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!

Photo courtesy of pxhere.com

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You may think you know all the songs by heart, and you probably do. But are you familiar with some of the unusual stories surrounding these tunes?

What better time than now to reveal some of the more salient — and not widely known — details about the most popular holiday songs.

Let’s get started.

Did You Know?

“Joy to the World” was originally about Christ’s resurrection and his second coming on Easter, not his birth. So strictly speaking, it was not intended as a Christmas song.

“Silver Bells” was originally called “Tinkle Bells.” But when the songwriter Ray Evans’ wife found out about this title, she responded: “Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word tinkle is?”

During a Christmas truce in WWI, the French, English, and German troops sang “Silent Night” in their own language. It’s too bad that they started shooting at each other when the truce ended.

In 1944, Judy Garland sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in the movie Meet Me in St. Louis, which became an instant holiday hit. But the original song had different lyrics from the ones we hear in the film: the opening lines were “Have yourself a merry, little Christmas/It may be your last.” Considering that the song was sung by a mother to her daughter, these words had to be changed. By the same token, other lyrics — “faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us no more” — were also removed from the film.

These are just some of the interesting facts about Christmas songs, but there are more.

Oh Hanukkah!

What about Hanukkah, which this year is celebrated December 2 through December 10?

Did you know that in the original Yiddish version of “I Have a Little Dreidel” the dreidel is made out of bley, meaning lead. It was translated in English to clay.

There are four versions of Adam Sandler’s non-traditional Hanukkah song. The one you don’t typically hear is the uncensored version that includes the line “Drink your gin and tonic-ah, but don’t smoke marijuan-icah.” Another version, however, encourages listeners to “Drink your gin and tonic-ah, and smoke your marijuan-icah.”

So there you have it: fascinating, little-known facts about some of the most popular holiday classics. Aren’t you glad we told you?

On this note (pun intended), we’d like to wish you all a wonderful and magical holiday season!

Photo courtesy of Ed and Eddie and Flickr

The post The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: We Reveal the “Secrets” Behind Holiday Classics appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

t the risk of shooting ourselves in the foot but in the interest of full disclosure, we are telling you here that some historical evidence shows musical instruments to be harmful and even deadly.

Yes, you heard us right: HARMFUL AND DEADLY.

Now let us explain.

Mass Frenzy

American inventor Benjamin Franklin was a very clever man and one of his creations was a musical instrument he called “glass armonica” — a series of glass bowls of different sizes that produced beautiful sounds. The instrument became popular across the big pond, where Mozart and Beethoven composed music for it.

But some doctors of yore insisted that listening to it could kill women and anyone else who had fragile disposition. In other words, according to the 18th-century physicians, glass armonica was an instrument…of torture, affecting the nerves and causing a multitude of health problems.

According to a recent article on this subject, “in 1808, people attributed the death of armonica virtuoso Marianne Kirchgessner to the instrument’s eerie tones. Some psychiatrists went so far as to say it drove listeners to suicide.”

Eventually, as the article points out, this instrument “was relegated to the great big concert hall in the sky.”

You’d think people had wised up in the 19th century but even then, some medical professionals and scientists insisted that listening to music in general (and not just to glass armonica) was a potentially deadly pursuit.

Specifically, they said music caused hysteria, premature menstruation, homosexuality, and even death.

Then and Now

What a huge difference two centuries make!

No longer considered to be dangerous to our health, music is a big and important part of our lives — in a positive way, of course. In fact, we now know for sure that it has numerous benefits on our physical and emotional wellbeing.

And we also know that no instrument could cause you any bodily harm — unless, of course, you try to swallow your flute or attempt to carry your grand piano on your back.

So we hope you will not be discouraged by the warnings of the 18th-century doctors and give musical instruments a chance!

Photo courtesy of Vince Flango and Wikimedia Commons

The post A « Deadly Pursuit ? » Music That Got a Bad Rap appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Did you know that October is Emotional Wellness Month?

Before you start scratching your head wondering what “emotional wellness” has to do with music, let us tell you that there is, indeed, a strong connection between them.

By its definition, emotional wellness means relaxation, inner peace, and stress reduction; it is the ability to lead joyful lives, despite occasional setbacks. In other words, it is a healthy balance of the mind, body and spirits.

In fact, there is evidence showing that even in the most tragic circumstances, music can lift our spirits and soothe the soul.

How exactly does this happen?

Gotta Love the Music!

In a nutshell, studies have shown that listening to or playing our favorite music on a regular basis can help boost our emotional wellbeing in several ways. By releasing dopamine, a chemical in our brain that affects our mood, music can:

• Alleviate occasional “blues” or feelings of sadness. (For people suffering from chronic depression music can bring relief as well, but it is important to see a mental health care provider for diagnosis and treatment).
• Impart positive feelings of happiness, pleasure and comfort.
• Have a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety.
• Eliminate the “blahs” by boosting your brain power, memory, and alertness.

And the good thing is that anyone, of any age, can benefit from music’s magic!

Get Happy!

What are some of the concrete ways to improve your emotional wellness?

It’s really quite simple: throughout the day, listen to the kind of music you enjoy most. And if you haven’t yet started music lessons, now is a good time to consider doing that — we’ll be happy to help!

In the meantime, get yourself into a positive mood with an upbeat tune. How about this one:

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

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

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

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

Our Welcome Mat is Out

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

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

But what about the ones who are undecided?

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

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

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

Photo: Children Playing Violin Suzuki Institute courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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Look no further. As summertime and the livin’ is easy. This means that when school is out and kids are on vacation, the last thing they want to do is practice music.

We get it. But as music educators we know that stopping guitar lessons or piano lessons (and not practicing) for several weeks is not a good thing. Children (and adults too, for that matter) who resume their music lessons after a summer of inactivity often need several weeks to “catch up” — to relearn what they already knew but have forgotten.

There is actually a well-documented phenomenon called “Summer Learning Loss” or “Summer Slide.” This refers to the decline in students’ academic skills due to inactivity (that is why students are encouraged to read during school breaks).

Don’t Give Up – Summer Guitar Lessons Are Here!

We realize it’s tough motivating children to practice or even having summer guitar lessons or other music lessons in NYC when they’d rather be outside. Here are five tips on how to get them to play their music:

1. Start by explaining to your son or daughter why it is important to keep practicing: so that they don’t lose all the skills they already mastered.
2. By the same token, it would be good if they understood themselves how frustrating it would be in September to have to “catch up” and relearn what they already knew but have forgotten during the summer.
3. It’s all in the scheduling. Don’t overburden the child with “musical chores.” No planning lessons and practice sessions to the exclusion of playtime and all the other activities. Just because she has lots of free time on her hands doesn’t mean her music training should fill every hour of her day!
4. If your child has a friend who also plays an instrument, arrange for them to practice together. Perhaps put on a mini-concert for parents and relatives afterwards!
5. Keep them enthused and inspired by attending some summer concerts together.

Keep on Playing!

Looking for summer guitar lessons in NYC? We understand that your summer schedule may be different than during the school year. No problem! Just contact us as soon as possible and we’ll be happy to set up your summertime lessons.

Photo: Outdoor Acoustic Guitar Performance courtesy of Mariana Vusiatytska and Unsplash

The post Five Reasons to Motivate your Child (and yourself) too Not Take a Vacation From Music appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

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

Here’s why.

Five Reasons Why You Should Burst Into Song

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

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

Whip Your Voice Into Shape!

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

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

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

Photo: The Youngsters Singing courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

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

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

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

Five Reasons to Learn the Guitar:

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

Out of the Hands of Babes…

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

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

Photo: Guitar Store courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

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

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

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

So let’s look at…

Five Pieces of Compelling Evidence that Music Makes Us Happy

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

Burst with Joy!

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

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

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

Photo: Colours courtesy of Camdiluv and Flickr

The post Five Ways to Fill This Month with Happiness (Clue: It’s All About Music!) appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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You know the titles and melodies of these songs, but you may not know that many of them have very interesting histories.

So let’s look at five fascinating facts about the most popular holiday tunes:

1. Several songs that celebrate Yuletide, including “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “White Christmas” — the top-selling Christmas song of all time — were written by Jewish songwriters.

2. Another popular tune, “Jingle Bells,” is traditionally associated with Christmas, but it was originally written to celebrate Thanksgiving. And it was the first holiday song to be played in space when astronauts Walter Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford performed it on a harmonica (the world’s best-selling musical instrument) on December 16, 1965 while they were orbiting Earth in Gemini 6.
3. The song “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is part of the Christmas repertoire, but it was actually written in October 1962 as a plea for peace during the Cuban missile crisis.

4. “The Christmas Song,” commonly known as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” seems perfect for a cold winter day, so it is surprising to learn that it was written during a summer heatwave in 1944 as a way to “stay cool by thinking cool.”
5. Australians have their own version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” where all the animals are replaced by their local wildlife: “Two snakes on skis, eight dingos dancing … nine crocs a – snoozing … ten wombats washing …” And yes, there is a kangaroo in there as well! There’s even an Aussie version of “Jingle Bells” that includes the lyrics, “All the family is there sitting by the pool.”

New Versions of Old Songs

Are you tired of hearing the same old holiday tunes all over again, yet want to continue to enjoy the holiday spirit they impart? No problem. Some old classics have been updated in recent years, and we hope they will bring you much comfort and joy.

With music in our hearts, we’d like to wish our students, their families, and everyone else, very happy holidays!

The post Do You Hear What We Hear? Five Things You May Not Know About Christmas Music appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Why November 6th, you may wonder? That’s because on this day in 1814, the woodwind’s inventor, the appropriately named Adolphe Sax was born in Belgium. He started building saxophones in the early 1840s.

And the rest, as the saying goes, is history!

We love the sound a saxophone makes and so did scores of musicians like John Coltrane, Branford Marsalis, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, former President Bill Clinton, and countless others.

Five Things About the Sax You Didn’t Learn in the Kindergarten (or Later)

1. The saxophone family consists (from the smallest to the biggest) of the sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and sub-contrabass.
2. Though most commonly constructed of brass, the saxophone is a member of the woodwind family.
3. French composer Hector Berlioz created the first saxophone composition, Chant Sacre, which he conducted in 1844 while Adolphe Sax played this instrument.

4. The first American jazz musician to become a famous saxophonist was Coleman Hawkins, in the 1920s.

5. Inventor Thomas Edison auditioned saxophone players for his recording label, Diamond Disks.

More Joys of Sax…

Another important fact about the saxophone that should not go unmentioned is that the Muppets have a sax-playing character named Zoot.

DOn a more serious side, the most compelling reason to love the sax is because it makes such beautiful music, as demonstrated by this orchestra!

Just ask some of our excellent saxophone teachers. They can show you how truly versatile and expressive this instrument is.

Photo: King Zephyr Alto Sax (c.1946) courtesy of woodleywonderworks and WikiMedia Commons

The post Five Reasons the Saxophone Rocks, Rolls, and Jazzes Up the Music World appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

Sing, Sing a Song…

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

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

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

Belt Out a Tune

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

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

So go ahead and find your voice!

Photo: Michal Shapira courtesy of Alexander Kinik and WikiMedia Commons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The First Step…

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

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

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

Photo: Children Playing Guitar courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

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

But while they are enjoying their break, chances are that school and homework are the furthest things from their minds.

And we bet that practicing their instrument is not on their radar either. But there is no reason to take vacation from music!

Hey, we understand that kids need to have a carefree vacation. But on the other hand, giving up all their regular activities — including music — is not a good thing.

Kids, Don’t Stop the Music!

If your children don’t play their instrument for weeks, they may lose some of the skills and techniques they had mastered during the school year. This means that they will have to re-learn what they already knew but had forgotten in the meantime. (It’s the so-called “use it or lose it” phenomenon!)

If that’s the case, they may lose their motivation to keep on playing and want to give up music lessons altogether. You certainly don’t want that to happen — they have worked hard to achieve a certain level of proficiency and it would be such a pity not to build up on the progress they made.

This is where you, the parent, can, um, call the tune!

Here are five ways to motivate your child to keep on playing:

1. Encourage: Explain to your child why it is important for him/her to continue practicing and what would happen if he/she doesn’t: much of the progress he/she made during the school year would be lost and he/she would have to re-master the skills he/she already learned.

2. Be Flexible: It’s not necessary to keep the same practice schedule during vacation as during the school year. Find a “happy medium” — say 20 minutes a few times a week.

3. The Importance of Scheduling: It’s probably not a good idea to schedule practice for when your child is tired and cranky — like in the evening. Choose the time when he/she is rested and energized, maybe right after breakfast.

4. Team Effort: If your child has friends or family members who play an instrument, arrange a group practice. If they play well together (pun intended!), they could perform a “concert” at the end of the summer to show off their skills.

5. Turn Music Into a Family Affair: There is no shortage of concerts and live performances in NYC this month. Go with your child and inspire him/her in their musical journey!

As you can see, there are lots of ways to keep your child practicing this summer.

Photo: Piano Practice Hands courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

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Speaking of music, there are so many great summer-related songs that it is difficult to choose only five. But choose we must, so here is our list of timeless songs that (in our humble opinion) best reflect the spirit of the summer — whether you are spending it in the city or on a secluded beach somewhere.

1. “Those Hazy Lazy Days of Summer.” This melodious and upbeat tune by Nat King Cole is as close to the ultimate summer song as you can get.

2. ““Kokomo” has the “beach vibe” that is so typical of The Beach Boys songs. (Think “Surfin’ USA” and “Surfer Girl”)

3. “Summer Wind.” When Frank Sinatra sang it, you could almost hear and feel how “the wind came blowing in from across the sea,” skimming through the palm trees and ruffling the leaves.

4. “Summer in the City” by Joe Cocker pulsates with the balmy energy of the sizzling summer in the urban jungle.

5. “Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy.” We just have to include this song on our list. Just think: would it really be summer without this smooth Ella Fitzgerald classic?

The Sounds of Summer

Obviously, the above is only a partial list of all the great summer hits — both old and newer ones.

Among the ones that are not listed but are certainly worth mentioning are Kelly Rowland’s “Summer Dreaming” “Summer Loving” from the movie “Grease,” and “King of the Beach” by the appropriately named Wavves.

And how can we not mention George Harrison’s song, “Here Comes the Sun.” The music is beautiful and the lyrics impart that quintessential summery feel:

“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.”

We hope you take these words to heart and enjoy the summer months because ‑ before you know it— fall will be upon us and you might remember the warm, sunny days with a bit of nostalgia.

Photo: Musician at the Beach

The post A Place in the Sun: Five Cool Songs for Hot Summer Days appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

The post New York Has Talent: Five Famous Musicians Who Hail From The Big Apple appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Now, you might think that these articles are self-serving — that (no pun intended) we are tooting our own horn because, after all, we are a music school.

Well, let us tell you that what you read about in our blogs is based on facts (real, not alternative), and solid science is behind everything we write.

So with this in mind, let’s look at five reasons why music lessons make you healthier.

Let’s Count the Ways…

Actually, there are many ways in which music benefits your physical and mental health; these are just top five:

1. Stress reduction. It’s a well-known fact that extreme or chronic stress and anxiety can lead to serious conditions like heart disease or strokes. Playing an instrument, however, helps release “feel-good” hormones like endorphins and serotonin, which, in turn, have a calming effect on our nervous system.
2. Better immunity. Music boosts our immune system so our body is able to fight off various viruses and germs that attack our bodies and make us sick.
3. Improved sleep. A good night’s sleep is essential for health. If you have trouble falling asleep or are awake at night, music will help you sleep better.
4. Pain relief. That’s right, there’s evidence to suggest music can reduce your perception of pain and the need for meds.
5. Quicker recovery. If you’ve been ill, music can speed up the healing process.

But Wait, There is More…

Music lessons can also improve motor skills, coordination, and even muscle tone — think of all the strength you need to hold an instrument or blow into it!

And did you know that music is beneficial at any age? According to an article in LiveScience, “Musical activity throughout life may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making your brain fitter and more capable of accommodating the challenges of aging.”

There is even more good news: it doesn’t matter which instrument you or your child are learning to play — they are all equally good in providing health benefits.

So our advice (one that your doctor will surely approve of) is this: Eat balanced meals, exercise, and take music lessons!

Photo: Students Playing Music Together

The post Five Reasons Why Music Lessons are Great Health-Boosters appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

If this comes as news to you, let us reiterate what we (and scientists) have said many times before: playing music helps develop or improve a variety of skills, ranging from social and academic to emotional and psychological.

Now, the question you may be asking yourself is: “What is the best instrument for my child?”

Before we answer, let us say that our recommendations below are subjective, in a sense that what’s great for one child may not be the best choice for another.

These are general guidelines, based on our own experience, as well as that of music teachers and child development experts.

Okay, having said that, the answer depends on factors such as the child’s age, the length and agility of fingers and legs, fine motor skills, and whether he or she is able to cope with the mechanics of the instrument.

So that leaves us with smaller, more manageable instruments.

Give Me Five (Instruments, that is!)

For kids eight years of age and older, the five instruments that are easiest to learn and handle:

1. The guitar comes in a variety of sizes and styles to suit any student’s need
2. The violin. It also comes in child-appropriate sizes
3. The flute is one of the easiest instruments to learn, easy to transport, and fun to play
4. The recorder —just like it’s cousin the flute, it’s wonderful for small hands
5. The piano is one of the most versatile instruments for all ages

All of these instruments are more compatible with a child’s body; they are easy to learn and (except for the piano) to carry.

The bottom line is this: let your kids play what they want to play. There is no such thing as a “bad” instrument!

But whatever the age and instruments, remember that in order for the lessons to be truly beneficial, children need an excellent teacher to guide and mentor them on their musical journey.

Photo: Girl Playing the Recorder Courtesy of Max Pixel

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That’s because until last year, Feingold was not a well known figure, except perhaps to a NYC teenager Brianna Perez, who attends a music program at the Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls.

What brought the unlikely pair together is an old violin. That’s right – an old violin!

A Gift of Music

The inspiring story starts just after WWII, in the displaced persons camp in Germany, where Joe found himself after his mother and brother were killed in a concentration camp.

Before the war, while living in Warsaw, Poland, Joe played the violin. But his beloved instrument was lost. He missed it a lot.

While waiting to be resettled from the camp to the United States, Joe traded a carton of American cigarettes for a violin, which he brought with him when he was finally able to move to America. He lived on the Upper West Side and worked as an architect.

All the while, he continued to play the violin, but eventually it became too difficult for his aging hands.

One day in 2014, Feingold heard about an instrument drive managed by the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, which distributes donated instruments to NYC public schools.

He took his cherished violin to the Lincoln Center to drop it off, hoping it would come to life again.

A Musical Bond

The story could have ended there, but it didn’t. When filmmaker Kahane Cooperman heard an interview with Joe on a local radio station, she wanted to find out which student would be practicing on Joe’s violin. So she traced the instrument to Brianna, who was 13 years old at the time.

Joe went to the school to hear Brianna play “his” instrument and was very moved by her performance.

