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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Star trek

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

It turns out that they did.

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

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

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

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

“Out of this world” music

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

“Fly me to the moon,” Frank Sinatra

“Rocket man,” Elton John

“Walking on the Milky Way,” OMD

“Venus,” Frankie Avalon

“Blue Moon,” Billie Holiday

“Ground control to Major Tom,” David Bowie

“Across the universe, ” The Beatles

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

“Twinkle, twinkle little star,” Jewel

When you wish upon a star

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

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

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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

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.”

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post At New York Music School, You can “Feel” the Difference appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

A spectacular end to the holiday season in New York occurs on December 31, when a gigantic ball slides down a pole to ring in the New Year at the strike of midnight EST. One million people gather in Times Square and a billion more watch the countdown in all corners of the world.

From its maiden voyage down the flagpole just over a century ago to the present day, “the ball drop” has been a cherished symbol of our city’s New Year celebrations. Not even NYC’s notorious cold winter weather can keep cheerful revelers from participating in what may well be the jolliest public New Year’s party in the country.

There is a lot you may not know about the ball drop beyond what you see on television, so here is a little “tutorial” to get you into the celebratory mood.

A New York tradition

The first ball, which was dropped in 1907, was built by a young Russian immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr. For most of the 20th century, the company he founded, Artkraft Strauss, was responsible for lowering the Ball. In all, seven different versions of the ball – including one made of wrought iron – have been used in the past.

By the way, the first ball was made from wood and iron, was 5 feet in diameter, weighed 700 pounds, and featured one hundred 25-watt light bulbs. It was impressive by 1907 standards, but today’s version is far more advanced : constructed from aluminum, it weighs in at over five metric tons, is covered with wedge-cut crystals and more than 32,000 light-emitting diodes, and is capable of creating billions of kaleidoscopic color patterns.

All year round, the ball sits on top of One Times Square, getting ready for its December 31 one-minute drop: it starts at 11:59 pm and makes its spectacular 141-foot slide to the cheers of the crowds below.

Let us “drop” in!

Of course, no New Year’s celebrations would be complete without live music. The countdown show, “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” is a big part of the Ball Drop festivities. Since its beginnings in 1972, many famous artists had been featured; this year 38 musical acts are scheduled, including the headliner, Taylor Swift.

We at Hey Joe Guitar will also celebrate the New Year’s Eve with music. That’s because music is an integral part of our lives – not only on December 31, but also all throughout the year!

No matter what season, month, or day it is, our amazing teachers are always on call and they will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to give you lessons. Whether you or your child want to learn to play the guitar, piano, flute, or any other musical instrument, leave it to us – we’ll get the ball rolling!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post When it Comes to Music Lessons, New York Piano School is on the Ball! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

During the holidays, a magical, fairylike aura envelops New York – from downtown to uptown, from East River to the Hudson, the city sparkles and glows.

NYC has many cherished holiday traditions: Santa’s arrival at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the NYC Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Center, the train show at the Botanical Gardens, and lots of others.

But among the best-known NYC holiday traditions are those that take place around Rockefeller Center – the lighting of the gigantic Christmas tree and Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas show.

Oh, Christmas tree

Every December for the past 83 years, a giant Christmas tree has been overlooking Rockefeller Center, its tens of thousands of lights twinkling amid snow flurries.

A symbol of holiday joy, the tree was actually borne out of grim circumstances: on Christmas Eve 1931, in the midst of Great Depression, a group of construction workers put up a 20-ft. tree on the muddy site of what would soon become one of the city’s best-known landmarks: the Rockefeller Center.

Over the years, through good times and bad, the tree has morphed from a humble fir to a magnificent Norwegian spruce that reaches the heights of between 70 and 100 feet. From the first days of December to the first week in January, the tree – which, these days, is decorated with energy-efficient LED lights – is a symbol of what a NYC Christmas is all about: joy, hope, and goodwill.

Christmas extravaganza

Just around the corner is another landmark associated with a cherished holiday tradition: Radio City Music Hall’s annual Christmas show.

Just as the tree, the theater too was erected during the Depression and opened for its first show on December 1932. (Interestingly enough, the area around the Radio City and Rockefeller Center, now a prime piece of real estate, was known back then as “the speakeasy belt”).

Today, it is the largest indoor theatre in the world – its marquee is a city-block long, its auditorium measures 160 feet from back to stage, and the ceiling reaches a height of 84 feet.

Since the day it opened, Radio City became home to the legendary Rockettes and its “Christmas Spectacular” extravaganza, a mega-show attended by more than 1 million people annually. Some elements of the production have remained the same since the beginning, such as Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and the Living Nativity scene .

Festive music lessons – all year round!

As New Yorkers we are really lucky to be surrounded by all this holiday spirit. Likewise, we should not take for granted all the wonderful concerts and other performances our city has to offer – at Christmas and year round.

