But you know how it goes: September is here and it’s back to school time. For us at Hey Joe Guitar this means that our wonderful teachers will get real busy giving in-home private music lessons all around NYC.

We have mentioned many times in the past how important and beneficial music education is to kids of all ages https://heyjoeguitar.com/: it improves a variety of learning skills —such as language, reading and math — boosts self-esteem and confidence, and bolsters focus and concentration.

All these skills are not only crucial for the youngsters’ academic achievements, but will also pave the way for future successes in their professional life.

Yes, we’ve said it all before but we’ll never tire of shouting this message from the rooftops: MUSIC TRAINING IS GOOOOOOOOD!

Our Welcome Mat is Out

If your child is a returning student – welcome back! We sincerely hope that he or she practiced playing during the summer, so that they kept making progress and have not lost their proficiency.

We extend a warm welcome to the new students as well. We are happy to have you among us and are delighted that you decided to make music a part of your life. We will do everything we can to make this experience a happy and fulfilling one!

But what about the ones who are undecided?

Maybe your child would like to take music lessons but you are not sure which instrument is the best fit? We can help. Follow this guide and if you have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact us for advice.

We’d like to finish with this quote from the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. These words beautifully express why music training is so important in our children’s lives:

“Music education can help spark a child’s imagination or ignite a lifetime of passion. When you provide a child with new worlds to explore and challenges to tackle, the possibilities are endless.”

Photo: Children Playing Violin Suzuki Institute courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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Yes, spring is a wonderful time to raise your voice in song. This season naturally lends itself to singing — just listen to the birds outside your window.

It doesn’t really matter what kind of tunes you belt out — whether it’s an aria or a pop melody. What’s important is that you put your heart and soul into it because, as many scientific studies show, singing is very good for you!

Here’s why.

Five Reasons Why You Should Burst Into Song

1. Singing lowers stress levels and releases muscle tension, so it has a relaxing and calming effect.
2. It improves mental alertness, concentration, and memory by allowing more oxygen to reach the brain.
3. By stimulating a tiny organ in the ear called the sacculus, singing imparts a feeling of pleasure.
4. Singing exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, increasing strength and stamina.
5. It improves the overall quality of sleep and lessens the severity of snoring (yes, really!) In fact, there is even a CD called “Singing for Snorers.”

Now, lest you think that singing is beneficial only for adults, studies have shown that singing lullabies or nursery rhymes to infants before they learn to speak may help develop their language skills later on.

Whip Your Voice Into Shape!

What if you would like to sing but believe you can’t carry a tune? Only very few people are truly tone-deaf. So in all probability you can sing but may not know how to use or control your voice.

A good singing voice is simply a matter of training and practice, which includes learning how to use your abdomen muscles, proper breathing techniques, good posture, etc. All this is necessary not only to help your voice carry high and low notes, but also to keep your vocal chords in shape.

This way, you’ll never be out of tune!

Photo: The Youngsters Singing courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

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As John Denver, who always performed with his acoustic guitar, sang:

“This old guitar taught me to sing a love song
It showed me how to laugh and how to cry.”

Yes, the guitar’s multi-layered sound can evoke all kinds of emotions, but there are many more benefits you can get from it. So let’s look at…

Five Reasons to Learn the Guitar:

1. Because it comes in different sizes (¼, ½, ¾, and full), people of all ages — from kids to seniors — can learn to play it. It is a truly ageless instrument.
2. Studies show that learning to play the chords and read sheet music opens new neural pathways, improving both cognitive and muscle memory.
3. According to Guitar World, “Guitarists have ability to slur, slide, hammer, pick up and down, finger, tap, bend, whammy, vibrate, play with your palm, play with your teeth, use a slide and play with so many types of dynamics and articulations that they can’t be replicated successfully.” No other instrument can beat such dexterity!
4. It’s a very versatile instrument on which many musical genres can be played: blues, jazz, country, rock, flamenco, and numerous others.
5. It comes in all kinds of shapes and varieties: classical, steel, acoustic, and electric. You learn to play one, and then can switch to another.

Out of the Hands of Babes…

We mentioned that even young children can learn and enjoy the guitar. Just look at these two examples of how kids in different countries play this instrument: in North Korea, it’s the pop sound and right here in the United States, rock music.

Enjoy celebrating the International Guitar Day and remember that this great instrument is…right at your fingertips!

Photo: Guitar Store courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

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There is a reason why we are bringing up this topic: March 20 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Happiness. It’s just one day, but there is no reason why the entire month of March (and all the years of our lives, for that matter) should not be filled with happiness!

According to the UN, this event is intended to “increase human happiness and wellbeing.” There are many ways to achieve this goal, and one of them is — you guessed it — music!

