It’s springtime and summer is right around the corner. Time to pack up your instruments and head out to summer camps and vacations. Here are some tips to make sure your instrument arrives safely and in pristine performance condition: Flying tips: The rules relaxed a smidge in the spring of 2015 and you can carry-on small instruments like flutes and clarinets, maybe even a trumpet sized case...
Read MoreChoosing a Better Recital Song Recital season is looming on the horizon, and it’s time to make song selections! In the name of fairness, I make a point to give students the opportunity to submit requests for recital songs before we make a final decision. This does not always go the way I would hope – some students need more guidance than “Pick a song you...
Read MoreAn easy way to spot a guitar player is to look at their fingernails. Many guitarists will have almost no fingernail on the left hand while having perfectly shaped, long and polished fingernails on the right. Although not mandatory for all guitarists, those of us who play classical guitar could not imagine playing without them. Musicians who do not play classical guitar may still have...
Read MoreSo, a few months ago I wrote about starting your musical New Year’s Resolution. How are you doing with your practice routine? I must admit I failed after two weeks! I got sick with bronchitis and then there was a death in my family. If you remember my blog I noted that “internet research indicates that you have a whopping 20% chance of sticking to...
Read More
There comes a point in every students’ learning when practice becomes arduous and stale. This can happen to any student at any age or skill level. Often hectic work or school schedules leave little time for practice making it feel like a chore, or students plateau at times and feel as if they are not making progress. The plateau often happens at the intersect of...
Read More