I have long been searching for an alternative theory method for my string players. There are purely theoretical methods (Ultimate Music Theory), and Keyboard Specific methods (Snell Fundamentals), but few (and incomplete) methods for the string player. The biggest hurdle for a beginning string player is understand how their instrument relates to the music written on the page. This is especially difficult if a student...
Read MoreMy wife and I went on a wonder filled two-week vacation this past summer where we visited 16 National Parks in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Utah. I was struck by the parks beauty and enormity. Each park was new, different and built on multiple millennia of the building up and tearing down of rocks and...
Read MoreLearning an instrument can be a daunting and sometimes overwhelming task once you have made the decision to do so. From buying a quality instrument to finding a qualified teacher many beginners can find themselves spinning in circles before getting any traction. The flood of information on the internet and other sources can at times only complicate things further. Here are a few things to...
Read MoreLast week a promising young student came in for his lesson somewhat down and despondent. A sophomore in high school, we are beginning to talk about his options for college and subjects he may want to study. Naturally, being a talented student I suggested studying music as an option and we discussed several different majors and other possibilities. The student was intrigued so I told...
Read MoreFostering the habits of a successful music major I often meet students who have high hopes of pursuing music on a collegiate level. Sometimes these students are elementary school students just beginning their musical studies, and sometimes they’re in high school and much closer to their college career. No matter what age, there are habits that I believe set a student up for a better chance...
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