Feb

Music Lessons for Valentine’s Day

COMMENTS: 0

Stuck on what to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and everyone buys the typical flowers, chocolate and jewelry. Music lessons may be the perfect gift for your significant other who loves to sing in the shower, or your son who plays the air guitar along to the radio. Valentine’s Day is the day to give gifts to show people they are special to you, and music lessons could be that perfect gift.

This Valentine’s Day, show your loved ones that you think outside the box and give them the gift of music!

Music lessons with Lesson Match are easy and convenient because our instructors come to your home on your time. To have a Valentine’s Day gift card sent to that special someone, or to schedule music lessons, contact Lesson Match. Our Lesson Coordinator does all the work, so you just need to let us know when you’re available and what lesson you want to learn, and we take care of the rest.

This year give a Valentine’s Day gift that will stay with someone for a lifetime!

Feb

Benefits Of In Home Music Lessons

COMMENTS: 0

Parents interested in signing their children up for music lessons, may have a difficult decision to make as to whether or not to travel to a studio for lessons or to have in home music lessons.

Here are some of the benefits of in home music lessons.

1. Probably the most obvious benefit is convenience. It’s incredibly convenient to have an instructor come to your home for a half hour (or however long the lesson is) to teach a lesson and then leave. In home music lessons can be squeezed in right after school before homework, or between homework and dinner, the possibilities are ended. In home music lessons are ideal for busy parents that don’t have the time to waste 20+ minutes driving to and from lessons.

2. Parents can become involved. Typically in a studio, the student and teacher are the only people in the room. With in home music lessons, parents can observe and learn tips to help their child practice.

3. Students retain information better when they are able to practice and have lessons in the same designated area. That way they are able to visualize the lesson and revert to that during practice time.

4. Students are always prepared for in home music lessons. Think about all the times you are rushing to get somewhere and you forget something. This happens all the time with studio lessons. Parents and students are rushing to get to the lesson and a lesson book or part of the instrument is forgotten at home. This would never happen with in home music lessons because all the materials are at the lesson area.

5. In home music lessons may seem more expensive, but are they really? Think about the time and gas money it takes to drive to the studio, drop off your student, drive around until the lesson is finished (unless you’d like to wait bored at the studio for the duration of the lesson), then drive back to the studio to pick up the student and finally drive home. In home lessons cost a little more in the beginning, but think about the gas money you’ll be saving by not having to drive anywhere (especially if you drive an SUV).

For information on private in home music lessons with Lesson Match, call now!

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.

Jan

Common Mistakes Piano Students Make When Practicing

COMMENTS: 0

There’s a reason many piano students quit before learning the basics of piano; they become bored and uninterested.

Here are a few common mistakes piano students make when practicing.

1. Not actually practicing. This is a common mistake because practicing the piano may not seem high on your or your children’s lists of things to do. If your kids are also involved in sports practices, school clubs and have homework, practicing the piano may not seem feasible. It may be a struggle to find time for your kids to practice at first, but once they begin to really enjoy playing, they will make time to practice.

2. Practicing what you already know. It may be fun to play through songs or chords you are already familiar with, but what are you really learning? This habit is common because students get excited with the result of progress with the piano and continue to play what they just learned. This is often followed by boredom and discouragement. Make it your goal to try something new during each practice session to keep things interesting.

3. Learning parts of a piece well and not the rest. This mistake is common because as students try to play through a piece of music, they will stumble towards the middle and start over. Eventually you have the beginning of the piece down, but are continuing to make the same mistakes in the middle. Instead of always starting at the beginning of a piano piece, work on parts that you’re having trouble with.

4. Practice isn’t fun. When learning something new there is always a certain amount of effort required, this goes for musical instruments as well. Instead of trying to squeeze practice time in, set aside specific time for it. Create a comfortable practice space and use it as relaxation time. Keep in your mind that as the more you practice, the better you will get and the more fun practicing and playing will be.

For some tips and tricks on how to avoid these mistakes, contact Lesson Match to enroll in piano lessons!

Dec

10 Reasons to Give a Musical Instrument as a Gift

COMMENTS: 0

An Instrument makes the perfect gift!

Having trouble deciding on a gift for someone this Holiday season? Give them a musical instrument! Many people are interested in learning an instrument but either do not have that instrument or just haven’t taken the steps to begin learning to play.

Here are some reasons why a musical instrument could make the perfect gift.

1. Cost. Buying a used instrument or music lessons for someone is not as expensive as you may think. A used instrument could be the perfect way to turn someone on to music so they will want to invest in a higher quality instrument. Click here for some tips about buying used instruments.

2. Bonding. You’ll often hear that someone comes from a “musical family” and that’s because people bond over shared interests. Families that can play or learn instruments together will naturally bond over the shared interest.

3. Depression. Studies show that music affects people’s moods. Keep your family’s spirits up by giving them music lessons.

