Every once in awhile, a student will ask me a question that seems like it should be easy to answer but isn’t. Recently, I had a young vocalist ask me who my favorite singer is. The follow-up question: “Why are they the best?” got me thinking a little bit more. The student in question is […]
0ver the course of my playing and teaching career I’ve developed a couple rules. These rules are simple, but effective for the students that follow them. I’ve developed these rules to help students think about and process the information they are seeing in their music, to help them understand the importance of listening to what […]
It’s That Time of Year! December is in full swing and we’re getting ready for family celebrations. It’s easy to get lost in all the hustle and bustle of planning and partying. Consider setting aside some time to give the gift of sharing music during the holiday season – it requires some preparation, and a […]
My favorite egg shaker cracked recently, boo! Instead of hopping on Amazon or running to a local music store, I thought it might be fun to try using some modern technology to see if I could make my own! Let’s get started: I have a laser cutter and a stash of thin stock hardwood scraps […]
Let’s get to know CSM’s Folk Instruments! Today’s instrument is the Tank Drum – also known as the tongue drum, or hank drum. What is a Tank Drum? The Tank Drum is a cushion-shaped percussion instrument made from metal. The top of the drum is sliced into small petal or tongue shapes to create different […]
As musicians, we understand the importance of expression when it comes to interpreting a piece. As teachers, we want to help our students develop technical skills that will allow him/her to play in a manner that touches an audience. In order to decide what techniques to apply, however, a musician has to have a clear […]
One of my favorite teaching techniques is letting my students teach me. This is valuable to the teaching process as it allows students an opportunity to verbalize what they’ve learned. It is an opportunity for teachers to gauge their student’s comprehension of topics covered during lessons. In addition, it helps with a student’s communication skills […]
The controversy over tablature comes from the fact the tablature is not reading music. It generally does not indicate rhythm, key, notes, and much more. Therefore, trying to learn or teach anyone using tablature exclusively is very detrimental to the learning process. Students who are taught or learn this way often find it difficult to […]
With all disciplines there are many small/basic items that a student needs to utilize for success. These items are not the glamorous new instrument or sound effect, but the everyday, organizational office items that can make a huge difference in a students’ progress. These items include whole punches, tape, stapler, liquid paper, pencils, folder, sticky […]
A commonly over looked aspect of learning an instrument is performing. Often new students will feel insecure about their playing, feel like they are never ready, may be prone to stage fright, or some teachers may not offer their students performance opportunities. Lack of performing can be detrimental to learning an instrument because it takes […]
My interpretation of the dictionary’s definition of tone is that: tone is the quality that a musician uses to create their personal sound that will influence their audience. I thought I could easily write a quick blog on tone and be done. But after thinking acutely for three minutes and looking back on my 35+ […]
What would you say is the most important aspect of exceling in music? Daily practice? Is it mastering technique? Developing artistry and musicality? Becoming experienced in live performance? These are all admirable elements of becoming a well-rounded musician, however, long-term success is built on a solid foundation. That foundation is built on Warm-ups! Look at […]
In observance of Black History Month, we are sharing a special blog post by Elizabeth Busch, guest author, bassoon student of CSM’s Matt Ogden, and senior student at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. “Unfortunately the work of a woman composer is preconceived by many to be light, froth, lacking in depth, logic and […]
As a musician, in the past few days, I have reflected on the life of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, especially on her life-long love for opera. She was famous for appearing in the front row of almost every performance of the Washington National Opera and the Washington Concert Opera (I personally saw her […]
Recital season is looming on the horizon, and it’s time to make song selections! In the name of fairness, I make a point to give students the opportunity to submit requests for recital songs before we make a final decision. This does not always go the way I would hope – some students need more […]
The challenges of social isolation, the suspension of ensemble gatherings and an overall sense that live musical performance with large audiences may not be the norm for some time can certainly discourage budding and professional musicians alike, especially in this season of uncertainty. You or someone you know may be facing challenges with staying motivated […]
As young musicians, our tendency for practicing is to pick up our instrument and just go, essentially just hoping for the best. There is some progress you’ll see over a long period of that style of practicing but, ultimately, it is just shy of a waste of time. When you put a little time into […]
With so many of us spending more time at home, we have more time than ever for practicing music. How is your music practice holding up as we enter another week of quarantine and social distancing? Here are a few practice ideas for those of us who are feeling a little stuck or need a […]
To continue our series on folk instruments, let’s take a look at the Autoharp! CSM’s autoharp is a ChromaHarp by Sekova, circa 1967! What is an autoharp? Autoharps are part of the zither family. The instrument consists of a trapezoid-shaped soundbox with a round sound hole. The soundbox is mounted with loop-ended strings (CSM’s has […]
Do your students get frustrated when they practice to a metronome? Years ago, when I first began teaching some part-time lessons to friend’s kids I did not have a home or studio to teach in, so I taught in each students home, driving from house to house. This gave me a bunch of great experience […]
Improvisation is the act of accessing creativity in the moment and under pressure, to resolve or direct the resolution of a situation to meet objectives. It is the ability to converge composition, creativity and execution to achieve success. And the benefits of learning improvisation have been proven in both young people and adults to improve […]
A debated topic amongst guitar students and teachers is the use of tablature. Modern guitar tablature (tab) is a system of lines representing strings and numbers signaling which fret to push down. This is a system in which many self-taught guitar students use to start teaching themselves basic chords and riffs. I am in the […]
My college vocal instructor often commented: “The voice is a slow moving instrument.” What he meant was that in terms of development, students are often unaware of the changes that are taking place. I often have students ask me if they’re doing well in voice lessons because they don’t hear the difference between the singing […]
An important part of learning an instrument and performing is bowing properly. Often overlooked, taking a bow properly puts the finishing touches on a performance and adds to a student’s confidence. Not knowing this skill can lead to awkwardness in what otherwise might be a fine performance. Every teacher and instrument have their own process […]