We can now look forward to a new year which, we hope, will be happy, healthy, prosperous, and peaceful. The beginning of January is a good time to talk about that pesky subject: New Year resolutions. We say « pesky » because while they are undoubtedly sincere and well-intentioned, most of them get broken by the time Spring comes along. Among the most common resolutions people make is learning a new skill or improving an old one. Very often this involves music lessons because, as we all know, music lifts our spirits and makes us (and everyone around us) happy. But how can you make sure that your resolve to start music lessons in 2020 doesn’t weaken (or disappear altogether) as months go by?

Easy Does It

Psychologists say most New Year resolutions fail because we set unrealistic goals for ourselves. For instance, we resolve to run the New York Marathon, but we don’t train for it as regularly as we should, and then we get disappointed when we can’t make it to the finish line. This is just one example of many showing how we sabotage our resolutions by aiming too high, too quickly. It is much better to make resolutions that are realistic and achievable. For instance, instead of aiming for the marathon, you should start with jogging small distances several times a week, and gradually work up your stamina and endurance.

Stay Inspired!

How does all this relate to music lessons? Obviously, if you are a beginner, don’t set yourself an overly-ambitious goal of playing at Carnegie Hall anytime soon. If that doesn’t happen, you’ll feel disappointed and frustrated, and maybe even give up your music training. Thinking big is good, but achieving your goals doesn’t happen overnight; it takes patience and practice. In other words, it’s one step at a time. Here is what we suggest to keep your music-related resolutions:

1. Choose an instrument that best fits your personality, size, and strength. If you opt for something that’s too big, heavy, or just isn’t « you, » the lessons may not work out.
2. Choose a good teacher, one that is experienced, patient, and kind. This will ensure you get not only the instruction you need but also the support. We don’t mean to brag (actually, we do), but we have the most wonderful teachers who’ll come to your home or office to give you lessons.
3. Practice a little bit every day. This way, you won’t be overwhelmed by too much “homework,” but still make progress.
4. Enjoy your lessons! The more pleasurable your music experience is, the more your skills will improve and your appreciation of music grow.

We hope we have helped you keep your resolutions well into 2020, and beyond. And we join ABBA in wishing you all the best for the New Year!

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Our city is not only the birthplace of several music genres like hip hop, freestyle, doo wop, bebop, disco, punk rock, and new wave, but also of many world-renowned musicians.

We can’t mention all the excellent home-grown performers in this blog, but here are (in no particular order) five that we love — not only because of their talent, but also because they are quintessential New Yorkers, who have remained true to their hometown:

1. Neil Diamond. Born in Brooklyn, the singer commemorated his attachment to his native city with the words “Well, I’m New York City born and raised,” in the song titled “I am I said” as well as in “Brooklyn Roads.”

2. Lady Gaga. Stefani Germanotta, as she was then known, was born at Lennox Hill Hospital and grew up on NYC’s Upper West Side. Her website mentions how, as a child, she used to go to fancy restaurants in the neighborhood and dance around, using her breadsticks as batons. Later, she waitressed at an Upper West Side diner and bought herself a Gucci purse with the money she made at that job.

3. Billy Joel. The Bronx-born singer paid homage to his native city in his 1980s hit “Uptown Girl” and also has been performing one show a month at Madison Square Garden since 2014!

4. Barbara Streisand. Born in Brooklyn, the singer and actress sang about NYC in the 1977 song, “New York State of Mind”

5. Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but he was born in Queens and still lives right here in the city. We can only hope that his 1960s hit “The Good Life” was inspired by New York.

Their Kind of Town

As we said, these are just five performers who have their roots in NYC. But there are many others as well who were not only born here, but also sang about their native city.

For instance:

• Barry Manilow was born in Brooklyn and had a song titled “This Is My Town.”

• (Paul) Simon and (Art) Garfunkel. Both hail from Queens, and while they were still together, they released “A Heart in New York.”

• Brooklyn-born Jay-Z, and Alicia Keys, born in Manhattan, recorded together “New York,” a song that has energy and vibe of their native city.

We can’t possibly mention all the talented musicians who hail from New York City, but you can see who they are right here.

We thank them all for their musical contributions to our city and the world!

Photo: New York City Skyline

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Do rainy days and Mondays always get you down? Welcome to November, which, on average, dumps about 4.5 inches of rain on New York City. When you are wet and cold, you are probably not seeing much beauty in the rain . All you want to do is go indoors, get warm, and stay dry.

And you can always cheer yourself up with the thought that it could be worse – you could be living in Seattle! But if you have an artistic streak, you might appreciate these words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “How beautiful is the rain! After the dust and heat, In the broad and fiery street, In the narrow lane, How beautiful is the rain!” You don’t agree? Well then, continue reading.

The sounds of nature

You might find all that H2O irritating while you are getting wet outside, but once you are warm and cozy indoors, you are in a better position to appreciate the unique kind of music that the rain creates. The steady drumbeat pattern of falling raindrops has a calming and soothing effect that can help you think, contemplate, and reflect. You can just as well relax and fall asleep as concentrate on a task like reading or studying. The same effect, by the way, can be achieved by other nature water sounds as well – for instance, the ocean , river , and waterfall .

Rainy day songs

In pop music, there are a number of songs about the rain as well. Interestingly, none of them are somber; rather, they are upbeat and have a good vibe to them. Perhaps the best known one is from the movie “Singing in the Rain.” Then there’s the Beatles’ rendition of “Rain” Eric Clapton’s “Let it Rain” , “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” by BJ Thomas, Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain Gonna Fall” , and perhaps the most fittingly named of all, “November Rain” by Guns’n’Roses. Of course, one song you may not want to hear right now is Albert Hammond’s 1972 hit “It Never Rains in Southern California.” Oh well, you can’t be everywhere!

We’ll “drop” in on you!

Our Hey Joe Guitar music teachers don’t mind a bit of precipitation, so even if it rains, they will still make it to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office for a music lesson. Whatever instrument you play – the guitar, piano, voice, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, or mandolin – we’ll never, um, rain on your parade!

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If you have ever attended symphony orchestra performances, you know that the music doesn’t just “play itself.” Someone is responsible for ensuring that all the different instrument sections are balanced in the overall sound, so that a concert goes off without a hitch. We are talking here about conductors, sometimes also called “musical directors.” They have been around for centuries, so they are a familiar sight to concert goers everywhere, but have you ever wondered what their role is? Obviously, it goes far beyond just raising and haphazardly waving their batons.

Simply put, their role is to help musicians play well together, but, as you can imagine, the task is much more complex than that.

Not just a magic wand

You may not have given much thought to the conductor’s role, but you’d probably notice his absence. That’s because without a leader, individual musicians in large symphony orchestras would have to use their own judgment – for example, on how to interpret a particular score – and the result might be uncoordinated and awkward. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule as well ! Very likely, these ensembles rehearsed with the conductor and performed in concert without one. In a way, a conductor is like any other team leader – in business, sports, or any other environment. He or she has to make sure that everyone in a group is in sync with each other. In music, this literally means being in tune and harmony! What the audiences usually see is a well – no pun intended – orchestrated performance. This means that in rehearsal, the conductor put in a lot of work to ensure coherence and coordination among musicians. What exactly does this entail? According to Wikipedia, “the primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats (meter) and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble.” That’s just a general definition of a conductor’s job, but there’s much more involved. For instance, through gestures, a conductor communicates instructions to the musicians, directing them when to start or stop, how fast to go, when to play louder or softer, etc.

We’ll conduct your lesson!

Over the years, there had been many famous composers who conducted their own orchestras – like Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Mahler, Strauss, and Rubinstein to mention just a few. Other prominent conductors included Arturo Toscanini, Herbert von Karajan , Leopold Stokowski, and Claudio Abbado , among others. Each and every one of these brilliant conductors took the performances to the new level and delighted audiences with their mastery. At Hey Joe Guitar, we don’t conduct orchestras. However, our New York City music teachers are skilled at guiding their students through all the intricacies of music – whatever the instrument. When we come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, we’ll make sure you play with harmony, balance, and coordination.

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Let us give you some cryptic clues about the topic of this week’s blog: “here today, gone tomorrow;” “tempest in a teapot;” and “if you blink, you’ll miss it.” What are we talking about? If you know the answer, raise your hand! Okay, okay, here it is: we are referring to musical hits that sizzled and soon after, fizzled out!

This is a good time to talk about these songs because this coming Friday, September 25, is the National One-Hit Wonder Day. See, you always learn something new and interesting here!

No staying power

Just to make sure we are on the same page, a one-hit wonder is defined as “a group or singer that has only one hit record before returning to obscurity.” An interesting thing about these one-hit wonders is that they are not only a modern phenomenon. Long before music charts came into existence, there had been many undoubtedly talented classical composers who, sadly, didn’t leave behind a lasting musical legacy. For instance, the mere mention of the name Pachelbel evokes the sounds of his best (and only) known work, Canon in D . But most people would rack their brains if asked to name other famous works by this Baroque composer! There are plenty of other examples of composers who became known for one specific work, only to be forgotten afterwards!

