What are the "keys" to identifying different key signatures? Read on for some great tips from Tucson, AZ teacher Lourdes C... Even if you’re a beginner, understanding key signatures is a critical part of reading music. A key signature is a set of sharps or flats at the beginning of a song that appears after the clef and before the time signature.  This symbol indicates which piano keys will be sharp or flat for the rest of the song. In other words, the key signature determines the home

Catherine Falls Commercial / Moment / Getty Images Are you ready to learn some tunes using the basic 4 ukulele chords? The great news is, learning just a few ukulele chords means you can learn hundreds of easy beginner ukulele songs. Once you have your uke in hand, you’ll be cranking out uke songs in no time. All you need to do is learn the basics, and get a few easy ukulele chords under your fingers. What's the Easiest Thing to Play on the Ukulele? The ukulele is a relatively easy in

When you're learning how to play the guitar, it's crucial to form good habits. If you can make correct guitar finger placement a regular part of your practice routine, you'll soon find it comes second nature to you. Learning the right fingering technique and sticking with it early on is much easier than trying to correct bad habits later on! Why is Correct Guitar Finger Placement Important? Do you ever notice buzzing, muted notes, or muddy pitches when you're playing guitar? All of these a

Listen, I love me a good, “gritty” rasp as much as the next person but, there is a time and a place. (Lookin’ at you, Chris Stapleton.) Yes, I said it, a vocal coach who likes to hear the enemy of healthy singing, or raspiness, every once in a while. It’s a great way to evoke emotion not just in your song but to the listener’s ear. They hear that rasp and affiliate it with passion, grit, pain, and so on! However, there is a right way and wrong way to approach raspy singing. Whe

You don’t need expensive vocal lessons or a lot of natural talent to learn how to sing on key.  While some people are born with perfect pitch, most of us have to work a little bit harder to keep our singing on track. Luckily, there are some great tools out there that can help you train your ear and improve your singing skills. Read on to learn more. How Do You Tell if You Sing on Key?  Am I singing on key? As a singer, it is important to be able to know how to learn to sing on k

Looking around at used drum kits? Buy with confidence with the following tips from Lancaster, OH drum teacher John S... Whether you’re a budding musician who’s just starting out or an experienced drummer looking for a new kit, there are plenty of reasons why a used drum kit is the way to go. Not only can you save money, but you can also find some truly unique pieces that will add character to your music.  However, finding the right kit requires a bit of research and know-how. Let's

Whether you play saxophone, piano, bass, or another instrument, jazz can be a really fun genre to explore! To get started, check out these jazz improvisation tips from Brookings, SD teacher Carl S...    One of my favorite things about making music is jazz improvisation. Jazz style is a lot of fun, but adding improvisation to that is essential. I, like many of my students, was afraid to improvise at first. Here are some helpful jazz improvisation tips for starting out. Before Step O

Just What is Musicality, Anyway? Musicality is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “the quality of being musical.” What does that mean, though? Is there a method to defining what is musical versus what is not? One can instinctively hear when a phrase sounds natural, beautiful, convincing -  musical - versus when it is not. Phrasing, much like public speaking, can be made more or less convincing depending on the manner with which you deliver a phrase. Quantz, the famous

Lovers of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Wagner have plenty to enjoy in Dallas. Amid the country and jazz, oldies and gospel, religious and Latino tunes, there is a vibrant and active classical music scene in D-Town for you to enjoy. You can easily find classical concerts in Dallas at some of the most breathtaking venues. Classical Music Radio in Dallas In the car or at home, tune your radio to WRR Classical 101.1. Not only does this station entertain and uplift listeners with music from the

Who made your cello? Who carved the body, stained, varnished, and assembled the instrument, including the label visible through the f-hole which bears their signature? Many musicians consider the maker of their instrument, or luthier, a point of pride. There are famous luthiers, like Stradivari and Guarneri, whose names are synonymous with masterpieces of craftsmanship. These masters innovated many of the standards for modern stringed instruments, and so many luthiers might include on the la