2011/Crossroads East Giving Reaches New High We’re happy to report that once again, we have set a new record by giving 13,044 pounds of food to Crossroads East in 2011. This topped our 2010 total of 10,204, by 2,840 pounds. Here are a few highlights: We continue to be probably the largest supplier of fresh […]
News
Playing by ear
Musicians like to classify themselves in many different ways including whether or not they “play by ear”. It’s funny to me that so many are quick to say that they “play by ear”. I think that it is a defensive attitude which really means “I can’t read music”. The reason I say this is because […]
Grosse Pointe Music Academy Teacher Spotlight
Before moving on to attain a Jazz studies degree from Wayne State University, Levi Henson taught himself to play rock and pop music on the guitar. At 11 years old, he wanted to play like Eric Clapton on his Fender electric guitar. Once he picked up the guitar, Levi never put it back down. He […]
10 Commandments of Guitar Playing
In 1976, Moris Tepper joined Captain Beefheart‘s Magic Band as guitarist; a position he held until Vliet’s retirement in 1982. It was during this period that Tepper was handed the “Ten Commandments of Guitar Playing,” as written by Beefheart himself. The list read as follows. (Source: Rolling Stone’s Alt-Rock-A-Rama; Image: Guardian.) 1. Listen to the birds. That’s […]
Considering compensation for twelve string guitars
So, do you calibrate a twelve string guitar or not? It is a common question and a very valid one. With fretted instruments we are always battling the limitations of the equal tempered scale. I’ve discussed in previous posts how intonation and calibration works. Basically, frets are placed at a place where a mathematical compromise […]
Ben Steel at Marge’s Bar & Grill in Grosse Pointe Park
Hi Everyone, Just a little reminder that Ben Steel will resume its regular monthly engagement at Marge’s Bar & Grill this coming Sunday, the 15th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Marge’s is located at the corner of Mack Ave. & Beaconsfield in Grosse Pointe Park. Monday is MLK Day, so think of this as your Saturday night! As many of […]
Meet our Music Together Teachers!
We at the Grosse Pointe Music Academy would like to give you a glimpse into the background of our wonderful Music Together teachers. Our teachers all complete an in-depth Music Together training and come to us with a rich background of music experiences, including college music degrees. Come and meet these wonderful teachers in person […]
Inspiration and Information
If you sign up for music lessons hoping to get some good information then you will definitely get that from the teachers at Grosse Pointe Music Academy. Our teachers have University training which will give you the certainty that the information you are getting will be the most accurate and up-to-date information available in the […]
Meet our Music Together Director!
It seems kind of funny to write a blog about myself, but I hope to share my passion and commitment to the Music Together program through what I write. I can remember making music as early as 3 years old, practicing my Suzuki violin lessons while my mom accompanied me on piano. Making music was […]
A MUSICAL CHEST OF DRAWERS
As a teacher myself, I relish those opportunities to talk with parents about what they see to be happening musically in their children. I have a fantastic class where most of the families have been attending the program since we began, for 5 consecutive semesters now. The growth I’ve seen in those continuing children and […]
What’s the buzz?
A guitar can buzz or rattle for many reasons. A large number of repairs that come into my shop are due to complaints of buzzing or rattling when the instrument is played. When these kinds of complaints arise, I like to have the musician play for me and show me what they are hearing themselves […]
MUSIC TOGETHER WELCOMES YOU!
Happy New Year! In 2012, the Music Together program at the Grosse Pointe Music Academy is growing and thriving! As the director I’m so pleased to say that we had close to 50 families join us this fall. We grew from one class a week in 2010 to seven classes a week in 2011. What […]
Happy New Year
Happy 2012 to everyone! It indeed is the new year and as we all know, the new year typically brings about a renewed feeling for most people in some or all aspects of their lives. Many people will make their resolutions public and some will quietly seek out the change that they desire. Spending more […]
Rock drummers ‘are top athletes’
Playing the drums for a rock band requires the stamina of a Premiership footballer, research suggests. Tests on Clem Burke, the veteran Blondie drummer, revealed that 90 minutes of drumming could raise his heart rate to 190 beats a minute. Despite rock’s reputation for unhealthy living, Dr Marcus Smith, from Chichester University, said drummers needed […]
Matt Watroba and Robert Jones Performing in Grosse Pointe
The Outreach Committee of Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church is sponsoring a full concert performance of modern folk and acoustic blues by Matt Watroba and Robert Jones on the evening of Martin Luther King Day, January 16th, at 7:00 PM. Our chapel is a perfect venue, offering the intimate atmosphere and excellent acoustics that will make this event very memorable. Matt […]
The Victory Song of the Detroit Lions
Lyrics to Gridiron Heroes (verse) Hail the colors Blue and Silver let them wave. Sing their song and cheer the Gridiron Heroes brave, Fighting for fame, winning the game, Dashing to victory as they go. (chorus) Forward down the field, A charging team that will not yield. And when the Blue and Silver wave, Stand […]
Music Together Demo Classes in Canton
Grosse Pointe Music Academy in Canton Township will have ‘Music Together’ demo classes on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. and on Thursday, January 12th at 10:30 a.m. These Free Demo Music classes are for children ages birth-5 years old and their parents or caretakers. Don’t miss out on your chance to try this […]
Gift Certificates for Music Lessons
Giving the gift of music lessons for the holidays can be a very rewarding gift for anyone with even just a little bit of musical interest. I hear from people all the time say things like “I’ve always wanted to play guitar” or “I’d love to play the piano, but I don’t have the time”. […]
Can I start my lessons on a keyboard rather than a piano?
Modern technology has made it very inexpensive to get a full 88 key piano keyboard. These keyboards often have hammer-action keys which give it the feel of a real piano. Anyone who has compared keyboards without weighted keys to a real acoustic piano knows there is quite a difference. The feel from piano to the […]
They tell me to start on acoustic but I’ve decided to start with electric guitar
Yesterday I gave you my thoughts on whether to start on acoustic or electric guitar as a beginning player. Instead of just saying you should start on acoustic, I rambled off 400 or more words so that my blog would be effective for online search engines. While I gave my opinion that I think everyone […]