The other day I was cruising You Tube, and I’m amazed at all the wonderful tutoring being offered for free.

I don’t think there’s  a topic not covered on how to do what ever  subject  you’re interested in. Naturally, I’m always viewing  musical instruction videos.   I’ve learned many things  from watching master musicians like, Eddie Daniels and Tom Ridenhauer, giving all sorts of tips related to clarinet playing, and reed adjusting.

While all these instructional videos are quite helpful, nothing takes the place if sitting with a private teacher. With a private teacher, you’re getting  a lesson designed just for you.

A private teacher can monitor your progress, and guide you in the right direction, and help you with any problems with playing that are unique to you. A private teacher can help you with music reading, theory, what instrument to buy or rent. He or she can inspect the instrument you’re currently playing to see if it’s functioning properly, or simply answer any questions you may have.

A private teacher can help you prepare for a performance, audition, provide encouragement, play duets!

The online videos are a terrific supplement to what you’re learning with a private teacher.

Nothing takes the place of the special  relationship that develops with a private teacher and student. While not every teacher is right for every student, when you do find the right teacher, your progress and enjoyment of learning and playing is something that no online video can provide.

It’s almost October, the piano lessons have started, but that piano does not sound as sweet as it could.

The piano needs a Fall tuning! The mornings are getting cooler, soon the heat will  be turned on. All these temperature changes effect the tuning stability of your piano, which effect the sound quality.

The more frequent the tuning, the more tuning stability between tunings.

Call me today and lets set up an appointment for a tuning!

781-325-3342

My band featuring Adam Fleischer on trumpet is playing at Swing City Cambridge.

Saturday night Feb 28th.

West Cambridge Youth Center 680 Huron Ave Fresh Pond/Cambridge

Our music is pure swing, and all instrumental. We play the great American song book.

There’s a dance lesson then we play. For more information follow this link.http://swingcityboston.com/

Published on Sep 12, 2013

The Great Jam Session – 1958: Cozy Cole – Coleman Hawkins – Roy Eldridge – Johnny Guarnieri – Carol Stevens – Barry Galbraith – Milton Hilton & the dancing Doormen & Waiter……
Coleman Hawkins – then Roy Eldridge steps in…coincidentally Carol Stevens walks in and joins the band..
The Waiter and the Doormen begin to dance…
More Videos here at DRUMMERWORLD: http://www.drummerworld.com

Category
Music

Lester Young &Coleman Hawkins 1958

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One of the most  important and enjoyable methods of learning an instrument is often the simplest; listening to  master musicians playing the instrument that the student is learning.   This allows the student to hear how the instrument is supposed to sound in a variety of musical contexts..  When I am teaching, one of my methods is to always play for and with the student.

I ask students to tell me “What made them decide to play that particular instrument?”  Most students will say, ” Because it looked easy to carry.”  Although this may be true for the flute and clarinet players, the reasons I prefer to hear are, ” I heard someone playing the instrument and I liked the sound.”

Learning an instrument is very much like learning to speak a language. As you listen to the spoken words  you start to imitate the sounds and tones that you are hearing.  Imagine trying to learn to speak a language  only  from a book, without ever hearing pronunciation, articulation, expression, or tone.  The same principles apply to music.

I recommend that  parents play music in the house of various instruments in orchestral settings such as classical orchestras, big band swing orchestras and jazz combos. Play the music in the background without saying a word and see what questions and reactions this prompts.  You Tube is  a treasure trove of vintage and contemporary performers.

We live in a time when  everyone seems to be locked away in their own musical  worlds via ear buds.  Music used to be a  shared experience.  Take your children to concerts, live  musicals and high school band productions.

With the advances of technology people today  have their music  on “invisible”  digital form devices. When you actually collect CD’s or vinyl records you have a tangible item that is more meaningful than digital downloads.   Turntables and record player-CD combinations are sold all overt the internet.

Although it may seem “old school” to  have a CD or  a vinyl record collection, it is still a great way to develop  an appreciation of music.  I have students who have discovered  vinyl records and CD’s and have begun their own musical libraries which prompts a treasure hunt of great music and fun. With a record or CD you have a piece of useable-playable art complete with photos, liner notes. As the musical  collection grows, so does the student’s ear and appreciation of music.

In the next blog I will post some of my favorite artist that you can view on You Tube.