This experience inspired Kahane to make a documentary film about the unlikely musical bond between the nonagenarian and the Bronx teen. Appropriately titled “Joe’s Violin,” the film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival last year.

And in February of this year, the movie was nominated for an Academy Award for the best documentary short subject.

We are glad to share this touching story with you — even more so, because March is the Music in Our Schools Month, which sheds light on the numerous benefits of music programs.

What better example can there be to celebrate this event than to know how one instrument can change the lives of many students? We say “many” because after Brianna graduates, the violin will pass on to another student, and so on.

It’s the circle of life!

Photo: Violin Courtesy of Jason Hollinger on Flickr

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This, of course, is a purely theoretical (or, if you prefer, hypothetical) question, but genetics work in mysterious ways! We became intrigued by it a couple of months ago when we came across an article with this headline: “This instrument is the musical love-child of a double bass and a trumpet.”

Naturally, we had to read it and we are glad we did. We learned that a rather unusual offspring of a string instrument — double bass – and a trumpet (brass) is called Tromba Marina (“marine trumpet”), and it was popular in medieval and Renaissance Europe. According to the article, this bundle of joy “sounds like literally nothing else we’ve ever heard.”

And it is a handsome little fella (or a lass, we can’t be sure): made of wood, it is long and lanky, narrow at the top and wider at the bottom.

The instrument, which dates back to the 12th century, “has one long, thick playing string which is bowed and a host of resonating strings.”

Old but Not Forgotten!

We learn more about the Tromba Marina’s origins from Clare Salaman, the founder and director of The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments (more about it a moment).

Here’s what she says (as quoted in the article): “Many surviving instruments were found in convents. It seems that tromba marinas were a staple of the Northern European nun’s musical instrument box. Wind instruments would have been off-limits for women so it’s possible that tromba marinas were used as substitutes for trumpets.”

Fascinating, isn’t it?

And speaking of fascinating things, we find The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments totally awesome.

Just look at some of the many unusual old instruments the Society features:

• Baroque Triple Harp: A chromatic harp with three rows of strings.
• Baroque Guitar: A small guitar with 5 pairs of strings.
• Bray Harp: A diatonic harp with bray pins that buzz when pushed close to the soundboard.
• Cajon: A large box with a hole in the back.
• Clarsach or Celtic Harp: A harp with levers that can change the pitch of each string by a semitone.
• Leg Bells: Metal bells braided onto a woven band tied around the leg.

… and many more!

The Past and Present

It’s important to note here that every “modern” instrument – be it the guitar, piano, violin, flute, etc. – has historical origins of its own.

Instruments that we teach in our school didn’t just appear magically overnight out of nowhere. Someone in centuries past had to either invent them from scratch or take an already existing instrument and modify it to make it sound better.

Not every instrument may be a “love child” in the same way as the Tromba Marina is, but we, for one, love them all!

Photo: String instruments at the Musical Instrument Museum, Berlin on Wikimedia Commons

The post The Mating Game: A “Love Child” That Toots Its Own Horn appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

As a music school, we have many people – adults and children alike – tell us they would love to play an instrument. A lot of them express interest in the guitar. We are, of course, delighted and excited to teach them to play this wonderful string instrument.

But before we match our students with the most amazing teachers in New York City, we ask them what kind of guitar they have in mind. More often than not, they have no idea that there are several types of this instrument to choose from.

By Any Other Name, It’s Still the Guitar!

The so-called “simple” or “classical” style is the kind everyone imagines when thinking of the guitar.

Another well-known type is the electric guitar. The purely technical definition of this instrument, according to Wikipedia is: “a fretted string instrument that uses a pickup to convert the vibration of its strings.” But to put it in simple terms, it gives the rock and roll music its unique tone and character.

What about the acoustic guitar? We are glad you asked! Unlike the electric guitar, which uses electronic amplification, the acoustic type produces sound by transmitting the vibration of the strings to the air.

Now let’s move on to the steel guitar, which is usually positioned horizontally. Its strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of its strings with the use of a bar or slide called a “steel”.

Now, you might think that metal guitar is somehow related to its steel cousin, but that’s not the case. As the name suggests, the metal guitar is used by heavy metal and psychedelic rock musicians,

since its sound can be best described as “loud,” and “distorted.”

Next, there is a flamenco guitar, which is similar to the classic model but has a thinner top and less internal bracing. As its name suggests, it is used most commonly in flamenco music.

If you prefer the melodic sounds of the blues, there are several guitars on the market that are great for playing that genre.

What about the rhythm guitar? Actually, it’s more about the guitarist and his (or her) role in the band than the instrument itself. For instance, the rhythm guitar(ist) provides chords and rhythmic references for the vocalist and other players.

This is, of course, a brief description of various guitar types, but if you or your son or daughter are interested in learning more about these instruments, we’ll be happy to oblige!

New Year, New Guitar Lessons

The guitar has long been one of the most popular instruments. Why? Because the piano is too bulky and heavy to carry on the motorcycle!

We are joking of course! People of all ages choose to play this instrument because it’s so versatile – the types outlined above cover all music genres.

And it is also a great “equalizer”: even though many people imagine guitarists as male, fact is that there are lots of talented women guitar players as well.

All this goes to say that boys AND girls can enjoy and benefit from guitar lessons!

Photo: Wunjo Guitars of London on Wikimedia Commons

The post The Many Sounds and Functions of the Guitar appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

It’s the beginning of December and chances are you are already hearing the same old, traditional holiday songs over and over again.

Now, we don’t mean to denigrate the beloved classics

because to many people they represent the very essence and spirit of Christmas or Hanukkah.

Having said that, we were not totally surprised by a study that came out a couple of years ago. It showed that, while many of us like to hear some holiday music in the beginning of the season, we tend to dislike it towards the end, simply because we’ve been over-exposed to it.

It seems that too much of a good thing can actually have the opposite effect!

New Take on Old Classics

According to an article in the Washington Post, the reason for the enduring appeal of the most popular holiday songs is because “they were so well crafted…and so deeply expressive in capturing the holiday experience in a way songwriters these days are unable to do.”

Why aren’t more new Christmas songs being written, you may wonder? The above-mentioned article explains it this way: “No one, not even such superstars as Taylor Swift or Beyoncé, has managed to turn a temporary seasonal hit into an evergreen.”

You may argue that holiday songs don’t necessarily have to have the enduring appeal of the old classics. Even if these new tunes are hits for one or two seasons only, they could still bring “comfort and joy” to millions of people.

Do You Hear What We Hear?

In fact, there are some new holiday songs being recorded – or, in some cases, new versions of old favorites.

We particularly love this beautiful rendition of “Hallelujah,” by Pentatonix, which is on the group’s new 2016 holiday album.

Already last year we became fans when we heard this acapella group’s unique version of “Little Drummer Boy, which shows how old classics can be performed with a new twist.

There are also some other modern holiday songs for your listening pleasure. Among them you’ll find “Christmas Lights” by Coldplay, “Love is Christmas” by Sarah Bareilles, and several others.

What about Hanukkah songs? Adam Sandler may or may not like them all, but here are some fun renditions for you to enjoy.

All these new tunes may or may not become holiday classics, but they are fun to listen to while they last!

Photo: Youth Choir in Healdsburg on Wikimedia Commons

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We do know that the late astronomer, cosmologist, and astrophysicist Carl Sagan believed in the universal (literally) appeal of music and its power to connect terrestrial and extraterrestrial beings.

Back in 1977, Dr. Sagan spearheaded the creation of Voyager Golden Record – a kind of time capsule containing 27 tracks of earthly music that NASA sent into space on Voyagers 1 and 2 with the hope that aliens would hear and love it.

The eclectic mix includes such oeuvres as Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F, Peruvian panpipes and drum, a Georgian chorus, Louis Armstrong’s “Melancholy Blues”, and many others.

A Gift to Cosmos

As president Jimmy Carter said at the time of the launch in 1977, “This is a present from a small, distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings. We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours.”

At the time, very few of these gold-plated copper records were produced – two were sent into space and 10 are on display in NASA facilities. It is said that not even Dr. Sagan was able to obtain a copy.

But soon it will be easier to do so. A new Kickstarter campaign is creating replicas of the gold-plated phonograph records, which will be available for the first time here on Earth in August 2017, just in time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Voyager launches.

Watch This Space

Human beings have always been fascinated by the sounds emitted in outer space.

Do aliens appreciate our music? There is some evidence that they do!

Seriously though, in all likelihood we will never know whether extraterrestrials enjoyed the sounds on the Voyager Golden Record, even if it does reach alien civilizations.

That’s because neither of the Voyager spacecraft is heading toward any defined stellar destination, so no encounters of the third kind are planned.

Voyager 1, however, entered interstellar space in 2013 and it is now almost 13 billion miles away from Earth. It is closing in on a star called Gliese 445 and is expected to reach it in about 40,000 years.

But if our music does ever reach extraterrestrials’ ears, chances are good that, in the very least, they will be intrigued by it.

According to Space.com, “Humans would probably have little to teach them about science and mathematics that they don’t already know…However, our art and music is singularly human, and could likely be fascinating to an alien species.”

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The post In a Galaxy Far, Far Away, a Musical Star Trek is Underway appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

In fact, it has a lot going for it. For instance, its impressive architecture, including tracts of 19th century row houses ranging in style from Greek Revival to Queen Anne, are reminders of the area’s history as a fashionable Manhattan suburb.

These well-preserved brownstones, most of which are three-bay, three-story buildings, date from between 1845 and 1890.

These gems are not difficult to spot in the small neighborhood, which is only about seven blocks long and eight blocks wide. A stroll along Dean Street is a journey back to the 19th century. The row houses that stand there are designed in Italianate style, with large arches, ornate cast-iron railings, and other elaborate architectural details.

But before it had become an elegant and genteel neighborhood in the second half of the 1800s, Boerum Hill looked quite different.

It All started with a Farm…

Today, Boerum Hill’s boundaries are defined as Court Street to the west, Fourth Avenue to the east, Schermerhorn Street to the north, and Warren and Wyckoff Streets to the south.

Lying just south of Downtown Brooklyn, this area is both urban and residential, but back in the Colonial times it was a farm settled, as much of New York was, by the Dutch. The family’s name was Boerum, which explains how the neighborhood got its name.

As Manhattan continued to grow and develop in the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution, Boerum Hill retained its small-town feel, attracting Italian and French immigrants who gave this area a distinctly cosmopolitan feel that stretches to its sister neighborhoods of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens.

Never a Dull Moment

As mentioned above, Boerum Hill is not boring at all. For outdoor activities, there is the green expanse of waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park, which offers organized activities, including guided tours, kayak polo, and zumba classes.

And Barclays Center at 620 Atlantic Avenue has a multitude of sports events and music concerts. In-home music lessons are also available in Boerum Hill – it’s easy to get started.

As you can see, there are many reasons to love Boerum Hill!

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The post Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill is Teeming with History appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

For one, this almost exclusively residential district doesn’t feel like part of New York at all. It is sleepy, tranquil, and bursting with vibrant colors of its stately 19th century mansions. In fact, when you walk around this neighborhood, you may feel magically transported to another time period.

This may be why Ditmas Park, which is bordered by Dorchester Avenue, Ocean Avenue, Newkirk Avenue and East 16th Street, is referred to as Victorian Flatbush.

Let’s explore this neighborhood, which can rightly be described as charming and quaint.

Notable Architecture

The area now occupied by Ditmas Park was settled in the 17th century by a Dutch immigrant Jan Jansen Van Ditmarsen (for whom the neighborhood was named). According to historical records, upon his arrival he built a “fine Dutch Colonial style farmhouse.”

The land remained in the Ditmarsen family until the beginning of the 20th century, when a real estate broker Lewis H. Pounds purchased it.

As he developed the formerly rural area, Pounds deployed several different architectural styles to bring an eclectic rather than uniform look to the area: there are Colonial Revival and Queen Anne buildings, Arts and Crafts bungalows, wood-frame houses with wide-open porches, and other styles.

Best places to see these architectural gems are along Albemarle, Marlborough, Rugby, Argyle, Westminster, and Beverly Roads. This is “old” Ditmas Park at its best.

Let There Be Music (Lessons)!

But not everything in this neighborhood is a throwback to another era.

For instance, the 40-acre Parade Ground offers more modern amenities, including baseball, soccer, softball and football fields, as well as running and cycling paths.

And even though Ditmas Park is mostly residential, there are some good eateries along Cortelyou Road – the Farm on Adderley and Mimi’s Hummus, among them.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is nearby, as is Prospect Park and other interesting venues and activities.

It’s true that, because of its homespun character, Ditmas Park may not have a vibrant arts scene. But good news is that there is no shortage of in-home music lessons in this attractive, down-to-earth neighborhood.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The post Many Faces (and Facades) of Ditmas Park appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Bounded by Atlantic Avenue to the north, Court Street to the east, Degraw Street to the south, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the west, Cobble Hill is one of Brooklyn’s oldest neighborhoods.

It is also one of the most interesting, which, according to the New York City Dept of Parks & Recreation, “Its namesake, the surrounding neighborhood of Cobble Hill, was first settled in the mid-17th century by Dutch farmers.”

In fact, the Cobble Hill Historic District teems with beautifully preserved landmarks. Among them is the Old St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church at 14 Greenville Avenue, which dates back to 1838; and seven brick row houses at 33 and 35 Strong Place, built in the Queen Anne architectural style in 1891.

From Rural to Urban

Up until the middle of the 1800s, Brooklyn was primarily a rural area. The present-day Cobble Hill had only 45 houses and 112 residents. It started expanding (and getting more urbanized) in the latter part of the 19th century, first with the influx of wealthy Manhattanites, followed by immigrants from Ireland and Italy, many of whom settled in neighboring areas of Brooklyn as well.

In that sense, Cobble Hill has a cosmopolitan vibe that is characteristic of many of New York’s “melting pot” neighborhoods. And, like elsewhere in the city, there is no shortage here of excellent restaurants and ethnic food stores.

Lots To Do

Whether you are trendy and hip, or quiet and laid-back, you will find that Cobble Hill is – no pun intended – right up your alley. And if you are looking for arts and culture, you will discover it here as well. For instance, there are a number of quaint, independent bookshops in the neighborhood, which are a fast-dying breed. So venues like BookCourt at 163 Court Street and the nearby Community Book Store (212 Court Street) need the support of every reader. What about the music scene? There are quite a few places along Smith Street that feature live music: Pano e Vino, Bar Tabac, Clover Club, and other venues. And would you like to have live music right in your own house? You can: in-home music lessons are available in Cobble Hill, as well as in other Brooklyn neighborhoods like Dumbo, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, and Ditmas Park.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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There is a good reason why its name is Carroll Gardens: the neighborhood’s main features are deep front yards, often surrounded by decorative wrought iron fences.

This explains the “garden” part. But why Carroll, you may ask?

Until 1964, this 40-block neighborhood, was just part of South Brooklyn. But then a local civic group renamed the area in honor of Charles Carroll, who was a signer of Declaration of Independence, as well as a civil rights activist.

Carroll was the U.S. senator from Maryland, but he did have a strong connection to the NYC borough. In 1776, during the Battle of Brooklyn, Carroll’s regiment helped defend this area; in fact, 400 of his soldiers died in an attack on a British camp.

Fortunately, this was the only bloody episode in the history of this quiet and scenic neighborhood.

A “Revolutionary” Neighborhood

Carroll Gardens is bounded by Degraw and Warren Streets to the north, Hoyt and Smith Streets to the east, Ninth Street to the south, and the Brooklyn-Queens and Gowanus Expressways to the west.

As mentioned above, during the Revolutionary War, this area was a site of a bloody battle. Then, in the early 1800s, many wealthy New Yorkers built summer homes here.

But the 19th century also brought European immigrants to South Brooklyn’s shores – the Irish were the first ones to settle in the area that is today called Carroll Gardens.

Later, Italians arrived, infusing the area with their native foods, customs, and traditions – the ambience that permeates the neighborhood to this day.

But there are traces of other ethnicities in Carroll Gardens as well – for instance, its flourishing French population has earned this section of Brooklyn the nickname “Little France.”

Both Italian and French influence is still present in Carroll Gardens in the form of restaurants, grocery stores, and other venues and events.

Arts and Crafts

So what is there to do in Carroll Gardens, other than admire beautiful gardens in front of quaint brownstones along quiet, tree-lined streets?

As far as arts scene is concerned, the neighborhood boasts the Smith Street Stage, a community theater dedicated to Shakespeare plays.

There are also jazz nights at Clover Club at 210 Smith Street, pottery and glassware workshop at the Painted Pot, 8009 Third Avenue, and many other cool events for children and adults alike.

And let’s not forget in-home music lessons that are available year-round in this cozy part of Brooklyn.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The post The Verdant Landscape of Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

You don’t know? Perhaps this hint will help: it was played by the famous bandleader, the King of Swing.

Got it?

If you are thinking of the clarinet, you are correct. Like its cousins the flute, oboe, saxophone, and recorder, the clarinet belongs to the woodwind family. It is the only single-reed instrument in the symphony orchestra.

Source of inspiration

Invented by a German instrument maker named Johann Christoph Denner at the end of the 17th century, the clarinet’s distinct sound – which is more similar to the organ than to other woodwinds – had inspired quite a few great composers. For instance, Vivaldi and Hendel were the first to compose music for the clarinet. Mozart and Beethoven wrote chamber pieces for this instrument, as did later composers like Schumann and Brahms. In the 20th century, Igor Stravinsky composed Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo. And, of course, this list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention one of the most popular symphonic clarinet solos in George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, which starts with a low note ascending to a high one.

Getting to know more about you…

Now that you know the basics, here are some more fun facts about the clarinet:

• Its body is most commonly made out of hard wood, usually African Blackwood, also called Grenadilla. Materials used for the mouthpiece are hard rubber (ebonite), plastic, glass, crystal, or sometimes metal.
• The clarinet’s characteristic sound is produced by the vibration of the reed and pressing down the keys.
• Quite a few famous people play (or played) this instrument. Among them: Jimmy Kimmel, Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, and Alan Greenspan.
• There is an annual Clarinet Festival http://adec-clarinete.com/index.php/en/, as well as the Clarinet Journal published by the International Clarinet Association http://clarinet.org.

And let’s not forget one more important piece of information: if you, your child, or another member of your family would like to learn to play the clarinet, contact us for in-home music lessons.

The post It is All Set: Play the Clarinet! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

But – as you will see in a minute – in the expert hands of rock, swing, funk, jazz, blues, and country musicians, this instrument’s pitch may be an octave lower than a regular guitar, but it certainly sounds nothing like a scream!

Once upon a time…

The history of the bass guitar can be traced back to the beginnings of electronics and amplification in the 1930s. That’s when a Settle inventor Paul Tutmarc created the modern version of the electric bass. The first models were big and fretless, but later smaller fretted basses that could be played horizontally were produced. It became easier for bass players to transport and handle their instruments, but Tutmarc’s models never quite caught on. Electric bass experienced a revival of sorts in the 1950s. That’s when famed manufacturer Leo Fender brought his pioneering model, Fender Precision Bass, to the market. It remains, to this day, among the top selling and most imitated bass guitars.

