What Music Does For You

Music is a beautiful thing. It has the abilities to stir up so many emotions in the people who listen to it. It has the ability to take you away from a stressful day to a more peaceful and relaxed state of mind. When you learn to play an instrument you have even more benefits whether you realize it or not.

Creativity - Yes, music is about being able to master and skilfully perform the music set before you with the directions pretty plainly set out. From tempo, to volume, even where and how to place your hands. BUT, music also is about expression. When you are playing music you are trying to express and convey emotions and stories to your listeners. Learning the skills that you need to compose your own works of art. To create beautiful music from your own mind. The possibilities are endless.

Personal Growth - You will not only see your skills grow in the instrument you are learning to play, but the techniques extend to other areas of your child's life or your own even. Coordination and fine motor skills are developed as your fingers learn to master the movements in a gracefully controlled manner. Every finger, move of the wrist, posture and body movement is part of perfecting your instrument. I once had a parent say that their kids were so good at football because of taking piano lessons had taught them how to have more control of their fingers.
Your concentration and ability to focus is also put to the test. When you first start out learning you wonder and kind of laugh to yourself that it is so short and easy. As you move along in your music studies the music gets longer and more intricate. With all this going on it would have been an overload for your brain, and it would have been hard to focus and stay focused. But as your pieces get longer so does your ability to stay focused, this isn't a bad thing to carry on to your every day life as well. And darn right wonderful help for children studying.
You might also see some wonderful benefits with your memory. Especially if you like trying to memorize your music.
As with any other thing that you try to grow your ability with. When you see the growth and your skill improving, you will also be growing your self-confidence levels. How can you not? It feels good to succeed.

Fun - Need I say more? Probably not, but I'm going to anyways. There is so much in this world that you have to do, work, chores, school, etc. and most of the time it wouldn't really be labeled as "fun". Music is a great and fun release. That's why it's important to find a music teacher that wants you to have fun while getting a solid education. You want to make sure you or your child clicks and doesn't feel judged or nervous, otherwise the desire to learn will be harder to find. Plus let's face it, it's always nice to find an activity that we not only love but that is also something that pushes and grows us.

Learning to play music is a true joy in this life, and what's better it can help you in other aspects of you or your child's life.

Musician Did What?

We all have one, or know of one, or maybe... you are that one.... that music loving friend who just can't put their instrument down. Sure, it's cool enough and you don't mind listening sometimes, but how on earth do they find any source of enjoyment sitting down for hours practicing? Here are some things to know about your musical friend.

When they listen to music they are really listening to music. It's not just about "is it a catchy song?" or "yes, I do know how to sing to this song". No matter what kind of music,  classical or pop or whatever, they are listening to the complete composition. It's not just about whether they liked the song or not, it's respect for what was created. After all there is a lot of work put into each piece of music. And how can you play something if you can't listen for all the details.

They aren't meaning to annoy you on purpose by constantly taping their foot, or their nails, or other methods of a constant and steady tap, tap, tap. When you practice music you are always trying to keep a steady beat. Whether a song is going through their head or they are tapping out a rhythm to a song that's playing. It is almost subconsciously done. Just try not to shove them of their chair when they start keeping time by tapping on you.

It's really not because they want to show off, the reason that your musician aspiring friend is always jumping at every opportunity to play is because they just can't get enough. Yeah, that guy sitting there playing on his guitar isn't just trying to look cool, even though let's face it.... kinda makes him look cool, he is in his own world practicing because he loves it, or is trying to perfect something he is working on. Either way, when someone really really loves music it just calls them all the time.

Every conversation you have seems to always include some music conversation. Whether some music theory conundrum that is just baffling or some piece of music they are working on. Sometimes it is just talking about some great music they are listening too. But whatever the case you know that music is going to be more than 20% of the topics that will be coming out of their mouth.

What can a musician say? They eat, breathe and sleep music. It is a strong passion that drives an aspiring musician to become better.

Be COOL This Summer!

If you've been thinking about starting your kids up in piano or guitar lessons summer is a great time to begin! Whether a complete beginner or returning for lessons during the summer means school break! Which also means learning an instrument will be a little easier since there isn't homework every night. And you can get established with your instrument before busy life starts up again and your having a hard time starting up something new. With all the other outdoor activities and school activities being over music lessons is one of the few things for your children to be involved in that you can (and in Arizona WANT) to do during the summer.

Be COOL This Summer and learn to play piano or guitar! Who doesn't secretly want to be a musician, maybe not that secretly. Let's face it during the school year it is always hectic getting everyone to the place they need to be. Starting music lessons during summer break gives you a break by settling into the groove before other activities start up again. 

Here at Tammie's Music Studio we will make sure that you have a blast while getting a great education. We teach all music styles that our students wish to learn and customize lessons to fit each individual's style of learning. We also have performance opportunities during the year!

Check us out at www.tammiesmusicstudio.com and like us on Facebook for more music fun!

Why Playing Music Is More Awesome Than Just Listening

It's just cool to be able to play an instrument, it's even better to be able to play an instrument well. A lot of little kids get piano lessons or various other instrument lessons (piano is the most popular for younger kids), but they give up on it before they can truly enjoy being able to play complicated and fun music. So when you get older you'll hear people say that the took lessons and don't really remember anything. Then there's another group of people who stuck with it and enjoy being able to play music for themselves and others. Here's some reasons that make it awesome to know how to play an instrument.

REASON #1 - Not everyone can say that they know how to play an instrument. Think about it for a second. Who do you know that doesn't like listening to music? Bet you couldn't think of anyone. No matter what genre, they like listening to something right? Well how cool are you that you can not only listen to the music you enjoy, BUT you can also play it.

REASON #2 - This is something that every "cool" music nerd knows. When you're walking down the hall and run into one of your music friends and you can have a very long conversation about music you're working on (with music lingo that sounds like another language to a non-musician). Yup, I speak two languages: English and Music, how cool is that?

REASON #3 - Ok, this is a short simple reason. Being a musician just makes you awesome.

REASON #4 - The nice thing about learning to play an instrument and sticking with it is you have an automatic talent. Think about it, whether you're entering a school talent show, beauty pageants, fund raisers or just goofing around with friends, you always have something you can do (hopefully well, if you still practice) where you don't have to sit around and think about what you're good at. Or desperately try to think of something that you can pick up fast that you can use.... that won't make you look too weird.

REASON #5 - You get to come up with some really good music jokes that only other musically inclined people get. Which is why we post them to our social media accounts.

The reasons could go on and on. But alas, I would rather be playing on my instrument of choice than typing (wink). What do you think makes being a musician cool?

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!