playing, but it really depends on personal preference.

Of course, your violin teacher can help you learn the correct way of applying rosin, as learning when and how to use it will make a big difference in your playing – and with proper use, your bow and strings will thank you!

Not signed up for private lessons yet?  Search for a violin teacher near you and learn more about the TakeLessons program here. Learn more insider advice for becoming a better violinist -  sign up for email updates here!

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Photo by racheocity.

For heavy metal fans, in particular, drums are an integral piece of a band’s sound.  To help you get started, here are some great tips for heavy metal drumming:

Syncopation
One of the few musical differences between metal and hard rock music is the greater tendency of metal drummers to use more syncopation. Adding off-beat drum hits can create a wider variety of more interesting drum lines. This helps to give a different feel from one song to the next. Syncopation can be overdone, so do not use syncopation for its own sake. Too much syncopation can lead to a drum line that sounds like it is stuttering. It can also cause the down beat to shift to the notes that are supposed to be syncopated, which removes the syncopated feel to the drum line.

Simple Works
There are many complex, virtuoso drum lines in metal drumming. Metal drumming does not have to always include complicated, syncopated lines to be good. Sometimes the drummer needs to back off and create a place for other instruments. Some metal songs use the simple, generic rock drum beat. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica uses that beat for most of the song. Knowing how to play both simple and complex drum lines is important for a metal drummer. A good metal drummer also needs to know which to use for a particular song.

Learn Other Styles of Drumming
Metal drummers have more flexibility than other styles of music. It is far more difficult for a pop or blues drummer to borrow heavily from metal drumming than the other way around. Learning to play other styles will open up a wider range of techniques and patterns for a drummer to use. Some metal drummers borrow from funk, rock and jazz drumming. A drummer with a wider range can have more variety when writing their own drum lines.

Want to learn even more techniques?  Nothing beats the individual attention in private lessons.  Search for a drum teacher near you and book your lessons today!

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

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Photo by Quasimime.

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 extra 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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