We at Hey Joe Guitar are happy to be part of New York’s vibrant music scene and to have such talented teachers of the guitar, piano, and many other instruments in our midst. We love sending just the right teacher and instrument to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, and spreading good cheer all year round!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post At Manhattan Guitar School We Love New York’s Christmas Landmarks! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Looking at all the lights and decorations, you might think that the holiday season is only about Christmas. Yes, Christmas is a huge part of all the celebrations, but let’s not forget about Hanukkah, which this year falls between December 16 and 24.

There are plenty of events and festivities in New York celebrating the Festival of Lights, as Hanukkah is called – and not just all the delicious, crispy latkes served in restaurants around the city.

Let’s have a look at what interesting, family-oriented Hanukkah activities you can enjoy.

Dress warmly!

The world’s largest menorah is located right here in NYC, at Grand Army Plaza (Fifth Avenue and West 59th Street, across the street from The Plaza hotel). And it really is huge – 32 feet tall and 4,000 lbs. Made of gold-tinted steel and protected from the wind by specially designed glass chimneys, it is a truly impressive sight.

On each of the eight days of Hanukkah, the menorah’s oil lamps are lit at 5:30 pm. The only exception is before and after the Sabbath – on Friday the lighting takes place at 3:45pm, and at 8:30pm on Saturday.

Since Hanukkah commemorates, symbolically at least, the triumph of light over darkness (the rededication of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC), it is not a somber holiday. That’s why the lighting of NYC’s gigantic menorah is a joyful celebration, which includes live music, folk dancing, and, of course, great food: latkes and sweet sufganiyot jelly donuts, among other delicious offerings.

Another fun outdoor activity for the whole family is the traditional “Hanukkah on Ice” skating party on December 16 from 6 to 9 pm at Wollman Rink in Central Park. There will be music, food, and the lighting of a giant ice menorah.

More festivities…

What else is there to do during the Festival of Lights? If you prefer indoor activities, the Jewish Museum is organizing, on December 14 from noon until 4 pm, the Hanukkah Family Day for children 3 years of age and up. Participants can make a Hanukkah menorah from wacky objects (a Jewish Museum tradition), dance, sing, watch the Hanukkah story, and explore the Museum’s world-famous collection of Hanukkah lamps.

There’s more: the National Yiddish Theater is putting on two free Hanukkah concerts, on December 14 and 17, which will feature holiday music, including traditional “klezmer” tunes, which are usually played during joyful celebrations.

Celebrate with music!

The above is just a quick glimpse of Hanukkah events around New York City, but there are many more interesting things going on.

All the concerts and performances will hopefully inspire you and / or your child to start making some music of your own. Your first step will be to choose an instrument – guitar, piano, violin, or whatever else “speaks” to you – and to find an experienced teacher who will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons. Please contact us so we can get started!

The year may be almost over, but your exciting musical journey is just beginning!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Heads-Up on Hanukkah Festivities From Manhattan Guitar School appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Are you reading the above headline and thinking that we overdid it just a tad with the clichés? Yes, we did, but that was intentional to set the mood for this blog’s topic: musical idioms. As you know by now, the subject of music really…strikes a chord with us.

Most of these idioms are well-worn and you have heard them – and maybe even used them – yourself. The interesting thing about them is that they are actually not so much about music per se as about real-life situations.

Let’s explore some of them, but first, here’s a challenge: can you spot all the idioms that are interspersed throughout this blog?

All that jazz

Jam session: No, it has nothing to do with making preserves (but you already knew this, didn’t you?) It simply means improvising music in an informal setting “Jam Session.”

Fit as a fiddle: You are in good shape (hopefully because you play the violin!)

Play by ear: This expression conjures comic images of someone playing an instrument with his / her ear, but that is not the idiom’s intended meaning. Rather, it refers to handling a situation in an impromptu manner, or, in the musical sense, playing an instrument without annotation.

Tickle the ivories:  If you are a linguistic purist, you may take this to mean touching an item made out of ivory, but this actually refers to playing the piano. We hasten to reassure you, however, that these days no animals are harmed in the process – modern piano keys are made of plastic.

Hit the right note: This idiom hasnothing to do with a wonderful singing voice; it means you have a positive influence on people.

Call the tune:  Make an important decision and control the situation.  And if you change the tune, you change your mind or actions.

For a song: Buying or selling something very cheaply – singing is not actually required.

These are just a few musical idioms. There are, of course, many more…

We’ll make beautiful music!

Idioms aside, we are totally serious about making sure that you or your children get the best possible music experience.

We don’t mean to sound like a broken record but we do like, on occasion, to toot our own horn. And the message we want to convey is that our excellent teachers play second fiddle to no one.

Whether you want to play guitar, piano, drum, or any other musical instrument, one of our awesome instructors will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and pull out all the stops.

This may sound like a lot of bragging, but it’s true – when it comes to teaching music, our teachers sure know the score!

Photo by Kelly B.

The post Face the Music, at Our NYC Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.