Scientific research clearly shows that people who are exposed to music feel happier.

So let’s look at…

Five Pieces of Compelling Evidence that Music Makes Us Happy

1. Music boosts our mood by releasing the “feel good hormones” — such as dopamine — in the brain.
2. Another hormone, endorphin, has been scientifically proven to relieve pain. And, of course, less pain means greater wellbeing!
3. Music is known to reduce stress and anxiety, also alleviating the symptoms of depression.
4. A new study demonstrates that music boosts creativity.
5. Music keeps the brain more alert, even as we age. And a sharp brain equals an active and happy life.

Burst with Joy!

Science is clear: music and happiness go hand in hand – not just on March 20 but throughout your life.

To sum up, music lifts our mood, reduces stress, alleviates pain, makes us more creative, and keeps out brains sharp.

So if you haven’t yet started your music lessons, now is the time to get happy.

Photo: Colours courtesy of Camdiluv and Flickr

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What – you are saying that you are still trying to keep your resolution from 1994? It’s time to let it go, turn the page, and start with a clean slate. After all, each New Year brings with it fresh beginnings and new chances to get it right.

There is a very simple key to achieving your goals: keep them simple, realistic, and fun. If you decide to travel to the Moon, you probably won’t accomplish that, at least not in 2018. And if you resolve to do something you absolutely do not enjoy — like sticking your tongue to a frozen pole — you’ll probably renege on that promise fairly quickly (we certainly hope you do!)

But if your resolutions include activities you’ll enjoy and derive pleasure from, you will probably keep on doing them. We are referring, of course, to music lessons!

Five Reasons Why Music Should be Present in Your Life in 2018:

1. For children, music improves academic and social skills.
2. For people of all ages, music has many benefits on mental health: it reduces stress, calms nerves, and lifts the mood.
3. Music boosts our immunity, so the body is able to fight various illnesses. In other words, music is certainly nothing to sneeze at!
4. For those suffering from insomnia, music will, literally, put you to sleep.
5. If you have been sick, music can help you recover quicker, provide pain relief, and speed up the healing process.

Now that you know some of the reasons why learning to play an instrument should be one of your top priorities for 2018, you may wonder how to motivate yourself to keep this resolution.

It’s simple: choose the instrument that best fits your personality and interests — strings, woodwinds, percussions, or brass. Then find an experienced teacher (no need to look far, we have excellent instructors at your service).

You are ready to start your musical journey. Happy New Year!

Photo: Young Boy in a Band Playing a Violin courtesy of Circe Denyer and PublicDomainPictures.net

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But let’s not forget the benefits of singing, whether solo or in a group.

Sing, Sing a Song…

Here are just a few of the many advantages of singing:

1. It strengthens the immune system: A recent study showed that an hour of singing reduces stress hormones and increases the body’s immune activity.
2. It boosts your self-esteem: When you sing in front of a group and get positive feedback from your audience, you will feel more confident, even if you are normally a shy person.
3. It is a natural anti-depressant: Research shows that singing helps release endorphins, the feel-good brain chemical that makes you feel uplifted and happy.
4. It is a good workout: It may not totally replace physical exercise, but singing is an excellent workout for your lungs, diaphragm, and overall circulation.
5. It improves your posture: When you raise your voice in song, you are also developing good posture: standing up straight, expanding your chest cavity, and aligning your back and shoulders. After all, nobody ever sang a powerful song while slouching or stooping!

So there you have it: five reasons why singing is good for you, no matter what age or gender you are.

Belt Out a Tune

Do you want to be able to sing but think (or have been told) that you can’t? Actually, only a small percentage of the population is truly tone-deaf, suffering from a rare condition called amusia. For others, the inability to hear pitch or distinguish among musical notes is nothing more than lack of proper training.

Don’t be deterred by people saying that you sing off key. Your ability to carry a tune can be vastly improved by lessons that train your voice. A good teacher will show you proper singing techniques and vocal projections.

So go ahead and find your voice!

Photo: Michal Shapira courtesy of Alexander Kinik and WikiMedia Commons

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We hope your kids had an enjoyable and relaxing break, but still managed to keep up with their music lessons. Regular practice will make it so much easier for them to build on their progress.

If they have slacked off — as children tend to do sometimes — they may have to work a bit harder to get their groove back. And if your kids are totally new to music lessons, we welcome them with open arms.

As a parent, you surely know that music education is vital for your children and teens. But if you need a reminder, here are five compelling reasons for starting (or continuing) to play an instrument during this school year. All are based on scientific evidence as well as our own experience:

Benefit #1 – Improved scholastic performance: Music training can boost your children’s academic and social skills, including intellectual, motor, language, and overall literacy.

Benefit #2 – Emotional health: Music can help youngsters develop emotional strength and resilience to deal with whatever challenges they may face.

