Choosing 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...
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by Robert Fisher, Catoctin School of Music Ask any seasoned music teacher what they view as one of the most critical elements for success in music lesson and the words “motivation” and “practice” will move to the top of the list. As the old saying goes, “the teacher opens the door, but the student must walk through it”. In a time where attention spans are seemingly...
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by Jamey Mann, Catoctin School of Music Injuries for musicians are common and something all teachers and students must take seriously. A student ignoring pain or a teacher not paying attention to a student’s technique may have dire consequences in the future. Most recently Steve Vai (one of world’s best and accomplished guitarist with over 4 decades of experience) suffered an injury in his left hand...
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Let’s get to know CSM’s Folk Instruments! Today’s instrument is the Tank Drum – also known as the tongue drum, or hank drum. What is a tank drum? The tank drum is a cushion-shaped percussion instrument made from metal. The top of the drum is sliced into small petal or tongue shapes to create different pitches when struck with a mallet. When played, the tank drum has...
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By Robert Fisher, Catoctin School of Music How good is your memory? Are you gifted with the ability to see or hear something once and recall forever? For most musicians, even those highly trained and advanced in their specialties, overcoming forgetfulness is a part of the battle we face in daily practice. The search for perfection is elusive, yet most strive to correct mistakes and remember...
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