Silence < MUSIC

Can you imagine a world without music? Music does so much for our everyday life without us even realizing it. Imagine going to a restaurant and while you're dining there is no light music playing in the background, just the sound of clanking dishes and people talking, or if you're sitting alone, perhaps more lonely. The long commute to work and back again would be even more tedious since there would be no relaxing music or singing along with your favorite band. Instead you are bored stiff waiting in traffic, with grumpy people and horns honking..... this is NOT something I could bare. You're favorite movies would be lacking their full potential since the action, romantic, dramatic etc. scenes would be lacking the music that helps drive our emotions. Could you imagine "Jaws" being nearly as scary without the music letting you know he's coming? --Actually that would be nice in real life so you'd know to go the other direction!

It's hard to believe all the things that we do with music involved every day. Like dancing would be so much harder without music.... people dancing would just look like crazy people. Or when you're working out and you're counting on your favorite songs to keep you going through your workout and keeping your energy going. I don't know how many of us listen to music to keep our sanity while we are studying or working. Music helps you feel like you're not so alone, much better than that piercing silence.Music is also that thing people can go to when life is.... well, life. What's more comforting than listening to some sitting music after a long day of work? Or you feel sad so you listen to music that you feel understands you, and then hopefully you listen to your favorite band with some music that makes you feel happy.

After Hours Access First Public Performance

We're very pleased to share the event of After Hours Access first public performance! Saturday,  April 18 at 5:30pm. Will be performing at Central Christian Church on Lindsay and University.
Come check them out as our guitar instructor Marcus Williams will be performing there!

Does Anyone Feel Like Me? -- Recitals

Woosh! Big sigh of relief from everyone as the last person finished performing at Tammie's Music Studio spring recital.   Recitals are the most wonderful thing to parents, friends and family;  but to the performers it can be something of a impending dread. When you first pick out your recital piece it's all excitement, all of a sudden it's one month away and it becomes a little too real! So many things are going through your head, and the biggest is, "what if I mess up?". I've been on both sides, performing and listening, here's some things to remember before you completely freak out.

1 - Every other person there is just as nervous as you are! As a matter of fact, they think that they are more nervous than you are and they wish they could be as calm and collected as you are right now. While you're waiting for your turn to come up, and you're watching that person on stage doing so well and not worrying at all.... they are the same as you, which means, that's what you look like up there. Yay! So everyone thinks the same about you, wishing they could be as cool and collected. Good job!

2 - No one heard that mistake you made. No one noticed besides you, your teacher, and your family if you practiced a lot at home. You hear and know what every note should be, it is not that obvious to the rest of the audience. Especially if you chose to perform classical music (most people don't listen to that much classical music), so for all they know, that's the way it was supposed to be played. As long as you tried and put in the practice you did great!

3 - Everyone else wished they did as well as you. After listening to your performance how can I compete with that? I just know I'm going to mess up... That's what other people are usually thinking. You looked so calm and peaceful, and you played so great. So be proud of yourself, it's an accomplishment that you overcame your nerves and performed. You might no longer feel it after months of hard work, but it did start off as a challenging piece and you mastered it!

4 - I'm proud of you and your family is proud of you, along with any friends who came to see YOU! I remembered how much practice you put into this piece. I saw how hard you tried all those months to master your piece. Your family (if you practiced in front of them) saw how often you played and played to get it perfect in time for your performance. You're friends who don't play are very impressed and wish they could do that too.

To all the students at Tammie's Music Studio who worked so hard, you did GREAT! I am very proud of you! Like us on Facebook for more information about our studio and upcoming events!

It's Just Not True!

There are some things that people think when taking music lessons, or when they think about taking music lessons, and honestly it couldn't be further from the truth! Learning to play the piano or guitar would be too hard, I'm too old to start learning to play, music lessons are for children (while thinking, I wish I would have learned when I was a kid).

First things first, you're never too old to start learning an instrument. If playing the piano or learning to rock that guitar was something that you had always wanted to do, than you should do it! Yes, you won't have years of experience as you would have if you had lessons as a child, but the key to learning to play an instrument is the will to learn, a good teacher and practice. Yes, even us adults have to practice. All musicians have to practice, no matter how good you are.  The nice thing about picking up an instrument as an adult is you will learn it faster than is a young child.

It's really not as hard as it looks to learn. No you won't be playing like a concert pianist after your first lesson or ready to jump on stage and shedding your solo during a rock concert. Learning an instrument starts at the beginning, and it will be easy for anyone to comprehend and work each week to gaining more knowledge and ability to play your instrument of choice.

It's Never Too Late!

Why does learning an instrument seem so hard for me? I guess that I'm just one of those people who can't learn an instrument.... I've tried before but didn't seem to get it... All things I've heard before from people wanting to learn to play an instrument. And yes, everyone can learn to play an instrument, it doesn't matter how old you are. There are just a few things you'll need: an instrument, someone to teach you and a passion to learn.

