US President Musicians President Harry S. Truman, the man in the White House when the United States intervened on behalf of the millions of innocent people who were being displaced and massacred by Hitler’s Nazi Germany, claimed to have practiced his piano lessons for two hours […]
Plymouth
Chocolate Cake vs. Ice Cream: Rethinking Balance at the Keyboard
When you’re creating your sound at the piano, one of the most important concepts is foreground vs. background. Melody vs. accompaniment. However, many pianists erroneously equate the idea of balance at the keyboard as the need to play all voices at the same level. As you play multiple […]
PRINCE DISCOVERS THE CURE FOR BALDNESS… GUITAR PLAYING
According to the Times of India… LONDON: Pop superstar Prince believes playing the electric guitar his entire life has stopped him from going bald. The 52-year-old pop legend, who can play 27 different instruments, is convinced the electricity that flows through a guitar when he strums it is the reason he still has luscious locks, Daily […]
A Common Mistake That’ll Grow Hair on Any Guitarist’s Palms
I see a lot of guitarists making a fundamental mistake in their approach to the instrument. It stunts their growth and holds them back, sometimes for years. The worst part is that, on the surface, the mistake seems completely harmless. That insidious mistake is playing what you already know how […]
Imagination In Instrument Design
Music is an art form that has been experimented with by humans since, quite possibly, before we had even developed the ability to verbally communicate with one another. As music has advanced, changed, and evolved, so have both humans, and the instruments that we have used to create these sounds. First, we banged sticks, and […]
If birds can learn to sing, you can too!
I’ve always that that it is really cool listening to birds imitate the sounds and songs of other animals and especially humans. Anyone who has been in the presence of birds can clearly see that they are extremely interested in music and any kind of sound. I’m pretty sure that most animals on earth have […]
Why Do We Remember Old Pop Songs But Forget Where Our Keys Are?
I’ve been posting quite a few things in the last few days about music and the human brain. If you have any interest in this subject whatsoever then you’ll certainly enjoy this video. Daniel Levitin, Neuroscientist and musician, gives some great example of how music is so absolutely important in our lives. The function of […]
“This is Your Brain on Music”
Director of McGill University’s Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition and Expertise and best-selling author of “This is Your Brain on Music,” Daniel Levitin blends cutting-edge scientific findings with his own experiences as a former record producer and still-active musician.
That’s what she said: Quotes from Famous Female Songwriters
Quotes from Famous Female Songwriters: We all have someone to look up to; these can be people who are part of our daily lives, or someone we’ve met briefly but left a lasting impression. They can also be someone famous like a celebrated musician, composer or vocalist. Let’s read and learn from these inspiring quotes […]
Health: Music and the Mind
I seem to hear more and more everyday how music helps to heal people. Maybe one day then musicians and music therapists will be as rich as the drug companies! I doubt that will ever be the case but it seems a little odd to me that music treatments haven’t become more mainstream. The article […]
Make music when practicing
The title of this blog comes from Mark Levine’s very popular Jazz Theory book. I think it is important for musicians practicing all styles to “make music when practicing” rather than just Jazz musicians. It’s common for people to think about playing those dreaded scales over and over again at the piano, guitar, or any […]
Don’t let your children quit playing music
Children will often take up a musical instrument with high hopes of becoming great at playing the instrument or great at singing. Typically the first few lessons are a lot of fun and it’s exciting to learn a few things about how to play and sing. Beginning music lessons need to be set up so […]
Exploring Classical Indian Music
Sitarist Alec Brogan will bring his vast knowledge of Indian classical music to the Grosse Pointe Music Academy in Canton for a workshop exploring Classical Indian Music. Please join us on Monday, February 27th for this unique event and learning experience. Monday February 27th from 6pm-8pm Alec Brogan has studied classical Indian music between two […]
Music makes things worthwhile
A week ago or so I wrote about how music and art are always the first thing to go whenever the public school system needs to cut back on things. I think of this again on Superbowl sunday because I think what would football be without the art and music that sell it. The Superbowl […]
Songwriting classes at GPMA
Songwriting is something that all musicians can engage in regardless of the instrument that they play and what level they are at. It is certainly helpful to know more and be well practiced on your instrument when writing songs, but learning the skills of songwriting can begin at anytime. Some of the most popular songwriters […]
What makes instruments sound different from one another?
When you listen to music, there are generally multiple instruments playing at the same time during part of or all of the song. Sometimes there might be two different instruments such as the guitar and piano, both playing the same note in the same octave at the same time. Each instrument has a unique sound […]
Temperament: Information for real musical nerds
You would think that the ideal way to tune your piano would be to make each of the consonant intervals sound exactly in tune, so that no beating could be heard. Indeed, many musicians have long regarded this as sort of ideal, but it doesn’t work out very well on a keyboard with only twelve […]
Band in a Box
Yesterday I talked for a bit about the mid-nineties device call the PMA-5 by Roland. The program on that little gadget is similar to what someone working with “Band in a Box” might experience today. Band in a Box is essentially a musical engine that generates music based on what you specify for the style, […]
Songwriting Workshop
Throughout the course of a musician’s journey usually comes a time when they are intrigued with songwriting. Modern day technology has made it possible for people to write songs using an app on their smart phones. We live at a time where the average person has production tools right at their fingertips. Famous composers like […]
Don’t cut music and art from our schools.
It seems like I hear every couple days that a school somewhere in Michigan just cut all of their funding for the music program and the art program. I understand that decisions have to be made and people often assume that music and art are not subjects that are necessary. I am someone who has […]