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 […]
Grosse Pointe
Sing Like You Mean it
Sing Like You Mean It Karaoke is a great way to expose yourself to singing. A microphone and a karaoke machine turns a typical party into American Idol. It seems like everybody thinks they can sing when they get behind the mike and have a full Karaoke band behind them. Truth is, not everyone […]
Use What Talent you possess
“Use What Talent you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best” Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933) American scholar, educator, lyricist What do you think the quote means? I like this quote because I think he’s telling you to open up and let it out. Don’t wait […]
What Makes Music Together Unique?
What is it that makes Music Together unique? I’d love to share about it. There are many programs for early childhood music, all of which I’ve researched, and I strongly believe in these specific points about Music Together: – Based on Dr. Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory, the most current research about how we learn when […]
Learn Guitar Chords on just three strings
If you’re a beginning guitar player or a guitarist with experience, you will no doubt have fun playing the different inversions of chords on just 3 strings of the guitar. It is very common for guitar teachers to teach the chords using 6, 5, or 4 strings during beginner guitar lessons. This is a good […]
Build Your Music Vocabulary through Piano Lessons
As your Piano Insider of the Grosse Pointe Music Academy, it’s important to me that I share with you my inside information on making piano lessons work for you or for your child. These are lessons I’ve learned after succeeding in teaching lessons and learning from my mistakes as a […]
Experience Success in Piano Lessons
August 27, 2011 You’ve come to the right place. I’m the “Piano Insider” and I’ll be here blogging for the Grosse Pointe Music Academy about all things piano and music lessons. I’m a passionate music teacher who loves learning and loves seeing success in music students. I’m bringing my 10+ years of experience of teaching […]
Group Guitar Classes start in September
Starting this fall, Grosse Pointe Music Academy will have 60 minute group guitar lessons. Group lessons are a fun and affordable way to get beginner guitar instruction. We have guitar classes for ages 8-12 and ages 13 to Adult. Group Guitar Classes will consist of learning guitar skills, techniques, chords, and songs; then practicing them […]
If They Build It, you Will Come
You’ve heard the saying from the 1989 hit movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.” Well, that’s a little how I felt when the Grosse Pointe Music Academy opened up in my town; just backwards, as they were the ones who built […]
Video Contest at Grosse Pointe Music Academy
Participate in this fun music video contest with a chance to with cash, music lessons, and a free T-Shirt! Are you feeling creative? We’ve decided to offer you the chance to win some cash and free music lessons by recording a solo or band musical performance. You don’t need to have any fancy equipment. We’ll […]
MUSIC TOGETHER – FAQ’s and FREE DEMOS
As a Music Together teacher I am frequently asked these questions about our early childhood mixed-age music classes: Are the same songs used every semester? Why should my child be in a mixed-age class? I’m not musical, Can I really help my child develop musical intelligence? And, my favorite: Do infants really benefit? You’re in […]
History of the Ukulele
Everybody thinks that the ukulele came from Hawaii. Well, while it’s true that the word ukulele is a Hawaiian word (it means, “Jumping flea”), the uke actually has Portuguese origin, taking its characteristics from the cavaquinho and the rajao. It is said that Portuguese immigrants brought the ukulele to the islands in the late 1800’s […]
Music Together Free Demo Classes
August 23, 2011 EXPERIENCE MUSIC TOGETHER FOR FREE Why just read about a great activity to with your young child – come experience the “joy of family music” at Music Together of Grosse Pointe! We offer mixed-age licensed Music Together classes at the Grosse Pointe Music Academy. Our classes meet for 45 minutes, once a […]
When to adjust your instrument’s truss rod:
In my repair shop, I am often asked how often a “truss rod” should be adjusted. Unfortunately, there is no clear response for this question. The truss rod is in place in case it is needed, not because it is needed. In an ideal world, your truss rod would never require an adjustment unless your […]
Call Me RkrMom
If you’re smarter than I am – and you probably are! – you know that the famous first line of Herman Melville’s classic literary work Moby Dick is: “Call Me Ishmael.” By titling this, my first ever blog-post: “Call Me RkrMom,” am I attempting to tell you that this blog is destined go down in […]
When should you get your amp looked at by a professional?
When should you get your amp looked at by a professional? Is your amp making odd noises every time you pick? Do your controls crunch when you turn them? Does your speaker squak instead of speak? Does a slap on the side improve your tone? Do you […]
Group Piano Lessons for Adults and Children
This fall semester, Grosse Pointe Music Academy will offer Group Piano instruction for students in different age groups. Classes will be for ages 5-7, ages 8-12 and ages 13 and up. Group piano lessons are a fun way for piano or keyboard students to interact in […]
Violin Lessons
Pleased to meet you, my name is Jennifer and I am a violin and piano instructor at the Grosse Pointe Music Academy. The following list is a personal account of why I believe violin lessons are crucial for your child’s development and future. I began taking private violin […]
New Odyssey – 3 Guys, 30 instruments Performance in Grosse Pointe Farms
Gags, gusto and far more than simple guitar riffs mark New Odyssey’s unique stage show. Three guys wield 30 instruments and combine their individual virtuosity to form a raucous production featuring comedy, skits and audience participation. “Once it gets going, they start putting on costumes and getting people onstage,” said Sandy Harmon, general manager of […]
The Power of Music Babble
August 9, 2011 The power of Music Babble One of the most powerful things I’ve learned my education as early childhood music specialist is that music IS a language. This is more than a catchy or cliché saying –its actually researched based and proven true. Based on the research of Gordon and the Music Learning […]