Slick moves

As we mentioned before, electric bass is very popular among many musicians. Paul McCartney played it beautifully , as did The Who’s John Entwistle , Rolling Stones’ Ron Wood , Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones , and many other talented bassists, too numerous to mention here. But if you thought that the electric bass is the exclusive domain of male guitarists, think again. There are, in fact, quite a few female musicians who excel at playing this instrument. They may not be household names, but they are clearly gifted. Among them: D’Arcy Wretzky, one of the original members of the Smashing Pumpkins , Gail Ann Dorsey , who accompanied the late David Bowie, Meshell Ndegeocello , and many others. If you want to learn to play this cool instrument, you can follow Paul McCartney’s tutorial . But, let’s be real, the chance that Sir Paul himself will come to your house to teach you the correct bass guitar playing technique is slim to none. On the other hand, our teachers do offer excellent in-home music lessons – so pick us!

The post Electric Bass: An Instrument You Can Pick At appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Brooklyn Heights fits into the latter category. Located away from the borough’s businesses and factories, it is peaceful and charming. With its tree-lined streets, it could very well be a suburban neighborhood. In fact, it was originally referred to as the “Brooklyn Village.” Because of this relaxed and easy-going feel, this area, which stretches from Old Fulton Street south to Atlantic Avenue, and from the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to Court Street, has been called “America’s original suburb.” Architecturally too, Brooklyn Heights has a lot to boast about.

Historic houses

Being a “home” to over 600 historic buildings deserves official recognition and in 1965, New York’s Landmarks Preservation Commission designated this neighborhood as the city’s first historic district. As the Commission noted at the time, Brooklyn Heights’ “stately brick and brownstone houses, on their tree-lined streets with their stone sidewalks, represent most of the principal architectural styles of the 19th century…the houses represent almost unchanged the community as originally built.” Examples of pre-Civil War architecture abound: Built in 1824, a wood-frame house at 24 Middagh Street is Brooklyn Heights’ oldest home. Just a stone throw away, at 64 Poplar Street, stands a clapboard house built in 1834 by poet Walt Whitman and his father. Other sections of the Heights boast architectural gems as well: Row houses on Remsen Street, the Herman Behr Mansion at 82 Pierrepont Street, and St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church, located on the corner of Montague and Clinton Streets. Brooklyn Historical Society is a great resource to explore the Heights’ 400-year history.

Nature and culture

This neighborhood’s architecture and historical sites are certainly worth seeing, but there is more here to entice visitors. The Promenade is the neighborhood’s most popular public space. Besides its beautifully maintained flower beds, trees, benches and playgrounds, it also offers great views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan skyline, and the Statue of Liberty. But just because Brooklyn Heights is a quiet area doesn’t mean it lacks culture. On the contrary! The Heights Players is Brooklyn’s oldest self-sustaining community theater, which has been part of this neighborhood for nearly six decades. And there is also the Brooklyn Heights Music Society, which sponsors concerts in various Brooklyn locations each year. Of course, there is no shortage of in-home music lessons either – it’s easy and convenient to set them up!

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While the Brooklyn area in question had been around longer than the Disney character, which was created in 1941, the neighborhood got its name much later. It stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass,” a term coined by artists who moved there in the 1970s, while this former manufacturing district was a mostly deserted neighborhood. Dumbo a great example of old, multi-ethnic New York City neighborhood that has been, over the years, reshaped and redefined by its developers.

Calling all art lovers!

Bounded by Brooklyn Bridge Park to the north, the Brooklyn Bridge to the west, Brooklyn Heights to the south, and Vinegar Hill to the east, Dumbo is a real 21st century neighborhood: it has the highest concentration of technology firms in New York. A quarter of the city’s tech companies are based within a 10-block radius in this relatively small section. But Dumbo is not just about technology – it also boasts a thriving art scene that gives the neighborhood a trendy and edgy vibe. For example, the waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park offers jazz and classical music concerts, as well as a wide variety of other cultural events. And if you walk around this park, you will encounter funky art in the form of sculptures. But that’s not all: On every first Thursday of the month, art lovers have a chance to visit some of Dumbo’s galleries and artists’ studios, many of which are located on streets paved with century-old cobblestones.

Dumbo is all “ears” – for music!

The arts scene, no matter, how lively, would not be complete without music. In that respect too Dumbo has much to offer. For instance, 68 Jay Street Bar, located in the historic Grand Union Tea Company warehouse, offers not only good food, but also features live bands and other performances. But there is more: moored in Dumbo just under the Brooklyn Bridge is a barge that on most days morphs into a venue for “floating” chamber music concerts. “Bargemusic” holds more than 200 concerts each year, and has been an integral part of the local community for nearly four decades. These and other venues are dedicated to spreading the love of music. Another way to fill your (not Dumbo the elephant’s) ears with beautiful sounds is to sign up for in-home music lessons in this very neighborhood. Now you know: this combination of the arts and music scene makes Dumbo one of Brooklyn’s most buzz-worthy neighborhoods.

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It is also, like the rest of Brooklyn (and New York City), ethnically diverse: for instance, it “mixes” the hipster crowd that defines the “new” Brooklyn with Hasidim Jews, and first-generation Italian and Puerto Rican immigrants who have been part of this community for a while. This diversity may explain why Williamsburg boasts so many ethic food stores and restaurants.

A new vibe

Once upon a time, Williamsburg was just a plain neighborhood, with industrial buildings, tenements, and modest attached homes as far as the eye could see. But over the past 15 years or so, it experienced a renaissance of sorts, morphing into one of New York City’s most vibrant enclaves. Today, the once neglected waterfront boasts not just new, sleek high-rises but also parks and other green areas, such as the 7-acre East River State Park and Grand Ferry Park.

A feast for eyes and ears

Why is this eclectic neighborhood, which borders Greenpoint to the north; Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south; Ridgewood, Queens to the east; and East River to the west, worth visiting? First of all, it’s an easy hop from Manhattan – and even the Manhattanites, who are not easily impressed by anything lying outside their borough, would not be disappointed (but please don’t sue us if you are!) A good place to start is with arts and culture, because artists have been essential in bringing creative energy into this neighborhood. Not surprisingly, there are several interesting galleries here, including the Front Room Gallery at 147 Roebling Street; Art 101, 101 Grand Street; Figureworks at 168 North 6th Street; and more. There is also no shortage of live music concerts, for example at Williamsburg’s Music Hall , located at 66 North 6th Street. But there are also less traditional venues like Brooklyn Bowl on 61 Wythe Avenue, which is a bowling alley with “electrifying live music.” Or Rough Trade at 64 N 9th Street – a record store in front and concert venue in the back. These are just a couple examples among many. And speaking of music, if you live in Williamsburg, you can take advantage of in-home music lessons by some of New York’s top teachers. This way, you won’t have any reason to ever leave Williamsburg!

The post The (Not so Hidden) Charms of Williamsburg appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

 Think trumpet and your mind will likely conjure up images of the great Louis Armstrong playing this instrument with such skill, mastery, and passion. There were and still are many accomplished trumpeters – Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis among them – but for many people Armstrong will forever remain the most famous of them all. As he himself said, “My whole life, my whole soul, my whole spirit is to blow that trumpet.”

By the time Armstrong and his contemporaries like Freddie Keppard started to play the trumpet at the beginning of the 20th century, the instrument had been – in different forms – around for a long time.

Of mice and (great) men

Long before the trumpet joined the brass family of instruments, which also includes the tuba, the trombone, the cornet and the euphonium, it was just a primitive device used by ancient civilizations like the Greeks and the Egyptians (in fact, pictures of the trumpet were found in King Tut’s tomb). In those days, trumpets were made from animal horns or shells, a far cry from the brass and copper used today. They also didn’t have valves or keys. However, their primary purpose was to signal or announce various events rather than play music, so the primitive construction was in line with the needs. Trumpets were also used as “war” tools – not exactly in the same way as actual weapons, but, rather, to send signals on battlefields. This was, needless to say, a dangerous job, because the enemy would target the trumpeter to prevent him from signaling to his army. And, though we hesitate to mention this in the same breath as the great Louis Armstrong, this instrument was also used to herald the arrival of the Mighty Mouse: “So let the trumpet players play, For Mighty Mouse is here today!” Just saying!

Bring on the music!

It wasn’t until the 18th century that the trumpet became a bona-fide musical instrument when a famous composer of that era, Joseph Haydn , wrote the Trumpet Concerto in E flat major/ In the following century, due to improvements in its build and sound, such as addition of the valves enabling the trumpet to play the chromatic scale evenly, the trumpet had become an orchestral instrument. However, the trumpet’s heyday, especially in the United States, happened with the advent of jazz. In the early decades of the 20th century, jazz ensembles used the trumpet as the lead instrument because it was the loudest of the lot! Today, there are several varieties of trumpets for different musical scales. The most common of them is the B-flat trumpet; other types include the F, D, E, G and the smaller C trumpet .

Blow your own trumpet!

“He seems determined to make a trumpet sound like a tin whistle,” a Welsh politician, Aneurin Bevan, once observed. We don’t know who Bevan was referring to, but we are guessing that the player in question either didn’t take lessons or didn’t practice enough. If you like a high-energy, vibrant and powerful sound that can play all types of music – classical, rock, pop, soul, and, of course, jazz – then a trumpet is for you. Are you ready to start learning but don’t know where? Hey Joe Guitar Is synonymous with top-of-the-line music lessons: one of our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale residence or work place, and teach you or a family member to play the trumpet – or any other instrument for that matter. Private music lessons are the best way to ensure your trumpet sounds…like a trumpet, and not like a tin whistle!

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“What do a saxophone and a baseball have in common? 
People cheer when you hit them with a bat!” As jokes go, this may not be the best one ever, but we thought we’d start off with a bit of levity. We would like to make it clear, however, that we at Hey Joe Guitar do not approve of the saxophone being used in the same way as a baseball bat. Needless to say, if you use this instrument for purposes other than music, you will never hit a home run!

What’s age got to do with it?

No, Tina Turner doesn’t, to our knowledge, play the sax. But speaking of age, the saxophone is – relatively speaking – a new kid on the block. While the guitar, recorder, drums, piano and many other musical instruments trace their origins to the Middle Ages, or even pre-history, the saxophone was invented only in the mid-19th century. However, in more than 160 years since this late bloomer emitted its first baby sound, it has conquered all styles of music and won the hearts (and ears) of musicians and music fans around the world. Saxophones come in a variety of sizes and types, from the highest pitch to the lowest: the soprano, alto, tenor, and the baritone. They also have different sizes and shapes, adapted to the age and the skill level of the player.

What’s in the name?

When it comes to the saxophone, the derivative of the instrument’s name is simple and straightforward: it bears the name of its inventor, Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax. Like so many other inventions, the saxophone was borne out of sheer necessity – at least the necessity to Sax’s sensitive ears. He noted that orchestras of his time were missing a sound that would be as crisp as the bass section and as soft as the woodwinds. So he went on to fill that void by constructing, in 1846, the world’s first saxophone. The new instrument made its official debut in Paris, in Chant Sacre , which French composer Hector Berlioz wrote especially for the saxophone. Berlioz conducted the performance, while Adolphe Sax played. The saxophone first came to America in 1853, when French saxophonist Henri Wuille gave a series of concerts here. But it was only at the dawn of the 20th century, with the advent of new musical styles, that the saxophone grew in popularity.

Jazzing it up

The sax was only a few decades old when rag, blues, jazz and rock started to emerge on the music scene. The instrument proved to be a perfect match for all these genres. John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Lester Young, Sonny Rollins, and Kenny G are just a few of hundreds of talented saxophonists and jazz legends of the past and present. Interestingly enough, Lester Young’s nickname was “Prez,” long before a real “Prez” showed off his talents with a sax: Bill Clinton played his favorite instrument throughout his two terms in the Oval Office, saying he had kept up the craft because his day job as the commander-in-chief didn’t offer him enough security!

Sax in the city

The great Charlie Parker once said: “Don’t play the saxophone. Let it play you.” Here’s our recommendation: unless you are as gifted and accomplished as Parker was (and most people clearly aren’t in his league), then you do have to take lessons and learn to play the sax before you allow it to “play” you. Contact us and one of our excellent teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you sax lessons – as we do for many other instruments, big and small. You may not end up with better baseball skills, but your (musical) pitch will be much improved!

The post Ah, the Never-Ending Joy of Sax! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

First things first: if you like soft and mellow music, drums are definitely not for you – though a violin, flute, cello, as well as other strings and woodwinds, will fit the bill.

But if you prefer the strong rhythmic “pa rum pum pum pum” sounds, drums are a terrific choice. You might have to buy earplugs for your family and placate the neighbors, but at least you’ll be mastering the very cool art of drumming, and you really can’t…beat that!

Powerful and bold

To an untrained person, music emitted by this instrument – that has nothing in common with the drum that lives in your ear – may sound like a lot of haphazard noise. We can assure you that it is neither haphazard nor merely a “noise.” As percussion instruments, drums can be loud, but that’s because there is nothing meek or subdued about them. Just as people who are energetic and exuberant are usually louder than their more timid counterparts, the drums too can be noisier than many other instruments in a band or an orchestra. This fact was very well expressed in a poem by Walt Whitman: “Through the windows – through doors – burst like a ruthless force.” And then: “So fierce you whirr and pound, you drums!” So perhaps you should think of the drum as an instrument with an attitude, one that likes to come across loud and clear! Another misconception you may have heard is that playing drums doesn’t require much training – just pick up the drumsticks (not to be confused with chicken legs), and start hitting. That is not true – it takes a lot of skill (not to mention strength and hand coordination) to get just the right sound out of this instrument. As Tony Williams , regarded as one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 1960s described it: “Playing fast around the drums is one thing. But to play music, to play with people for others to listen to, that’s something else. That’s a whole other world.”

From tree trunks to (not a heavy) metal

The forefather of the modern drum set was likely a small cylindrical instrument used as far back as 3000 BC. Throughout history, different variations of the drum played – no pun intended – a pivotal role in religious and social rituals and ceremonies. These early drums were often made from hollow tree trunks with animal skins stretched over them, a far cry from the modern percussion instruments most commonly made from steel, aluminum, brass, or bronze. Interestingly enough, sounds of drums and trumpets set the mood (mostly that of impending gloom) in many of Shakespeare’s plays. In the late 19th century, after the bass drum pedal was invented, drum kits, which usually included a bass drum, side and tenor drums, tom toms, as well as various cymbals, allowed a drummer to play several instruments at once. These sets of various toned drums were also used in marching, parade, and military bands – a tradition that lives on to this day. And of course, drums are an integral part of jazz, rock, and heavy metal bands, including various branches of these genres.

The beat will go on!

Here’s something you should know: drums not only create music, but are also good for your health and fitness: half an hour of vigorous playing can burn up to 270 calories! So would you like to march to the beat of your own drum? Our teachers will be happy to…drum the music into you! What we mean to say is that we will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you (or your child) great lessons. In no time at all, you will be singing this tune by a British indie band, Florence and the Machine:

“There’s a drumming noise inside my head. Louder than sirens Louder than bells Sweeter than heaven.”

The post Beat it, and Drum Up Some Great Music! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

First things first: the upright bass is NOT a vertical violin or a cello. And – need we even say it – it is NOT a fish that somehow manages to stand up on its tail!

In fact, there is absolutely nothing “fishy” about this instrument, even if it has many aliases: the double bass, string bass, bass fiddle, contrabass, bass viol, or stand-up bass. By whatever name you choose to call it, the upright bass (pronounced “base”) lends its “voice” to many kinds of music genres and has the distinction of being the largest and the lowest-sounding instrument in an orchestra’s string section, adding deepness and richness to the beautiful cacophony of sounds. Although the upright bass is mostly a “background” instrument, it certainly plays well with others!

A giant among strings

If you’ve never seen an upright bass, you might be surprised that it stands six feet tall. Not quite tall enough for the NBA, but certainly taller than a lot of people (and instruments). As a matter of fact, when Elvis Presley was just starting out and playing gigs in various towns, his bassist used to attach this instrument to the roof of their car – not something we would recommend! By the way, you don’t have to play the double bass standing up – just because it is upright doesn’t mean you have to be. Some bassists sit on stools – whatever works best. We are not sure who invented the upright bass or when; some historical accounts claim it was a violin maker Gasparo di Salo in 1580, while others attribute it to another Italian, double bass virtuoso and composer, Domenico Dragonetti, at the end of the 18th century. One fact that is not in dispute is that early versions of this instrument typically had five or six strings; later on, three-stringed basses were in use. (Today, four strings are the norm). One of the most prominent bassists of the 19th century was Italian composer and conductor Giovanni Bottesini. Apparently, his big double bass became a laughing stock of other musicians, but Bottesini found a way to put an end to the mockery. As he wrote in 1877: “When their derision became too much to bear, I dispatched one of them with my bow and boggled the others with my technical proficiency.” Maybe he should have just told them that his instrument was larger than theirs, and could beat up all the other strings! Usually, however, all the strings get along well in an orchestra, making a truly beautiful music together.

A versatile instrument

More than 200 concertos have been written for the upright bass, and it was also featured in many passages – Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Pulcinella , and Benjamin Britten’s opera A Midsummer Night’s Dream, among others. However, the upright bass is versatile enough to be used in various genres of music, besides the classical one. They fit in well in chamber ensembles, rock and roll and jazz bands, as well as rhythm and blues. Jimmy Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Cat Stevens and Sting are among the musicians who played the bass at one time or another. As jazz musician and double bassist Charlie Haden noted, “No matter what kind of music you’re playing, the bass enhances the sound and makes it more beautiful and full.”

Stand up to the challenge!

Do you want to learn to play an upright bass but are unsure whether you are tall enough? When it comes to this instrument, the size does matter, but don’t worry- there are four sizes to choose from: 1/4 size – It measures 37.4 inches and is recommended for children. 1/2 size – 40.2 inches tall, and suitable for older children or adults who don’t exceed five feet four inches in height. 3/4 size – It measures 43.7 inches and is most commonly used by musicians. 4/4 size – At 45.7 inches it is the largest but very few musicians can play it (who knows, you may be the exception!) Whether you choose an upright bass or any other instrument, one of our excellent teachers will be happy to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons. And if you are concerned that you will be laughed out of the music community, follow Giovanni Bottesini’s example: dazzle them with your technical proficiency!

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There are not many musical instruments out there whose names are as difficult to pronounce as “ukulele.” So before you start learning to play it, practice to say: “U-K-U-L-E-L-E.” Although the name might be somewhat of a tongue twister (perhaps because it comes from the Hawaiian language), ukulele is easy to play, tune, and handle.

But the simplicity of this small stringed instrument doesn’t mean that it has not been appreciated by professional musicians and performers: The Beatles’ Paul McCartney and George Harrison were ukulele aficionados, as well as Arthur Godfrey, Eric Clapton, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam – who recorded an album called “Ukulele Songs” , Tiny Tim and (not surprisingly), Don Ho, among many others. However, you don’t have to tiptoe through the tulips or dance hula to get the most out of your ukulele.

