Advantages Of Playing Guitar

There are so many reasons to learn to play the guitar, besides the fact that you look really cool when you casually mention you play the guitar. Here are some of the reasons why I think that the guitar is an instrument worth learning.

Taking guitar lessons (or any music lessons) is so good for exercising your brain. Learning something new and continuing to grow your talent is really a "no brainer" right? Pardon the joke. As a musician and a music instructor I've seen the benefits it has on my students. I've even been told by parents that music lessons have helped their children excel in school.

Learning the guitar can be very therapeutic for not only yourself as the musician but for all the people around you listening to you play. Yes, don't be selfish, play for your family and friends, they will appreciate it. There's no greater mood lifter than some great uplifting music when you're feeling (or others are feeling) a little low. I know it can make day completely turn around for the better.

Another great thing about the guitar is it is easily portable! The two most popular instruments to learn are usually the piano and guitar. The one thing that the guitar holds over the piano is the fact you can easily bring it with you to play where you like. Whether you're wanting to play at a friend's or bring it along for some fun at a camping trip. Whatever the reason, you have to love the fact you can carry it around.

Confidence is another perk of taking guitar lessons. As with learning anything and accomplishing what you wish to do, it gives one a sense of confidence. Really, you should feel great about yourself too! You took the time to practice, you were patient when it seemed frustrating, and you persevered when it seemed unattainable. Oh yeah, and as stated at the beginning, now you look really cool.

If you're interested in taking up an instrument, here at Tammie's Music Studio we teach guitar lessons and piano lessons in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Queen Creek AZ and surrounding areas. Our teachers are professional musicians who love what they do and would love to share that passion with our students!

Visit us at Tammie's Music Studio and like us on Facebook!

Music Lessons For Homeschooling Families!

Here at Tammie's Music Studio we know how important you and your child's music education is. As a Mom who home schooled my own 4 children I know how nice it is to be able to have your children in activities that are educational and are also convenient for the home schooling family. The music teachers here love teaching! My desire, as a music teacher, is that our enthusiasm is felt by all our students and their families. We see it as a privilege to teach each and every one of them. There is nothing quite like learning to play the piano or guitar - it is one of the good things in life!

Piano and Guitar Lessons For Homeschoolers.

We offer piano lessons and guitar lessons starting at 11am Monday-Friday to cater to the homeschooling community. We customize all our lessons to fit the individual need and desire of our students. Through the years of teaching piano and guitar lessons it is obvious that not all students learn the same way, and not one option or style of learning fits everyone. While working with each student we learn which methods and music styles work best for optimum growth and enjoyment. Our teachers are professional musicians who love music with a passion and wish to share that joy with our students. Many of our students have gone on to become professional musicians themselves. Our studios are fully equipped and ready for you and your children to start your musical journey. Lessons include:

• Theory
• Sight Reading
• Ear Training
• Technique
• Classical Training
• Performance
• Any Musical Style Student Wishes To Learn
• 2 Formal Recitals A Year
• Love Of Learning To Play! 

Having been a part of the homeschooling community for over 20 years, I found it very important to make sure that the lessons we offer do cater for the home schooling families in the Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler Az. and surrounding areas in the East Valley as well. Offering two formal recitals a year that family and friends can attend to watch all the hard work that your little musician has done through the year. Piano and Guitar lessons are a great part of children's education and will help them in so many ways. Learning to play an instrument helps young children with their fine motor skills, concentration, ability to focus and is a very fun activity. For some of our older students we have also helped them get ready for playing in their church bands, helping them with talent shows, competitions and also preparing those who are interested in majoring in music in college.

Learning an instrument is a wonderful part of education! As homeschooling families get to have the opportunity of choosing and cultivating their children's education. Tammie's Music Studio offers piano and guitar lessons understanding how important it is that your child receives a valuable education. 

Tammie's Music Studio - Piano Lessons and Guitar Lessons helping students realize their musical potential in the East Valley (Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Queen Creek area in Arizona) for over 20 years! Visit our website at www.tammiesmusicstudio.com and like us on Facebook for more information about our studio! We look forward to hearing from you!

If It's Not "Baroque"...?

If you have taken classical music lessons or studied music history I'm sure that you have heard  about the 4 different musical periods. What can one say about the Baroque Period? There are many interesting facts about this period and in my own personal opinion it is a very challenging period for piano music. There are 4 Periods in music which are as follows in chronological order of earliest to latest:

• Baroque 1600-1750
• Classical 1750-1820
• Romantic 1820-1900
• Modern 1900-Present

Although every period has it's own merits and different styles of music I wanted to talk about the Baroque music this time. Why do I think that the Baroque style is challenging? Specific for this period the piano had not yet reached it's glory days. Instead of the pianos that we well know and love they had harpsichords which did not have pedals like we enjoy now. So when music was being composed it tended to be moving on a much quicker basis, instead of the long holds and use of fermatas that we can enjoy now for a little break.

Another trademark would be in the style of the music. In our other periods we can enjoy melodies and harmonies. Instead we have polyphonic music. Which is music written where each hand has it's own melodies. So next time you play or even listen to something from Bach or any other composer of this era try and listen for those multiple lines that are intertwining.