In and out

A more recent (century-wise) list of one-hit wonders is also long. For example, Tina Sinatra made it big with her 1966 smash, “These Boots Were Made for Walking .” But even though she continued to perform, Frank’s daughter never reached this degree of success again. Let’s continue: most people remember Tiny Tim (the one with the falsetto voice, not the character in Dickens’ Christmas Carol) for his 1968 rendition of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips .” Chances are, you can’t name any of his other songs without doing the Internet search. Now, if you say “Bobby McFerrin,” his 1988 hit, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy ” jumps to mind. But do you know, off the top of your head, what other famous songs he performed? And do you remember all the hoopla around the 1993 single, “Macarena ?” We are not stretching the truth when we say that the band, Los del Río, never again had a hit of such magnitude. These are just a few examples of one-hit wonders. Rolling Stone Magazine has a more comprehensive list.

In for a long haul!

One thing is certain, no musician can know in advance whether he or she will achieve lasting (or merely fleeting) success. But you can predict your musical progress by how regular your lessons are and how well you practice in between. With the help of our talented and experienced teachers, each lesson at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office will leave a truly lasting impression!

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September is stretching out before us and we couldn’t be happier. Why? Because it marks a very important occasion: Classical Music Month, as declared by President Clinton back in 1994. “Classical music is a celebration of artistic excellence,” Clinton noted in his official proclamation. He also emphasized why it is important to pay tribute to this timeless and universal genre: “At the heart of classical music is continuity and tradition. What was heard in a Vienna opera house was heard again in a colonial theater in Charleston, South Carolina, was echoed at the inauguration of President Lincoln, was repeated in turn-of-the-century Chicago, and is played again today by a range of musicians from the most skilled of virtuosos to the youngest student struggling with the complexities of the violin.”

Needless to say, we agree! Even though other types of music have emerged in the past decades, the magnificent sounds of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and other noted composers of centuries past are still filling our ears – and hearts – with beautiful sounds.

Historical context

What exactly is “classical” music? In our Western understanding, it is a genre created by European composers from (roughly) the 16th to 19th centuries. But what many people may not realize is that the term “classical” actually covers three historical periods: the Baroque (1600–1760), Classical (1730–1820), and Romantic (1780–1910). Among the most noted composers working during each of these periods were Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi for the Baroque era; Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin for the Classical one; and Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, and Wagner in the Romantic period. As you can see, all the above eras overlap with each other, so there is no clear cut-off point from one to the next (although, as you can imagine, historical, cultural, social, and intellectual contexts had undergone tremendous changes in the four centuries that separate the beginning of the Baroque and the end of the Romantic period). So what are the specificities of each of the above eras, you may wonder? Generally speaking, Baroque music is characterized by its fluidity and flow . Classical pieces tend to be more dramatic , while the Romantic period featured strong contrasts in the rhythm, tonality, and harmony, as well as a larger variety of instruments .

Bring music into play!

As we mentioned before, a variety of music genres were created in the past century, but classical music never fell out of fashion. Our teachers are classical music aficionados as well, though most are quite versatile in their tastes: they also love jazz, blues, folk, rock, country, and every other kind of music ever invented. What this means is that whichever genre and instrument you are interested in playing, we have an excellent teacher for you. Just contact us and we’ll send him or her right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale doorstep. Together, you’ll create a beautiful symphony of sound!

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What is your favorite TV commercial? OK, we admit that this not the kind of question you might be asking yourself, but bear with us. There is a reason why we are bringing this up. While television ads may not represent the highest art form – though there are certainly people out there who will disagree – the fact is that a lot of creative energy goes into an advertising campaign.

The ads you see on your television screen didn’t just “happen;” they required extensive market research, knowledge of human psychology and social trends, as well as many other skills. We told you there was a reason why we are bringing up this subject: it’s because the most successful and effective marketing campaigns are the ones that feature music.

“It’s the real thing!”

Why is it that jingles and catchy tunes in advertising grab our attention? The reason is simple: a good melody, especially when it is paired with compelling lyrics, elicits an emotional reaction. Let’s have a look at some of the most successful TV ads of the past decades. The foremost among them was undoubtedly the iconic 1971 Coca-Cola commercial , which went down in the annals of the advertising history for its melodic and upbeat song that made everyone feel like all was right with the world. Imagine if this ad did not contain any music, just words. Would it be as engaging? We think not: with no catchy melody and lyrics, it would be as flat and lifeless as… a coke without the fizz! There were (and still are) other television commercials with ear-catching tunes. Remember this high-vibe McDonald’s jingle that started the famous (or infamous, if you prefer) “you deserve a break today” catchphrase? And what about this cute jingle for Oscar Meyer hot dogs , Band-aids , or chewing gum ? And perhaps you are old enough to remember the time when air travel was hassle-free and enjoyable because airlines actually cared about their passengers’ comfort ?

Never out of tune

Whether or not you are a jingle aficionado, you can learn to play all of the above-mentioned tunes on any kind of instrument – guitar, piano, or any other. And you can sing them too! When one of our teachers comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, you’ll see that the catchphrases from the above-mentioned ads set the mood for your lesson and describe perfectly what to expect from this experience: “It’s the real thing, what the world needs today.” “Double the pleasure, double the fun.” “We’ll move our tail for you.” “You deserve a break today.” And those are not just empty promises!

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Last month, just as the official summer season was starting, we wrote about all the wonderful beaches along the New York City coastline. Now that summer is here in earnest, our thoughts (and hopefully yours as well) are turning to images of sun-soaked sandy beaches and sounds of ocean waves crashing against the shore.

That’s because for so many of us, a beach represents an escape from the stresses of our often-hectic urban lives. In fact, a study carried out a few years ago at University of Exeter in Britain, showed that city dwellers’ moods improved considerably when they spent time in a seaside environment. But really, do we need scientists to tell us that soaking up the warm sun and feeling soft sand between the toes is a mood-booster? We think not – this is one case where anecdotal evidence (in other words, our own experience) is the best guide.

Flip-flop moments

Whether you are actually at the beach or just dreaming about being by the seashore, you can enhance your experience with some beach-specific music. A group that jumps to mind is, of course, “The Beach Boys,” who had not one or two, but several songs about the joys of the beach, starting with their mega-hit, “Surfin’ USA.” But that’s not all; there is also “Surfer Girl,” and “Surfin' Safari” (are you seeing a prevailing theme here?) However, our all-time favorite, ultimate beach song the prolific group recorded is “Kokomo.” It has that special vibe that makes you want to dance right there on the sand! What are some of the other quintessential beach songs? There is “The Beach Blanket Bingo,” which reminds us of those innocent days when teenagers didn’t just text or play games on their cell phones all day. And what about The Righteous Brothers’ “Ebb Tide” or “King of the Beach” by the appropriately named Wavves? There are many more beach-related songs; what is your favorite one?

Bring the beach into your home!

Would you like to get into the “sun ’n’ sand” spirit, even if you are city-bound this summer? The best way to “bring” the soft sand and warm ocean breezes into your home is to play some of the above-mentioned music. Our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office to teach you or your child how to get those “beachy” sounds out of your guitar, piano, or any other instrument (or, if you are taking voice lessons, how to sing them). Any way you look at it, when it comes to summer music, our teachers are a breeze of fresh (ocean) air!

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We have said it many times before and we still stand by it: music training is good for you! However, this doesn’t mean that every music experience is always calm and uneventful; sometimes, concerts incite not only applause and calls for an encore, but also utter chaos.

You might think we are talking about women throwing their panties at Elvis Presley so he could wipe his sweaty brow with the undergarments, or teenage girls screaming, swooning, and sometimes even fainting at the Beatles’ concerts. No. We are referring here to real riots, which, surprisingly, occurred at classical music concerts. And some of them happened even in our city! Let’s look at a few of the most famous – or, in this case, infamous – ones that… struck the wrong notes with audiences.

Dissention in the ranks

It is no secret that not everyone is a fan of Richard Wagner, the 19th century German composer known for his somber music. In 1861, at a Paris performance of his opera “Tannhauser,” he placed the ballet sequence in the first act rather than in second, as originally written. Talk about a faux pas! The change outraged purist spectators, who showed their discontent with loud cat-calls, whistles, and general ruckus that disrupted the performance and caused a scandal in Parisian art circles. Half a century later, also in Paris, broken canes and crushed fedoras were not the only victims of a brawl that broke out in May 1913 during the premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s ballet, “The Rite of Spring.” Though now a classic, at that time both the music and choreography were clearly too shocking to audiences accustomed to the elegance and grace of classical ballets. As soon as the performance began, furious spectators started to boo the orchestra and dancers. Their outrage, according to eyewitness reports, was sparked by the sound of the bassoon – described as “strangled” – “fluttering and twittering woodwind sounds,” as well as “pulsating rhythms” that were far too avant-garde for the sensibilities of the early 20th century music patrons. Very soon, fighting erupted and spread throughout the audience. Police were called but were unable to contain the riot; Stravinsky did the only rational thing he could under the circumstances – he fled the scene. Much later, in 1973, a riot of sorts was staged – pun intended – in our own Carnegie Hall. A concert by Boston Symphony featured Mozart and Liszt, which, of course, appealed to the tastes of classical music lovers. However, the musicians also performed Steve Reich’s “Four Organs.” Some of the audience members didn’t dig the repetitive music of this minimalist piece, creating a scene. One elderly woman even removed her shoe and struck the stage with it in protest. As the conductor later said, “We kept going, even though people were having fistfights in the audience.” And there are many more instances of musical riots throughout history.