4. Age. It’s a myth that you have to learn to play instruments while you’re young. While it may be easier to retain information at a young age, adults have the discipline and attention span necessary for learning an instrument. You’re never too old to learn to play an instrument.

5. Caroling. Do you have friends or family that love to go Christmas caroling? This year, get them music lessons so they will be the talk of the town with their vocal talent.

6. Nostalgia. Many people have a certain instrument they associate with their childhood. Whether they loved listening to jazz or their grandpa played the guitar, they probably have some pastime that involves music. The gift of memories could be the perfect gift this year.

7. Regret. Odds are if you know people that do not play an instrument, they wish they did. Make those regrets a thing of the past by giving them an instrument for Christmas this year.

8. Stress. Music and playing an instrument are shown to fight off stress. Music is often associated with relaxation. If you know someone who gets stressed out easily, give him/her an instrument and watch the stress melt away.

9. Value. All gifts have a different value to the receiver. While your kids might request certain gifts within this year’s fad, an instrument could be the gift they didn’t know they wanted. The gift of music is one that lasts a lifetime.

10. Want. Give someone an instrument for Christmas because they asked for it and they want it. It may seem like a big investment, but if people want to learn an instrument, they will.

This year, give someone the gift of music by giving them an instrument.

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.

Oct

Always Ask a Piano Salesperson These Questions!

COMMENTS: 0

A piano is a great instrument to invest in if you’re truly interested in learning it.

If you don’t know a whole lot about pianos or buying pianos, here are a few questions to ask the salesperson that will tell you a lot about the piano you’re buying.

How long since the piano was last tuned?
This is an important question to ask because problems can arise if a piano has gone too long without tuning. If you purchase a piano that has not been tuned in over a year, be prepared to pay for repairs.

Has it had any serious issues or repairs?
Be sure to ask if the instrumebnt has had any previous problems, special tunings or serious repairs. Always consider the piano’s ago when asking these questions. A 40-year-old piano has probably had some work done and might play just fine. A 10-year-old piano that has had serious repairs done is suspicious and something to watch out for. If you purchase a beat-up piano, be prepared to pay for repairs and upkeep.

How long has the piano been in its current environment?
Pianos are sensitive to temperature and light; take note of where the it is currently being housed and find out where else it had been before. A consistent, stable environment out of direct light and humidity is the best place for a piano. Be cautious if it has ever been housed in a less than desirable climate.

How has the piano been cleaned and maintained?
Pianos are delicate instruments that need to be cleaned with care; otherwise they can suffer interior and exterior damage. If your buying a used piano, ask how the piano has been cleaned in the past. If any harsh chemicals have been used on the piano, it could have internal damage.

Who is responsible for moving?
Most piano retailers will help you make arrangements to move the piano. If you’re buying from a private seller, you will most likely be responsible for moving the piano yourself. If you have to move the piano yourself, it is important to hire professions to make sure your new piano is not damaged.

For more information about pianos and piano lessons, contact Lesson Match!

Sep

10 Tips for Buying a New Piano

COMMENTS: 0

New pianos are a big investment; so before going out and buying the first piano you see, there are a few things to consider.

1. Shop around. Pianos are not all the same and every one will not be right for you. Make sure and look at as many pianos as you can before making a decision. Always remember to play and inspect a any instrument before you buy it!
2. Placement. Make sure you have a space ready for your new piano before you buy it. Factors such as room size, carpeting etc. will make a difference in how it sounds. When buying a piano, be conscious of the space you’re going to put the it in; if you’re not sure how a piano would sound in your space, don’t be afraid to ask.
3. Moving. Before purchasing a piano, find out who is responsible for moving it. Private retailers usually expect you (the buyer) to do the moving yourself, while large piano manufacturers will often handle the moving for you. Always remember to hire professionals to assist with the moving. Moving a piano by yourself will cause expensive damage to your new instrument.
4. Hire a professional. Having a professional help you choose a piano is a good idea if you don’t know a whole lot about pianos.
5. Play. Don’t be afraid to play and test the piano thoroughly before you buy it to be sure it is in good condition.
6. Age. Pianos have a long life span (30-60 years), so don’t be turned off if a piano is 20 years old, it could still be in pristine condition.
7. Be cautious. If a seller is trying to turn your attention to the new finish on the exterior of the piano rather than telling you about the life of it, be suspicious. This is a common trick to distract buyers from actual problems with the instrument.
8. Initial call. Before taking the time to drive over and look at a piano, call the seller and get some background information about the piano. Information like age and value of the piano will help you decide whether or not to actually take time to look at the piano.
9. Tune. Before taking lessons with your new piano, be sure that it is properly tuned. Practicing on an out of tune piano will get you nowhere.
10. Price. Plan on spending at least $100 on moving and tuning the piano (this is on top of the cost of the piano). Don’t try to save money by moving the piano yourself when a professional piano mover can safely move it.