Aloha, Hawaii!

As we said, ukulele came to the mainland from Hawaii, where its predecessor, a small guitar-like instrument known as “braguinha” or “cavaquinho” made its first appearance in 1879, brought over by Portuguese sailors. It was soon modified to resemble the modern-day ukulele, reaching popularity in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. As a matter of fact, because of its portability, it was often used at the height of Jazz Age, when ukulele chord tablature started to be included into the sheet music for that era’s most popular songs. Given the instrument’s origin, it is perhaps not a coincidence that the most prominent ukulele musicians of the 20th century hailed from Hawaii: Ernest Ka’ai, the first Hawaiian-born virtuoso ukulele player; Bill Tapia, the innovator of “ ukulele jazz ” Jake Shimabukuro, “Hendrix of ukulele;” and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, known for his beautiful ukulele rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Identity crisis?

Okay, so we may be a bit dramatic here, so let us explain: quite often, non-musicians mistake the ukulele for a miniature (or a child’s) version of a guitar. The two instruments do look alike, but they are not the same. What distinguishes one from the other? Ukulele has less range than a guitar. It is not played with a pick. It emits a totally different sound – higher and sharper. It is cheaper than a guitar in all sizes – starter, midrange, and professional. It is easier to learn for a novice musician because the ukulele has four strings (to the guitar’s six) and, therefore, has fewer notes to remember. Ukulele has only nylon strings, whereas the guitar sometimes comes with steel ones. Hey, we are not dissuading you from learning to play the mighty guitar (that would be like shooting ourselves in the foot), but we just want to point out that a ukulele has lots of merits and charm of its own.

Start strumming!

Need another compelling reason to pick up a ukulele? Warren Buffet plays one! No, we can’t guarantee that mastering the ukulele will put you on the Forbes list of world’s richest people, but look at the bright side: you don’t have to be a billionaire (or a millionaire, for that matter), to start playing. In fact, the ukulele is quite affordable – several models are priced for less than $200. Are you ready to start learning? No problem, we will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons (as we do for many other instruments). By the way, going back to the instrument’s quirky name: in Hawaiian, “ukulele” means “a jumping flea,” reportedly because the fast-moving fingers on the strings reminded Hawaiians of the leaping insect. (Don’t ask us why!) Whether you associate the ukulele with the jumping fleas or beautiful music it makes, contact us so we can get started. And that’s one message that is not lost in translation!

The post With the Ukulele, You Can Bring the Sounds of Hawaii Right Into Your Home appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

As musical instruments go, the accordion is a happy little fella. It may not have the elegance of the violin, the sophistication of the piano, or the smooth sound of the saxophone, but it is – no pun intended – an upbeat and cheerful instrument that makes people want to get up and dance.

Even though the accordion has been widely used in all kinds of music, it is most commonly associated with the lively “oom pah pah” rhythms –polkas , waltzes , and other buoyant sounds.

A barrel of fun

It is perhaps fitting that an instrument that conjures up images of Oktoberfest, lederhosen and beer steins, originated in German-speaking countries. Though the earliest designs for this woodwind / free reed instrument were credited to the ancient Chinese, the accordion as we know it today was first invented in 1822 by a German instrument maker Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann; seven years later, an Austrian organ and piano manufacturer, Cyrill Demain, patented an updated version. German immigrants who settled in Texas introduced this instrument to America in the mid-19th century. While these migrant farm workers used to play polkas and waltzes, Mexican laborers who heard it, played this instrument to accompany their lively folk dances. In fact, one of the most prominent Mexican-born accordion players of the first half of the 20th century, Narciso Martinez , was considered to be the “father” of a tejano style of accordion music known as “conjunto” – played in a group. With time, as the accordion music became more popular across America, it found its place in the Big Band orchestras, Latin and Cajun music, rock and roll, blues, and folk – as a matter of fact, it is fair to say that this instrument fit well into a variety of genres.

A-one, a-two

When you hear words like “champagne music,” “polka,” and “wholesome fun, “chances are (especially if you are over 40) that you think about Lawrence Welk and his long-running TV show (as we said, you really do have to be the other side of 40 to remember this, or else be a TV nostalgia buff.) Son of, appropriately enough, German immigrants, Welk learned to play the accordion as a young boy, a skill he showcased frequently on his long-running show, often accompanied by his accordionist, Myron Floren Welk used to tell a story about how, as a youngster growing up in a poor North Dakota family, he convinced his father to buy him a mail-order accordion for what was back then $400, equivalent to about $4,600 today. To repay this sum, he promised his father to work on the family farm until he turned 21, a promise that he had lived up to. It is clear that Welk was dedicated to learning the accordion. Are you?

We’ll leave it …in your hands!

Okay, so you may not live on a farm in North Dakota (neither do we), or even wish to make a career out of playing polkas, but you probably agree with us that the accordion is a friendly, likeable, and versatile instrument. Why is that? Because you can learn not only to play music on it, but also melody, accompaniment, and rhythm – all from one instrument! Ready to start? Our music lessons are at your service. Just contact us and one of our accordion teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and teach you. You will soon find out that playing this instrument is, in Lawrence Welk’s memorable words, “wunnerful, wunnerful.”

The post Go Ahead, Give the Accordion a Good Squeeze! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Last month we posted a blog about how some vintage instruments have increased in value over the past decades. Now, we’d like to talk about the musical instruments that are currently considered to be the most expensive in the world and, who knows, maybe even in the entire universe!

Not surprisingly perhaps, in the first place is “The Hammer” violin by who else but Antonio Stradivari. It is so named because it was once owned by a 19th century Swedish collector named Christian Hammer. In 2006, this gem was sold at an auction to an anonymous bidder for over $3.5 million, the highest price ever paid for a Strad. Let’s look at some other highly-priced instruments, all of which just happen to be strings.

Rare and beautiful

It may not be quite as pricey as the Hammer Strad, but Eric Clapton’s Fender Stratocaster guitar is not exactly a bargain either. The instrument he named “Blackie,” which was built in the 1950s and was previously used by legendary musicians like Buddy Holly, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Jimi Hendrix, is valued at $959,500. “Blackie” is the most costly guitar but not the only expensive one. In 1930, the renowned guitar maker C.F. Martin and Company manufactured 15 pieces of the OM-45 Deluxe model. One of them was owned by the “singing cowboy” Roy Rogers, who eventually sold the instrument in 2009 for the price that exceeded all estimates – a whooping $554,500! Only slightly cheaper was the price of the rare viola manufactured by the renowned 16th century instrument maker Gasparo Bertolotti da Salo. One of his violas (he only made 60 during his lifetime) recently sold for $542,000. Let’s move on to the violoncello created by the 18th century Italian luthier Gennaro Gagliano: in 2009, this instrument was sold at an auction for $362,500. And then there is the violin made in 1701 by another well-known Italian instrument maker, Carlo Giuseppe Testore. It recently sold for $218,500. These are just some examples of very valuable and expensive musical instruments. There are several more.

We won’t string you along!

Needless to say, the vast majority of musicians and music students have probably never seen such rare and expensive instruments. But the good news is that you don’t have to own a Stradivari, Bertolotti, Gagliano, or Testore in order to appreciate your instrument and become proficient in music. Whether you play one of the above-mentioned strings, or any other instrument, one of our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to give you lessons.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License.

The post With Manhattan Music Lessons, All Instruments are Valuable appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Do you ever wonder why there haven’t been, until the 20th century, any great female cellists? Or why we don’t know of any women in history who became famous for playing the double bass? Why was there such a gender inequality? Because straddling the legs around instruments like the cello and double bass had once been considered not only unfeminine but also immoral.

The same guardians of morality also proclaimed other instruments to be unsuitable for women: the horn, recorder, flute, bassoon, oboe, and trumpet were off-limits since they would look indecent in the mouth of a woman. And the taboos didn’t stop with the instruments. Certain playing positions were also seen as immoral for decent ladies. For instance, distorting the face in order to play a wind instrument was a definite “no-no.” Isn’t it incredible that such crazy rules dominated the world of music in days gone by?

“Feminine” instrument

Fortunately, one instrument has long been judged suitable for females: the pianoforte and its descendant, the piano. Nothing about the body position or style of playing was found objectionable, which may be the reason why women composers who went down in history, such as Marianne Martinez (1744 – 1812), Fanny Mendelsshon (1805-1847) and Clara Schumann (1819 – 1896), were pianists. In fact, during the 1800s, mastering the piano was de rigueur for well-born women. As this recent, very interesting article points out, “Piano instruments were considered the feminine musical instrument ‘par excellence’ in the 19th century, to the extent that it became a norm in this period for all women belonging to the bourgeoisie and upper classes to have a decent command of the instrument.” The article goes on to quote a mid-19th century Norwegian author who said, “No cultured house should be without a pianoforte… No Lady, who wish to be a Lady, can admit to not being able to play the pianoforte, and no Gentleman can allow its disregard.” Maybe that’s why such genteel 19th century women as Emily Dickinson, Jane Austen, and the Bronte sisters all played this instrument.

Oh, how times have changed…

Fortunately, gender bias, especially when it comes to musical instruments, is a thing of the past. These days, boys AND girls, men AND women, can choose to play any instrument at all. The only guidelines that apply are the students’ own interests, not outdated social or cultural conventions. Whether you (or your child) are male or female, just contact us and we’ll send one of our truly amazing teachers to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to give you lessons. We believe in letting bygones be bygones!

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You’d have to be living in an alternate universe or under a rock somewhere not to know that we are in the midst of a pre-election campaign season, and a contentious one at that. One thing that unites the candidates on both sides of the political spectrum – those who are still in the running at the time of this writing – is music.

All three candidates have their own favorite songs that convey their political messages and inspire their supporters. Let’s have a look at what they like.

Hillary Clinton

According to Rolling Stone magazine, Secretary Clinton, who grew up with classic rock, has particular affinity for female performers because they are “the best at what they do, whether that’s fronting a raucous soul band, writing hypnotic dance anthems, unspooling intricate rap lyrics about female empowerment or crooning ballads about heartbreak and young love.” At her campaign stops the same lineup of 13 songs is played: Latin pop (Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud,” Marc Anthony’s “Vivir Mi Vida”), pop (Katy Perry’s “Roar,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger,” Sara Bareilles’ “Brave”), modern rock (American Authors’ “Best Day of My Life” and “Believer,” Gym Class Heroes’ “The Fighter”).

Bernie Sanders

Did you know that in 1987, when Sanders was mayor of Burlington, VT, he recorded an album called “We Shall Overcome.” It featured folk songs like “This Land Is Your Land” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” These days, as a presidential candidate, Sanders has eclectic musical tastes, ranging from Beethoven’s symphonies to Motown sounds, pop and disco music. And one of his campaign ads features a short excerpt from Simon and Garfunkel’s “America.”

Donald Trump

“The Donald” courts controversy wherever he goes – in politics AND music! Various artists, including Aerosmith, Adele, Elton John, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen, among others, demanded that Trump stop playing their songs at campaign rallies. But even though Young snubbed him (objecting after his “Rockin’ in the Free World ” was played when Trump announced his candidacy), “the Donald” said he admires his music: “He’s got something very special. I’ve listened to his music for years …when I went to the concert at Madison Square Garden, Neil got up and totally brought the house down.”

Leaving politics aside

At Hey Joe Guitar, we stay out of all controversies – political and other. Our main goal (the only goal, really) is to bring music, in form of private lessons, into your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. Our teachers are not going to discuss political candidates or their campaigns. Instead, they will focus their efforts on teaching you how to make beautiful music with an instrument of your choice!

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Here’s a head scratcher for this week: do you know what Vincent Damon Furnier, Robert Zimmerman, and Peter Gene Hernandez have in common? The answer: they are the real names of musicians we know as Alice Cooper, Bob Dylan, and Bruno Mars, respectively.

In fact, many musicians – and famous people in general – take on stage names, which sound nothing like the original monikers they got at birth. We will give you more examples in a minute, but first let’s have a look at why so many famous people go that route.

What’s in a name? You’ll be surprised…

The reasons are many. For instance, the real name may be difficult to pronounce or remember. One such case is Cat Stevens, whose parents named him Stephen Demetre Georgiou. Or, the birth name might be quite a mouthful. That is probably why Declan Patrick Aloysius Macmanus thought it would be easier for everyone if he re-named himself Elvis Costello; ditto for Lady Gaga, whose given name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Sometimes, artists with ethnic sounding names prefer to be known by a more Anglicized aliases, which would help them blend better into the English language-dominated music industry. For example, would you ever guess that Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. morphed into John Denver, and Pitbull was once known as Armando Christian Perez? And occasionally, artsy and creative people want names that are hip rather than ordinary. A long time ago, one British chap named Reginald Kenneth Dwight decided it would behoove his career to become Elton John, and Calvin Broadus morphed into Snoop Dogg. And by the way, Mozart was baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus, so it’s no wonder he eventually shortened it to Wolfgang Amadeus! Here are some more examples:

• Anthony Dominick Benedetto was the birth name of Tony Bennett.
• Billy Idol was named William Michael Albert Broad at birth.
• Gaynor Hopkins became Bonnie Tyler.
• Faroukh Bulsara was no other than Freddy Mercury.

And here are some other examples of the “before and after” names.

We call it like it is!

What about musical instruments? Do they have aliases or are they still called by their real names? Aside from some abbreviations – such as “uke” for ukulele or the piano for the pianoforte, instruments pretty much still go by their given names. That makes it so much easier to call us and say: “I’d like to learn to play the cello, the guitar, or any other instrument – just name it. We’ll send one of our excellent teachers straight to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. They’ll introduce themselves to you by their real names!

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Welcome to the month of May, which is a bridge of sorts, connecting spring ad summer seasons. There are quite a few special occasions to be observed this month. For instance, if you are a fan of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Yoda, and company, today is the day to say “May the Force Be With You” and celebrate the Star Wars story that binds our galaxy together.

However, the Star Wars Day is not the only major (at least to some) observance this week. Another is the National Music Week, which is celebrated From May 1 to the 8th. Do these two seemingly different events have anything in common? Actually, they do: The soundtracks from the “Star Wars” franchise are…out of this world!

So much to celebrate!

The question of why we should celebrate music is, we think, redundant. But even though the answer is obvious, here are some of the reasons: Music is a health-booster: it’s good for the heart and the mood. It also relieves stress and anxiety, boosts the immune system, promotes better sleep, and heals your soul. There are mental benefits as well. For instance, it has been scientifically proven that playing an instrument is conducive to academic and professional success. That’s because music boosts confidence and self-esteem, leading to better social skills. It also bolsters focus and concentration. And let’s not forget that holding and playing an instrument improves motor skills, coordination, and agility by working all the major muscle groups. So there you have it – all the excellent reasons to celebrate the National Music Week.

Let there be music!

Now, let’s look at some ways to celebrate this event. You could, for instance:

• Decide to start music lessons on an instrument of your choice. It’s really easy – just contact us and we will send one of our awesome teachers right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office.
• One of the many perks of living in New York City is the sheer abundance of music events. Attend as many as you can. For example, the Met Orchestra is kicking off its new season this month with a diverse repertoire. Or see Billy Joel in concert at Madison Square Garden.

We are guessing you won’t be able to attend all the events, but at least you know they are there! Enjoy the music – this week and beyond.

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Bach’s daughter Catharina was also musically gifted but, as a female, could not compose professionally. She did, however, excel as a singer. Then there was the duo of Leopold Mozart and his prodigious son and pupil, Wolfgang Amadeus. Theirs was the case of the student outgrowing the master, though Leopold was a gifted violinist and composer in his own right and there is no doubt he passed on his talent to his son. And Leopold’s other surviving child, daughter Maria Anna (Nannerl) became a talented clavierist. Moving on to the 19th century, two musical families stand out. First, there was the composer Felix Mendelsohn and his sister Fanny. But while Felix gained fame and recognition, Fanny did not get the encouragement or support to improve her craft, even though she was very talented . And of course we should not forget “The Father of the Waltz” Johann Strauss Sr. , and his son, Johann Strauss Jr. (aka “The King of the Waltz”). Johann Sr. had two other talented sons as well: Josef Strauss , who wrote over 300 dances and marches, as well as Eduard Strauss I, who joined the family’s orchestra as a harpist and eventually as a conductor. And then there was Eduard’s son (and Johann Sr.’s grandson), Johann Strauss III, who conducted the Strauss Orchestra and the first recordings of his family’s works.

Is it in the genes or in the water?

In more recent times, there had been other examples of famous musical families – Judy Garland and Liza Minelli, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Nat King and Natalie Cole, John and Julian Lennon, and others. By now you may be wondering whether musical talent is inherited. There is some evidence to suggest that creativity could, indeed, be passed on from one family member to another. But there is also something else: people who love and play music (or sing), instill and nurture the same passion in their children. In other words, they create and foster a music-friendly environment. But it doesn’t really matter if affinity for music is inherited or learned. Either way, lessons will help you (or your child) discover and explore all the wonderful musical mysteries. So invite a teacher of ours into your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and start spreading the love of music all around you!

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ion] A few years ago, researchers from the University of South Brittany found that women are attracted to men who carry guitars (leave it to the French to come up with a study like that!) You can read whatever you wish into these findings, but to us they indicate that playing an instrument – in this case, the guitar – is an appealing trait.

This made us think of all the musicians – too many to mention here – who not only excel at guitar playing, but also are emotionally attached to their instruments. It’s no surprise, really, given the important role the guitar plays in their lives – it is an outlet for their creativity, ideas imagination, and feelings. In fact, some musicians are so intertwined with their guitars that they give them names, simply because their relationship with their instruments is so close and personal.

He loved Lucy

In 1968, Eric Clapton gifted George Harrison with a red Gibson Les Paul guitar the Beatle named “Lucy.” He played the instrument for five years, including in the promotional video for the song “Revolution.” But in 1973, Lucy suffered a terrible tragedy: stolen from Harrison’s home, it was held hostage by a Mexican musician. After lengthy negotiations, the Beatle traded his Les Paul sunburst and a Fender Precision Bass for Lucy’s safe return. He kept her close until his death in 2001. Lucy is not to be confused with “Lucille,” the name B.B. King gave to his guitars. Throughout his long career that spanned more than half a century, the blues singer owned many Lucilles. And though it was not a one-of-a-kind instrument like Harrison’s Lucy, each guitar was, nevertheless, King’s faithful companion. Here are some other famous musicians and their beloved guitars: Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” and “Brownie ” Willie Nelson’s “Trigger ” Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “First Wife ” David Gilmour’s “Black Strat ” And many others.

Pulling on (heart) strings!

We are happy to have had this opportunity to showcase famous guitars, especially since April is the International Guitar Month. Of course, most of us don’t own iconic guitars, but that shouldn’t keep anyone from learning to play this string instrument. We have many excellent guitar teachers at our school and we can send one to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office for a lesson. And even though your guitar is just a “regular” instrument, you can “baptize” it! Whether you name it Emma or Ralph, or give it any other moniker, you two can be BFFs!