A peaceful experience

As the above examples demonstrate, when it comes to music, people’s emotions sometimes run high. We too are very passionate about music, though in a more positive and peaceful way. That’s why when our teachers come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will not run riot. To the contrary, they will always be respectful of your (or your child’s) musical tastes and support your efforts to master your instrument with kindness and patience. Yes, our teachers are definitely pacifists, but when it comes to excellent music education, they will fight the good fight!

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Last month, we had a blog about how some songs used to be censored in the United States. Fortunately, though, most music these days is alive, well, and being enjoyed by millions of people.

Unfortunately, musicians in certain regions of the world do not have the same opportunities that we take for granted – to perform freely, without the fear of sanctions or even persecution. We are referring to various media reports in recent months, which related how certain governments ban all musical expressions. In Mali, for instance, listening to music had been forbidden for many months, and in Afghanistan a shelter for girls was forced to discontinue its music program. In other parts of the world, musical instruments are seized and destroyed. All this is extremely sad because music is a positive and uplifting experience – the idea that we always assumed was universally accepted. What a pity that this isn’t the case.

Music without borders

Still, countries and regions where music is banned are relatively few. In most parts of the world, it is generally accepted as a unifying force among people of diverse backgrounds, nationalities, cultures, and religions. As U2’s Bono put it, “Music can change the world because it can change people.” In the very least (which is already a lot), it can bring attention to existing social or political problems and the need to find peaceful solutions. For example, not too long ago, as social unrest grew in Kiev, Ukraine, one man faced the riot police armed only with…his piano . He played folk songs and classical music that seemed to have had a calming effect on all involved, and the incident ended peacefully. And over in India, 600 guitarists gathered in the street and played John Lennon’s “Imagine” to protest widespread violence against women. Both these examples show not only the power of music, but also demonstrate how it can bring about – calmly and peacefully – social and political change. But wait, there’s more! The aptly named “Playing for Change” initiative was founded in 2002 with the goal of uniting people through music. This video demonstrates how this works: the musicians performing the same song in different parts of the world are connected to each other by music – when they play, distances and differences disappear!

Let’s do this together!

At Hey Joe Guitar, we believe in the power of music, both as a “people connector” and an agent for change. We hope that in their own small way, our music lessons and all the instruments we teach can contribute to a better world. If you are not “fluent” in music yet, now is a good time to start. Just contact us and one our teachers will arrive at your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office with a noble mission: to make music part of your life, and the lives of all those around you! To paraphrase a well-known saying, a beautiful concert starts with a single note!

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The name of Leonardo da Vinci is most often associated with his famous painting, the Mona Lisa. However, Leonardo was – literally – a quintessential Renaissance man, whose many talents encompassed mathematics, architecture, engineering, and other fields.

Among his many inventions was a little-known musical instrument, which he called “viola organista” – a string organ that can best be described as a blend of a harpsichord and cello.

The viola organista never really caught on, but recently a Polish musician used Leonardo’s 500-year-old design to build – and perform on – the mysterious instrument. Its sounds are truly unique and very beautiful.

Who knows how popular Leonardo’s invention would have become had it ever been mass-produced. It may not have ended up in the Louvre museum like the Mona Lisa, but it could have brought lots of pleasure and enjoyment to music lovers everywhere!

Playing their own tune

This is just one example of a little-known instrument, but there are many others. Unlike the viola organista, however, these instruments actually exist and are used – though not widely. Here’s a list of some interesting musical creations you likely never knew existed:

• The design of an instrument called the “gameleste” was commissioned by the Icelandic singer Björk for her 2011 album Biophilia. It’s a combination of a traditional Indonesian gamelan and a piano-like celesta. This hybrid instrument is quite unique and the sound it emits is ear-pleasing .
• The wheelharp is one of the newer kids on the block- it made its debut at the 2013 National Association of Music Merchants Show in California. An impressive piece of engineering, it has 61 strings that can be individually played and its sound is quite dramatic .
• The serpent is so called because it is shaped like a snake. Its sound , however, has nothing to do with hissing; in fact, to our ears it sounds more like a contrabass.
• And speaking of the contrabass, meet a device called the subcontrabass flute, which, at 15 feet long, is one of the largest instruments in the flute family. As you can hear, the sound it emits is quite dramatic in its intensity.

There are, of course, many, many more little-known but interesting instruments out there. Aren’t you glad we told you?

We’re not re-inventing the wheel

If you would like to have lessons in any the above-mentioned instruments, we’d better tell you right away: regretfully, we won’t be able to help you.

But if you are interested in learning to play the guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, mandolin, or have voice lessons – contact us.

One of our excellent teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you or your child music instruction. We may teach only ordinary instruments, but our lessons are truly EXTRAordinary!

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During the month of April, we’ll all be in a jam. We hasten to add, however, that – in the context of this blog – there is no negative connotation to this phrase. To the contrary – it’s all good!

Let us explain: the National Museum of American History, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as several other national organizations, designated April as the Jazz Appreciation Month – JAM!

The celebrations will culminate on April 30, which UNESCO proclaimed as International Jazz Day. As the organization notes, “this international art form is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity, eradicating discrimination, promoting freedom of expression, fostering gender equality, and reinforcing the role of youth for social change.”

Roaring ‘20s

JAM is, of course, a wonderful tribute to this uniquely American style of music, but it’s interesting to note that jazz had not always been so highly regarded. In fact, in its August 1921 issue, Ladies Home Journal claimed that this new genre invoked “savage instincts” and was “an influence for evil.”

For the older generation of the 1920s, which was accustomed to a more structured and rhythmical music based on the chords and harmony, the chaotic and pulsating beats of jazz were a shock.

But it wasn’t only the music that was seen as evil. The jazz also ushered in the wild and crazy lifestyle propagated by the new pleasure-seeking and rebellious generation, which broke all the Victorian rules of earlier eras.

It is worth noting that somewhat similar reactions had greeted other music forms that developed in the 20th century – like rock’n’roll for example. In the 1950s, crooner Frank Sinatra called this new music genre “the most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression it has been my displeasure to hear.”

But, we digress. Let’s go back to jazz.

Born in the USA

Jazz sprang up in New Orleans in the early part of the 20th century, having developed from another uniquely American music genre – ragtime.

And despite the outrage sparked by the advent of the jazz age, this music form continued to gain popularity and, gradually, acceptance. Dances – including the Charleston, Black Bottom, Tango, Shimmies, and the Trot – were part of the craze. A new generation of young and liberated (for the era) women, called the flappers , embraced the jazz – not just the music itself, but also the newfound freedoms that came with it.

With time, legendary artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Miles Davis – among many others – developed new jazz forms, including Dixieland, big band, bebop, and cool.

What’s the best compilation of jazz music? Well, “best” is subjective and relative, but here are a few examples of some excellent performances to celebrate the Jazz Appreciation Month – every day of the year!

Live – from New York City!

Some of the instruments associated with jazz are the saxophone, trumpet, guitar, clarinet, piano, drums, and double bass. It so happens that we teach all of them – and then some.

One of our teachers will be happy to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and jazz up your music lesson. Just contact us and we’ll start …jamming together!

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Let’s talk about plants. (Yes, you heard it right – we did say PLANTS!) Tomorrow is the first day of spring, so it is a good time to turn our thoughts to the vegetation that will soon be budding around us.

For most of us living in NYC, our indoor ficuses, philodendrons, African violets, and other potted plants are often the only greenery we have.

We know that plants need water and, in some cases, sunshine to thrive. You may have also heard that talking to your plants in a soft and soothing voice helps them grow. This is based more on anecdotal rather than scientific evidence, but who are we to dispute it? By the same token, there seems to be a body of information suggesting that plants respond positively to certain kinds of music. See, there IS a good reason for us to talk about plants!

“Leafing” through music

Some time ago, a researcher named Dorothy Retallack conducted an experiment at the Colorado Women’s College in which she subjected different groups of plants to various types of music, sounds, and artists. She included classical composers (Claude Debussy), jazz performers (Louis Armstrong), and Indian music (Ravi Shankar).

All the plants exposed to these sounds grew large, strong, and healthy, and many of them actually leaned towards the radio in the same way they’d bend towards sunlight.

However, when Retallack put on heavy metal and hard / acid rock music, the plants didn’t like those sounds at all – they drooped, withered, and generally reacted negatively to loud, harsh, and dissonant sounds.

A skeptic may argue that a plant has no central nervous system so it is not capable of hearing. However, a few years ago South Korean scientists reported that plants do have genes that enable them to “hear” and grow faster when music is played.

Make of this what you will, but we choose to believe that plants – like all living things – respond to beautiful music.

Finding strength in music

This brings us to a pertinent question – what music is best for your household plants?

According to the above-mentioned South Korean researchers, the soothing sounds of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata made their “study subjects” grow faster.

And, as suggested by Retallack, Debussy’s music has a positive effect as well, so we are thinking that you can’t go wrong with his “Clair de Lune” .

As for another plant favorite, Shankar, the relaxing sounds of his sitar might also help your indoor garden bloom where it is planted!

