Jan

Practice Without Picking Up An Instrument

COMMENTS: 0

Learn how to practice your instrument when you don’t have it with you! Learning an instrument and becoming a musician is as much mental as it is physical (if not more).

That means you can “practice your instrument” wherever you are.

Concepts and Techniques. In music, there are many concepts and techniques that need to be memorized, and this is possible to master without using your instrument.
•   Ear training
•   Rhythm
•   Harmony

Visualize. Whenever you’re bored or have some downtime (and you don’t have your instrument), mentally visualize your instrument and play it. Try to visualize your fingers actually pushing down the notes or plucking the guitar strings. This may sound silly, but it can be an effective technique if you’re serious about it.

Remembering to Practice. Remembering to mentally practice can be difficult, especially at first. Try to pick something you do often throughout the day (taking a drink of water, doing a specific task etc.) and use that to remind yourself to practice. If you pick one simple thing to practice (humming a note, visualizing a chord etc.) every time you hang up your phone for a week, eventually you’ll have mastered it.

Listen. Music surrounds us in our daily lives; it’s everywhere from grocery stores to elevators. Listen to the music playing and study it. Try to listen for a concept you’ve been working on or find the harmony. This will fine tune your musical ear and enhance your playing.

These simple tips get rid of any excuses you might have about how you’re too busy to practice.

Nov

The Perfect After School Hobby

COMMENTS: 0

Why music lessons make the perfect after school hobby.

School has already begun and children might be starting to get restless with their after school routines. Music lessons are a great way to keep kids busy and out of trouble. Tighter budgets have forced many schools to cut or severely decrease the funding for music programs. This means students may no longer have the opportunity to take music as part of their school curriculum. Music in an important part of childhood development and just because schools have cut the program does not mean children should not have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. Lesson Match offers private in-home lessons that work during your schedule. Even if you’re a busy parent, we’ll work with you to schedule a time to bring music into your child’s life. Here are a few benefits to private music lessons.

Sports and Music
Children who play a musical instrument are shown to have better hand-eye coordination than those who do not. If your child is interested in playing sports, but does not feel like they have the motor skills necessary to play, enroll them in music lessons. Music lessons can prepare children for many other activities later in life.

Achievement
Popular after school activities for many children involve video games. Children love video games because they have a sense of accomplishment when they reach a new level or overcome an obstacle that had been evading them before. Learning to play a musical instrument can have the same effect on children. Once they master a difficult piece or technique, they will feel a similar sense of achievement to when they were playing video games.

Relaxation
School can be stressful for children and sometimes they just want to come home and relax. Music can help with their relaxation. For many people, playing an instrument is a relaxing activity, especially if they’re playing a soothing song. After a stressful day at school, children can come home and practice the techniques they learned in their music lessons and the stress will melt away.

Keep your kids busy and out of trouble after school by enrolling them in music lessons with Lesson Match.

Nov

10 Drum Tips

COMMENTS: 0

Interested in taking drum lessons? Or do you already play the drums but are looking for some drum tips?

Here are a few tips to refine your technique and keep your drum set sounding great.

1. Keep your drum clean. Use a can of compressed air to get the dust out of hard to reach places like in between lugs.

2. Listen to different kinds of music. This will boost your creativity and allow you to learn new techniques. The more styles and techniques you can master, the more interesting your sound is.

3. Warm up. This is important for all instruments including the drums. Always warm up before lessons, practicing new songs, gigs etc.

4. Air drums. You don’t always have to have a drum set to practice the drums. If you’re sitting around bored with nothing to do, play the air drums. This can help refine patterns and increase your muscle memory.

5. Check your form. Make sure you’re using correct form for optimum sound. Are you holding the sticks at best place? Are you hitting the drums straight up and down?

6. Stick twirling. All crowds love stick twirling and it’s a great form of showmanship. If you don’t know how to twirl your drumsticks, there are how-to videos all over the Internet.

7. Learn to read music. Even if you are able to play the drums perfectly without reading music, reading music is a great way to expand your ability. Reading music allows you to read a song out of a book and be able to play it without having to continually take drum lessons.