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Have you ever wondered why some musical instruments emit clear sounds, while others play off-key? Lack of tuning may be one reason, and careless handling of the instrument and not taking proper care of it, another. However, one reason that may not have crossed your mind is…varnish. As this very interesting article relates, a Swiss study has shown that (at least for violins), varnish’s chemical composition, thickness, and degree of penetration into the wood affects the acoustics of the instrument.

This made us think of the role materials used in the production of instruments play (no pun intended) on how that instrument sounds.

Sound quality

Do premium materials produce a premium sound? To answer this question, scientists and instrument makers continually test both traditional and new materials. The only consensus seems to be that the effect of the instrument’s material on acoustics varies from instrument to instrument. They have found that while the quality of material has an effect on sound generation in some instruments in others it doesn’t, at least to the same extent. For instance, the material (and not just the varnish) used to build the violin is very important, because its body produces the sound. In the clarinet, on the hand, it is less important because the sound is generated by the inside air column and material plays lesser – if any – role. The same seems to be true of other woodwinds as well.

Pure and simple

For obvious reasons, professional musicians like to have instruments built from the best possible materials. But what about “regular” people? We are guessing most can’t afford the very finest instruments, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from learning to play. In fact, what’s important for most students of music is that their instruments – whether brass, strings, woodwinds, or percussions – “feel” and sound right. But beautiful sound doesn’t just happen: as stated above, you must care for and protect your instruments, especially in very hot and cold temperatures. Neglect can damage even the most expensive materials! Whether your instruments are made from the “noble” or just “ordinary” materials, our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office all the same and teach you to play.

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If you own a musical instrument, chances are it is a “regular” one that you purchased or received as a gift. And it is also more than likely that the instrument is only a few years old, or even newer. Of course, you might be one of the lucky people who own an old and valuable instrument. If that’s the case, it may be worth big bucks.

Maybe you have an old instrument in your attic or storage that you once played and never thought of again, or one that you bought at a bargain price at a yard sale but forgot all about it? Well, you’d better have a second look at it because some vintage instruments are worth thousands of dollars.

A cash cow in your attic

The good news is that these instruments can be quite “ordinary,” that is, they don’t have to be made by famous manufacturers. This guide lists some of the instruments that a lot of musicians and collectors are looking for: If you own a Stradivarius violin, you can probably quit your job and live in the lap of luxury. But Strads are not the only strings that are valuable. Early- to mid-19th-century Italian violins, which could still be purchased in the 1950s for a few thousand dollars, are now worth 10 times as much. Let’s move on to other instruments. Do you happen to own a pre-1945 Martin and Gibson acoustic guitar? If so, you are in luck – between 1920s and early 1940s, these companies took advantage of advances in engineering and construction to build excellent guitars, before shifting to different manufacturing methods to meet the increasing demand for this instrument. As it so often happens, quantity prevailed over quality, and the prewar models remain in demand. Speaking of guitars, some accessories are also worth a good deal of money, such as amps containing glass vacuum tubes. Many of today’s musicians prefer the warm, rich sound of an old tube amp over the newer ones. Last, but not least, if you own Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos from the 1960s and 1970s, you have a great collectible on (or under) your hands. These instruments have physical hammers like acoustic pianos and electrical pickups like electric guitars, which fell out of fashion in the 1980s in favor of electronic synthesizers. All this goes to prove that old instruments don’t die out; they just are more in demand!

A good value

Of course, you don’t have to own one of the above-mentioned relics in order to play music. Whatever functional instrument you have, one of our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to give you lessons. But you may want to hold on to your instrument and treat it well because one day it could be worth its weight in gold!

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We love it when we hear or read about the positive impact musical instruments have on the lives of people everywhere. True, instruments are inanimate objects but they have such magical powers. By “magical” we don’t mean “supernatural” or “mysterious,” but rather “meaningful” in the ways they touch and change so many lives.

A case in point is a 300-year-old Stradivarius that New York violinist Joshua Bell played last month during a concert at Lincoln Center. As New York Post told it, that prized instrument “saved dozens of people from the Holocaust.” This uplifting and inspiring story is worth telling, especially since the violin in question has a fascinating history of its own.

Once upon a time…

First of all, a little background: Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari crafted 1,116 string instruments during his lifetime. Of those, 540 violins, 50 cellos and 12 violas survive today. As the article relates it, Bell first saw the instrument in question nearly 15 years ago in a London shop where he went to buy some strings. “The shopkeeper emerged from a back room with a stunning violin in hand,” Bell recalled. “He told me it was the famous Huberman Strad, and I was instantly intrigued.” The violin was so named because it had once belonged to the virtuoso Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman. On Feb. 28, 1936, while Huberman performed at Carnegie Hall, the Stradivarius went missing from his dressing room. He never saw his beloved instrument again. As it turned out, the violin was stolen by a two-bit violinist Julian Altman, who sneaked into Huberman’s dressing room during the concert. Altman used shoe polish to disguise the prized instrument, which he played at every gig he had over the next 48 years. He finally confessed to the theft on his deathbed in 1985. On the day that Bell found the instrument in a London shop –restored to its golden varnish again – it was about to be sold to a German industrialist who wanted to add it to his collection. However, Bell purchased it himself for nearly $4 million.

A life saver

Thankfully, before Altman stole Huberman’s violin, it played – both literally and figuratively – a very important role in saving the lives of many musicians. Huberman, who was Jewish, performed – on his famous Strad, of course – at a series of U.S. venues in order to raise money to settle European musicians and their families in what was then Palestine (now Israel). With WWII just around the corner, Huberman recognized that getting Jews out of Europe was extremely urgent. As it turns out, Bell’s own Russian-Jewish great-grandparents were among the emigrants, so his connection to Huberman’s Strad is very strong. “When I perform in Israel with the Israel Philharmonic,” he said, “I am always touched to think how many of the orchestra members are direct descendants of the musicians Huberman saved from the Holocaust — with funds raised by concerts performed on the same instrument I play every day.”

Make your own history

At Hey Joe Guitar, we like all instruments, but we have special affinity for the ones that have a rich history, even if it’s a poignant one like Huberman’s Strad or these old cellos. But even if you owe just “regular” instruments, one of our teachers will be happy to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you a lesson. Because even an ordinary instrument can make extraordinary music!

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If we asked you what special day is celebrated today, April 11, you probably wouldn’t know without running a Google search. Here is a clue: it involves a capella singing of easy-on-the-ear tunes, with three voices harmonizing to the melody of a fourth voice (the bass provides the foundation and the baritone fills in the middle spaces). Have you guessed? We are celebrating the National Barbershop Quartet Day, observed annually on April 11.

It’s true that this style of music is not necessarily on everyone’s radar. But that’s exactly why today is a good opportunity to get acquainted with this old musical tradition that started in England in the 1600s and flourished in our country at the dawn of the 20th century.

A bit of history…

In the 17th century, British barbers equipped their shops with a cittern (a stringed instrument similar to a lute) so that their customers could strum on it while waiting for their shave and haircut. And that’s how the term “barber’s music” was coined across the Big Pond. Even though a similar tradition was brought over to America in the 1830s and barbershop music became popular here between 1900 and 1919, it faded with the advent of the Jazz Age in the 1920s. But in 1938, when the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America was formed, this style of music experienced a renaissance of sorts. For those who are not familiar with barbershop quartets, here are some examples from the archives of Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS): The 2011 winners of BHS’s international competition From the 2015 BHS competition The performance of UK’s Great British Barbershop Boys has bits of humor (or humour) in it And, of course, Jimmy Fallon’s version is always funny .

At the top of your voice

Whether you are a fan of barbershop quartets, a capella performances, or choral music in general, and would like to “fit in” with that crowd, the first step is to learn to sing. It sounds simple, but if you want to excel in any vocal group (or in solo performances for that matter), you have to learn to use your abdomen muscles, proper breathing techniques, good posture, etc. They are necessary not only to help your voice carry high and low notes, but also to keep your vocal chords in shape. This is where singing lessons can help. One of our trained voice teachers will be happy to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and help you raise your voice in song – and no haircuts are necessary!

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Here’s a riddle for you: “If you have me, you might take me for granted; if you don’t have me, you’ll miss me terribly. What am I?” Did you guess? Actually, there are no wrong answers here, but the one we are getting at is “health.”

We are bringing it up because today, April 7, is World Health Day. Of course, we should all take care of our physical and mental well-being each day of the year. Thankfully, it’s never too late (or too early) to start living healthy– as the famous quote, which has been attributed to various people, points out, “If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself!” What exactly does “living healthy” entail? It’s exercise, healthy diet, and doing things that are pleasurable and reduce your stress level. There are lots of activities that will accomplish this, but – for obvious reasons – we’d like to hone in on one. You must have guessed by now that we want to talk about music and its therapeutic effect on the body and soul.

Here’s to your health!

First, let’s talk about how music can prevent all kinds of ailments or, in the very least, help us recover quicker. Scientific studies have shown that music:

• Has beneficial effects on the heart and the entire cardiovascular system.
• Boosts our immunity so our body is able to fight off various illnesses.
• Calms nerves, reduces stress, and lifts your mood.
• Helps you sleep better, and we all know that a good night’s sleep is beneficial to our overall health.

And here is even more good news: there is a considerable body of evidence indicating that music therapy can help patients recover from or manage a number of illnesses, including cancer. It can also increase brain function in dementia patients, provide pain relief, and speed up the healing process.

Just what the doctor ordered

You may be wondering how much music does it take (either through playing or listening) to feel the beneficial effects. We are not aware of anyone actually providing any metrics, but we do know that any exposure to music is better than none at all. So if you decide to take music lessons – no matter which instrument you choose – they will not only help you draw all the above-mentioned benefits, but also help you develop other skills. That’s because music training also boosts your (or your child’s) concentration, discipline, and other mental functions. Would you like an amazing teacher to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you music lessons? Just contact us and start boosting your health, stat!

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The song that probably best represents the month of April is the “oldie” titled “April Showers.” It was composed in 1921 by American composer Louis Silvers and performed over the years by the likes of Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra , and others.

One of the reasons we like this song is because we appreciate the beauty of rain. You are probably thinking, “what’s so beautiful about the rain? It is wet, it makes puddles, and is not very pleasant.” Fact is that it not only nourishes the nature (as this particular song says, it makes “way for sweet May flowers”), and keeps vegetation fresh and green, but we also like the relaxing sounds it emits as it falls down. (Okay, we concede that listening to rain is much more enjoyable than walking in it!)

Cacophony of sound

We have written about the rain before, but this time we would like to explore the more creative side of this natural phenomenon. A case in point is a building in Dresden, Germany that, literally, is singling in the rain. The house in question is a brightly-colored building that, appropriately enough, is part of an arts project in that city. Here’s how it works: An intricate system of drains and funnels is attached on the outside of the building, and when it rains the entire house becomes an instrument. What kind of “rain music” does it make? Listen to this . Now, if you think all rain is the same, well, it isn’t. It makes different sounds depending on what it hits. This video , (which, by the way, consists of over 1 million drops), proves that. And if you are wondering whether humans can imitate the sound of rain, it turns out they can !

Our lessons will never be rained out!

If you are a rain aficionado (provided such people actually exist) you may like to know that there is actually an ancient Mexican musical instrument called, appropriately, the rain stick. It makes a sound that is reminiscent of they falling rain . Can you “play rain” on more conventional instruments like the guitar or piano? You can certainly try and a teacher of ours will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to give you lessons – even in the rain!

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What kind of fool are you? This question is intended with all due respect, but we can’t help asking it because tomorrow is the internationally celebrated annual holiday, April’s Fool Day. Even if you are not a buffoon the other 364 days of the year, tomorrow is a good opportunity to act a bit “foolish,” just for the fun of it.

You wouldn’t be the first person on earth to pull a prank or, for that matter, fall victim to one. Even famous people do, so we thought it would be fun to look at some of the music world’s most clever jokers, pranksters, and hoaxers.

Bring in the clowns

Now, you know that humor is a subjective concept, meaning that what some folks think is hilariously funny, others may find in bad taste. We are not endorsing any of these pranks; we are merely letting you know what some musicians had been up to on April Fool’s (and other days) in years past. Are they funny? You be the judge:

• The Beatles: We know that Paul McCartney is alive and well, and living right here in New York. But back in the 1960s, a rumor surfaced that Paul died in a car accident and was replaced by a double who looked and sounded just like the original (what are the chances of that?). This hoax was hatched by the student newspaper at Drake University. The Beatles themselves had a hand in propagating the rumor; “Paul is dead man/Miss him, miss him, miss him” can be heard when playing “I’m So Tired” backwards, among other mumblings and backwards clues.
• In 1969, reports emerged about the imminent release of a new album compiling a “super-session” with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney. Entitled The Masked Marauders, the album supposedly couldn’t feature the names of the performers because of contractual clauses, but the star-studded lineup was revealed in the October 18, 1969 issue of Rolling Stone. The album turned out to be a prank dreamed up by the then- Rolling Stone editor Greil Marcus.
• Like him or not, but Howard Stern can pull a mean prank. On his radio show, he aired an “unedited version” of Beyoncé “If I Were a Boy,” which he claimed was leaked from her performance on The Today Show in November 2008. He said this was what Beyoncé sounded like “in the raw.” Luckily, the doctored tape was quickly discredited and did not have any negative impact on Beyoncé’s career.

These are just three examples, but there are, of course, many more!

It’s no joke

At Hey Joe Guitar, we enjoy occasional silliness but when it comes to music education, we are very serious. We know that giving music lessons to people of all ages and levels of proficiency is no laughing matter. That’s why we make sure that a teacher who comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, is a master at his or her art – whether it’s the guitar, violin, or any other instrument.

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When you listen to your favorite songs, do you ever wonder how they came to life? In other words, what person or event had inspired this particular piece of music? That’s a very pertinent question, because nothing in music (or art in general) happens haphazardly. Whether you call it a “muse,” a “spark,” or anything else, there is always that special moment or person who gives the artist the idea, force, and energy to create something new.

Just as an example, one of Ludwig von Beethoven’s best-known compositions, “Für Elise ,” was inspired by a woman believed to be Austrian singer and performer Therese Malfatti. (Music historians believe that the piece was originally called “Für Therese,” but the name was, over the years, mistranslated to “Elise.”) What about modern-day music? Let’s have a look at who was behind some of the most popular songs of our time.

“You are my inspiration…”

Obviously, we can’t cover ALL the songs here, but here is the “beef” on some of them: It has been long believed that the inspiration for Neil Diamond’s 1969 hit single “Sweet Caroline ” was the daughter of US president John F Kennedy. However, in 2014 Diamond revealed that his real muse was his then-wife Marcia Murphey, but he needed a three-syllable name for the chorus and Marcia didn’t fit the bill. That’s how “Sweet Caroline” came to be! Billy Joel’s romance with the supermodel Christie Brinkley inspired him to write “Uptown Girl ” in 1983. In real life, they were married for nine years until 1994 and had a daughter, Alexa Ray. What about Elton John’s “Candle In The Wind?” He wrote the original version in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. Fourteen years later he asked his writing partner, Bernie Taupin, to rework the lyrics to pay tribute to Princess Diana; he performed the new version at her funeral on September 6, 1997. And we can’t omit to mention one of the most curious “musical mysteries” of the past 40 years: who inspired Carly Simon’s 1972 hit, “You’re So Vain ?” Actor Warren Beatty had long been rumored the subject of this song. Last year, Simon admitted that the song’s second verse is about Beatty, but hasn’t revealed who the “muses” were for the other parts of the song. So at least some of the mystery still lives on!

Let us inspire you!

One thing that is certainly NOT shrouded in mystery is this: whoever (or whatever) inspires you, your child, or another member of your family to start music lessons, we are happy to help. Whatever instrument you choose to play, we will dispatch a well-trained and experienced teacher to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. This we can promise: we will always try to inspire you to move forward on your musical journey!

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March marks quite a few special observances: the International Women’s Day on the 8th, St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th, and Easter on the 27th. But you may not know that there is also a lesser-known event observed in March: the Sing With Your Child Month.

We believe that this is a wonderful idea and we are backed up by scientific research indicating that singing with children – starting as early as in infancy – offers a multitude of benefits.

Beyond “Old MacDonald”

Of course, a young baby is not able to sing with you; he or she will more likely gurgle along. But rest assured that even though the singing is one-sided, it is still a great bonding experience that fosters closeness and emotional comfort. As the child grows from babyhood to toddlerhood and beyond, singing together takes on a whole new dimension. It is still that wonderful “togetherness” moment, but scientists tell us that this activity also benefits the child in other ways: it helps develop language skills, encourages the child to express his or her emotions, and (hopefully) fosters the love of music that will last a lifetime. And there is also another benefit: your child will probably not notice (or care) if you are singing off-key! Now, when we talk about “singing with the children,” we don’t mean to suggest that this should be strictly a parent’s job. The image of entire families belting out tunes together is truly inspiring!

A powerful singing voice

Everyone can raise his or her voice in a song, even though some people do it better than others. This is the so-called “recreational” singing and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. But if you would like to sing with power, passion and confidence, you may need lessons. Please contact us and one of our amazing teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and help you whip your voice into the best possible shape before letting it out the door! There is a lot of work (but also much pleasure!) involved in developing the art of singing. The teacher will show you how to control your voice and the vocal components like the pitch, rhythm, volume, tone, and pace. He or she will also teach you how to use your abdomen muscles, develop proper breathing techniques, good posture, etc. All this is necessary not only to help your voice carry high and low notes, but also to keep your vocal chords in shape. All these are useful skills to have – not just to sing with your child, but raise your voice in a beautiful song whenever the mood strikes you!

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“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations This quote is very fitting because yesterday, March 20, marked the Vernal Equinox – the first day of spring! This must be a happy event for all those who are sick and tired of winter, including millions of New Yorkers who are still shivering from the massive blizzard that blanketed our city with snow in January.

Of course, as much as we crave a less inclement weather, this season – and especially the month of March – can be unpredictable. As Mark Twain said, “In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.” Still, the mere promise of the warmth and sunshine ahead is enough to make our hearts sing. And this is our clever segue into music!

A bountiful season

Not surprisingly, spring had inspired many composers to write some of their most beautiful pieces. For instance, there is the “spring” section in Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” which is so light and upbeat that it aptly expresses the joyfulness of the season. Robert Schumann composed “Spring Symphony ;” Felix Mendelssohn wrote “Spring Song ;” and Igor Stravinsky composed “Rite of Spring .” Of course, there is also Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Spring Sonata ,” as well Johann Strauss’s famous waltz, “Voices of Spring ” But – psssst – we’ll let you in on a secret: while we love these (and other) “spring” compositions, we have a special affinity for Frederic Chopin’s “Spring Waltz .” To us, this melody evokes the image of a sunny day and a butterfly flittering from one (spring) flower to another.

Turn over a new (musical) leaf!

Spring imparts a sense of renewal that inspires us to bring our creative energy – whatever form it may take – to fruition. In other words, it is a time for making choices and taking action. For example, if you (or a member or your family) are thinking of learning to play an instrument or develop your voice, now is a good time to begin your private lessons. And starting is really easy: just contact us, tell us what instrument you’d like to play, and one of our amazing teachers will…spring into action right in your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home office.

