April 2, 2018
With a few simple, affordable supplies and this step-by-step guidance, musicians and music directors can easily learn to service rotor valves. This can be of great benefit in both emergency situations and as a matter of regular maintenance. While there are many points of service that can be attended to without great investment or advanced […]
December 1, 2017
By Scott Schwertfeger, Guitar instructor in Burke, VA The modern, nylon string “classical” guitar is an amazing instrument and vehicle for music expression. It comes from a long line of distant cousins, including the Lute, Vihuela, Renaissance Guitar, and Baroque Guitar. Since the first construct of the modern design in 1859 by Antonio de Torres […]
November 9, 2017
Most music teachers use what are known as method books. Method books are like textbooks for learning to play an instrument, master a particular technique, or just to provide a useful structure to a student’s practice with an instrument. There are many different method books available to students for every instrument they might want to […]
November 5, 2017
Teaching music is a rewarding, yet challenging profession. Students come in with varying degrees of musical talent and knowledge and each progresses at his/her own pace. Fitting in some extra practice usually makes a big difference to a student’s advancement. You can remind students to practice at home, but there’s no telling whether or not […]
November 1, 2017
The most wonderful (aka stressful) time of the year is quickly approaching for many music teachers, and if you’ve never attended a solo or ensemble festival with your students you’re in for a treat. There’s nothing quite like having your students stand up in front of a judge to perform a solo or ensemble that […]
August 5, 2017
Drum circle, you say? Viewed with great suspicion in the past, the contemporary facilitated drum circle and other rhythm-based experiences have found their way into organizations of all kinds, both public and private, and are used to create social connection, encourage creative expression, and as part of a comprehensive music program, are great tools for […]
July 26, 2017
What’s the best type of guitar? No matter what grade levels you teach, the best guitar for classroom use is the classic or nylon-stringed guitar. The strings are much easier on the fingers than steel-stringed guitars. Note that three of the six nylon strings appear to be metal, but they have a nylon-filament core. What’s […]
July 22, 2017
Watching Steph Curry or LeBron James do amazing things on the basketball court inspires participation in the sport—just like hearing great artists motivates kids to channel their creative energy into making music. Young people know all the best artists in their favorite genre, but they don’t usually know the top bassoonist or harpist in their […]
July 18, 2017
Becoming a good guitar teacher requires the perfect combination of education, intuition, and practice, and a big part of being a good teacher is knowing what NOT to do. When you avoid common guitar teaching mistakes, from overloading your students to not tracking progress, not only do you become a better teacher, but your students […]
June 21, 2017
As a nominee for the Music Educator of the Year 2016 title, there is someone who thinks your music teaching has touched students in a deep and profound way. Every music educator that earns the honor of this nomination should take the time to apply! This was very affirming for me as I was able […]