As a matter of fact, any instruments that emit soft and soothing sounds – violin, piano, guitar, flute, and many others – will be growth boosters.

A “growing” experience

We are not telling you that our music teachers are botany experts – they are not. (In fact, some of them may not even have a green thumb!)

But we will say this: if you are looking for an excellent teacher to give you or your child music lessons in the privacy of your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, we have a…. whole crop of them!

They will not help your plants get taller, but, with their exceptional patience, dedication and kindness, they will help you grow your musical ability!

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The post At Our New York Guitar School, We Plant Musical Seeds – and See Them Grow! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

What are your plans for the upcoming weekend? We suggest you spend some time at one of the most amazing New York institutions, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Among so many wonderful and varied exhibits is a small one that has caught our attention: entitled “Painting Music in the Age of Caravaggio,” the three artworks – on display until April 5th – portray musical performances depicted by three Baroque artists.

Caravaggio’s “The Musicians” (1595), Valentin de Boulogne’s “The Lute Player” (1626), and Laurent de La Hyre’s “Allegory of Music” (1649) remind us of how different the concerts used to be hundreds of years ago.

For the contemporary audiences, accustomed, as we are, to music that is piped, streamed, and available on demand anytime of day and night, it may be difficult to imagine that until a century ago, music could only be heard live by small groups of (mostly privileged) people.

Music fit for a king

It’s certainly a good thing that symphonies, philharmonics, and all the other kinds of music performances are now widely accessible to people everywhere. But it wasn’t always like this; in fact, for much of the history, “orchestras” and “concert music” consisted of small groups of musicians who played at religious celebrations, festivals, holidays, and similar occasions, using whatever instruments were available to them.

Until the end of the Baroque period, concerts were private affairs – musicians performed for their patrons and sponsors rather than for general public. Even Mozart, whose lifetime spanned the Classical era that followed the Baroque, spent his early years playing for his royal patrons. Interestingly enough, as a teenager, he spent three years traveling throughout Europe and performing at royal courts for various kings, queens, and other nobility. It certainly brings a different meaning to what we now think of as a “concert tour!”

Orchestrating change

The notion of a modern orchestra that performs in a concert hall for the ticket-paying audience started only at the beginning of the 19th century. As a matter of fact, Beethoven debuted his Symphony No. 1 in C major at the Royal Imperial Theater in Vienna on April 2, 1800.

In those days, the strings gained prominence in a standard orchestra, and the keyboard instruments had become less important. The new trend that had developed during this time was for composers to write music for the specific instrument.

Over time, as orchestras became bigger and encompassed new instruments, many composers started to write specifically for sizable ensembles; some of them, like Wagner, Verdi, and Berlioz, became conductors as well.

And just to think that this trip down the musical memory lane was sparked by three oil paintings hanging at the Met!

Start practicing!

As New Yorkers, we are lucky to have so many great orchestras and musical venues. However, keep in mind that, as Jack Benny famously noted, the only way to get to Carnegie Hall (as a performer, not a spectator), is to practice, practice, and practice!

We can certainly help you with that. Whatever musical instrument you have your heart set on – guitar, violin, cello, or any other – we’ll match you with a terrific teacher. He or she will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office to give you Carnegie-worthy lessons!

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We recently came across a very interesting article about books that, at one time or another, had been either censored or banned in the United States.

It turns out that some of the most famous works of American literature were placed on the “no-read” list, among them Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Call of the Wild by Jack London, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, and even John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath.

What about the music? In his famous 1971 song, “American Pie,” Don McLean sang about “the day the music died” .
This was intended to be a tribute to the death, 12 years earlier, of rock & roll icons Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. But, in many instances, some songs of the era did die – figuratively speaking, of course.

The age of innocence

In her song titled “Dance in the Dark” , Lady Gaga urges listeners to “Find your freedom in the music.” Unfortunately, because of their contentious (in some people’s opinion) lyrics, certain songs were seen in their time as provocative enough to be censored.

For instance, in the 1940s, George Formby’s “When I’m Cleaning Windows” was called by the censors “a disgusting little ditty” – and banned from the airwaves in his native Britain – because it portrayed him as a voyeur of sorts:

“The blushing bride she looks divine
The bridegroom he is doing fine
I’d rather have his job than mine
When I’m cleaning windows.”

In the USA, the censors were busy as well. Even though the Everly Brothers were a clean-cut and wholesome duo, their 1957 hit, “Wake Up Little Susie” was banned by radio stations. Why? The censors thought that lyrics about canoodling teenagers (“We fell asleep, our goose is cooked our reputation is shot”) would incite hanky-panky among young people across America.

Teen idol Bobby Darrin was also targeted by the censors’ wrath: his 1958 song, “Splish Splash” was condemned for its “indecent lyrics.” The censors thought America would be shocked by hints of nudity:

“Well… I stepped out the tub
Put my feet on the floor
I wrapped the towel around me
And I opened the door.
And… then-a… splish, splash
I jumped back in the bath
Well… how was I to know
There was a party going on.”

You might think that above-mentioned songs were frowned upon because the moral codes in those days were far stricter than they are today. True, but music continued to be censored well into the second, more liberal, half of the 20th century.

For instance, “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul, and Mary (1962) and “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles (1967), were banned because censors thought they could incite the use of drugs.

And “Let’s Spend the Night Together” by the Rolling Stones (1967) was regarded as purveyor of low morals.

Stayin’ alive!

Although, sadly, the teaching of music – and arts programs in general – is banned in certain parts of the world, here in New York City, it is thriving!

We believe – and know as a fact – that music lessons are beneficial for people of all ages and we are honored to be a part of this experience.

Our teachers are “free” to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons in the guitar, piano, drums, or a number of other instruments. Their mission: to keep music alive and well!

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Why is a piano so hard to open? And why is slippery ice like music? We’ll give you answers to these questions in just a little while, but first let us introduce this blog’s topic: musical jokes. We will start with silly jokes kids tell and then move on to more, um, mature ones adults laugh at.

Why are we telling jokes all of a sudden? Well, doctors tell us that laughing is good for us. As Charlie Chapin (who certainly knew a thing or two about humor) said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” So without further ado, let’s start laughing!

Out of the mouths of the babes

The answer to the first question above (why is a piano so hard to open?) is: “Because the keys are on the inside.” And the response to the second one, “why is slippery ice like music,” is “if you don’t C sharp, you’ll B flat!” Hey, we never said they were good jokes! Here are some other ones:

• What do you call a cow that plays a musical instrument? A Moo-sician!
• Why was the musician arrested? Because she got in treble!
• What’s the most musical part of a turkey? The drumstick!
• What do you get if you cross a sweet potato and a jazz musician? A yam session!
• What’s the most musical bone? The trom-bone!

Now let’s continue chuckling at jokes grown-ups tell.

Ageless humor

Going up the age ladder, here are some music-related jokes that adults find funny:

• “I like the song you sang. One day you should put it to music.”
• “Why are pianists’ fingers like lightning? They rarely strike the same place twice.”
• “What did the guitar say to the guitarist? Pick on someone your own size!”
• Note left from pianist to his wife: “Gone Chopin, have Liszt, Bach in a Minuet.”
• “Haven’t I seen your face before?” a judge demanded, looking down at the defendant. “You have, Your Honor,” the man answered hopefully. “I gave your son violin lessons last winter.”“Ah, yes,” recalled the judge. “Twenty years!”

Knock, knock, who is there?

Your music teacher – the one who will never get in…treble! Joking aside, teaching music is no laughing matter, but it certainly doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fun and enjoyable too. The teacher we will send to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office will never be dull, dour and humorless – though cracking jokes is not exactly part of her job description (neither is taking care of lighting, so we don’t really know how many music teachers it takes to change a lightbulb). The teachers’ primary goal is to instruct, guide, inspire, and motivate their students. So if you ever hear the one about the teacher who showed up at your doorstep with his musical instrument in hand, that is no joke, it’s real life!

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How many times have you heard people say that no words can express how they feel? Or maybe, at one time or another, you have found yourself at a loss when trying to verbally convey your thoughts and emotions?

Fortunately, as Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen noted, “where words fail, music speaks.” It’s true: music not only has a profound effect on our emotions – lifting our spirits when we are blue and relaxing us when we are stressed out – but it also has an amazing ability to give us hope, inspire and motivate us. We call it the “feel-good” or simply “happy” music.

As John Lennon sang in “Intuition:”

As I play the game of life
I try to make it better each and every day.
And when I struggle in the night
The magic of the music seems to light the way.

Creative expression

Fact is, we can’t listen to music without feeling some kind of emotional feedback. Even if we play it in the background while working or doing other activities, the sounds we hear affect us in many ways.

Studies show that playing or listening to “happy” music will have a positive impact on our thoughts, feelings, and general outlook on life.

The key – no pun intended – is to choose pieces that are upbeat and uplifting. Generally speaking, the more up-tempo the music, the more happy emotions it will generate. The same holds true for lyrics – a sad song will bring us down, while a cheerful one will make us feel good.

That’s the magic of music!

