Generally speaking, we like to keep these blogs upbeat because, by its very nature, music – listening to it or playing – is such a positive experience. But sometimes sad topics do come up and we feel that they are important enough to merit further exploring. One such subject is Alzheimer’s disease. Why are we bringing this up now? Because November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, designated as such in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. It is all the more poignant because just a decade after the proclamation, the former President himself was diagnosed with this terrible illness. Needless to say, we don’t claim to have extensive medical knowledge about Alzheimer’s, and we only know what the research indicates. And one of the findings that we think is particularly interesting pertains to the effect of music on the declining mental abilities of Alzheimer’s patients.

Awakening the memories

Remember Barbra Streisand’s 1975 hit, “The Way We Were” The opening line of that song is “Memories light the corners of my mind.” In a way, that’s what happens when Alzheimer’s patients listen to music. A resent study shows that these people can recall certain memories and emotions when they listen to music that is familiar to them. In other words, they may not respond to the latest hits, but are more likely to react to songs and musical performances they had meant something to them at one time in their lives. A wonderful non-profit program called Music and Memory is bringing personalized, digital music to the elderly, including Alzheimer’s patients. So far, the organization has distributed iPods to over 140 care facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients were able to “reconnect with memories triggered by music.”

Remembrance of things past

How does hearing familiar tunes boost the memory? Scientists point to several reasons. One of them is that music stimulates the mind and may re-hash some dormant memories. Also, music is processed in multiple areas of the brain, which, researchers suggest, tend to be less damaged by Alzheimer’s disease. Whatever the mechanism, we are so happy that music plays such a significant role in the lives of so many people. And we don’t have to remind you that exposure to music is beneficial to anyone, at any time of their lives. A teacher of ours will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to introduce you, your child, or another family member to the joys of music. Please contact us and give your brain a workout!

The post At Brooklyn Guitar School, Music is Unforgettable appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Parlez-vous français? Parla italiano? 你說中國話? If you don’t speak any foreign languages (and according to government statistics, 75 percent of Americans don’t), but would like to be able to converse in another tongue, we may have a solution for you!

Yes, there are language courses, of course, but that’s not what we are talking about. We are referring to another method of mastering a foreign language: music training! It’s true: while you are learning a language, music stimulates your brain and helps it absorb new information quicker and better. In fact, research conducted at Northwestern University indicated that “music training leads to changes throughout the auditory system that prime musicians for listening challenges beyond music processing.” Does this mean that, as a musician or music student, you will become fluent in a foreign language overnight? No. What it does mean is that your brain “soaks up” all the new knowledge in a more efficient manner. ¿No es maravilloso?

Sing, sing a song

When your (or your child’s) brain is musically primed for learning, a good way to start speaking a foreign language is through singing. Studies from the University of Edinburgh found that people who sing words or short phrases in a foreign language become twice as fluent at speaking it later. Researchers believe it is because this technique links music and memory. Can this approach work with any foreign tongue? Yes, it can, but it’s important to keep in mind that each language has its own specific rhythm, cadence, and pacing – to put it into musical terms, it has its own unique “melody.” This means that singing phrases in, say, Zulu, will not be the same as singing them in Finnish, or any other language, for that matter. Just as an example, one of the easiest French songs to master may very well be “Frères Jacques ” because the same words and phrases repeat themselves in each section, so there is not a vast vocabulary to master. What if you want to learn Spanish and Portuguese through music? This article might help you achieve that. And by the way, experts say that the best age to start learning a foreign language is in childhood, which, coincidentally, is also the optimum time to start music lessons. Of course, it is never too late to begin mastering both – you are never too “old” to learn new things!

We speak your language!

We don’t mean to brag (well, actually we do), but our teachers speak a multitude of foreign languages – including Spanish, French, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, and others. However, when they come to give a lesson in your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, they will communicate with you in the universal language of music. And that is one thing that will never be lost in translation!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Mind Your Language, at New York Guitar School appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Recently we wrote about some musical instruments of yore that no longer exist The question is: are they lost forever or is there a way to bring them back to life?

We are happy to tell you that modern technology is doing wonders in reconstructing the sounds of some ancient instruments that had not been heard in hundreds – and in certain instances even thousands – of years.

One such long-lost marvel is the epigonion, a stringed, harp-like instrument that was popular in ancient Greece. It had disappeared with the fall of the Greek Empire, as had other once-common instruments like the salpinx (a kind of ancient trumpet), the barbiton (a bass guitar), the aulos (an oboe), and the syrinx (a pan flute). But in recent years they had been painstakingly recreated based on archaeological data such as excavated fragments, pictures on ancient urns, and other historical records.