Benefit #3 – Better focus: For kids who are often distracted and “all over the place,” music lessons can help boost focus, self-control, and attention span. After all, playing an instrument requires an alert mind, patience, and concentration.

Benefit #4 – Physical fitness: You may not think of music lessons as a workout, but it is. It requires good body posture and coordination, proper breathing techniques, as well as muscular strength to hold the instrument.

Benefit 5 – Increased brain power: Research shows that music boosts brain activity enabling us to process and retain information, solve problems, and regulate behavior.

There you have it: five reasons why music lessons are so valuable to your kids.

The First Step…

If your child is new to music lessons, he or she may be apprehensive about starting. Let us reassure you (and your child) that our teachers will try to make this experience both enjoyable and productive, regardless of which instruments your child chooses.

With regular lessons, a new student will develop each of the skills listed above, while having fun and feeling a sense of accomplishment.

And we bet that your child’s progress will be music to your ears!

Photo: Children Playing Guitar courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

The post See You in September: Five Benefits of Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

You might think that July is a quiet month and, in some ways, it is. Those lazy, hazy days of summer put all of us in a relaxing mood. Still, this doesn’t mean that there are no exciting events taking place this month. The 4th of July is one such occasion, celebrated all across the country, from sea to shining sea. But there is more: today there is another, though certainly lesser known, event: July 6 marks the International Kissing Day, also called World Kiss Day.

You get the idea: on this day, the art of locking lips is celebrated all over the world. Needless to say, there are many different forms of smooching – from friendly cheek pecks and chivalrous hand kissing, to the romantic locking of the lips.

A kiss is not just a kiss…

Germaphobes will argue that kissing is unhygienic because it spreads germs, bacteria, and viruses from one person to another. If that were truly the case, wouldn’t the human race have disappeared from the planet long ago? We prefer to believe that kissing is good for us. In fact, there is plenty of evidence showing numerous benefits – both physical and emotional – of kissing. For instance:

• By dilating blood vessels, kissing may help reduce blood pressure. The dilation effect may also help to relieve pain.
• For obvious reasons, it releases your happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.
• A vigorous kiss may burn anywhere from 10 to 15 calories. Kiss 20 times a day, and there goes that chocolate bar.
• It tones your facial muscles, particularly those around your mouth and jaw.

Now, all that is great, but what we like best about this business of kissing is that its benefits resemble those you get from music training. For example, just as smooching lowers your blood pressure and releases mood-boosting endorphins, so does playing an instrument. And yes, it also burns calories. What about toning your facial muscles? That’s a no-brainer! Do you really think you can play the flute, saxophone, trumpet, or harmonica without giving your face a good workout?

Work your muscles!

Now, our teachers are not the kissing types, but they obviously know all about the benefits of music training – those mentioned above and others. If you wish to take July 6 off to celebrate International Kissing Day with your loved one(s), go ahead. But don’t forget to book music lessons for the rest of the summer in the comfort of your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. With kissing AND music, you will have a dual advantage – “double the pleasure, double the fun!”

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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Does your child take to music like the proverbial duck to water, or does he / she find an excuse not to take lessons and practice in between – excuses like “the dog ate my flute,” or “a big bird flew in through my window at night and stole my guitar?”

Well, kids will be kids and very often they don’t know what’s good for them. But parents do, and that is why you’ll be interested in these new findings.

A multitude of benefits

This is not the first (and probably not the last) time we are sharing with you scientific discoveries about the benefits of music. A while ago we wrote about studies demonstrating how music training can boost your children’s academic and social skills, and help them develop emotional strength to deal with whatever curveballs life may throw at them.

We also noted how playing an instrument makes you (and the kids) physically fitter.

You’d think these are sufficient arguments in favor of music education and nothing further needs to be said. But wait – there is more good news.

Long-lasting benefits

Recent research published in scientific journal PLOS One shows that children who had regular private music lessons for at least two years showed boosted activity in the areas of the brain associated with executive functions that enable people to process and retain information, solve problems, and regulate behavior.

Not only that, but the study also indicated that the increased brain function lasts throughout the rest of their lives, which means that effects of early music training endure beyond childhood. And it doesn’t matter which instrument is involved – they are all good!

To us, these findings are not surprising – we have been giving private music lessons in New York City for a long time and have seen the impact this training has had on lives of people of all ages.

Of course, not all music lessons are created equal, and not all instructors have the experience or technical ability to be a positive influence on their students.

Benefit from us!

We don’t mean to toot our own trumpet (or maybe we do!) but we believe that our Hey Joe Guitar music teachers are the best in NYC. And don’t take just our word for it – we have (no pun intended) scores of happy customers who (another pun!)