One thing to realize though if you feel like you just can't do it is, if you are trying, you are doing it!  Learning to play piano or guitar (or any other instrument of your choice) takes time to become proficient. You might feel like you're getting no where but trust me, you don't want to just be given Beethoven or Mozart at your first lesson. You start simple and learning ask the basics first. And depending on how much you practice you'll be increasing your skill level at a stay climb. If you keep with it you'll be surprised where you are at compared to where you first started. It's one of those things where you didn't even realize how much more difficult the pieces of music you are playing, and eventually you'll be playing music from the Masters!

I've ran across many adults wishing they would have learned to play an instrument when they were kids, but now that they are an adult it's too late to start learning. That's just not true. One thing that children do have is patents who make sure they practice, even when they don't want to (blessing they'll realize later). But as an adult it is because you want to learn and you can learn it just as easily as a child, but actually more quickly, keeping in mind that you make yourself practice as much as you would your children. Just don't give up if you're not paying concertos after a few weeks of lessons. After a year of lessons you'll be so proud of how much you've learned and the skill level you are at, and so excited to keep going and learn that next piece of music you've been waiting to start playing.

Your desire to learn will bring you far! Yes, learning anything new is challenging, but would it really be half as fun or nearly as rewarding if you didn't have to work for it?  That same passion that made you want to learn how to play an instrument, remember how much you wanted it, and it will help you keep that drive when it seems tough and you want to just say,  "well I'm just one of those people who can't learn to play", because you can! I've had many adult students who came to me with absolutely no musical experience, and after a year were playing music they had always been wishing they could play! Music is for everyone to play, listen and enjoy.

Music Makes Me....

Music lessons are just one of those things that is great for a person on so many levels! Yes, the obvious reason for music lessons is the fact that you will learn to play beautiful music, but learning to play an instrument is also so beneficial in other aspects of your life (or your children's lives) as well.

Starting with the easiest to see first. Learning anything is great for a person of any age. Growing and improving yourself is never a bad thing. Exercising your brain, while training yourself to focus you'll be enjoying the benefits of this, and your children will also be applying this focus in other aspects of their lives as well (school). It is amazing how many parents of children I teach tell me how their grades have been improving since taking music lessons.

Learning an instrument is a great way to immerse yourself and introduce your children to the fine arts. Starting kids in music lessons young is a great way to develope an interest in classical music for them. It is amazing the difference of children starting early in piano lessons around 5-6 years and my students who begin taking as teenagers. The younger ones tend to enjoy the challenge of learning classical music.

Learning an instrument is very soothing to yourself and those listening to you. Music tends to be something that can instantly change your mood when you hear it playing. Great music can get you to feel what the composer was feeling when he wrote his music - or her. Many adults who are looking to take music lessons tell me they are wanting something for themselves after stressful days of work that can be therapeutic for them. So the chose to take up piano or guitar lessons as a way to grow in something new, while it being something that was relaxing to them. There's a reason they play classical music at spas.

Playing an instrument gives people a way to express themselves. There will never be a day when someone says, it has all been written. Sometimes feelings can not be expressed or fully conveyed by words. Sometimes I think we don't even know what we are feeling. Music gives us an outlet to convey or feelings and emotions outwardly when words can not be found.

Everyone has their own reason for wanting to learn an instrument. The great thing is, it doesn't matter, they are all good reasons, because learning to play an instrument is good for you. And a big perk, you're just going to be that much more awesome becoming a musician.

Developing Your Child's Love To Learn Music

We all know that it isn't the easiest thing to get our children to enjoy learning. Music lessons are the same way. Learning an instrument is very beneficial for children (and everyone else), it helps develope focus, patience, builds self-confidence, and can be an excellent outlet. With all the benifits of learning music, you still want your children to enjoy it.

As a music teacher some of the things I do to help spark that love for music is letting my students take a part in picking out some of the music that they practice and perform. Although all my students still have the mandatory theory, technique, sight reading, and classical training; I also customize lessons and add music styles to the what my students are interested in. This helps keep an excitement for learning and an interest in what is going on in lessons.

Recitals are another way we help keep the passion going. Letting students help in the decision on what they would like to perform for recitals makes the recitals even more of a personal achievement for each student. It lets them express their interest to others and makes practice more enjoyable. It does not take away technique or level of learning. It helps advance students by giving them pieces that are harder then their level, but they enjoy practicing it that it helps improve their skill.

Also here at Tammie's Music Studio we believe that encouragement is the best way to achieve that passion for music in our students. We like to praise where it is earned and help improve what all needs to be worked on. After all, who likes to do something that they feel they are no good at, or they never measure up, or they will never achieve what is expected of them? If you mess up, it's ok, we'll try again. If you have a question, let me help you figure it out. Learning music is not as easy as it looks, but it should be fun! And that is what will make it not seem like work.

Visit us at Tammie's Music Studio we would love to hear from you! Follow our blog, and like us on Facebook for more music fun and tips!