Lost and found

The fact that these long-lost relics of past civilizations had come to life again is due to the cutting-edge technology, as well as a team of dedicated researchers, historians, physicists, archaeologists, engineers, and musicians.

An international multi-disciplinary team working for the ASTRA (Ancient Instruments Sound/Timbre Reconstruction Application) project used the physical modeling synthesis – a complex digital audio rendering technique – to accurately recreate models of these old musical instruments and reproduce their long-forgotten sounds.

As you can imagine, a lot of work is involved in this process, but it is all worth it in the end, when an ensemble of professional musicians, appropriately called the Lost Sounds Orchestra, gives a concert using the reconstructed instrument. This really brings a new meaning to the phrase “everything old is new again,” doesn’t it?

So what do they sound like? Truly beautiful! It really is a special experience to listen to instruments that had not been heard, literally, in ages .

It’s not lost on us!

At Hey Joe Guitar we are excited to know that (some) old instruments never die – they spring to life again thanks to the convergence of science, technology, and human creativity. You might say that these long-forgotten instruments are getting a second wind!

Now, as amazing as our teachers are, they are the first to admit that the epigonion, salpinx, barbiton, aulos, and syrinx are…all Greek to them. However, they can certainly come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and teach you to play the modern versions of these ancient instruments: the harp, trumpet, bass guitar, oboe, and flute.

Let’s put it this way: with our music lessons, you’ve got nothing…to lose, and everything to gain.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Manhattan Music School Tells You How Old Instruments Become New Again appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

In a few days, on May 3, people across the globe will be celebrating a really cool holiday – the World Laughter Day, which is observed on the first Sunday of every May.

As its name suggests, this is not a serious or solemn occasion. Far from it – it is all about good humor, upbeat mood, and fun. And yes, it is also a proven health-booster, which may be the reason why laughter is called “the best medicine.”

This much we know – a sincere and heartfelt giggle or chuckle has more positive impact on our physical and mental wellbeing than most people realize. For instance, it has been scientifically proven that laughter reduces stress, soothes tension, and can even relieve pain. And some studies also show a strong connection between laughter and a healthy heart.

And that, dear friends, is no joke!

Health benefits

Now, you may be wondering what is the connection between laughter and music – if, indeed, there is one. Well, we do have some answers for you.

A few years ago, researchers at Japan’s Osaka University found that people who often laughed and listened to music had lower blood pressure, which, in turn, had benefitted their cardiovascular health.

Another study, carried out at the University of Maryland Medical Center, showed a similar effect: that laughing and listening to upbeat music improved the function of the inner lining of blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.

The doctors don’t know for sure why this happens but whatever the reasons are, at least we have evidence that combining laughter with music is good for what ails us.

A barrel of laughs

Now that you know there is science behind the laughter-music connection, it’s time to start practicing both. Where do you begin? How about by looking at these very funny videos that show that music and laughter really do go hand-in-hand:

• Whoever said symphony orchestras tend to be serious never saw this video . It sure gives a new meaning to the phrase “hitting the right keys!”
• Just because these musicians are dressed to the nines doesn’t mean they are stuffed shirts!
• We bet you never saw anyone playing the piano quite like this .
• We all know Weird Al Jankovic is, well, weird, but he can be hilarious as well !

These are just some examples of the laughter-eliciting music. Don’t you feel better already?

Never a comedy of errors!

Our Hey Joe Guitar teachers have a hearty sense of humor but they take music lessons seriously. When they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, don’t expect them to crack jokes, perform stand-up comedy, or emulate Weird Al. Sorry, that’s not what we do!

So when you contact us, we won’t send in the clowns but, rather, an amazing music teacher who is experienced in an instrument of your choice – all joking aside!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Laugh and Be Merry – At Brooklyn Guitar School appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

What is your favorite vacation destination? Wherever it is, chances are it’s somewhere on this earth.

Well, get ready! We recently came across an article that mentions significant milestones being made in developing a robot that can safely land us on the surface of the Moon! (But don’t start packing just yet – it will take two or three decades before we’ll be able to board private spaceflights to the lunar surface).

This article made us think about a truly momentous occasion that took place just over 45 years ago: the first lunar landing.

On July 20, 1969, millions of people around the world were glued to their TV sets when Apollo-11 landed in the Sea Tranquility. And they held their collective breath when the spacecraft’s hatch was opened, the ladder was lowered, and astronaut Neil Armstrong slowly climbed down onto the Moon’s surface, which he later described as being “like powdered charcoal.”

As he put his left foot down and became the first human in history to walk on the Moon, Armstrong (who passed away in 2012) uttered the famous phrase: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

All in all, Armstrong and two other astronauts, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, spent a total of 21 hours on the Moon, two-and-a-half of them outside the landing module collecting data, jumping across the lunar landscape, and planting the American flag to mark this historic achievement.