8. Write down what works for you. Keep a log of practice techniques that work for you. You can also write down ideas that you’ve heard about and want to try. Keeping all these ideas together will assure you don’t forget about them and they are readily accessible.

9. Record/Videotape yourself playing. This will help you understand your form and see things you cannot see when you’re playing. Do you have a snarl on your face when you play? Is your snare drum titled?

10. Take lessons. While it may seem like you can learn anything online these days, there are things that will be easier for you to learn from an instructor. Drum instructors have been where you are and may have some helpful practice tips and techniques.

For more information about drum lessons with Lesson Match, call us at 612-460-7653.

Oct

Why Take Private Music Lessons with Band Instruments

COMMENTS: 0

If your child is enrolled in band class at school, then you might think there is no reason to enroll them in private music lessons.

Students that take private music lessons on an instrument will improve faster than if they are only learning in the classroom. It is difficult to get individualized attention and guidance in a classroom setting because there are many students.

If your child has a genuine interest in an instrument, or maybe their band teacher thinks they have special musical talent, then you should consider enrolling your child in private music lessons.

Better Ensembles
Typically, the more students enrolled in private music lessons, the better the ensemble sounds. If a few students are taking private music lessons and excelling at their instrument, other parents might see that and enroll their children as well. Band ensembles often compete in competitions and if the majority of the students are also taking private lessons the ensemble should do well.

Individualized Attention
If your child has an interest in learning an instrument, then school band classes may not be cutting it. Students interested in learning an instrument will typically practice more outside of class and be genuinely interested in learning the instrument. Some students in band classes may only be taking the class to socialize and therefore slow the progress of the entire group down. Private music lessons will give your child the training they need.

Musical Talent
All children learn at different speeds, and it can be discouraging if children see their peers excelling at something that is taking them more time to learn. Private music lessons can speed up a slower learner because a private instructor can address issues the student may be having with learning, or teach him/her better ways to practice.

Innate Ability
If your child has a serious interest in music and would like to pursue music as a career, then private lessons are a must. Music schools and ensembles (even youth ensembles) are extremely competitive and children will have to take private music lessons to ensure they are getting the proper training.

Enroll in private music lessons today with Lesson Match!

Sep

Woodwind Instrument Care

COMMENTS: 0

Like all instruments, a woodwind instrument need to be cleaned and cared for.

With proper care you can get several years of optimal performance out of your woodwind instrument. Proper instrument care begins with daily care, then monthly and yearly maintenance. The daily care is up to you, but there are some things you should leave to a professional.

Here are some things you can do yourself and things you should let professions do to keep your instrument clean.

Daily Care

1.   When removing an instrument from its case, never pick it up by the keys! Remove it by picking it up by a sturdy place without keys.
2.   Be sure to rub all the joints with a soft cloth to remove any debris or build up. For clarinets, apply a small amount of cork grease to the tenon corks.
3.   Put the instruments together using slow back-and-forth twisting motions. Never push or pull on the instrument when assembling or disassembling as this can damage the tenons (joints).
4.   When tightening the screws on the ligature, be careful not to over tighten as this can also damage the instrument.
5.   After you’re finished playing, pull a cleaning swab through all parts to remove moisture. Remember to carefully wipe off the outside of the instrument as well to remove any oils caused by your hand.
6.   Always store instruments in their cases! Do not put anything else in the case as this can cause damage to the keys.

Monthly Care

1. Check all screws and pivots to see if they’re coming loose. If they are, take your instrument to a repair shop to have them adjusted. Do not try to adjust them yourself as this can cause over tightening and damage to the instrument.

Yearly Care

1.   You take your woodwind instrument to a repair shop once a year to have your instrument checked.
2.   If you never find anything wrong with your instrument during your monthly checks, it is still recommended that you have it checked yearly. A professional might see something you don’t and repair it.
3.   Yearly checks are necessary to ensure optimal performance of your instrument.

If you’re ever not sure about the proper instrument care, ask a professional to ensure no damage is done to your woodwind instrument.