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We recently came across some very interesting footage (which we are sharing below) that shows how various animals react to music. We found it heartwarming to see that the capacity to respond to music is not a uniquely human phenomenon, but that animals have it too. In fact, there is a whole field of study called “zoomusicology,” which, as its name suggests, focuses on the so-called “animal music” – a fascinating subject in and of itself.

Scientists tell us that even though animals like different sounds than humans, their auditory range and ability to understand and pick up on human emotion is similar. The main difference lies in how animals interpret these sounds. We do know, for instance, that our four-legged friends appear to be more relaxed when listening to classical music and more agitated when heavy metal is playing. (However, this finding doesn’t exclude that at least some animals may be more partial to Metallica than to Mozart!)

All eyes and ears

Let’s go back to the above-mentioned footage of animals listening to live music. Cows, it seems, like jazz , as well as classical music . Elephants appreciate Beethoven , blues , and sounds of the violin , as do these horses . And it’s not just large animals that are sensitive to music – just look at these otters reacting to the guitar. But our favorite is this golden retriever who clearly appreciates his master’s strumming and is unhappy when the music stops . He clearly has the sense of rhythm! Now, this particular footage is obviously an ad and not natural or spontaneous like the other examples. However, it is nevertheless beautiful, especially since sea creatures are known to like music and emit tunes of their own.

Don’t play like an animal!

Some time ago, we wrote about a project at the Smithsonian’s National ZOO in Washington D.C, which had its animals playing various musical instruments. Whether it was an orangutan playing a xylophone or a bear blowing into a harmonica, these were “unschooled” and spontaneous forays into music. But that’s not how we work. Our teachers come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to give you lessons, so that you can learn to play your instrument the human way. Together, we’ll have a whale of a time!

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Starting tomorrow, an exciting period will begin for college basketball players and their fans. We are talking, of course, about “March Madness,” which will last until the beginning of April. Strictly speaking, this event marks the beginning of the annual NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments, which will determine the national champions of college basketball. It is the largest national single-elimination competition anywhere in the world.

If you are not a basketball fan (or a fan of any sport, for that matter,), you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Well, enough people are interested in this event to justify its name, “March Madness,” which aptly describes the excitement surrounding this event. And you may also be asking why would a school like ours care about a sports phenomenon that has nothing to do with music lessons. Our answer is that music always finds its way into all kinds of situations. March Madness, for instance, features an annual music festival with the participation of some big names like Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney, Fergie, Rihanna, and others. (Of course, this is not the only sports event that features famous performers – NFL’s Super Bowl is another).

Not just basket cases!

There are also more “links” between basketball and music. Did you know that quite a few NBA stars are also talented musicians? For example, Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers’ Iman Shumpert are accomplished rappers. David Robinson, formerly of San Antonio Spurs, is a piano and saxophone player. And Jerry Stackhouse, who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association and currently works as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, has a pretty good singing voice. He even performed the “Star-Spangled Banner ” at a NY Nets versus Chicago Bulls game. Here are some more basketball champs with musical talents.

Hoop-la about our lessons!

Now that you know why March Madness is such a huge event, let’s listen to a few songs that are appropriate for this occasion: “Roundball Rock ” “Basketball ” “Heart of a Champion ” “That’s How I Beat Shaq ” Having said that, let’s look at the big picture: there are songs and pieces of music that are uniquely suitable for all sorts of events and occasions – sports and others. So why not invite one of our music teachers into your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and find out for yourself why we are always on the ball!

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Far too many people think of music as serious and solemn. In many cases it is, but music can also be light-hearted and even humorous. The same can be said for musical instruments. True – anything that is capable of emitting such beautiful sounds deserves our utmost respect and reverence. But that doesn’t mean that these instruments cannot be used in creative and funky – albeit slightly unconventional -ways.

What do we mean? Read on and find out!

Be amused!

Let’s start with the piano. The “normal” way to play this instrument is by sitting down and hitting the keys with the fingers. But that doesn’t mean that nothing else will do. Take a look at how these two individuals manage to make beautiful music without the use of their hands. Should you jump on your piano keyboard and play with your feet? Probably not, but it’s fun to watch others do it! Now, if you think strings are only for mellow music, you are in for surprise! Both the violin and the cello can emit some “quarrelsome” sounds when put them into the right (or wrong?) hands. But not all strings want to do battle; most just want to play nicely together, as this ukulele orchestra demonstrates. And in case you are wondering whether it is possible to have a fun experience with instruments like the accordion or the harmonica, the answer is YES! Just look at these two examples . Of course, some instruments (and orchestras) are really funky and wacky , but still capable of making some cool music!

Any instrument

We hope that all the above videos have inspired you to start music lessons. We won’t tell you that we will teach you to play on beer bottles, because we won’t. We have a feeling that this mostly a self-learned skill. However, our teachers can certainly come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons on any of the above-mentioned musical instruments: the accordion, ukulele, piano, violin, cello, harmonica, and many others. And while we are very serious about our lessons, we also believe that music education should be an enjoyable experience.

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Welcome to the month of March, which heralds the coming of Spring, signaling the renewal of nature and new beginnings in general. But there is also another reason we love March – it is the Music Education Month in the United States, the annual celebration that engages music educators, students, and communities in promoting the benefits of high quality music education programs in schools.

You may be thinking that music education in our country’s public schools has been underfunded and widely neglected. Sadly, this is correct, but now there may be a more promising outlook. That’s because last December, President Obama signed into law the “Every Student Succeeds Act,” which lists music – and arts in general – as an important part of a well-rounded education. It is the first time in our nation’s history that arts and music figure among the traditional core subjects like reading, math, and science. That’s the good news. On the other hand, the new legislation gives states more power to decide how to enact the law. This means that implementation or expansion of music programs may not necessarily happen across the board.

Far-reaching benefits

The question of why music education is so very important to children and teenagers has been answered – and documented with scientific evidence – over and over again. The fact is that music lessons have a multitude of benefits, including scholastic, psychological, social, and physical ones. For instance, music training helps youngsters develop focus, concentration, and alert mind, all of which translates into academic achievement and other successes. But that’s not all: music has also been shown to ease both emotional and physical pain in kids and adults alike. These are just some of the advantages of music education, but there are many, many more.

Start learning!

If we take into account each and every benefit listed above, you may start wondering why the other 11 months of the year are not dedicated to celebrating music education. We are happy to tell you that at Hey Joe Guitar, we pay tribute to music every single day. That’s because we know first-hand what a positive impact our lessons have on our students – not just children and teenagers, but also adults, who have noticed both physical and mental improvements. The best way to start your own (or your child’s) music education – whether by learning to play an instrument or taking voice lessons – is to invite one of our music teachers into your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. Just contact us and… get educated!

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Even the most patriotic citizens may not know that today, March 3, is the National Anthem Day. This is a good time to ask: how well do you know “The Star-Spangled Banner”- not just the lyrics, but also the history behind this song? Chances are that you either don’t know or don’t remember. In that case, today is as good a time as any for a little tutorial about the song that is the enduring symbol of our national identity and pride.

By the dawn’s early light…

The anthem was inspired by the events at the Battle of Baltimore, which occurred during the War of 1812. When a Washington lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying above Fort McHenry as it was attacked by cannon fire, he was inspired to write the poem he entitled “Defence of Fort McHenry.” Within a week, the words were printed in Baltimore newspapers; soon it was set to music and re-titled as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” However, at that time the “Banner” was just another patriotic song, along with “Hail Columbia ” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy .” During the Civil War, however, it became an anthem for Union troops, increasing in popularity over time. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order designating it as “the national anthem of the United States,” to be performed at all military ceremonies. In 100 years since then, the anthem has been played not only at military ceremonies, but also at ball games, Independence Day observances, and other special occasions.

Through pressure and accident…

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was born out of a genuine patriotic feeling and a desire to immortalize an event in our nation’s history. But not all anthems came into existence this way. For instance, the anthem of our south-of-the-border neighbor, Mexico, has an interesting history of its own: in 1853, the country held a contest for the most inspiring patriotic lyrics. The girlfriend of the poet Francisco González Bocanegra tried to convince him to participate, but he didn’t want to. So she locked in him in a room filled with pictures of scenes from Mexican history; Francisco had no choice but to pen a poem that became the foundation of that nation’s anthem . And some anthems were purely accidental, created in a moment of panic. This is how it happened: When the Sultan of the Malaysian province of Perak arrived in London at the invitation of Queen Victoria in 1888, his aide was asked for the music to the anthem to be played during the welcome ceremony. At that time Malaysia had no anthem but the aide was not about to admit it, so he hummed a popular love song from the Seychelles Islands, called “Moonlight.” That tune, albeit with new lyrics, is still the country’s national anthem . (Interestingly enough, the original “Moonlight” lyrics are now banned in Malaysia).

Any type of music

Whether you would like to play (or hum) the national anthem of any country, or any other tune, we can help! Just contact us and we’ll send one of our amazing music teachers right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. In the meantime, have a happy National Anthem Day!

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As New Yorkers, we are always sad to see when a historic part of our city disappears. Last month, we were heartbroken when the last store on the famed Music Row had closed its doors. As New York Times reported, “in December, the last holdout, Alex Carozza, packed up his accordion store and 50 years of memories and moved off the block.”

In fact, music shops on the Row have been slowly dying for the past several years, closing their doors one by one, victims of raising rent prices and the competition from mega-stores that have been driving privately owned retailers away. “Now, all that is left of Music Row are the signs and awnings that beckoned to virtuosos and neophytes alike,” the article noted. “The block is haunted by empty buildings and the occasional tourist straining for some echo of its harmonious past.” And the past had, indeed, been “harmonious” – both literally and figuratively.

Gone, baby, gone!

Since the 1930s, the once thriving block of 48th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues used to serve as a one-stop music stop – a veritable mecca for musicians and music lovers from New York and beyond. Rock legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, to name just a few, shopped there for instruments, sheet music, amps, and other tools of the trade. Before it closed, Manny’s, where many artists bought their first guitar, displayed personal notes of thanks from Bob Marley and Bob Dylan. There was also Rudy’s Music Stop guitar and repair shop, which opened in 1978 and closed last August; others, like We Buy Guitars, 48th Street Music, Colony Music Center, New York Woodwinds and Brass, also closed. “The Music Row’s demise,” the article points out, was “brought on by the soaring value of real estate and the conveniences offered by the Internet — those modern forces that have reshaped so much of New York City’s commercial landscape.” This once vibrant section of the West Side is now a ghost town of sorts. Where once there were music shops, “now there are demolition crews, ‘for rent’ notices and a construction office for the glass tower going up around the corner,” the New York Times writes. How can we not be sad at this turn of events?

We are here for you!

Some changes are obviously positive – we are all in favor of our city growing and developing for the benefit of all its residents. But we can’t help feeling sorry to see such an important and integral part of NYC’s music history gone forever. However, we are happy that Hey Joe Guitar remains a viable part of New York’s music scene. We are especially proud of our amazing teachers, who are always on the go – to give lessons in their students’ Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale homes and offices. May we serve you for many years to come!

Photo by New York Times.

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Are you one of those people who believe in the saying “there is nothing new under the sun” or “everything that can be invented has been invented?” We hope not, because new things are being created every day, proving that there is plenty of new stuff under the sun (or at least on this earth).

Obviously, we can’t list all the inventions here and now, so let’s focus on just one category, which should come as no surprise to anyone: musical instruments. As much as we love the existing instruments, we are always excited to hear about all the cool ones that are being created.

The shape of things to come

Last month, scores of new instruments were unveiled at the annual National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) exhibit held in Anaheim, CA. Some truly interesting inventions were presented. Are they really new and different? NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond says they are: “Some products at the NAMM Show are so beyond the cutting edge they’re on the bleeding edge!” You be the judge – here are some of them (and we hasten to add that this is in no way an endorsement of any kind; we list these instruments here for informational purposes only). Electric violins: Yamaha’s YEV violin series features an all-wood construction, instead of plastic or other material, and a sleek design. 660 Guitar: A 7-pound guitar made entirely of aircraft aluminum with a carbon-fiber neck, the company’s guitar is practically indestructible and, according to its manufacturer, 660 Guitar, its sound is just as good as any high-end wooden guitar. Occulus Rift Virtual Reality Drum Set: Air-drumming instrument uses that uses a computer and motion-capture technology to create a functional-but-invisible drum set. But while we marvel at all these super-duper inventions, let’s not forget that the musical instruments, which are now considered as “conventional” were once, in centuries past, just a vision or an idea in their inventors’ minds.

Back to the basics

It’s always fun to see what the music industry comes up with in way of new instruments and gadgets. We like to see what the future holds, though it is impossible to predict which novelties will become part of the mainstream. Perhaps back in 1700, musicians also wondered whether the new-fangled instrument known as the pianoforte, invented just that year by Italian craftsman Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori, would ever replace the harpsichord? This is what we do know: at Hey Joe Guitar, we teach the instruments that have been around for a long time: the guitar, piano, violin, flute, and many others. Whichever of the (already existing) instruments you’d like to learn, one of our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home of office to give you as lesson!

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The quintessential American inventor, Thomas Edison, once famously said that “genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” That may very well be true, though some people may disagree about the percentage of inspiration that goes into the process of creating. Speaking of which – have you ever paused to wonder from where musicians draw inspiration to get their creative juices flowing? And, what do they hope to achieve with each piece of music they write?

After all, beautiful music doesn’t just “write” itself, nor does it magically fall from the sky. It needs that “flash of brilliance,” which could be described as a combination of ideas, imagination, ingenuity, as well as a wide range of emotions. Obviously, inspiration is not tangible, so it defies definition. Plus, it is not generic but specific to each artist. Happily, some of them have given us a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings that were the driving force behind their creations.

The keys to success

Let’s begin with some famous composers of yore. Their quotes are self-explanatory, but we are highlighting the words that are the key to their creative process: Johannes Brahms : “Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.” Frederic Chopin : “Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” J.S. Bach : “I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well.” Robert Schumann : “To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist.” W.A. Mozart : “Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.” Giacomo Puccini : “Inspiration is an awakening, a quickening of all man’s faculties, and it is manifested in all high artistic achievements.”

That is how it’s done!

What about the more recent musicians? Let’s listen: Yo-Yo Ma : “Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you’re passionate about something, then you’re more willing to take risks.” Luciano Pavarotti : “People think I am disciplined. It is not discipline, it is devotion. There is a great difference.” Billy Joel : “Musicians know what it is like to be outside the norm – walking the high wire without a safety net.” Paul McCartney : “There’s nothing wrong with melancholy. It’s an important color in writing.” Andrea Bocelli : “Destiny has a lot to do with it, but so do you. You have to persevere, you have to insist.”

We’ll inspire you!

When we look at all the character traits that each of the above musicians mentioned, we realize that our Hey Joe Guitar teachers possess the very same “inspirational” skills: craftsmanship, passion, hard work, perseverance, and many other qualities. Foremost among them are extensive teaching experience, patience, and an excellent way of “connecting” with their students. Please invite us into your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, and let us give you inspiration to develop your musical skills.

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Asked what special skills were needed to compose music, Johann Sebastian Bach replied: “There’s nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.” Of course, Bach knew a thing or two about music writing, having composed well over 1,000 pieces. However, he may have underestimated the effort involved in creating music – it takes MUCH more than just hitting the right keys!

Still, quite a few people – distinguished in their own right – believed that composing is as easy as do-re-mi, and tried their hand at it. Not surprisingly, they didn’t go down in history as brilliant musicians, but they certainly deserve a round of applause for their effort. Who where they and what musical wonders did they create? Let’s have a look.

Jacks of all trades

We know King Henry the VIII as a brutal wife killer, so it is difficult to imagine him as being sensitive enough to write music. But he did compose some songs and instrumental works, including a merry-tuned one he named Pastyme with good companye and Tandernaken . Russian writer Leo Tolstoy is best known for his literary masterpieces like War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Not many people know, however, that in his youth he composed a short (lasting about a minute) waltz . Also in the 19th century, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, took a quill pen to a lined paper and created a composition called Manfred Meditation . Upon receiving the score, the famous conductor Hans von Bülow wrote to Nietzsche: “Have you no better way to kill time?” And how about this: we don’t usually think of scientists as musically-minded, so it may come as a surprise that the 18th century astronomer William Herschel, who discovered Uranus in 1781, took enough time away from his telescope to compose a total of 24 symphonies ! Poet Ezra Pound is perhaps less of a surprise as a composer, because there is more congruence between poetry and music than astronomy and music. Be it as it may, Pound wrote two operas, The Testament of François Villon and Cavalcanti. There have been more famous people from various walks of life who composed as a hobby. It only goes to prove that creativity has no limits!

Musical talent

At Hey Joe Guitar, we like people who open their minds to all kinds of interests and activities– especially the musical ones. We are proud that our teachers are not only gifted musicians in their own right, but also pursue many other interests. Would you like one of out multi-talented teachers to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you or a family member a lesson? Contact us and we’ll send over a teacher who will compose a personalized lesson plan just for you!

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When we think of the lives of famous composers we imagine them spending entire days and possibly even nights writing music. After all, they wouldn’t have been as prolific if their minds were distracted by non-musical activities. For instance, we know from his letters that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent most of his days either composing or giving concerts. Ditto for Ludwig van Beethoven, who spent hours each day fine-tuning (no pun intended) his work.

And yet, despite their busy schedules many composers found time to pursue hobbies and interests that were not related to music. This proves that even geniuses need to take time off from work and just chill.

Diverse interests

Admittedly, it is difficult to imagine Mozart, dressed in a powdered wig, a brocade waistcoat, and breeches, doing anything other than sitting at his harpsichord. If that is your image of the great composer, prepare to be surprised! Historical records indicate that Mozart loved to play game of all sorts; he was quite handy at card tricks, billiards, charades, and fencing. He even rode horses. Mozart was also an animal lover who kept dogs, cats, and birds. Reportedly, he even owned a starling that could “sing” the main tune from the last movement of his Piano Concerto No. 17 . Another distinguished composer who found time for non-musical pursuits was Johann Sebastian Bach. He loved walking so much that he reportedly covered of tens of miles on foot just to hear a concert. Here’s a quick look at how other famous composers spent their free time:

• Giuseppe Verdi was active in local politics: he served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies and as a Senator in the Italian Congress.
• Richard Strauss loved playing skat, a card game that was all the rage in the 19th century Europe.
• Antonin Dvorak raised pigeons.
• Sergei Prokofiev enjoyed playing chess; he also wrote short stories.
• Dimitri Shostakovich liked playing cards and watching soccer games.
• Gustav Mahler was a sports enthusiast: he loved athletics, particularly hiking and swimming.

