by Jennene Estes I happen to love holiday and Christmas music, and it is not just that the melodies are so classic and they conjure up wonderful old memories of enjoyable times growing up with my family and church in a rural Virginia farming community. What I’ve discovered as a piano teacher is the power of one of those old melodies to actually change a young...
Read MoreBy Alyssa Cowell There’s no two ways about it, the year is winding down and we’re heading into the holiday season. While everyone knows that means Christmas songs will be on the radio imminently, I recently found myself wondering what kind of music the attendees of the first Thanksgiving might have enjoyed. To my disappointment, and admittedly, the small amount of research available, I find that the...
Read MoreBy Drew Holcomb Navy Seal training is considered some of the toughest military training in the world. With such high dropout rates, the Navy decided to find out what makes a successful candidate. What neurologists found is that it’s not always those who are physically strong, but more importantly those who are also mentally strong as well. To improve the candidate’s success, neurologists created the “Four...
Read MoreWritten by Sarah Haughton I’m in the process of training for a half-marathon. During the final days leading up to the race, part of my training includes what I like to call “race simulation”. Simulation allows you to practice enduring fatigue, maintaining form, and regulating your body chemistry. All of these elements find their equivalents in performance preparation. The goal in race and performance simulation is not to...
Read Moreby Alyssa Cowell Performance Etiquette Reminders for the Upcoming Recital Season As the school year begins and the recital season draws closer, it’s a good time to review some performance etiquette practices! You’ve practiced diligently to memorize your piece, you’ve signed up for a time slot, and you’ve had your dress rehearsal with your accompanist. It’s time to perform in recital! If you’re like most recital participants, you’re...
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