The Successful Music Student

Do you want to know what fine motor skills are and how they impact special needs music lessons? Fine motor skills are small, precise movements and therefore are a critical component of musical instrument lessons. Gross motor skills are also important in music. However, most instruments require a high level of finger precision, which is why in today’s post we’ll mostly focus on activities to develop finger dexterity. Keep reading “What’re Critical Fine Motor Skills for Special Needs Music” to learn how to increase finger dexterity in your special needs students. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Do you want to learn how to write a melody? A melody is a series of notes that sound in rhythmic sequence. In a song, it’s the musical part that the lead vocalist sings. It’s the main focus of the music, because it’s what sells the song. Keep reading “What’s a Melody (and How to Write Strong Ones)” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Do you like Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” (WTC) but wonder what the “well-tempered” in the title means? Bach advocated for the well-temperaments which are circular tuning systems that allow keyboardists to play in any key without restrictions, similar to equal temperament. Thus, WTC was written to showcase well-temperaments. Keep reading “What Precisely Did Bach Mean by Well-Tempered Clavier” to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

Do you want to know what the word attenuation means? Do you need to know what the attenuation control on your soundboard does? If you want the songs and demos you produce in your home recording studio to sound good, you need to understand how your gear works. This includes volume-related equipment such as limiters, compressors, and your soundboard’s various gain and attenuation controls. Keep reading “What Exactly Is Attenuation for Home Recording Studios” to find out what attenuation is and how it works in sound recording. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

Have you ever seen a crazy chromatic scale or chord and wondered why it works? Do you want to understand how to write them? Chromatic notes and harmonies are effective because they take bad sounding dissonance and resolve it to good sounding consonance. Keep reading “Why Do Crazy Chromatic Notes and Chords Work?” to learn how chromatic harmony functions. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Have you been looking at gear and want to know whether tube amps or amp modelers are the better option for your guitar sound? Tube amps are old school and amp modelers are state of the art. However, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Keep reading “Hot Tube Amps Versus Cool Recording Studio Modelers” to learn the benefits of each. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Do you want to know what diction in singing is? In any vocal style, diction is central to a good performance, at least if you want your audience to understand you. However, if you’re not careful, you can overdo it and make your performance sound stiff and artificial. Keep reading “Understanding Basic Diction in Modern Singing” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Do you want to know how easy it is to play accordion? The accordion is a versatile instrument that’s a dominant force in folk and ethnic music around the world. However, the playing difficulty depends on which type of instrument you’re talking about. Keep reading “How Easy (or Difficult) Is it to Play Accordion?” to learn more. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

What precisely is the purpose of a clef? It’s the symbol to the left side of the staff that helps you know how to play the sheet music’s notes. The three most common are: treble, alto, and bass. Keep reading to learn what they are and how they work. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

Do you need to know what a groove is? Do you want to learn how to write incredibly cool songs? The groove is the part of your song that makes you want to move to the beat. However, writing successful songs isn’t magic - it’s a skill that can be learned. Keep reading “What’s a Groove? (Including How to Write Hot Songs)” to learn how to write a killer groove. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.