On their own time

At Hey Joe Guitar, music education is our number one priority. But that doesn’t mean we believe in it to the exclusion of everything else. Our teachers are busy giving lessons or performing, but they still have time to enjoy their hobbies. These are just some of the leisure activities they are involved in: travel, badminton, dressage, card games, fencing, chess, rowing, ski jumping, lacrosse, organic farming, and even wreck driving and bushwhacking. But be assured that no hobby will ever keep a teacher of ours from coming to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office on time for a lesson. After all, even someone who is into bushwhacking owns a watch!

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Last month, we wrote about feuds between famous musicians. Now, we would like to share with you a somewhat similar story, just because we think it is both interesting and funky At he heart of the tale is a musical “duel” that took place in Vienna between two distinguished 19th century composers: Daniel Steibelt, one of Europe’s most renowned piano virtuosos of that era, and Ludwig van Beethoven, who, of course, needs no introduction. It was Steilbelt who challenged Beethoven to the play-off.

The background for this anecdote is this: one of the most popular forms of musical entertainment among Vienna’s aristocracy in the beginning of the 19th century was an improvisation contest. One nobleman would offer support to one pianist, while another would back the opponent. The two pianists would compete with each other, each setting the other a tune to improvise on. The musicians would go back and forth, until a winner was declared. The contest between Steibelt and Beethoven occurred in the summer of 1800 in the opulent palace of Prince Lobkowitz, who was backing Beethoven. Another aristocrat, Prince Lichnowsky, was rooting for Steilbelt. And, by the way, don’t think these were just childish pranks. At the time, Steibelt was 35 years old, and Beethoven 30.

The triumph and agony

This is how one article described the stand-off between the two composers: “As the challenger, Steibelt was to play first. He walked to the piano, tossing a piece of his own music on the side, and played. Steibelt was renowned for conjuring up a ‘storm’ on the piano, and this he did to great effect, the ‘thunder’ growling in the bass.” It was then Beethoven’s turn to perform. In a display of true showmanship, “he picked up the piece of music Steibelt had tossed on the side, looked at it, showed it the audience ….. and turned it upside down!” He then sat at the piano and played the four notes in the opening bar of Steibelt’s music. “He began to vary them, embellish them ….. improvise on them. He played on, imitated a Steibelt ‘storm,’ unpicked Steibelt’s playing and put it together again, parodied it and mocked it.” Humiliated, Steibelt quickly realized that Beethoven would be declared the winner, and he walked out of the room in a huff. He had said he would never again set foot in Vienna as long as Beethoven was there. Beethoven continued to live in Vienna for the rest of his life, and Steibelt never returned. There is an interesting postscript to this tale: the four notes of Steibelt’s music that Beethoven had played during the contest, later incited him to compose the “Eroica Symphony .”

Play nice!

Now, just because we find this historical tidbit interesting (and hope you do too), doesn’t mean we approve of or encourage unfair competition. After all, music is all about spreading joy, not showing off to the detriment of another player. That’s why when a teacher of ours comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn of Riverdale home or office to give you a music lesson, he or she will make sure harmony prevails – literally and figuratively!

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Have you ever listened to Felix Mendelssohn’s Cello Concerto? Don’t rack your brain trying to remember – we can tell you right now, with no degree of uncertainty, that you have NOT heard this piece. How can we be so sure? Because, in a truly bizarre twist of fate, the only existing copy of the composer’s cello concerto suffered a freaky accident: it fell off the side of a horse-drawn coach as it was being delivered to Alfredo Piatti, the cellist for whom the concerto was written. The notes have never been found.

This unfortunate incident made us think of other works by famous composers that had been lost but, in contrast to Mendelssohn’s concerto, had been found again – or discovered for the first time – centuries later.

Surprising finds

Let’s start with Johann Sebastian Bach. The Baroque composer was certainly prolific, having written well over 1000 pieces of music. But in 2005, a music scholar found a previously unknown score at a German library, which houses a major collection of literature and historical documents. There, stashed in a box of birthday cards, was a two-page handwritten aria dated October 1713, when Bach was 28 years old. There had been no previous records of this piece, which the Bach Archive in Leipzig has since verified as authentic. Bach’s score is not the only piece of music that was unearthed in Germany. In the 1970s, a German music scholar found detailed sketches of Beethoven’s String Quartet in G, Opus 18 Number 2, made by the composer himself. It was composed in 1799 but discarded shortly afterwards and thought to be lost. In 2007, a music professor at the University of Manchester put the original sketches together and the piece was heard for the first time since Beethoven’s day. Another amazing discovery, in 2014, was Mozart’s Piano Sonata no. 11 in A Major , the long-lost original score scribbled by the composer himself around 1783. While copies of this piece exist, most of the original manuscript was believed to be lost, with only one surviving page preserved in Mozart’s native Salzburg. The missing score was found, quite by accident, by the head of the music collection at Budapest’s National Szechenyi Library. Exactly how the manuscript made its way to Budapest is somewhat of a mystery, since Mozart is not known to have ever visited that city. But that’s not all: last year, one of Igor Stravinsky’s earliest works, which was believed to be lost after the 1917 Revolution, was found amid masses of papers at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Written in 1908, when Stravinsky was 26, the “Funeral Song,” was composed to commemorate the death of his teacher, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It had disappeared after its only known performance, on January 17, 1909. These are just a few examples of lost-and-found musical compositions. We are guessing there may be many more out there, just waiting to be (re)discovered!

We’ll find your home!

Of course, most of the pieces written by composers and musicians, both past and contemporary, haven’t been lost. And that’s lucky because it means that you can choose from, literally, scores of compositions of different periods and genres. Our teachers are well versed in all kinds of music and will be happy to teach you any piece you like, in the comfort of your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. Not only that, but we will send over a teacher who is “fluent” in the guitar, piano, cello, or any other instrument you’d like to play. Let’s put it this way: with Hey Joe Guitar music lessons, you have nothing to lose – and everything to gain!

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This coming Sunday will be an important day for football fans – the SUPER BOWL! It is not just America’s largest sports event, but also a cultural phenomenon of sorts. The hype and frenzy start even before the Super Bowl Sunday and grow in intensity in the weeks leading up to the big game. In fact, people get so excited and caught up in the game, they sometimes tend to forget that, no matter who wins and who loses, the world will go on unperturbed by this event.

You may be wondering by now why we are bringing up this topic in the music blog. The reason is simple: NFL football and music go hand in hand, even if, on the surface, they don’t strike you as a natural match. But just think of all the Super Bowl halftime shows. They are huge! Performers like Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, and many other famous singers had starred in the musical productions over the years. In that way, the Super Bowl is not merely a sports event, but also a musical extravaganza!

Musical interlude

The first Super Bowl game took place on January 15, 1967, so it is just one year short of its 50th anniversary. In the first decades, halftime entertainment featured mostly college marching bands, but that trend changed in the 1990s. In 1991, New Kids of the Block headlined the show , ushering in the era of big-name acts. Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, and the Rolling Stones were among many famous halftime performers. The first Super Bowl of the 21st century featured a terrific show by Tina Turner . Other A-listers followed throughout the decade: U2 in 2002 , Paul McCartney in 2005, and Bruce Springsteen in 2009. These were just some of the many featured performers in the past years. What about this Sunday? You can look forward to Coldplay’s performance. Why is it that so many well-known musicians are eager to play at the Super Bowl? Our guess is that it is not only the exposure to tens of millions of TV viewers, but also the frenzied excitement of the spectators, the kind of fervor that is fuelled by good football and good music!

A totally different ball game

What if you are not a football fan, but do like music? That is totally fine. We certainly prefer a student like you, than someone who is a total opposite – loves football but hates music! Our teachers can’t promise you fancy footwork, but when they give you a lesson in your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will be right on the ball. With the teacher’s expert guidance, you will not know the agony of defeat – just the thrill of victory!

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Three weeks ago, David Bowie’s fans were shocked and saddened by their idol’s death. From his first hit, the 1969 “Space Oddity ”, to his last album, “Blackstar ” – released two days before his passing – the pop icon influenced and changed the face of music. This made us think of all the other British-born musicians who found fame and fortune on this side of the Big Pond. Bowie, of course was one of them: born in London, he moved to the United States in the 1970s and had lived right here in New York for many years.

In fact, he once said, “I realized the other day that I’ve lived in New York longer than I’ve lived anywhere else. It’s amazing: I am a New Yorker.”

The British are coming!

Lest you start running for the hills let us assure you that this particular “invasion” has been of a strictly artistic – and therefore peaceful – nature. A good place to start is with The Beatles. The four lads from Liverpool made their first appearance on our shores in February 1964, arriving in New York to hordes of screaming teenage fans waiting for them at the airport . Eventually, all four band members settled in the United States, with two of them in New York: the late John Lennon in the famous Dakota Building and Paul McCartney on Fifth Avenue. Four months after The Beatles conquered America, another British band “rolled” into our country – The Rolling Stones. And even though the group started out as an English rock band, over the years it has become an integral part of the American music scene.

Jolly good lads

There are also many individual UK-bred musicians who made it big in our country. Sting, for instance. He was born in England but, having found fame in America (first as The Police frontman and later solo), he settled in New York and now lives in Central Park West. We can only assume that his 1987 hit, “Englishman in New York ” was very personal and perhaps even autobiographical. Let’s move to another quintessential English chap who became a big hit in the United States – Rod Stewart. His signature raspy voice won him scores of U.S. fans, prompting him to move here in 1975. A year later, he reached the top of the U.S. charts with his hit, “Tonight's the Night .” And we can’t talk about British-born musicians without mentioning the great Elton John, who “conquered” America in 1970. He opened his first U.S. concert, in West Hollywood, with his breakthrough single, “Your Song ,” becoming more famous (and flamboyant!) soon after. Of course, there have been many more talented British exports – including Davy Jones of “The Monkees,” Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Freddy Mercury, Andy Gibb, and many others, too numerous to mention here. We salute them all, along with the unforgettable David Bowie.

From far and near

We can’t tell you that ALL of our awesome teachers come from Great Britain, but some of them do! In fact, Hey Joe Guitar is as much of a “melting pot” as our great city – our teachers come from many countries, including, of course, the United States. But no matter where they were born, they have two things in common: one, they are all New Yorkers and two, they are all graduates of top music schools and have lots of experience teaching a variety of instruments to students of all ages and levels of proficiency. This way you can be sure that when one of our teachers comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, you’ll get only the best “exports.”

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Can music change the world? We certainly hope that it can, but if this were totally true then there would be no wars or conflicts of any kind, and we’d all live in peace and harmony. But even if music can’t eradicate all evil, it can inspire political and social actions – the ones that raise our consciousness and awareness about various issues. In that way, music can (and does) bring about meaningful change in the lives of many people.

That’s because by appealing to our emotions, music has the ability to “drive home” even the most complex issues and motivate us to find solutions to whatever ails our world – violence, poverty, famine, injustice, and other problems. Let’s have a look at some of the many songs that have, at various points in the recent history and different countries, inspired and empowered us to action.

Fighting spirit

In the midst of the Civil Rights movement, Bob Dylan’s 1964 song, “Times They Are A-Changin' ” incited the entire generation to fight against segregation and oppression. Also in the 1960s, the Vietnam War sparked a lot of protests, the spirit of which was reflected in Pete Seeger’s beautiful ballad, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone . And there was also John Lennon’s unforgettable call for peace . In the next decade, other hot-button issues were the topics of many songs. For instance, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On ” addressed not only the war, but also poverty and drug abuse. And Joni Mitchell’s 1970 hit “Big Yellow Taxi ” highlighted environmental concerns, which are still very much relevant today. Throughout the 1980s, 90s, and into the 21st century, many musicians continued to raise our awareness about a variety of problems in our society, urging us to take action both globally and in our own communities. Just as an example, in 1985 Steven Van Zandt formed the group “Artists United Against Apartheid” to protest apartheid in South Africa. The same year, Bob Gedolf organized a benefit concert that raised $245 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. And of course U2’s Bono has written and performed a number of songs of both social and political nature.

Life-altering music

As you can see, music has the power to do a lot of good in this world of ours. And what is your role in the larger scheme? Only you can answer this question, but here’s a fact: even if your music doesn’t unilaterally bring about world peace, it will very likely lift the spirits of those around you AND make you a more aware global citizen as well. How do we know this? There is actually evidence out there showing that musicians are sensitive people, finely tuned to the emotions of those around them. And people who are sensitive and compassionate are the ones who care about making a positive impact on the world around them. That is one more reason (in addition to so many others) why you or your child can benefit from music lessons. Contact us and we’ll send one of our excellent teachers right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. The impact of music is global, but it starts in your home!

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First things first: no, you can’t do downhill skiing in Brooklyn’s Park Slope. As most of NYC’s urban neighborhoods, Park Slope is predominantly flat. Its name derives from its location on the western slope of Prospect Park, a 585-acre oasis of greenery in the midst of New York’s most populous borough.

Now that we’ve cleared this up and you have put away your skis, let’s explore Park Slope’s nooks and crannies, and discover what this neighborhood has to offer. The answer is: a lot! That is why quite a few accolades have been bestowed on this area. For example, in 2006, Natural Home magazine named Park Slope one of America’s ten best neighborhoods based on criteria including parks, green spaces, farmer’s markets and community gardens. The following year, the American Planning Association praised Park Slope for “its architectural and historical features and its diverse mix of residents and businesses, all of which are supported and preserved by its active and involved citizenry.” But that’s not all: in 2010, the neighborhood was ranked number one in NYC by New York Magazine for its quality public schools, dining, nightlife, shopping, access to public transit, green space, quality housing, safety, and creative capital. So it’s unanimous: Park Slope is one great neighborhood!

It’s history

Bounded by 15th Street to Flatbush Avenue and Prospect Park West to Fourth Avenue, Park Slope is a family-friendly neighborhood with many tree-lined streets, historic brownstones, as well as numerous bars and restaurants. You may not think of Park Slope as exceptional in any way –despite all the aforementioned accolades – but the fact is that in 1974 it was designated as one of New York’s largest landmarked districts. However, it wasn’t always this way. In the first half of the 20th century, Park Slope suffered the same fate as many other inner-city neighborhoods: decay, disrepair, and subsequent decline. However, in the 1960s, some visionary residents who moved into this area spearheaded an effort to preserve Park Slope’s historic charm, and to turn it into a welcoming and livable neighborhood. Today, this area boasts about 1600 architecturally interesting buildings, including the Montauk Club at 25 Eighth Avenue, which was designed in Gothic style popular in the 15th century Venice. There are also a number of Romanesque Revival and neo-Classical row houses, as well as some stately Victorian brick and brownstone mansions that were built at the end of the 19th century. This is how architectural historian and Columbia University professor Andrew Dolkart described Park Slope: “No neighborhood in America has a finer and more intact collection of late 19th-century row houses. Block after block is virtually unaltered, with houses ranging from grand townhouses designed by Brooklyn’s leading architects, to long rows of vernacular speculator-built housing designed by the obscure architects who provided character to so many urban neighborhoods.”

A tree grows in Brooklyn

We can’t talk about Park Slope without mentioning its vast green spaces. First thing that jumps to mind is the Prospect Park, second in size only to Manhattan’s Central Park. Because it is home to the last remaining natural forest in Brooklyn, the park has 30,000 trees, both landscaped and wild. Streams, waterfalls, and a 60-acre lake add to the park’s beauty. And let’s not forget a Farmer’s Market, free concerts, and other events that take place in this vast oasis. And speaking of greenery, Park Slope is also the location of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which, like Prospect Park, is a wonderful place of rest, relaxation, as well as various nature-related activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Brooklyn roads

Yes, this is the title of Neil Diamond’s autobiographical song about the borough he was born in. No Park Slope roads are off limits to us, which is why our Brooklyn music lessons teachers will be happy to come to your Park Slope home or office and teach you to play any instrument. No skis required!

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We at Hey Joe Guitar love the Upper East Side and are happy to offer a variety of music lessons to its residents. Whatever instrument you want to learn – guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, or mandolin – we’ll be happy to teach you. We also offer – in the privacy of your Upper East Side home or office – composition, songwriting, and voice lessons; as a matter of fact, we can give you any type of music lesson you can think of.

A charm of its own

It may not have the same vibe as the Upper West Side, and lack the diversity of Lower Manhattan and the quaintness of Greenwich Village, but the eastside has a quiet and laid-back charm of its own. This area nestled between 59th and 96th Streets, and bounded by the East River and Fifth Avenue, is a haven of relative calm in the midst of one of the world’s busiest cities. In fact, the difference in the energy and decibel levels between the Upper West and East sides is quite perceptible. If you walk from Broadway toward the East River, you will notice how the hectic ambience slowly morphs into a more tranquil environment. By the time you reach First and York Avenues, you will have left much of the hustle and bustle behind. But this is not to say that this calmer part of Manhattan doesn’t have anything exciting to offer. When it comes to art, culture, interesting architecture, and fascinating people, the Upper East Side boasts a proud history of its own. That may be one of the reasons why many famous people chose to live in this pleasant neighborhood. The long list of the area’s distinguished residents includes the quintessential New Yorker Woody Allen, singer Mariah Carey, directors Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese, and even NYC’s mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Walk a Mile

Very few cities can boast as many cultural institutions as the Upper East Side. The stretch of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Streets is named the “Museum Mile” for a very good reason: some of the world’s finest museums live here. With its richness and artistic diversity, the vast Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street) is arguably one of the world’s finest institutions. It trails only behind the Louvre as the most frequented museum, with a staggering 6 million visits in 2011. Just a few blocks farther uptown, at Fifth Avenue and 88th Street, is another cultural landmark. Guggenheim Museum’s claim to fame lies not only in its impressive exhibits of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art, but also in its bold architecture. The cylindrical structure designed by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright adds a distinctly modern touch to this neighborhood filled with many traditional buildings and mansions, which once housed industrialists like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. The Metropolitan and Guggenheim are only two of 10 museums and cultural centers that make the Museum Mile a “go-to” destination for art lovers from all over the world.

Let there be music!

If you thought that this laid-back neighborhood was not hip enough to have great live music haunts, think again. Here are our Five Music Secrets of the Upper East Side:

• Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue, between 61st and 62 Streets, is a legendary nightclub where you can catch live performances of jazz, classical music, and cabaret.
• Two nights a week you can listen to a classical quartet at Great Hall Balcony Bar at Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue
near 82nd Street.
• Session 73, a bar at 1359 First Avenue and 73rd Street has good food and live bands on weekends.
• Aza bar, a cozy venue that features live music seven nights a week. 1668 Third Avenue between 93rd and 94th Streets.
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday are jazz nights at Brasserie Julien, a French bistro at 1422 Third Avenue and 81st Street.

Would you like to play and / or sing like the performers at these venues? We can’t promise you that, but we will give you the best music lessons on the Upper East Side!

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Two days from now, classical music lovers will celebrate a momentous event. January 27 will mark the 260th anniversary of the birth in 1756 of Wolfgang Mozart, one of the greatest composers of all time. Born in Salzburg, Austria, Mozart was a child prodigy, who started to write music at the age of four, and composed his first minuet a year later.

