Getting your child to practice their instrument can be a struggle, but should they switch instruments or quit music altogether? Here’s some expert advice from Grace Music School’s Mate Marcina and Kim Wong to help them stay motivated and engaged. The perks of music education are well-known: better mindfulness, confidence, reading skills, and social abilities. […]
Practice is critical to being a musician. While it’s important to spend plenty of time taking music lessons and performing, practice will truly help you improve your skills and ensure you’re playing at your best. At the same time, you need to make sure you’re getting the most from your practice sessions to progress effectively. Otherwise, you’ll […]
Music lessons entail much more than merely playing musical notes and scales. As with anything else, the more a person prepares and practices, the better they’ll get over time. When preparing for music lessons for the first time, there are some steps that students can take to ensure their lesson goes smoothly. Getting off to […]
After spending time practicing, taking music lessons, networking, and looking for the ideal opportunities, you may have successfully landed a singing audition. Congratulations on this achievement! However, excitement about this opportunity is often met with anxiety about how to prepare for it. Auditions actually entail considerably more than merely singing a song. There are many […]
While school might be out for the summer, children should still keep busy and continue their education. Along with family BBQs, sunny beach days, and other exciting activities that take advantage of the summer weather and increased free time, children can spend more time learning to play an instrument. There are several reasons why children […]
There is a particular section of symphony orchestras that has the ability to both stimulate and lull the audience, and this is known as the woodwind section. Instruments in the woodwind section produce a variety of pitches, with each instrument producing a unique sound. If you’re interested in learning more about this section, here we’ll […]
Both the violin and the cello are among the most well-known string instruments, and many people are interested in playing them over others in the string family. However, the right instrument for you will depend on a number of factors. Knowing the differences between these two popular instruments can help you determine which to learn […]
It’s something you’ve probably heard time and again, that a person’s singing voice is a gift they’ve inherited from birth. Is that really the case? Or is there something more to a good singing voice than natural talent? People have spent years debating whether someone is born a singer or if it’s something anyone can […]
It’s that time of year, again,… college application time. No matter what your dream school is, we’re sure you want to beef up your application as much as possible in order to give yourself the best fighting chance to be accepted. While you’re adding all of your extracurricular activities, you may be wondering, does playing […]
Learning to play music is the kind of activity that has the potential to change a person’s life. Aside from the simple pleasure of playing an instrument, which in itself can be immensely enjoyable, there are also lots of benefits of music lessons and ways in which music can expand your experience as a human […]
Learning your first instrument can be an extremely rewarding and pleasantly memorable experience. As musicians, it’s often the instruments we start off with that we continue to love the most throughout our lives. At some point though, we realize that there are other sounds, techniques, and musical experiences that can only be explored by branching out […]
As a musician, playing in cold weather can be an uncomfortable and sometimes challenging experience. Regardless of which instrument you play, it’s just not as fun having the wind whipping at you or the cold nipping at your exposed skin. Marching bands become downright miserable, your lips are already chapped, and trying to finger the […]
NYSSMA is a professional organization that evaluates elementary to high school-aged student musicians in New York. Participating students have the option to perform scales, a solo piece, or an ensemble piece of their choice, as long as it’s from the designated NYSSMA repertoire. The best way to achieve a high score is to prepare as […]
As with any physical activity, stretching is extremely important for singers before belting out a tune. Having a warmup routine to stretch the vocal cords is always a good idea for both health reasons and for improving one’s singing skills. While every singer’s warmup is unique, there are a few key elements to a warmup […]
If your child loves music, you already understand some of the benefits that come along with learning to play an instrument. Learning music is a hobby that entertains your child and fills him with pride when he accomplishes a new goal. Child musicians gain confidence, build friendships, and find personal satisfaction in a job well […]
Performance anxiety is a surprisingly common issue for many musicians. While they may look confident, even experienced musicians often feel nervous when preparing to play an instrument in front of an audience. This type of nervousness is completely normal. Not all tension is bad. In fact, feeling tense while performing can help you stay focused and […]
No matter how successful you are as a musician, there are definitely small moments in most performances that we wish hadn’t gone that way. So how can you work to fix small performance mistakes that are so common among musical performers? Here are some ways to tackle even the smallest and most persistent errors. Lack of Practice […]
Do you get nervous anytime you are about to go on stage or perform for an audience? Do your hands sweat and shake, or do you feel nauseous or lightheaded? If you answered yes to any of those, you may suffer from stage fright. Don’t worry though! Even the most seasoned of professionals still get […]
Whether you are new to music lessons or an old timer looking for ways to get more out of your current lessons, incorporating a few of these ideas will make your experience more rewarding and joyful. Starting at the Right Age – How Young is Too Young? Adults may start any instrument at any time. […]