Our music education
Blog
for parents and students.
No matter the age, music theory can be made into an fun and enjoyable subject. Even though we at Vibe love getting nerdy and possibly talking too long about all of the theoretical knowledge we geek-out on, we are careful to present music theory in our lessons with a completely understandable approach for even the youngest ages. Here’s a fun way to supplement your student’s learning in music theory with none other than… a pizza!
Studies show that the older one gets, the more difficult it is to add skills to an already full brain. However, we have seen time after time that musicians prove this wrong! Brahms didn’t write his first symphony until age 40. Wes Montgomery (known as one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time) didn’t pick up a guitar until his twenties. Bill Withers (“Lean On Me”, “Ain’t No Sunshine”) didn’t begin until his thirties. It is absolutely possible! Here are some tips we have to allow greater success in learning the guitar (specifically) once adulthood is in full force.
The first song I ever wrote was in high school for a girl I liked. I thought if I wrote a good song she would go out with me. Turns out, I was wrong. But she was an inspiration to get me started, and I got great feedback from her friends. Fast forward 10 years and I have written over 30 songs and will be releasing a full length studio album with my band, Ross Hollow, this summer. Here are some of the concepts that have helped me the most.
Whether they’re attached at the hip or have nothing in common, sharing a musical experience can be a great learning activity for siblings to participate in together. Whether it be in the context of a music lesson or life in general, students of any age can benefit from the positive competition and encouragement that only siblings can provide. Here’s a couple thoughts in favor of co-op music lessons for siblings.
Congratulations, you’ve decided to embark on a musical journey that has the potential to last a lifetime. You’ve decided you want to play JAZZ! Now I know this journey can seem intimidating; it can even be scary. But stay cool, I’m here to give you a few ideas on how you can get started on becoming the next jazz legend.
Do you ever sit down to watch TV at the end of the day and not know what to put on? It’s not like there’s any shortage of great shows and movies to watch, and yet, how can you be sure that the one you pick isn’t going to be a let down - or worse… a waste of your time? Choosing music to learn to play on the guitar can feel the same way at times; there’s literally an endless sea of repertoire to choose from, but how do I know that I’m choosing the right song in the right style at the right difficulty?
Are you tired of playing the same old chords over and over again, only to produce the same sound? There are always additional notes we can add to chords to add much more “flavor”. In fact, music wouldn’t be the same today without the bold inventions and creativity of artists with unconventional chords. The list of available combinations of notes to form a chord (any three notes played at the same time) is very long, so for the purposes of this article we will explore the most basic options.
Your child has expressed interest in learning the piano? Hurrah! Mazel tov! Sound the trumpets! That is WONDERFUL news. News so great that it would be a shame to not set your kiddo up to succeed, right? Well luckily, we’ve started hundreds of students on the piano, and we’ve got four tips to help you and your kid avoid some obstacles that cause a lot of people to quit prematurely.