Happiness playlist

What pieces of music will make you feel positive and optimistic? We can’t answer this question unequivocally because personal tastes and preferences vary. However, we feel pretty confident about the following choices – they are cheerful and upbeat enough to put most people in a good mood:

Ninth Symphony “Ode to Joy,” Beethoven (By the way, one of the most eloquent descriptions of feelings evoked by this piece came from the famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. A listener, he said, “might feel that he is floating above the earth in a starry dome, with the dream of immortality in his heart; all the stars seem to glimmer around him, and the earth seems to sink ever deeper downwards.”)

“Happy,” Pharrell Williams

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” Bobby McFerrin

“Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen

“Dancing Queen,” Abba

“Soul” music

Just as listening to music is a deeply emotional experience, so is playing an instrument or singing a song. Very few people (we personally don’t know any) can detach themselves from the music they are making and remain “neutral.” We can only imagine that this kind of rendition would be totally flat and lifeless.

Being a good musician – even if you are just starting out – means that you can convey your own musical emotions to your listeners. That’s an art, but the kind of art you can certainly master.

That’s where our wonderful teachers come in. Accomplished musicians in their own right, they will teach you or your child not only the right techniques, but also how to convey your feelings through music (and yes, even children have the ability to connect with their audience on a deeply emotional level). It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for guitar or piano lessons (or any other instrument), just contact us and we’ll send an emotionally aware teacher to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office.

And here is another quote to inspire you on your “emotional” musical journey. It comes from Plato: “Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.”

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Here is some, um, food for thought: what does jazz music taste like? And what about the classical, blues, country, and rock sounds?

You may not have thought about pairing food with music, but know this: careful matchmaking will help you create a harmonious and melodious experience. Yes, you can blend meals and soundtracks totally haphazardly (and nobody but a purist would notice the mish-mash). But, really, there is a far better way to achieve a smooth and coherent meld of two of life’s most pleasurable pursuits.

Now, in case you are thinking we are making this up, rest assured that we are not. True, pairing food with music is not exactly a widespread trend (yet), but it is growing. For example, a San Francisco-based project, Turntable Kitchen actually invents soundtracks for various recipes.

What is involved in this process? As Turntable’s Mathew Hickey explains it, “When I select a pairing, I like to start by thinking about the flavors in the meal. I’ll write down a few descriptive terms to help get the process going with words like floral, sweet, rustic, intense, subtle, upbeat, textured, contemporary, etc. I’ll also take into account geographic factors, which can help narrow down my selections. So, for example, if we have a sweet, upbeat and rustic recipe that includes ingredients that are commonly associated with the Pacific Northwest, I’ll go through my record collection and rack my brain for a band whose music is also sweet, upbeat, rustic and, ideally, from the Pacific Northwest.”

Taste for music

Now, here’s a question you probably never thought of asking: how does Bob Dylan taste? The answer is not blowin’ in the wind but, rather, comes from Blair Warsham, chef and co-founder of the “Covers” dinner and song series, who told the New York Times that the singer tastes “like aged beef, soy and seaweed. The beef represents Dylan’s leathery exterior and the seaweed and soy provide heavy notes that pair well with his raspy voice.”

And according to an NPR blog, classical music is the best match for a turkey dinner, as well as a variety of other dishes. As the article states: “Would you like some schlag with your Strauss? Are roast beef and Copland what’s for dinner? Would prosecco and a Rossini overture be a perfect kickoff to your Thanksgiving meal?”

Cook up your own batch!

What would YOU serve as an accompaniment to your favorite piece of music? If you are partial to rock, you might like to prepare a sizzling and fiery meal like a red curry; country sounds may call for tangy barbecued ribs and a sweet corn on the cob, while classical tunes probably go well with something smooth and sweet (chocolate mousse, anyone?)

On a personal note, we love pasta and think that its texture goes benissimo with a powerful tenor voice – like Andrea Bocelli’s

Obviously, the food–music pairing is not an exact science and, therefore, is totally subjective. That is just as well because you can use your own imagination to create a personalized menu that will please both your palate and your ear.

No pairings required

At Hey Joe Guitar, we like all kinds of arts – including the culinary ones. We have to admit, however, that we sometimes eat meals that are not at all compatible with the music playing on the iPod.

What about our teachers? If truth be told, they may be clueless as to what foods go well with Beethoven or which tunes match broccoli. Teaching music, however, is a piece of cake.

No matter which instrument you or your child would like to play – guitar, piano, drums, violin, or any other – one of our “cream of the crop” teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you personalized, “a la carte” lessons.

Photo by Krystin Norman

The post Pass the Butter and Mozart, Please: NYC Music Lessons Are All About Good Taste! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

If you have followed the news for the past couple of months, you surely know that, for the first time ever, a space probe named Rosetta dropped the robotic lander Philae onto the surface of a comet (this phenomenon is not to be mistaken for the other Rosetta Stone – the language school).

There are many amazing aspects of this historic landing, not the least of which is the distance and the duration of the journey: 6.4 billion miles that took a decade to achieve! Another mind-boggling fact is that Philae is as small as a washing machine.

Interestingly enough, the landing occurred only days after the release of the movie “Interstellar,” so no wonder we have been so…“spaced out” lately!

The sounds of space

The whole thing is awe-inspiring, of course, but the part that particularly fascinates us (for obvious reasons) is the “song” emitted by the comet. It is not music in a traditional, earthly sense, but rather a haunting sound that makes us imagine all the mysteries of the universe.

It may (or may not) be true that in space no one can hear you scream, but the extra-terrestrial world is not quite as silent as you might think. In fact, the recording sent from the comet is only the latest proof that far-away galaxies create beautiful – though unusual – music of their own.

Cosmic particles may not be producing sound in the conventional sense, but their speeding paths do emit audible vibrations. In a truly fascinating endeavor, scientists turned the nearly four decades of data collected from two NASA Voyager spacecraft into music that “speaks” to human ears here on earth. By using different groups of instruments for each spacecraft – separated from each other by billions of miles of space – a surprisingly beautiful piano and string duet was created .

We are “worldly!”

At Hey Joe Guitar, we are truly inspired by these “space” sounds. They demonstrate that music really is – in all the senses of the word – universal.

Even though we are earth-bound, we thank…our lucky stars for the wonderful music teachers who work with is. They too are inspired by the eerily beautiful sounds of space music, but when it comes to teaching – whether guitar, drums, or any other instrument – their feet are firmly on the ground. (Even so, they’ll be happy to help you or your child master the more conventional sounds from our solar system and beyond ).

When they come to give a lesson at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, you will see that these teachers are out of this world!

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Welcome to 2015! We don’t know about you, but to us the New Year feels – at least so far – pretty much the same as 2014. And while the “old” year is still fresh in our minds, let’s go back in time and revisit the music highlights of 2014.

As you know, the music scene is not static; as a matter of fact, it changes so quickly – not just from one year to another but also from month to month – that someone who is not an all-out music fan may not be able to keep up with all the developments.

Ask yourself this: do I remember which songs topped the pop music charts in 2013? More than likely, the answer is “NO!” Let us refresh your memory: that year’s top three songs on Billboard magazine’s list were “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus, Kacey Musgrave’s “Follow Your Arrow,” and “Royals” by Lorde. If this seems like ancient history, it is, at least by the standards of the fast-evolving and ever-changing music industry.

The 2014 hit parade

You may have better luck remembering last year’s hits. But if not, we are here to remind you which songs reached the top of the charts and made the proverbial “killing” in 2014.

The first on the “Official Top 40 Most streamed Songs of 2014” is “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne, followed by Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” , and, in the third place, John Legend’s “All of Me” .

Last year’s biggest selling artist albums are: “X” by Ed Sheeran, “In the Lonely Hour,” by Sam Smith, and Coldplay’s “Ghost Stories.” However, interestingly enough, Forbes magazine points out that “in 2014, not a single artist’s album has gone platinum.” Only one album “has managed to sell over a million copies:” the ever-popular Frozen soundtrack.

Enquiring minds want to know: what songs and artists will be most popular in 2015? We promise to update you…a year from now!

We are not quick-change artists!

As we mentioned, music industry is in a constant whirl – what’s “in” today may very well be “out” tomorrow. You may be wondering whether anything in life, other than death and taxes, remains the same – always present and always dependable.

Thankfully, some things never waver. Our music lessons and teachers are impervious to all the changes in the music charts. Therefore, when one of our teachers comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, you can expect the highest quality of instruction – year after year.

Whether they teach the guitar, trumpet, or any other instrument, these talented folks are always “hot” and “trendy.”

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Maybe you think that all the events happening in December are related to the holiday season. It certainly seems this way, doesn’t it – the decorations, lights, and that special ambience are reminders (as though we could forget) that Christmas and Hanukkah are here.

It is understandable that with all this holiday spirit we forget another important event that occurs three days from now. December 18 marks the winter solstice, which is not only the first official day of winter, but also the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Of course, more often than not the winter season in our city starts well before the official date as New Yorkers bundle up to brave the elements. Good thing that we are such a sturdy lot!

Warm up with music

You might be wondering what you can do to bring a bit of warmth into your life. There is a lot you can do – for instance, crank up the heat, put on a thick sweater and fuzzy bunny slippers, wrap yourself in a soft blanket, and sip some steaming hot chocolate.

You can also fantasize that you are in Australia right now, enjoying the Down Under summer, and strolling along the sun-drenched Bondi beach.

And this is where music can help!

