As you age you tend to think that you’re unable to do certain things because you’re “too old” to do them any longer.
One of the biggest misconceptions like the expression ‘teaching an old dog a new trick’ is that in your older years you are unable to learn a brand new instrument. Older adults still have the ability to learn, so don’t feel you need to give up on this.
If you have been studying voice, or spent time around other vocalists, you may have heard them refer to their “book”. This book refers to a singer’s repertoire. What a singer chooses to study and perform is hugely important. It frames your identity as an artist and the way you are presented to your audiences.
I can’t count the number of times a student has told me, “I can’t sing with vibrato, I’m a pop singer;” or “I can’t sing an aria, I’m a musical theatre singer.”
Admittedly, I was once a victim of this kind of thinking. I would say, “I can’t belt, I’m a legit singer.”
When learning a new instrument or taking a music class for the first time, you will be required to learn Music Theory. The importance of learning theory is what will help you read the music, decipher the music and become privy to the music language. As a musician, teacher or student, there are certain terms that you should know, both basic and advanced, that will guide you, helping you to understand music and become more of an expert on the subject.
Between baseball, soccer, gymnastics and cell phones, our children’s schedules are packed with fun activities. If you were on the fence about adding music lessons into the weekly grind, here are a few reasons why music lessons might be an important activity for your child to be involved in.
Think you can’t sing? I disagree.
If you struggle to carry a tune, chances are you aren’t tone deaf, but that some part of your voice is just a bit out of whack. Your voice is an incredibly complex system that requires all its parts to be in balance to function smoothly.
While there are many reasons to start voice lessons, a stronger instrument isn’t the only thing you’ll leave the room with every week. At any age, the added benefits of developing your singing instrument are numerous, but I’ll start you with 5 things you will also be learning while attending your voice lessons.
Top 5 Jazz Standards for Beginners
Learning jazz can be a daunting task. With literally hundreds of iconic recordings of hundreds of different jazz standards it can often feel overwhelming to decide where to begin. But have no fear! We’ve compiled a short list of jazz standards that are commonly performed by jazz musicians and great for jazz beginners:
Whether it’s for enjoyment or a career choice, playing the piano can be very rewarding — not just for you — but for your audience as well– if you’re good, that is.
When my students are trying to decide which song to learn next, I offer as much guidance as possible. However, I know that this can be an overwhelming decision that’s ultimately up to the students. No matter what instrument you’re playing, the same considerations need to be made when choosing a new song.