Upon returning to Earth, the astronauts spent three weeks in quarantine to detect the presence of alien organisms (none were found). The following six manned missions to the Moon – before the NASA stopped the program altogether in 1972 – were perhaps anti-climatic, but they, as well as other space treks, have not been in vain. As NASA points out, each journey helps us “discover new worlds, push the boundaries of our scientific and technical limits, and address fundamental questions about our place in the Universe and the history of our solar system.”

Star trek

In view of this epic anniversary, a question that has crossed our minds is whether, on the way to the lunar surface, the astronauts listened to music.

It turns out that they did.

As an NBC News article reported, Neil Armstrong – who, in his teens, played the baritone, a large, valved brass instrument shaped like a trumpet – “found his music soothing and a perfect fit for the occasion.”

Perhaps it was so fitting because the record he listened to in the spacecraft was a mixture of easy, relaxing tunes appropriately called “Music Out of the Moon” .

The third Apollo-11 astronaut, Michael Collins, reportedly brought with him a tape of Antonin Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” .

There’s no word on what Aldrin might have listened to, but we do know that he recently asked Snoop Dogg to create the song “Rocket Experience” to promote space exploration to young people.

“Out of this world” music

Twenty or thirty years is a long time to wait for your lunar vacation, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get your playlist ready. Here are some of our favorites:

“Fly me to the moon,” Frank Sinatra

“Rocket man,” Elton John

“Walking on the Milky Way,” OMD

“Venus,” Frankie Avalon

“Blue Moon,” Billie Holiday

“Ground control to Major Tom,” David Bowie

“Across the universe, ” The Beatles

“You are the one who’s out of this world,” Alf

“Twinkle, twinkle little star,” Jewel

When you wish upon a star

Our NYC music instructors are Earth-bound, but when it comes to their experience and abilities, they are…out of this world!

Whatever instrument you or your child would like to learn – whether it is the guitar, piano, drums, or any other instrument– we have excellent teachers for you! When they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will move heaven and earth (figuratively speaking, of course) to give you the best lessons on the planet!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Reach for the Stars, With Manhattan Guitar School appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

“Musical form is close to mathematics – not perhaps to mathematics itself, but certainly to something like mathematical thinking and relationship.”
~Igor Stravinsky

You probably know that learning to play an instrument is not exactly rocket science. We think of music as an artistic, rather than scientific, endeavor, one that “plays on” our senses.

Math, on the other hand, does not involve emotions; it is all about logic, as well as analytical and abstract reasoning. So the two fields are totally incompatible, right?

Actually, that’s not a correct assumption. In fact, the two fields are connected to each other in fundamental ways. That’s because music depends on numerical relationships, arithmetic, geometry, and symmetry.

Does this mean that if you are a gifted musician you are also good at calculus, algebra, and arithmetic (and vice-versa?) No. You could be a mathematical genius and not be into music at all, but if you play an instrument, you are also a mathematician of sorts, even though you probably don’t think of yourself as one.

Setting numbers to music

The connection between music and math is not a new discovery. Ancient Greeks were aware of it, and classical composers used mathematical structures in their music.

What’s the “common ground” between the two fields? Both are based on patterns, structures, and numbers. For instance, a musician will “measure” notes (determine the number of beats) and fit them into the sequence where they belong; a mathematician will do the same calculation when figuring out equations. In other words, behind the sound of the notes you hear are both simple and complex mathematical concepts.

Here’s a good example of how music and math overlap: musical rhythms are also mathematical equations, such as 4/4 or 2/4 time. When you play, sing, or write music, you are also crunching numbers – you are wondering, “how many more beats do I need?”

Any part of music you can think of – harmony, chords, scales pitch, and tone – has a mathematical component in it.

The sound of numbers

As mentioned above, classical composers were no strangers to math – for instance, they used fractions to divide a musical whole note into parts (halves, quarters, eighths, and sixteenths).

You may already have affinity for math and not even know it: research has shown that people are more attracted to music that has clear mathematical structure. One notable example is Pachelbel’s Canon in D. Bach’s works like Canonic Variations also show the composer’s fascination with numbers.

What about modern music? You may not be a fan of hip-hop lyrics, but the music’s stylized rhythms have a clear mathematical pattern. As a matter of fact, some school teachers use (appropriately worded) rap songs to help their students learn algebra.

“Count” on us!

We won’t tell you that all our teachers are math geniuses – they are not. But they certainly can put two and two together and know everything that pertains to an instrument of your choice. So in the end it all…adds up.

Please contact us to set up a music lesson in your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office. It really is as simple as 1,2,3!

Photo by unknown, available under a Creative Commons License.

The post When it Comes to Music, NYC Guitar School Does the Math appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.