Unfortunately during this time period, even the most famous of composers did not have a life you'd imagine with their work and names going on through history. They would commonly be either hired by the church or other wealthy nobles and would live in their good graces as entertainment, but when they were tired of them or wished for someone else they would have to find another wealthy patron.

Ready, Set, Play!!

We all know that all loved saying of "practice makes perfect" but it never as much fun as just being able to do whatever it is that you are wanting to do. Music is no exception to that rule. We all just want to sit at our preferred instrument and play whatever music that we love. If only it were that easy! We all must practice. Our favorite musicians that we listen to on the radio or our most beloved classical composers spent hours of their day (every day) to be as good as they are.

When you first sit down to start that new piece of music that you've been dying to play and you get frustrated, it's okay. You're not going to get it perfect the first time that you sit down. Be patient with yourself and you will see (or should I say hear) yourself improving all the time!

For all of the beginners out there, don't give up! I know that you want to just go for it and play anything and everything that you can lay your hands on. But when you watch and hear others performing pieces that you want to and think that you should be able to play. Remember that it took them years and many many...did I mention many hours of practicing to get to where they got. But if you look back to where you started and only compare yourself with yourself you would be quite impressed with how far you have come :)

So after all this practicing, how much more do I have to do before I can be done? Here's the big surprise, you are never done practicing. Everything gets more fun and more challenging pieces but music is something that you will always be growing. This isn't a bad thing either. It means that there will always be something new for you to learn, always something new to play, always something you haven't done before. That's what makes music so great! You never have to worry about there being an end to your joy! So hopefully next time you go to your music lesson, when your teacher asks you, "have you practiced?" you'll see that they are really just trying to motivate you so that you can do all the amazing things that you are there to learn.

Just a little "practice" humor :)

Why Classical Music????

Ok, I know that everyone loves singing along to the radio. It's a lot of fun! But why when taking piano lessons do teachers like you to learn classical music? After all Classical music is so hard and long. Here's some reasons why I love to promote classical music.

Classical music is complicated! Yeah, I know, what kind of reason is that for having students learn classical music? If you can play classical music other music styles won't seem very hard. If you look at really advanced classical pieces and look at the number of accidentals and ornaments and master those pieces, your favorite pop song on the radio won't really be that hard :)

Classical music is technical. If you really want to stretch yourself, go ahead and try some different pieces. How about a Bach Prelude, then switch it up with a Chopin Waltz and  a Sonata from Beethoven. You'll find yourself doing a lot of different techniques, other than the standard melody with a chord accompaniment. The stretch it gives you to work on classical pieces will always help your techniques grow! Classical composers were always pushing themselves to create something new, challenging and hard for the competition to mimic. After all, when your livelihood depends on people being impressed and wanting to hear more from you, you will create some crazy masterpieces! 

A large sense of accomplishment will come when you master classical music! When you first start on that piece of music and you're like, I don't think that I will ever get through this! All of a sudden you're starting to get the hang of it, and then one day you enjoy playing through it like it is the easiest thing in the world. It is a really good feeling and makes one want to learn more. It's also not a bad feeling when people are impressed with what you can do and would like to try it themselves.

There is nothing quite like learning to play classical music - it is one of the good things in life! After seeing my students excel I am so proud of all of them! And I do believe that learning classical music helps them advance and become wonderful pianists here at Tammie's Music Studio!

Starting Piano Lessons

Like all new experiences you're not quite sure where to start, what questions to ask, or what you need. Before signing up for piano lessons you are going to need one thing for certain, a piano or keyboard. After all, if you're going to learn an instrument you're going to need to practice.

If you're not sure you're ready to invest in a piano yet, a keyboard will work. Not all keyboards are "real" instruments though. If you don't want to have to buy a new one in a few months, make sure it has 88 keys, a pedal, and is touch sensitive (weighted). If you do this, at least you or your child won't outgrow the instrument before the year is out.

Don't be afraid to ask what lessons include. You want lessons to include scales, chords and arpeggios. When you start playing more advanced music you'll be grateful for already knowing these techniques!  Theory is a must, knowing what you're playing makes learning so much easier in general.

As far as books go, every teacher is different. Here at Tammie's Music Studio we use a few different lesson books. After working with students and seeing the way they learn we customize lesson plans and books for each students need and way of learning. After all learning music should be fun! Here at Tammie's Music Studio, we will find the way to bring the love of music into your life. 🎶

Come Check Us Out!

As Music Teachers, it is our desire, that our enthusiasm is felt by all the students and their families who are currently enrolled in the music programs learning to play piano and guitar. We see it as a privilege to teach each every one of them. The music teachers here love teaching piano lessons and guitar lessons.

We welcome the opportunity to teach music to all who are interested in learning, from the very beginning to advanced students. Guitar lessons and piano lessons may be taken by students of all ages! Students have gone on to major in music in college, become music teachers themselves and have even become performers.  We have even had the honor here, to see how music lessons have helped improve learning processes in other areas of our students' lives.

Piano and guitar lessons include individualized instruction focused on performance, theory, technique, sight reading and ear training. For those interested in performing opportunities, formal recitals are held twice a year.

Tammie's Music Studio has had the privileged of giving lessons in the Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler Az. (and surrounding areas) since 1991! Our instructors are highly trained and professional musicians. Check out our Website and give us a call or email! We would love to help you start your musical journey!