Let’s be clear: we are not saying that music has any impact on climate control, but it can make the inclement weather more bearable. Your natural inclination right now might be to listen to songs from the movie “Frozen,” but you should put them on the back burner until summer, at which point you will probably crave a blast of arctic air!

For now, let’s focus on heartwarming, not bone-chilling songs. Here are some of our favorites:

“Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles

“Kokomo” – The Beach Boys

“Summer Breeze” – Seals and Croft

“Island in the Sun” – Weezer

“Hot Hot Hot” – Arrow

“Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer” – Nat King Cole

“Summer” from the “Four Seasons” – Antonio Vivaldi

These boots were made for walking

Bad weather is no reason to discontinue (or not to begin) your music lessons. We can promise you that our “all-weather” (and not just “fair-weather”) teachers will show up at your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home – an instrument in (gloved) hands, heavy boots or galoshes on their feet, and a tune in their hearts.

Whether you want to have guitar lessons or learn another instrument, just contact us and we’ll send one of our weatherproof teachers to you right away!

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What’s in a name? A lot, actually. Whether it’s old-fashioned and traditional or unusual and funky, each one reflects who you are – or, in the very least, your parents’ taste at the time of your birth.

Often, newborns are named after a member of the family but at other times, names are figments of their parents’ imagination and creativity – maybe derived from places they had lived in, like Brooklyn, or cities they visited, such as Rio or Paris (we don’t know of anyone named Cincinnati, do you?)

Of course, you can end up with a name that lands you in trouble , or, even worse, with no name at all!

Speaking of unusual names, we like – which should come as no surprise to anyone – the ones that derive from music. Let’s look at some of them.

Not just Tom, Dick and Harry

One of the more popular music-related names for baby girl is Melody. It needs no explanation – it sounds soft and…melodious.

Then there is Allegra, which, in musical terms means a brisk movement. So it is easy to imagine that a girl named Allegra would be active and happy. And you may be interested to know that this name has become more popular in the United States in the past few years.

Another one we really like is Aria. It’s easy to imagine that any female lucky enough to have this name has a beautiful singing voice. And even if she doesn’t, it still sounds light and sweet.

Then there is Octavia. In music, an octave is the interval between one pitch and another, so we are guessing that an Octavia would have a strong voice. What about Viola? It comes from Latin and means “violet.” We really like this one too.

Let’s go to boys’ names. There is Rock, Piper, and Reed, all of which impart strength of character (at least in our interpretation). And, believe it or not, Banjo is also a real name – actress Rachel Griffiths gave it her son.

Do you want to see more music-related names? You might be surprised to see how many there are.

We are a household name

Musical-themed names are great fun, but even if you were given the most ordinary name, you can still have an extraordinary ear for music. After all, who knew from day one that a boy named Wolfgang Amadeus would become a musical genius, as had Johann Sebastian, Ludwig, and scores of others.

What we are saying is this: your name defines your identity, not your affinity for music. After all, our school is called Hey Joe Guitar, and not Hey Rock or Hey Banjo.

The same goes for our teachers: some of them have quirky names and others don’t. But you can be certain of this: the one who shows up at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale doorstep deserves to have his or her name in lights!

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NYC weather can be extreme sometimes – sizzling hot and humid summers and frigid winters. But what lies in between – fall and spring – is usually very pleasant.

Let’s talk about autumn. You don’t have to live in New England to enjoy changing colors – New York boasts some beautiful foliage as well, and you can observe how the golden-yellow and red leaves turn the sometimes gray city landscape into a beautiful burst of color. There is crispness in the air and the fragrance of freshly fallen leaves.

All this scenery makes us want to…sing! What is it you are saying – that there are no good autumn songs? We bet to disagree. Here’s Hey Joe Guitar’s Fall Playlist of our favorite fall tunes:

Warm and fuzzy…

“The Autumn Leaves” by Nat King Cole

“Forever Autumn” by the Moody Blues

“Autumn Changes” by Donna Summer

“When the Leaves Come Falling Down” by Van Morrison

“November Blue” by the Avert Brothers

Those are just some of our favorite autumn tunes – do you have any of your own?

Nature’s bounty

“There’s peanut dust and corn husks drifting’ through the air tonight
The marching’ band’s warming’ up under the football lights
There’s tractor-trailers backed up down by the elevator
Train track grain car will roll in later
Get filled up and head on out in the world.”

~ “Harvest Time” by Luke Bryan

The fall season conjures up images not only of changing and falling leaves, but also brings to mind shiny chestnuts, acorns, apples, corn, pumpkins, squash, and other seasonal delicacies.

Which brings us to the subject of harvest. Autumn is the traditional harvest time – the fruition of all that had been sown and planted earlier in the year.

And that is another reason to celebrate the fall with season-appropriate songs:

“Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

“Harvest Time” by Luke Bryan

And for a different vibe, listen to this upbeat reggae rendition:

“The Harvest” by Tribal Seeds

“Chill” out with Manhattan music lessons

As the air is getting chiller and nippier, and the days get shorter and darker, you probably like to stay indoors for your music lessons. No problem – our teachers will come to your home or office – not just in Manhattan, but also in Brooklyn and the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

They will not help you shuck ears of corn or carve the pumpkins, but they will definitely help you “grow” and develop your musical skills, so you can “reap” the rewards of what you have sown.

The post New York City Guitar School Will Bring You A New Crop Of Songs appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

What color is your favorite piece of music? We are serious – different types of music evoke different hues, and many of us make emotional music-color connections based on how the various melodies make us feel.

There is actually a body of research from the University of California, Berkeley, proving this phenomenon. We find it fascinating because this means that music involves not just our sense of hearing, but also fires up our feelings and imagination.

So what colors do various melodies convey? The above-mentioned study suggests, for instance, that Mozart’s energetic Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major is most often associated with bright yellow and orange, while his heavier Requiem in D minor is seen as grey.

A burst of color

Of course, the way we respond to music – and art in general – is a matter of individual preferences and interpretation, so while someone else may see a certain piece of music as red, you might perceive it as blue or purple.

The researchers say that, generally speaking, we tend to associate faster-paced music in a major key with lighter, more vivid colors, while slower-paced music in a minor key is more likely to be paired up with darker and grayer hues.

And what about pieces that comprise different tempos, going from light and jaunty to heavy and solemn? We can only guess that they will evoke a burst of psychedelic colors.

Beyond black and white

We thought it would be fun to listen to different genres of music and pair them with matching colors. We hasten to add that this is a totally unscientific experiment and its findings are highly subjective (which is why we said before that interpretation of music is an individual matter):

• The mellow and soothing sounds of Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 make us think of pale hues like cream, light blue or yellow.
• The rousing tunes of Ravel’s Bolero conjure images of an earthy color like moss green with shades of mauve.
• The fast-paced, rhythmic sounds of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five bring to mind vibrant colors like red and dark blue – with little specks of glitter thrown in.
• Last but certainly not least, Led Zeppelin’s high-vibe Whole Lotta Love evokes “metallic” shades of steel gray.

What do you think of this decidedly personal interpretation?

Color your world with music

We are not going to claim that our teachers are experts in color – or, for that matter, that they will always show up at your doorstep in a color-coordinated outfit.

But we can promise you that our in-home Manhattan music lessons (as well as those we offer in parts of Brooklyn and Riverdale in the Bronx) will provide you with excellent instruction that will leave you…in the pink!

Photo Credit: the sky is kelsey’s

The post See Music Through Rose-Tinted Glasses – With New York City Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

We always talk about the benefits of music, but let’s be honest –it can be scary too!

And with Halloween just around the corner, prepare to be frightened, because we will share with you some of the spookiest songs on our playlist. As a public service, we are dividing this list into two parts: one (a less scary one) for kids, and the other one, for adults.

So put on your costume and let’s get the party rolling!

A sweet Halloween

Kids like dressing up and trick-or-treating. Make their Halloween a pleasant one (and only mildly scary) with these fun, childproof songs:

Five Little Pumpkins

Ten Little Monsters

Spooky, spooky

Too Spooky for Me

The little ones will have loads of fun with these tunes – just make sure they don’t sing with their mouths full of candy!

Boo!!!

Okay, so kids are now tucked in bed (unless they are hyped up on the sugar rush and are wide awake), and now it’s your turn to party.

Imagine that you are in a haunted house with creaky floorboards and masses of cobwebs hanging from ever nook and cranny. All of a sudden, you hear a ghostly / ghoulish shriek, and a black cat lands on your shoulder. The lights flicker off and on, and the cat morphs into an evil witch clad in black from the tip of her pointed hat to the hem of her dress. The witch points her gnarly hands at you, with sharp nails that have been uncut in several centuries and says: “If you don’t play some good music this very minute, I will put a spell on you!”

So, you have no choice but to bring out your iPod and start playing. For this occasion, may we suggest these frightfully terrific pieces of music?

“Thriller” – Michael Jackson

According to Billboard magazine, this is the most-downloaded Halloween-themed hit of all-time.

“Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker Jr.

This song topped the Hot 100 in 1984, the year when it was first released.

“Runnin’ with the Devil” – Van Halen

This 1978 hard rock hit is a classic Halloween song

“A Nightmare on my Street” – D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

In 1988, before Will Smith became a mega star he is today, he recorded (at the height of his “Fresh Prince of Beverly Hills” days) this hip-hop tune, which ranked No. 15 on the Hot 100.