Aug

Tips for Buying Used Musical Instruments

COMMENTS: 0

Buying a full priced instrument can be a big investment, especially if you’re not completely sure you want to learn the instrument. There are tons of musical instruments out there and chances are you won’t like the first instrument you pick up. Buying used instruments can be a great way to save money, however, there are a few risks involved in purchasing a used instrument.

Be aware of who and where you’re buying the instrument. If you’re buying an instrument at a garage sale, see if you can talk to the owner of the instrument and find out why they are selling it or how long it was used. If you’re buying a used instrument online, be sure to read some customer reviews or make sure they have a good customer satisfaction rating. Try to ask as many questions as possible from the person you’re buying the instrument from.

Bring along a friend who knows a lot about music/musical instruments. A musician would be able to help you determine the overall condition of the instrument. He/she would also know what types of questions to ask the seller.

Make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Before buying a used instrument, make sure what you’re paying for the instrument is worth it. Find out how much that particular instrument sells for brand new, or how much others are selling it for used.

Spend some time looking at the instrument. If an instrument has significant external damage, chances are it will have some internal damage as well. With some instruments, like the keyboard, you should play the instrument before purchasing. Both examining the external condition and playing the instrument can tell you a lot about the instrument.

Don’t be in a hurry! Spend some time looking into different options. Learn to tell the difference between broken instruments and used instruments that are nearly new. Taking your time will also allow you to ensure you’re getting a good quality used instrument for a decent price.

May

Choosing the Right Instrument

COMMENTS: 0

Music lessons are great for kids for a number of reasons, but before choosing an instrument there are a few things to consider.

The size of the instrument can be a deciding factor depending on where your child needs this instrument. If your child is going to be taking band classes at school, then a larger instrument, like a baritone sax, may not be the right choice. Also consider if your home has room for a piano or drum set, as these can take up quite a bit of space.

If your child is unsure of what instrument they want to play, then you can ask them a few questions to figure out what instrument would be right for them. If they dislike classical music then lessons in guitar or drums may be more for them. Love jazz music? Then you might consider trumpet or saxophone lessons. Many famous musicians will say that they decided to play that particular instrument because their idol (Louis Armstrong, Jimi Hendrix etc.) played it. Mimicking an idol can be a good way to begin playing an instrument.

Cost is another big issue to consider before choosing an instrument. If you have an old piano in your living room, then piano lessons might be a good place to start before investing in a new instrument. Some instruments also cost less than others, such as, trumpet or clarinet.

The piano is by far the most popular instrument that young students learn to play. That is because the piano is a great way to begin learning about music; the basic theories and practices of music are easily seen on a piano or keyboard. Piano students can become familiar with the chords and harmonic structure in a way that is not easily attainable with other instruments. If you’re not sure what instrument to start your child on, the piano is a good choice. In fact, many school band instructors prefer students that have a background in piano.

Practice Without Picking Up An Instrument

That means you can “practice your instrument” wherever you are.

These simple tips get rid of any excuses you might have about how you’re too busy to practice.

The Perfect After School Hobby

Why music lessons make the perfect after school hobby.

Keep your kids busy and out of trouble after school by enrolling them in music lessons with Lesson Match.

10 Drum Tips

Interested in taking drum lessons? Or do you already play the drums but are looking for some drum tips?

Here are a few tips to refine your technique and keep your drum set sounding great.

For more information about drum lessons with Lesson Match, call us at 612-460-7653.

Why Take Private Music Lessons with Band Instruments

If your child is enrolled in band class at school, then you might think there is no reason to enroll them in private music lessons.

If your child has a genuine interest in an instrument, or maybe their band teacher thinks they have special musical talent, then you should consider enrolling your child in private music lessons.

Enroll in private music lessons today with Lesson Match!

Woodwind Instrument Care

Like all instruments, a woodwind instrument need to be cleaned and cared for.

Here are some things you can do yourself and things you should let professions do to keep your instrument clean.

If you’re ever not sure about the proper instrument care, ask a professional to ensure no damage is done to your woodwind instrument.

Tips for Buying Used Musical Instruments

Choosing the Right Instrument

Lesson Match Locations