Two of the greatest bass players on the planet, John Patitucci and Linda May Han Oh, share stories and strategies to help students and teachers navigate the electric-acoustic divide. Plus: Gear advice and accessories picks.   For bassists, life typically begins in one of two ways: on upright, through school orchestra programs, or on electric, […]

Music & Arts teachers share best practices for building a successful teacher-parent rapport.   When Andrew Kasab started taking piano lessons as a 5-year-old, his mother would sit in to follow along with Andrew’s progress and reinforce his lessons at home. Decades later, after Kasab became a guitar and bass teacher at Music & Arts, […]

Music & Arts teacher and rising country star Carli Kennedy on how students can turn their nerves and self-doubt into positive performance energy.   Growing up in Canada, the singer-songwriter Carli Kennedy absorbed all kinds of crucial musical information, including rigorous classical training. But one invaluable lesson escaped every one of her esteemed teachers: How […]

The legendary bassist on his school-band experiences, his greatest teachers and how his mustache led to the end of his tuba career. Plus: Inside Levin’s BEAT touring rig

The DIVA Jazz Orchestra leader on technique, teaching, gear and why stuffing a blanket inside your bass drum isn’t the answer. Plus: the 5 common pitfalls for developing big-band drummers For a young Sherrie Maricle, there was never any question about where to focus her efforts behind the kit. “It was definitely jazz, and it […]

Explore nylon-string technique with these tips from a veteran Nashville-based guitarist and Music & Arts instructor.

Credit: Willa Rohrer. The director of the groundbreaking saxophone ensemble reflects on the teachers who changed his life, his own career as an educator, his Selmer horns and more. Matthew Levy didn’t pick up the saxophone with the intention of pursuing a career in classical music. Growing up in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Levy […]