Piano and Music Videos

One of the most important parts of developing as a musician is being able to read music and being able to read it quickly. Memorizing the notes on the staff is an integral part of progressing musically and I’m going to share a few tips that will make this easier for you.

There are many ways people go about learning notes and the most popular seems to be the acronym approach. You’ve probably heard the one for the lines from the treble clef from bottom to top:

Fine
Does
Boy
Good
Every

The spaces are pretty easy, they spell the word FACE (again bottom to top):

E
C
A
F

The bass clef lines are::

Always
Fine
Do
Boys
Good

And the bass clef spaces are:

Grass
Eat
Cows
All

But what about the ledger lines once you go above or below the staff? You can see that this system breaks down very quickly. It gets incredibly complicated to refer to these acronyms on the spot; it’s just not practical.

Fortunately there is a much easier way to learn your notes without using acronyms. It involves simply learning the first seven letters of the alphabet:

G
F
E
D
C
B
A

If you can learn to say these letters frontwards and backwards quickly you are on your way to reading notes. That’s it! This applies to both the treble and the bass clef. You can start with middle C:

The reason for this is that middle C is in the middle between the treble and bass clefs. So, it’s easy to locate. From here you simply go either up or down through the alphabet. If you are counting up you simply go from C to D to E to F to G and when you reach G you simply go back to the first letter of the alphabet, A and start over again. The same applies for going down. Once you reach A you continue with the last letter of the musical alphabet, G and count down through the alphabet note by note. You only have to use seven letters and if you familiarize yourself with them you will no longer have any problems figuring out notes.

If you’re concerned about going backwards, memorize the low space A in the bass clef. That way it’s very easy to simply count up through the alphabet from there. If you keep practicing this and familiarize yourself with this technique you will find it much easier to read notes than using the acronym method.

I have known many people who have started with one instrument and then for one reason or another decided to switch instruments. At some point these people came to the realisation that they were destined to play something else and they made the transition. The question is, is it ever too late to switch instruments?

This really depends upon your situation, your expectations and the nature of the switch. For example, I’ve known a number of fine violinists who switched to the Viola with great success. In some cases it was because there was a greater market for viola. Others might have simply fallen in love with the rich sound of the viola. This transition is not that radical as the foundations for the violin and viola are very similar.

If you are thinking about making a radical change from one instrument to the next – such as trombone to guitar – it could be a much harder switch and something you should consider carefully. Your fit with the instrument is important, but you should have realistic expectations about what is possible when making such a big change in the instrument you play.

I’ve seen cases where some musicians will have gone to conservatory for one instrument but always played another instrument as a secondary instrument. They may come to the realisation that their true love is their secondary instrument! Switching could be the best decision as long as they are realistic.

I have known people who have decided to switch instruments to something they are not familiar with at all and it has presented great challenges. For example, if you played the clarinet for most of your life and find that there aren’t bands or orchestras you want to play with, it could be incredibly difficult to switch to an instrument like the piano in your twenties and develop serious repertoire and fluid technique. But if that’s where your passions lie, you must follow your dream. You can certainly become an accomplished player but it is unlikely you would develop a career as a concert pianist.

As long you are realistic with your goals you should follow your heart and pursue whatever instrument you are interested in. The good news is that anything you learn in music translates to other things. If you have a background in singing you will have a foundation for music already in place so learning another instrument will not be nearly as difficult as it would be for someone who has had no music training.

Picking the right music school is a very crucial decision in many musician’s life. There are thousands of music schools around the world and narrowing down your choices can be a very daunting task. This article will provide some tips to help in your selection.

If you are an instrumentalist or singer, one of the most important things is making sure the school you are looking at has good orchestras and other ensembles to perform in. Having the opportunity to play with other musicians is a very important aspect in your musical development. So, making sure you have the opportunity to play with other musicians is a central element in your education.

The reputation of the institution you’re looking at is also an important factor. The prestige of a degree from a respected school may help to enhance your career opportunities later on. The location of the school is also an important consideration since there could possibly be more opportunities for work in a more urban environment. However, a more rural setting may be the right fit for some people since it offers a potentially less distracting learning environment. You should look at schools that fit your personality and aspirations.

When I was selecting schools there was one aspect that mattered more than any of the things listed above: my private teacher.

The private teacher who will be mentoring you can be the most important decision in selecting a school.

But how do you go about finding the right teacher for you? As I researched schools, I referenced recordings of teachers I would potentially be studying with and looked for ones I had great respect and admiration for. There are so many more resources today to research your teachers and universities with the internet. But making sure you select a great teacher is incredibly important to your success in school. You could attend one of the best institutions in the world, but if you are not getting what you need to develop your craft from your private teacher, your experience could be disappointing.

Selecting a teacher is complicated. You may hear someone’s recordings and be thrilled with the playing. Yet, that’s not everything that comes into account when selecting a teacher. Just because someone plays their instrument well doesn’t mean they can teach well. On the other hand, just because someone teaches well doesn’t mean their playing is top notch. Sometimes people are past their prime or were never great performers, yet could convey musical knowledge exceedingly well. So, how do you find the right teacher for yourself?

One indication is referencing a teacher’s past students and seeing their success. Yet there are circumstances where an institution will have prestigious teachers on staff who draw the best students from around the world. In some cases these students are on such a high level when they arrive at the school that all they need is advanced coaching rather than fundamental teaching. By putting the final touches on the student’s progress, the teachers may get credit for work that may have been the result of former training.

So how do you find a good teacher?

There is absolutely no substitute for personal communication. The best solution is to visit schools you have narrowed down on your list of choices and talk to the teachers personally. Better yet, if you can take a lesson or two from teachers you are interested in studying with, that would be ideal. Influential names and prestige are important factors in selecting a teacher, but they may not be as crucial as the personal connection you have with your private music teacher.

When it comes to making money as a musician there is no one-size-fits-all solution but there are some general tips that can help you find work actually playing music.

It’s always important to remember that the music business is a business. A lot of times people will feel complacent towards the business end of it and that can be a recipe for disaster. Many times students will practice in conservatories for hours every single day hoping that if they are good enough someone might “discover” them. Sadly, this is not the case.

There are always more musicians available then job positions out there. Without proper networking nobody will ever know you even exist. You have to get yourself out there, you should find other musicians to play with and talk with. This is not just a suggestion; it is really something that all musicians should do.

When you are around other musicians you will quickly realize that most of them are looking for that person who has the jobs. Don’t be afraid to be that person. It’s actually easier to start your own musical group then to go find others to hire you. Jobs are scarce in this world and many people who are becoming successful are the entrepreneurial types who create opportunities and unique business models on their own.

If you’re starting out on your own with a group of musicians you have to make sure you do your part in advertising yourselves. Definitely utilize social media but beyond that you need to network within the field you are interested in. For example, if you want to have a group of musicians who plays weddings you should not only have your social media presence but you should network with fellow professionals. Go to wedding planners, floral shops, dress shops, photographers, videographers, caterers and any other businesses you can think of that are involved with weddings. Make a point to meet with them and ask if they have anyone they recommend for music. Maybe they do but maybe they don’t. Give them your business card and tell them you would be happy to recommend them to any potential clients you come across. You will find that many people are very receptive to this idea and if you actually get them any referrals they may very well try to return the favor.

You have to remember that separating yourself from the crowd is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to business and networking. People love working with or recommending someone who can benefit them as well. If you are offering someone the opportunity for more business, you will most likely have their attention right away.

What is meant by the term Classical Music? This is not as simple a question as you might imagine. Some basic notions of Classical music are going to the symphony or recitals, but there are actually two distinct meanings of the term Classical music.