Magic in your home

Halloween comes but once a year, but our Manhattan music lessons take place all year long. Whatever type of music you (or your child) want to learn, our teachers will come (but not on a broomstick) to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale (Bronx) home or office for private lessons.

Our instructors are among the best in NYC, but don’t be afraid that they’ll put a spell on you. They WILL, however, teach you some wonderfully bewitching music!

Photo Credit: Pedro J. Ferreira

The post Manhattan Music Lessons can be a Scary Experience! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Music – all genres and styles – is such a big part of our daily lives, but have you ever wondered why and how it was first invented? By the same token, you might also ponder this question: at what point of human evolution had music been created, and what did it sound like?

Those are all very good questions, and unfortunately we – or anyone else, for that matter – don’t have all the answers. The origins of music remain in the realm of mystery, but some plausible theories do exist.

This is what is now commonly accepted: a 40,000 year old flute (the oldest instrument in existence today), carved from a bear’s bone with the hollow wing-bone of a giant vulture, indicates that music was played by prehistoric tribes long before written language – and sheet music – was invented. It is believed that music of that time was used to scare off animals or as part of rituals.

This is what prehistoric music might have sounded like.

And here’s something you may not have known: Neanderthals – extinct species closely related to modern humans who lived 200,000 to 30,000 years ago – were incapable of intelligible speech, yet scientists say they played music and sang.

And here’s a mind-boggling tidbit: British archaeologists believe that our Neanderthals ancestors were partial to…arias! Here’s what they found: “The musicality of the Neanderthals can be identified more with opera than with rap because in addition to music, these hominids also used dance and body language as forms of communication.” Read more.

The birth of music

So what prompted the Neanderthals and prehistoric humans that followed them to create music? As we mentioned before, it’s all a matter of speculation. However, several theories have been formulated over the years. Let’s have a look at some of them:

Evolutionist Charles Darwin believed that music was created as a sexual come-on, kind of a “mating call,” if you will, for the purposes of procreation.

However, other researchers believe that music was invented as a social tool: to bring early humans together in order to form close-knit communities. In other words, music was used to build group cooperation – a prehistoric version of social networking we use today.

As we evolved, so did music, as well as our listening habits. True, we still appreciate music through concerts and other performances where people congregate in a group.

But we also enjoy listening to music alone. In modern times, we don’t rely on a group dynamics to survive and have evolved into a more solitary society that stresses individual needs more than those of a community. Whether this is a good or bad phenomenon we cannot say, but we are happy that music didn’t follow the fate of the Roman Empire and disappeared from our world forever.

Let’s make our own history!

The true origins of music might remain elusive, but one thing is clear: its unique ability to positively influence our emotions, mood and behavior.

We at Manhattan music lessons appreciate how music has evolved and developed over the millennia, and are happy to be part of NYC’s music scene. Whatever style of music or instrument you want to learn (no flutes made out of bears’ bones, please), our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home and give you lessons.

The post Manhattan Music Lessons: We Are Making Our Own History! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

It’s summer! If you are a New Yorker, you are used to sweltering temperatures. Fortunately, our city has lots of green spaces, where trees and other lush vegetation provide shade and respite from heat and humidity.

So take a blanket, picnic basket and plenty of fluids, and stretch out on the grass. Whether you are sitting / lying under a clear blue sky or a dark, starry one, summertime in the city can be a blast, especially if music is your constant companion.

If you are looking for songs to enjoy throughout the summer, you came to the right place because we have lots of suggestions for you. Go ahead, prep your iPod and get ready to rock, roll, swing, or just chill out with these all-time favorite summertime tunes.

Here comes the sun

“Come on over, let’s have some fun
Dancing in the morning sun
Looking to the bright blue sky
Come and let your spirit fly
You’re living it up this brand new day
Summer sun, it’s time to play.”

These lyrics from Kelly Rowland’s “Summer Dreaming” are sure to put you in the “summery” mood. But there are many, many more songs that are great choices for those long summer days and nights. For example, how about these classic mellow sounds, “Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy” by two legendary performers, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

And, for more vibe, “Summer Loving” from the movie “Grease” might be just the ticket.

Whatever genre of music you prefer for your summer playlist, these all-time classics are terrific for any mood and occasion.

Happy campers

What if you spend at least part of your summer camping in the woods, by the lake or river, rather than picnicking in a park? No problem – there are plenty of songs for the rugged, outdoor adventures, as well as quiet evenings sitting around the fire and eating smores.  Just grab your guitar and start strumming!

How about classics like “Row Your Boat.” – a perfect tune for all ages.  Then there’s a very fitting camping-and-fireside song called “There Ain’t No Bugs on Me.”

Another quirky and fun tune is titled “A Song That Gets on Everybody’s Nerve.” (Make sure you only sing it once, otherwise it may turn out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy). Good news is that there are so many different camping songs, you don’t need to sing the same one over and over again!

By the seashore

Of course, New York has some wonderful beaches and if you spend part of your summer by the ocean, your playlist should focus, appropriately enough, on the sea, sand, and surf. Here too, various songs abound.

Some “oldies but goodies” that we especially like are “The Beach Blanket Bingo”, “Surfin’ USA”, “Stranger on the Shore” and, for a more energetic, upbeat sound, “King of the Beach”.

What if you are not the park / camping / beach person, but would rather run for the hills? If mountain hiking trails are calling your name this summer, a newer version of the old Roy Rogers / Dale Evans classic, “Happy Trails”, might inspire you. Then there is also that old classic, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Rocky Mountain High” and, for a some offbeat fun, “These Boots Are Made for Walking”.

What’s hot this summer? Music lessons!

Wherever you are spending those lazy, hazy days of summer, we hope music will be your constant companion. And so will our teachers, who will stay in NYC this summer and will be happy to start (or continue) your Manhattan music lessons in the comfort of your home or office (and if you live in Brooklyn or Riverdale, they will come to you as well).

In the meantime, wherever your adventures take you this summer, here’s one tune that will surely put you into a mellow mood all summer long.

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Photo Credit: Jelle van Lindenhuizen

The post The Sounds of Summer, with Manhattan Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

“When she started to play, Mr. Steinway came down personally and rubbed his name off the piano.”
~Bob Hope

Actually, we at New York music school are pretty sure that never happened, but this very funny quote suggests that tone-deaf people shouldn’t subject their fellow men to their music.

Does this sound familiar to you? Does everyone around you run for the hills, and does your dog hide under the sofa with his paws over his ears when you start to sing or play?

Or maybe you’d like to learn to play an instrument, but you think you can’t because you have been called “tone-deaf?” This is the same as saying you can’t dance because you have “two left feet.”

However, rest assured that neither condition is terminal; in other words, both can be “cured.” Of course, we can’t talk with any level of expertise about the feet, but we do know a thing or two about overcoming the syndrome humorously referred to as  “Van Gogh’s ear for music.”

We don’t actually know whether the great painter could belt out a tune either before or after he snipped off his ear, but we have seen plenty of cases of people who enjoyed singing or playing an instrument, even though they (and everyone around them) believed they were tone / tune-deaf. Fact is, not everyone is a natural talent, but most people can (and do) become proficient at music through work and practice. That’s the truth and don’t let this message fall… on deaf ears!

Tuning in

In its strictest sense, tone-deafness means the inability to distinguish different pitches. We have all heard tuneless warbling or instrumental renditions that sound more like a subway train screeching to a stop than a piece of music.

However, before you call someone (or yourself) tone-deaf, know that this condition is actually very rare – only about 1 percent of the population is truly “amusical.” The rest of the people believed to be tone-deaf actually aren’t, even if they happen to sing / play off-key.

As the late comedian George Burns put it: “”I love to sing, and I love to drink scotch. Most people would rather hear me drink scotch.” (Though Burns was no Pavarotti, he certainly wasn’t shy about singing in public).

So the question is, why can’t some people carry even the simplest of tunes? There may be several reasons for that.

Imperfect pitch

Of course, we can’t generalize because each individual case is different, but some of the common reasons may be:

• Poor hearing: Impaired hearing can certainly diminish our ability to distinguish different pitches, sounds, rhythms, etc.

• Lack of concentration: This happens when you learn to sing or play a particular piece, but you are distracted and not focusing all your mental energies on music. Learning to play is like mastering any subject: you must pay attention!

• Poor control of vocal muscles may be another reason all your songs sound as exciting as a dentist’s drill.

• And perhaps the most common culprit of all: lack of practice. In this particular case, your flat notes are not due to tone-deafness, but, rather, to not having regular practice sessions.

Music to your ears

If the first of the above-mentioned reasons is responsible for flat notes and off-key sounds, we suggest you have a hearing test and follow whatever treatment the specialist suggests. A good hearing ability is essential not only for playing music, but for life in general.

But if you are “tuned out” because of the three other reasons – distracted mind, poor control of vocal muscles, and lack of regular practice (at least half an hour a week with a teacher), our lessons from New York music school can help.

Our teachers will come to your New York home or office, and give you vocal lessons or teach you to play an instrument. You will have an excellent, comprehensive training that includes not only the actual music part, but also all the other essential elements mentioned above. So all the music you sing or play will be easy on the ear!

