It’s never too early to think about warmer weather and planning for summer vacation travels – why not plan a trip to one of Virginia’s music history sites? Virginia is full of folk music traditions that are being preserved throughout the state. We may not have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but there are plenty of neat places to listen to and learn...
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One of the problems we have as musicians is a plateau in development and drive. It’s happened to almost everybody I know in one way or another and it’s the most frustrating thing to deal with. Over the years I’ve found that the most common reason for a plateau is a lack of clearly defined and achievable goals. Let me make a very clear distinction, practice...
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Does anyone else out there notice their long time students starting to lose enthusiasm once they reach 12 or 13? Maybe even younger at age 11? Many teachers I speak with say the same thing. It's a tough age. Many of those kids have been with you since they were very young. It's really amazing, isn't it? To see someone once a week from the...
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Be Prepared Being prepared is something that I have been taught since I was young. This was reiterated all my life by family, teachers, coaches, and scout leaders. Not only has this help me immensely in my musical career, but often in many other day to day life situations. In music as many other careers being prepared can mean the difference between being successful or...
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Rehearsal is an important aspect (at least it should be!) to all musicians, performers and teachers. It’s something we have spent countless hours doing throughout our careers. Whether it’s with a band, orchestra, or solo in a quiet place, it takes practice to develop good rehearsal skills. Something I ask of my students often is to walk me through their home practice and rehearsal routines. How...
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