Beginning guitar players are often faced with the dilemma of choosing the type of guitar to play first as they begin lessons. Many people love the looks of the electric guitar but heard somewhere that you should always start out playing the acoustic guitar. Other people have heard that you always want to start on […]
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Winter Recital Grosse Pointe Music Academy 2011
The Grosse Pointe Music Academy Winter Recital will be held on Saturday, December 10th 2011 at 6pm for session 1 and 8pm for session 2. The recital will be held at the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church located at 17150 Maumee at the corner of St. Clare in Grosse Pointe city. View Larger Map This is […]
Stocking stuffers for that special guitar player
With Christmas fast approaching, I am having more and more people ask what my suggestions for “stocking stuffers” are. Most people are already aware of the standard small gifts to get for that special guitar player in your life such as picks, and strings, but there are some other gift ideas that they might not […]
The Guitar: A Functional Sculpture
An instrument can be seen as an extension of one’s own self to many people. Guitar players are certainly no exception to this. Guitars are more than they appear to many players. The instrument is not only a tool by which a musician can create their music, but also an extension of their own bodies. […]
Mitch Albom: Music instructor’s life a beautiful melody
Here’s a Matt Michaels story. One day, years ago, he was lecturing at Wayne State University, a cigarette in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other. As he spoke about jazz theory, the ashes of his cigarette grew perilously long, and the students edged forward, wondering when they would drop. When Matt leaned […]
Google Doodle Guitar Songwriting Contest
Test your songwriting ability by using the Google Doodle Guitar. Record a song 30 seconds or less to win a free T-Shirt and 25 dollar cash prize! The Google Doodle Guitar appeared on Google’s homepage a while back and it’s pretty cool and easy to play. You can drag the mouse over the strings or […]
Take your guitar playing to new heights!
GPMA is now offering a class for guitarists of all ages and skill level known as the “Guitar Ensemble.” This group will perform at least twice each year at the recitals and will also be given the opportunity to record as a group with the intent of performing in public for other special events, concerts, […]
Sight-reading isn’t for sissies!
In my first year of college at Wayne State University, I noticed a comic strip in my guitar instructor’s office. The drawing was of a conductor holding his baton in a room of flames, surrounded by a pitiful-looking bunch of guitarists and banjo players. The caption read, “Conductors Hell.” After mentioning this to friends for […]
Violin-t Behavior
History books will tell you that the violin is actually an Eastern European descendant of the Japanese Kyoto. They’ll say something about Marco Polo bringing the idea of the violin back to Eastern Europe after his highly publicized jaunt to the Far West in the 1200’s where he enjoyed a Kyoto concert with Kubla Khan. […]
Air Guitarist Chad Cooper to give drums a shot
Dudes: So, I’ve finally done it. I’ve invested in a set of drums. I set ‘em up and started pounding the skins right away in my mother’s basement/my bachelor pad. Man, I’m rockin’ now! I’m thinking I might start up a rock band once I get my timings down. How do you feel about […]
We teach air guitar too!
Dudes: I know that you guys offer guitar lessons, piano lessons, drum lessons, violin lessons, flute lessons, ukulele lessons…basically lessons for every instrument known to mankind. But, I’m writing to find out if you offer air guitar lessons. I mean, I love the guitar and all its intricacies but, what I want to be able […]
Pave the way with music
This past July, I attended the The Guild of American Luthiers’ Twentieth National Convention/Exhibition in Tacoma, Washington. Beyond learning a plethora of new and interesting information, I discovered something very simple that I keep thinking about. The convention was held on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University (for that week it became Pacific Luthier University), […]
Open Mic Night @ Andrew’s on the Corner
Join Bobby McManus and friends for what is sure to be a tuneful evening on Friday, September 16th at Andrew’s on the Corner. Bobby will host an acoustic open mic event which will start at 9pm and go until at least 12pm. This event will happen every other week. Dates for the remainder of the […]
Music Academy in Canton
It seems like parents love the first recital. When their kid gets up there in front of a crowd for the first time and strums out his or her first guitar solo, that’s a moment a parent will never forget. But someone else is beaming when they see that child conquer their inhibitions and […]
Pre-Piano Group Classes for ages 4 and 5
Welcome to Piano Transitions! The purpose of this class is to further the development of skills in music and piano in children 4 and 5 years of age. Children at this age learn best through play, exploration, and creativity, which is reflected in the structure of the class. There will be times for playing […]
Join the Guitar Ensemble at Grosse Pointe Music Academy
Metro Detroit guitarists now have the chance to play in a group with other six-stringers. You can have the same experience that middle school or high school band and orchestra students so vitally benefit from. Guitar Ensemble class is not designed to replace your private lesson instruction. Instead, it is meant to be a supplementary […]
Social Network for written music
Check out noteflight.com. Noteflight allows you to write music and share it easily on the internet. Noteflight is a free software that gives you high power music scoring tools on the internet for free. Score music for virtually any instrument and share it easily by emailing links or embedding into your web pages or blogs. […]
All about Drumming
Did you know that late night talk show host, Craig Fergueson, is a drummer? So is actor, Billy Bob Thornton and the Mindfreak himself, Criss Angel. It seems keeping steady rhythm on a set of skins would be pretty easy if Criss Angel can pull it off without the aid of mirrors or camera tricks. […]
Stolen Guitar! Please Help
Friday, September 16 at 9:00pm – September 17 at 12:00am Message from Bobby McManus: As some of you may have heard my main Seagull acoustic guitar which I use for my original music (the one with the Band-Aid) was recently stolen. While this is a major setback to my plans of recording an album Im determined […]
Extras needed for a Movie Starring Ethan Bortnick 10 yo Piano Prodigy. Attend concert for Free
Hey Everyone, The staff, parents, students, and friends of Grosse Pointe Music Academy have been invited to a free concert by the producers of a movie starring Ethan Bortnick. I received a call this afternoon from the movie set of Ethan Bortnick’s new film. He is having a concert at the Redford Theater on Thursday […]