Once you have a piano, contact Lesson Match to enroll in lessons!

Sep

Moving a Piano

COMMENTS: 0

While a piano may seem like another piece of furniture easily moved from one room to another with some force, it is not. The piano is a delicate instrument and if damaged can result in hundreds to thousands of dollars in repair. Here are a few things to consider before moving your piano.

Room to room
Before moving a piano from one room to another, really decide if it needs to be moved. Pianos weigh hundreds of pounds and are not easy to move. Think about when you’re moving the couch (typically about 100lbs.) and something happens and you accidentally drop the couch. No big deal right? Now think about the same thing happening when moving a piano (300-1,500lbs.). Piano legs are the most likely thing to get damaged and can be high cost to get fixed. A simple drop of the piano can result in external and internal damage. Instead of planning on moving the piano, really think about where you’re going to put it before it arrives. Pianos should be placed in a room where there are little or no drafts, directly out of sunlight to avoid discoloration and in a place where humidity is low because high humidity can cause your piano to go out of tune faster. If you have to move the piano to a different room, make sure you have plenty of strong people to help you.

New house
Obviously if you’re moving to a new house then you’ll need to move the piano, but consider hiring a professional piano mover. Professional piano movers have moved pianos before and know how to do so successfully without damaging your piano. Moving a piano a long distance without the help professionals can result in damage that costs thousands of dollars to repair (usually it’s cheaper to buy a new piano than to have it rebuilt). Hiring a professional may cost a little money now, but it will save you lots of money down the road if you damage your piano.

Sep

Buying a Keyboard Instead of a Piano

COMMENTS: 0

A piano is an expensive instrument to invest in; luckily there are other options. A keyboard can be used for piano lessons, but there are a few things you need to know before going out and buying a cheap keyboard.

88 Weighted Keys
In order to take piano lessons on a keyboard, the keyboard needs to have 88 weighted keys. A cheap keyboard will usually be half-sized and not suitable for piano lessons, as you’ll run out of keys. Always make sure a keyboard has 88 keys. The keys also need to be weighted so it feels like a piano when you’re playing. If the keys are not weighted and touch sensitive then you won’t be able to make louder and softer sounds like you can on a piano.

Price
Keyboards are going to cost considerably less than a new piano, but still plan on spending at least $500-$1,000. Cheap keyboards typically have less than 88 keys and they are not weighted or touch sensitive; essentially they are useless for serious piano lessons. Buying a new instrument can be an investment, but if you would like to give your child a real shot at learning the piano, you need to spend a little bit of money.

Stand and Bench
Keyboards are nice because they’re portable and can be played anywhere. However, if you’re taking piano lessons, a keyboard stand and a bench are musts! The bench and stand create the feel of a real piano. If a student is playing the keyboard while sitting on their bed, they will develop poor posture.

Headphones
One major advantage of buying a keyboard over a piano is the ability to use headphones. If you live in an apartment and are worried about piano lessons because of the noise, a keyboard is a great way to go. Digital keyboards allow you to plug in headphones so only the player can hear the sounds being made. This is also great if you have multiple children taking different music lessons; they can all practice at the same time without disturbing each other.

Space
Pianos take up a lot of space, even the vertical pianos. Keyboards are small and portable so if you have a limited amount of space you can still take piano lessons.

Bells and Whistles
If you’re buying a keyboard for piano lessons, do not waste your money buying a keyboard with a bunch of buttons and sound recorders. Those add-ons can add hundreds of dollars to your price and are not necessary for regular piano lessons.

Stuck on what to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day?

This Valentine’s Day, show your loved ones that you think outside the box and give them the gift of music!

This year give a Valentine’s Day gift that will stay with someone for a lifetime!

Parents interested in signing their children up for music lessons, may have a difficult decision to make as to whether or not to travel to a studio for lessons or to have in home music lessons.

Here are some of the benefits of in home music lessons.

For information on private in home music lessons with Lesson Match, call now!

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.

There’s a reason many piano students quit before learning the basics of piano; they become bored and uninterested.

Here are a few common mistakes piano students make when practicing.

For some tips and tricks on how to avoid these mistakes, contact Lesson Match to enroll in piano lessons!

An Instrument makes the perfect gift!

Here are some reasons why a musical instrument could make the perfect gift.

This year, give someone the gift of music by giving them an instrument.

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.

A piano is a great instrument to invest in if you’re truly interested in learning it.

If you don’t know a whole lot about pianos or buying pianos, here are a few questions to ask the salesperson that will tell you a lot about the piano you’re buying.

For more information about pianos and piano lessons, contact Lesson Match!

New pianos are a big investment; so before going out and buying the first piano you see, there are a few things to consider.

Once you have a piano, contact Lesson Match to enroll in lessons!

Lesson Match Locations