Category: Encouragement
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OK Go is a band that formed in 1998. For a while, they had modest success in the music world. But everything changed in 2005. That year, they released a new album. The first single, “A Million Ways,” came with something different. Their guitarist built a web app that let fans listen and easily share…
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Music builds community. That’s been the studio tagline for a while now. And it’s true. But yet, when you are playing an instrument like the piano, how exactly are you building community? Many other instruments, like the guitar or flute or most anything else, while it is an individual instrument, there are options to be…
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Last month, I blogged about Jon Batiste’s interpretation of Beethoven and how many may not like it. Well, he released another video of his creative and beautiful interpretation of Beethoven. This time, Batiste takes on the theme of the 5th Symphony and adds blues, jazz and ultimately, his own interpretation to the work.…
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I came across this video, and while it’s 4 years old, it’s absolutely amazing. You may not have ever heard of Tears for Fears, or Curt Smith, but they hit it big in the 80’s with songs like “Shout”, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” “Mad World”, “Head Over Heels” and “Sowing the Seeds…
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This is a little different “Behind the scenes” than what I posted last week. If you didn’t know, I live and teach in one of the northern suburbs of Houston, Texas called Spring. Early Monday morning, hurricane Beryl barreled through Houston with 80-90 mile per hour winds in my area. Many people had downed tress,…
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Many times, especially for beginners, the music doesn’t always sound very….musical. While the right notes and rhythms may be there, something is missing. Usually it’s the overall feeling or musicality of what is being played. Back when I started learning piano, as well as the trumpet, I remember clearly how non musical my sound…
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There are plenty of things necessary to master the piano, but here’s my 5 tips to master the piano. Learn how to practice correctly. What? Well, as I tell students, practice isn’t just “playing through” the song 5 or 10 times. Practice is figuring out where the trouble spots are and working them out…
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I love this quote because all composers and musicians have their own unique musical voices. It depends on their outlook on life, their experiences, and their connection to music. I find it interesting, as my studio is looking at Beethoven this month. Beethoven did not have it easy in life. His father was mean,…