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Photo Credit: foxypar4

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“All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard no horse sing a song.”
– Louis Armstrong

True, horses don’t usually belt out tunes (at least not the kind that are pleasing to a human ear), but there is at least one documented case of a singing equine – the famous Mr. Ed.

But, generally speaking, we have to agree with the great jazz trumpeter – outside of Hollywood, horses are not known for their musical abilities – it’s a definite neigh. Just as you can lead a horse to the water but can’t make him drink, you can also give him the violin, but, in all likelihood, can’t teach him to play it.

Now, the question you may be asking yourself is: do animals respond to “human” music? The answer is yes, and you heard it right from the horse’s mouth.

Monkeying around

As mentioned, animals (at least the domesticated ones) do respond to music but, according to scientists, they have their own specific preferences. A study carried out at University of Wisconsin-Madison found that our four-legged friends don’t like pitches that are too high or too low, which sound too shrill and grating to their fluffy ears.

Common consensus among animal researchers is that our pets are not fans of heavy metal and similar genres, because these types of harsh sounds make them agitated (lots of humans would agree).

One notable exception are monkeys – research showed that, unlike humans and domesticated pets, these primates love loud and shrill music. Now, THAT’s monkey business!

A different “breed” of music

What about the most common household pets, cats and dogs? Animal behaviorists say that Fido likes classical music the best. In studies, dogs that were exposed to this type of music spent less time barking, and appeared to be calmer and more relaxed.

The same is true for felines. Soft and soothing music is the cat’s meow: it seems to keep the frisky creatures from fighting, making them calm and, as far as we can tell…happy as a lark!

Now, having said all that, music is composed by humans for humans.  Let’s not forget that despite the contention that “animals are people too,” in reality they are a totally different breed (need we even say that?) This means that, given a choice, they’d prefer the so-called “species-specific” music that uses pitches, tones and tempos more adapted to their sense of hearing.

Still, there are certain similarities between “animal” and human music. For example:

• Whales use many of the musical concepts found in human music, including rhythms and structure.

• Bird songs follow rhythmic patterns and pitches that are in tune with human music.

The workings of nature are truly fascinating, aren’t they?

“People” skills only

We have news for you: it seems that you CAN teach an old dog new (musical) tricks!

Now, that doesn’t mean we can teach your dog to play the piano, so please don’t even ask! Our Manhattan music lessons do have a bite to them, but we make no bones about this: we draw a line at teaching in doghouses, stables, or barns. So if that’s the kind of lesson you have in mind, you’re barking up the wrong tree!

However, we’ll be happy to come to your (human) home or office and teach you to play any instrument. In our book, that makes a lot of horse sense!

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Photo Credit: Adam Foster

The post That’s No Bull: At Manhattan Music Lessons, We Like “Animal” Sounds appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Are you one of 780 million people worldwide who viewed Psy’s “Gangnam Style” YouTube video?

There’s no doubt that this (no pun intended) song-and-dance number is funky, upbeat, and totally catchy. In fact, in a few months since the song’s July 2012 release, it catapulted into YouTube’s list of 30 most-viewed videos of all time.

Does this mean that the song will continue to be a huge hit for a long time? We can’t say one way or another (since we are not in the business of crystal ball reading), but we do know that even the hottest hit could turn out to be a flash-in-the-pan phenomenon. Just because a song has gone viral doesn’t guarantee its long-lasting success.

Here today, gone tomorrow?

There are numerous songs that sizzle for a while before they fizzle out.  As stated above, we don’t know what the future holds for “Gangnam Style” or this year’s other viral hit, Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me, Maybe.” Will we still love them as much five or 10 years down the road? Stay…tuned!

Sometimes, songs that fall out of grace are the ones borne out of fads, trends, or fashions of the day. Do you remember Rick Dees’ “Disco Duck?” Though it hit number 1 on the charts in 1976, it pretty much waddled away after that.

We are not sure whether it’s the lyrics (“I was on the dance floor, acting strange. Flapping my arms, I began to cluck. Look at me… I’m the disco duck”), or the fact that this song was pegged to the disco craze of the 1970s. But, honestly, how many people are still humming that tune – or even remembering it – today?

We are thinking that perhaps songs about animals in general and poultry in particular are just not destined to be enduring hits (“Old McDonald Had a Farm” might be one notable exception). For instance, aside from occasional parties, weddings, and Oktoberfests, the 1980s craze surrounding the “Chicken Dance” faded with the declining popularity of “oom-pah” music.

These are just two examples of hits that come in with a bang but have a relatively short lifespans.

Songs that the whole world sings

“As it slowly rambles on and on
No need in bringin’ `em back,
`Cause they’re never really gone.”

   – “Just an Old-Fashioned Love Song,” Three Dog Night

Fortunately, for every tune that falls into oblivion, there are so many others that never go out of style. Why they remain popular year after year, and even decade after decade, we do not know. Maybe it has something to do with the performers, music, lyrics, or the mood and emotions these songs continue to evoke in us, time after time.

Whether it’s the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Janis Joplin, or numerous other recording artists, in many cases their songs live on, transcending time, trends, fads, and crazes. (See 500 greatest songs of all time)

That’s what we mean by “oldies but goodies!”

True, some songs have a mass appeal, while others are more individualistic. None of the songs listed in the above link strikes your fancy? Don’t worry, and …march to your own beat!

You probably have favorite songs of your own, the ones you like to listen to on your iPod. It doesn’t really matter how old they (or you) are – as long as they tug at your heartstrings and hold a special meaning to you (even if nobody else shares this particular affinity), that’s all that matters.

The beat goes on

We at Hey Joe Guitar have been around long enough to know that great music and beautiful songs have a universal appeal.

That is one compelling reason to take up singing or learn an instrument of your choice.  Our Manhattan music lessons make it easy and convenient – we will come to your home or office and teach you. No disco ducks or chicken dances, just beautiful music!

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The post Take to Our Manhattan Music Lessons as a Duck Takes to Water! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” 
– Hans Christian Andersen

The Danish author might have had a somewhat idyllic view of the world (after all, he became famous by writing fairy tales), but he was right on this one: music does speak louder and more eloquently than words.

In fact, music is an excellent, though much underused, diplomatic tool, certainly more effective in taming hostilities and bringing people together than harsh words, threats, or use of force.

Yes, music has the power to create peaceful and friendly dialogue among people of various – and sometimes widely divergent – cultures, beliefs, or political systems.

Joy to the world

How is music used to promote tolerance and goodwill – let’s call it “cultural diplomacy?” A recent article in the Washington Post talks about Maya Azucena, a singer from Brooklyn, who is performing in several parts of Russia, a country where anti-U.S. feelings are on the rise.

Azucena, who tours on behalf of the U.S. State Department, reports that audiences from Moscow to the deepest reaches of Siberia were moved by her renditions of rhythm, blues, soul, reggae, and hip, “all quintessentially American with a deeply American message.”

“It’s apparently still okay to encourage justice and love, freedom and self-expression in Russia, as long as you do it with a song in your heart,” the article states.

This is one of many examples of how music can break down the barriers and make a positive difference in uniting people.

Melodies of love

Earlier this year, Peyton Tochterman, a folk singer from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, was asked by the State Department to travel to Afghanistan to show how “diplomacy can be shaped by the musical arts.”

As he relates in his blog, armed with only two hand-made Rockbridge guitars, he and his fellow musicians toured the war-torn country, singing in “most difficult, dangerous and inhospitable places on our planet.”

His take on this musical diplomacy? “We are all connected through music and we must continue to celebrate this connection, this language that is so important not just to our own culture, but also to cultures around this fascinating world of ours.”

Four years before he performed in Afghanistan and Azucena sang in Russia, the famed New York Philharmonic performed a historical concert in Pyongyang, the capital of isolated North Korea, which has been closed to the outside world since the end of the Korean War in the 1950s.

This event marked the first such visit from the United States to North Korea. The groundbreaking performance aired on Korea’s state television and was watched live by an audience of thousands in the concert hall. Millions of people who had been indoctrinated to hate the United States listened with bated breaths as American musicians performed works by Wagner, Dvorak, and even Gershwin.  As Song Sok-hwan, the country’s culture minister said at the time, “We hope this will be a big step toward increased bilateral cultural exchange between our two countries.”

Reach out and touch someone

Have all these musical performances brought about a significant improvement in relations between the U.S. and other countries? You could argue that all these efforts were in vain: after all, Russia is still blaming America for many of its internal problems, and North Korea remains as hostile toward the United States as it has always been.

That may well be, but keep in mind that lasting and sustainable change doesn’t always (if ever) occur overnight and it doesn’t always come from the government. There have been many examples in recent years (one of them is the Arab Spring) of change starting at the grassroots level and spreading to the top.

By making an emotional connection with people across the world, music sows the seeds of tolerance and understanding, heals wounds, and inspires change. As singer Bono said, “Music can change the world because it can change people.”

Playing for change

Now that you know the powerful impact music can have on people and nations, you might like to learn to play an instrument too.

You are in luck: our Manhattan music lessons will take place in your home or office – we’ll teach you any kind of instrument you’d like to learn.

Remember Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s words: “Music is the universal language of mankind.” And that is one message that will never be lost in translation!

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