By the time he passed away in 1791, he had composed 600 works – about 17 pieces a year. They include numerous symphonies, piano and violin concertos, and operas, such as “The Magic Flute ,” ”The Marriage of Figaro,” and “Don Giovanni.” Let’s have a look at some interesting facts about this musical genius.

An eventful life

• He was born as Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus but his baptism name was a tongue twister: Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, which means “beloved by God.” If they had had playgrounds in the mid-18th century, we are guessing he’d be teased a lot. As an adult, he shortened his name to Wolfgang Amadeus, and has been known as such for two and a half centuries.
• History doesn’t tell us whether young Mozart played with any conventional toys, but we do know that he started to play the harpsichord (the predecessor of the piano) at the age of three. He played the piano for the first time at 22. He also mastered the violin, as well as the organ and the clarinet.
• We don’t know whether Mozart had a foreboding of his untimely death, but in 1791 he worked feverishly on what would be his last work, “Requiem ”. He passed away before he could complete it and it was finished by his pupil, Franz Süssmayr.
• Mozart died at 35, which was young even in those days. In the centuries since, there has been a lot of speculation about the cause of his passing. The theories range from an undercooked pork chop and kidney failure, to murder by his rival Antonio Salieri.

All music genres

These are just a few facts about the great composer. We can’t shed any more light on his life or death, but what we CAN do is send one of our amazing teachers to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office for a lesson. Of course Mozart – and classical music in general – is not the only genre we teach. We also offer lessons in other styles of music, like jazz, rock, blues, and many others. So contact us and we’ll get you set up!

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We tend to think of classical composers and their orchestras as serious and dignified. There is no doubt that many of them were, or at least that’s how they went down in history. But that wasn’t always the case. Weird and wacky things happen to all humans, no matter how brilliant, talented, or famous!

In the centuries past, there was no CNN or twitter, no one recorded embarrassing moments with a cell phone and posted the footage on Facebook, and news didn’t go global in the matter of seconds. The very notion of “celebrity gossip” was not as developed back then, and scandals were discussed in whispers rather than shouted from the rooftops. But all this doesn’t mean awkward and weird incidents didn’t happen back then – even in classical music. Let’s look at some of them.

Cringeworthy moments

Let’s start with the Baroque composer Jean-Baptiste Lully. Actually, his story falls under the category of tragicomedy – it started out funny but had an unhappy end. He had a habit of whacking the floor with a long wooden stick to keep the beat. Once, during the performance of his “Te Deum ” to celebrate the recovery of King Louis XIV’s from surgery, he hit his foot with the stick. He contracted gangrene from the wound but refused to have his leg amputated so he could still dance. Unfortunately, he didn’t dance for very long – the gangrene spread and killed him. A century later, Ludwig van Beethoven had his own mishap while in Vienna. As he was becoming more absorbed in his music, he started to care less about his grooming and appearance. One day, while taking a walk, the disheveled composer was mistaken for a bum and arrested for loitering. Fortunately, he was soon released and lived long enough to compose his final, and possibly most famous, Ninth Symphony . And then there was Johannes Brahms. He was known for the unusual shape of his pants, often cutting them so they would reach his ankles exactly. Once, before conducting a performance of his own violin concerto , he forgot to attach his suspenders. By the end of the final movement, the pants descended way below his hips. Not exactly an AC Hammer moment, but embarrassing nevertheless!

Pure and simple

The above anecdotes go to prove that nobody is perfect – in fact, there are a lot of examples showing that geniuses are often a bit wacky. But, as you can see, a bit of eccentricity had not stopped these famous composers (with the exception of Lully, perhaps) from continuing their work. And maybe, just maybe, this “crazy streak” made the artists even more creative and productive. Now, we certainly don’t want you to associate the word “crazy” with “music education.” We hasten to assure you that there is nothing even slightly odd about our lessons. When one of our (totally normal) teachers comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, there will be no weird pants, no whacking of sticks, and (hopefully) no arrests for vagrancy! What you WILL get is a great, personalized music lesson – no drama!

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Last month, a major cinematic event took place, creating a galactic-size explosion right here on Earth: the premiere of the 12th movie in the epic “Star Wars” series, titled “The Force Awakens .” This statement probably elicits two reactions: the rolling of the eyes by some, and the unbridled excitement by others. Whether you are part of the first or the second group, the fact remains that the “Star Wars” franchise is a…force to be reckoned with, and not only for the sci-fi fans.

We will not weigh in on the artistic or other merits of the films, and even less so on the plausibility of the plots (we certainly don’t want the Empire to Strike Back at us!) What we do feel comfortable doing is exploring the soundtracks from these movies.

Space music made on Earth

Here is the background information you may or may not have known: the music of all 12 “Star Wars” films (which were released between 1977 and this year) was written by American composer John Williams and performed by London Symphony Orchestra. Williams said he created the music to “represent the ideas of heroism and adventure” – themes that feature prominently in all the episodes. To achieve that effect, he used a variety of musical styles, culled from, among other sources, 20th century composers like Richard Strauss, Gustav Holst, and Igor Stravinsky. Six of the 12 movies feature the same opening score, “Luke’s Theme ” additional, separate pieces were created specifically for each film. For instance, “The Arrival at Naboo ” is a theme song from “The Phantom Menace;” “Attack on the Clones” featured “Ambush on Coruscant ” and “The Ice Planet Hoth was a score from “The Empire Strikes Back.” What about the most recent movie? Watch Williams himself conduct the opening track . Obviously, we covered only a small fraction of the music featured in all the “Star Wars” movies. Would you like to hear more? Here is a nice compilation .

No Yoda or Jedi – just people!

The “Star Wars” films are set in a far-away galaxy populated by alien creatures, robotic droids, and other characters, both good and evil. Many of our teachers are huge “Star Wars” fans, but their feet are firmly grounded right here, on Earth – New York City, to be more precise. And that is very convenient, because they don’t have to travel through space to land in your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. And, they won’t be carrying light sabers either (that would be too weird!) – just their guitars, violins, or whatever other instrument you are learning to play. Instead of delving into the mysteries of the Force, they will help you discover the wonders of music!

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It’s the middle of January – how are you doing with your New Year resolutions? We hope you are sticking to them, especially if you or your child have decided to take up music lessons in 2016. There is no doubt that music education has numerous benefits for people of all ages. It not only improves our physical health, but also the mental and emotional wellbeing.

Having been in the music education business for many years, we are often asked by prospective students how to select a truly great school. Our advice is always the same: choose the school that has the best trained, most experienced, nicest, and kindest teachers. That’s just for starters. There is much more that a top-notch school should be able to offer its students.

One-on-one training

While any form of music training is beneficial, we believe – based on our experience, as well as that of numerous students – that private lessons offer the most advantages. For instance:

• In a group setting, the instructor cannot pay attention to each student’s needs or learning pace. A private music teacher, on the other hand, gives the one-on-one instruction, adapted specifically to the student. It’s not general or generic, but specific and personalized.
• Because the lesson is tailored specifically to each student’s needs, level, and particular interests, the teacher will choose the exercises and repertoire that will help develop skills and technique.
• During a private session, the “hands on” instruction is exactly that: the teacher will demonstrate the proper way to hold, handle, and use the instrument, and also pay attention to the student’s posture.
• During a private lesson, a teacher will give an instant feedback to the student, assessing progress or suggesting corrections.
• Because the teacher is “invested” (in the manner of speaking) in the student’s musical development, he or she will offer constant support and encouragement – both of which are very important, especially when a student loses focus or motivation.

Go private

As you can see, private lessons offer numerous advantages. Of course, the most important component of this experience is the instructor – the student’s progress will depend on how well educated and experienced the teacher is. At Hey Joe Guitar, we realize the role our teachers play – no pun intended – in a student’s musical journey. That’s why we screen our teachers carefully to make sure that they meet our (and your) high standards. That means they are graduates of the top U.S and international music schools, have extensive teaching experience to ensure they have developed the necessary skills to make music education inspiring, interesting, and fun. And, as though all these criteria were not enough, we also select the teachers who are patient, affable, and well equipped with “people skills.” But that’s not all: our teachers are not only amazing but also mobile! This means they will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. Now, that’s a private lesson that lives up to its name!

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We often say – and will continue to do so – that music is beneficial to us humans on so many levels: as a health booster, stress reducer, key to success, memory enhancer, and in many other ways. All of that is true. However, we thought it would be fun to explore the other side of the coin, so to speak: the feuds between famous musicians. Of course, these spats have nothing to do with music per se, but, rather, with the sometimes conflicting personalities of composers and performers.

After all, no matter how talented these folks are, they are merely human and, as such, not exactly infallible.

Scandalous behavior

Rock musicians are the notorious “bad boys” of the music world, so you might be surprised to learn that even the classical composers sometimes quarreled with each other. Perhaps one of the best known conflicts in the history of music was the “War of the Romantics” – a conservatively minded group of composers led by Johannes Brahms, against a more progressive thinkers represented by Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner. Thankfully, their grievances were not petty or trivial, and had nothing to do with egos or fame. Rather, they were of artistic nature – the two groups butted heads over the traditional versus new forms of music. The former group favored music for music’s sake – that is, as entertainment. The second group, on the other hand, called for compositions that would include social, moral and cultural components. We are happy to report that the conflict, which put these distinguished composers at odds did not culminate in blows. It was limited to written manifestos and hissing at concerts.

No bridge over troubled water

The civility of the 19th century had not totally spilled over to the current times. For instance, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s feud has been well documented. The once successful pair broke up in 1970, when, after a furious row, Simon quit. To this day, Garfunkel blames the split on his band mate, calling him a “monster” and an “idiot.” Then there was the fight between one-time friends, Elton John and Madonna. The hostility was sparked in 2002 when John described Madonna’s theme song for “Die Another Day ” as “the worst Bond tune ever.” More recent spats include the one between Katy Perry and Lily Allen, whom Perry called “fat,” as well as Courtney Love’s jab at former Nirvana drummer and current Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, whom she accused of being “sexually obsessed” with her late husband, Curt Cobain. These are just a few examples of conflicts, past and present, among musicians. There are many more!

We’ll never do battle!

Needless to say, most musicians don’t get into rowdy rows, and we can guarantee that our teachers never do, either. No matter what instrument they teach, they and their students play well together! So when you invite our teacher into your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, you’ll get no quarrel from us!

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If you are like most people, you probably have specific tastes in music –a special affinity for a particular genre above all others. If that’s the case, have you ever wondered what sparked this preference? Why, for instance, are you partial to classical music, jazz, rock, or whatever other style is your favorite?

Very few people ever question their tastes (and, by the same token, their peeves) in music or other areas of their lives. They like what they like, and that’s it. If you ARE interested in this subject, you might want to know that, generally speaking, our musical preferences are not biologically preset (that is, genetic) but, rather, they are determined by our experiences and personality – so it’s a case of “nurture vs. nature.”

A matter of taste

Quite a few studies have been trying to discover how our musical preferences develop and evolve over the years. Researchers believe that these interests start to take root around the age of 10 or so. From then on, two different scenarios are likely to occur. If at that point children are exposed to, say, classical music , chances are they will carry the love of that genre into adulthood. It is possible that, as time goes by, they will start liking other styles of music as well, but the association in their minds of happy childhood memories with classical music will solidify that preference for the rest of their lives. A second scenario that could happen is that by the time they reach adolescence, the kids’ choice of music will align with that of their friends – after all, teenagers are prone to peer pressure. In this case, their love of heavy metal (just as an example), will supplant their former interest in the classics. Fortunately, that is likely just a phase. As we grow, explore, experiment, and develop our own personality, our tastes shift. The music we like is the kind that expresses and reflects the experiences and challenges we face at different stages of our lives. No matter what kind of music we develop a passion for, a common thread is that it is emotionally positive – in other words, it makes us feel good.

Character traits

Other research suggested that favorite music genres are closely linked to personality. In that study, 36,000 people in more than 60 countries were asked to rate a wide range of musical styles in order of preference. Then, different personality types were matched with music genres. The research showed, for instance, that blues fans are “creative, outgoing, and gentle;” jazz aficionados “have high self-esteem;” those who love classical music are “introverted;” while rock and heavy metal fans tend to have low self-esteem and not be “gentle.” Now, we hasten to add that these are just GENERAL descriptions and don’t include all the different nuances. So please take it with a grain of salt.

Perfect musical taste

At Hey Joe Guitar, our tastes include all kinds of music and a wide variety of instruments. We’ll be happy to prove it to you by sending one of our talented teachers right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. The lessons will blend in perfectly with your musical tastes!

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Happy New Year and welcome to January. In 2016, as in previous years, we remain dedicated to covering all the important topics related to music – no matter how weird or wacky they might be. Let’s start with tomorrow: January 5th is National Bird Day, the intention of which is to raise public awareness about all kinds of issues related to these feathered creatures.

Our own interest, not surprisingly, lies mostly in the vocalizations of avian sounds, commonly known as bird songs. In case you are wondering, this is not our first foray into the realm of non-human music. As animal and nature lovers, we are as happy as a lark to think out of the box!

Call of the wild

Let us start by saying that, in a literal sense, there is no such thing as a swan song. It sounds poetic, but it’s a myth. Having said that, there are plenty of birds that do sing: nightingales, thrushes, warblers, and many others. Whether they “perform” in the morning (the so-called “dawn chorus ”) or at night , the chirping is sweet and soothing. And if you want to add some rhythm to the bird chorus background, there is nothing better that a cuckoo ! But as innocent as all that chirping sounds, bird scientists –who are called “ornithologists”- have found that these creatures do it for a specific reason, which proves that birds are not so “bird-brained” after all: they sing to attract and impress potential mates, or to mark and defend their territories. We have no idea whether the birds ever sing just for pleasure (though we certainly hope they do), but we do know they don’t have the same organizational rules as human-made music.

Chirping up the right tree

Here are some more fascinating facts about bird songs:

• Birds’ vocal skills come from the unusual structure of their sound-producing organ called the syrinx, which is somewhat equivalent of the human sound box. The muscles of the syrinx control the song production; birds with more elaborate systems of vocal muscles produce more complex songs.
• Birds give the impression of singing in long bursts without ever catching their breath. But that’s just an illusion – they actually take a series of shallow breaths, which are synchronized with each syllable they sing.
• Birds are quite prolific in their vocal talents: the nightingale, for example, holds up to 300 different love songs in his repertoire; the cowbird uses 40 different notes; and the chaffinch may sing his song half a million times in a season.

It’s worth crowing about!

Hey Joe Guitar is an excellent music school, but we do have certain limitations: our lessons are not…for the birds, or, for that matter, for any other winged, beaked, tailed, or four-legged creatures. Sorry! But if you are a human being, you’ll be glad to know that our teachers have “people” skills. They will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home on the fly, and teach you to sing or play any musical instrument. The birds can’t play the guitar or piano, but our teachers sure can. And that’s a feather in our cap!

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Today is the last day of 2015 – congratulations, we made it! We are now looking forward to tomorrow – and the other 364 days of the new year, which we hope will be peaceful in our city and around the world .

But before 2015 becomes the “old” year, let’s look at some of the musical anniversaries that came up during the past 12 months. We are guessing you were not aware of many (or any, for that matter) of these milestones, but it’s never too late.

Has it really been that long?

Yes, it has! Time sure flies, and before you know it, two-digit anniversaries sneak up upon us. Let’s go down a list of musical anniversaries of 2015, starting with the 60th: on July 9, 1955 the song Rock Around the Clock , a hit for Bill Haley and His Comets (and the theme from the film Blackboard Jungle), became the first rock ’n’ roll song to reach No. 1. And can you believe it has been half a century since Bob Dylan recorded (on June 15, 1965) Like a Rolling Stone . Four days later, the actual Rolling Stones released (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction . Interestingly, Rolling Stone Magazine recently placed both hits as No. 1 and 2, respectively, on its list of the greatest songs of all time. The summer of 1965 continued to be prolific for music: on August 15, the Beatles performed at Shea Stadium in New York during their first U.S. your. July 26 marked the 40th anniversary of Van McCoy’s The Hustle , which was a huge disco hit in those days. We don’t know about you, but to us 1985, the era of big hair and shoulder pads, seems like only 30 years ago… October 26 of this year marked three decades since Whitney Houston had her first No. 1 song with Saving All My Love for You . Moving on: August 4 of this year marked the 25th anniversary of the day Mariah Carey had her first chart topper with Vision of Love . Twenty years ago, two sad events occurred in the music world: On March 31, 1995, the most popular Tejano singer, Selena, was shot to death in Corpus Christi, Texas. And on August 9, Jerry Garcia, leader of the Grateful Dead, died of a heart attack. . These are just some of the milestones that happened in 2015. Aren’t you glad we told you?

We are a class act!

Now, you may not know this, but 2015 also marked the 8th anniversary of the founding of Hey Joe Guitar. All these years, our teachers have tirelessly traveled all over New York City to give music lessons to students in their Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale homes and offices. We can promise you that 2016 will be no different: you can always count on our school to provide the best private lessons and teachers in the city. This will be our New Year’s resolution for many years to come!

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It has been just over a month since the holiday season officially started: it began with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, went on to Hanukkah and culminated with Christmas. Look back and think about how much food you consumed in the past weeks – the turkeys, the trimmings, the pies, the hams, the cookies, the eggnogs, and all the other high-calorie treats. In fact, there are statistics showing that the average person gains several pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

Now, you may say that you are far from “average.” That may well be – perhaps you have a very high IQ or are a Nobel Prize laureate. Wonderful, but even the most brilliant, above-average people eat and put on weight during the holidays. Now the question is: how do you lose the “holiday” pounds? Of course, the most logical answer is exercise. But if you are like so many other people (both average and above-average), you probably don’t want to venture outside to start jogging in New York’s notorious winter weather. Luckily, there are some calorie-burning activities you can do indoors.

It’s your loss!

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: playing an instrument not only burns calories, but also gives your muscles a good workout. Which instrument is best for whipping you into shape? It’s the one that is most physically demanding – the drums! When you play them, you use nearly all of the body’s muscle groups, developing power, speed, endurance, and coordination. In one hour of playing, you can burn – a drum roll here – 290 calories! Next is the guitar; if you play it standing up, you’ll burn 217 calories in one hour, but if you sit, it will be less: 145 calories (which is certainly better than none at all!) Moving on: you will drop 180 calories in one hour playing the piano, organ, trumpet, or violin, while the horn, cello, harp, and flute will “lighten” you up by between 122 and 145 calories. But that’s not all: singing also uses plenty of muscles and zaps 136 calories an hour. And here’s a surprising tidbit: even the itsy-bitsy harmonica has huge powers: all the inhaling and exhaling burns lots of calories in the process!

Keep us in good shape

The message we are trying to convey is this: no matter which instrument you play, if you apply yourself to the process and do it wholeheartedly, you will keep yourself in shape. And there is an added bonus for our teachers: by trekking to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, they too will burn lots of calories. So you see, when it comes to playing music, everyone is a … loser!

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It’s Christmas Eve and, to paraphrase the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore, “all through the house
not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” Of course, this is an idealized image of Christmas Eve, one that all too often doesn’t match the reality of our hectic lives. If you are like most New Yorkers, chances are that responsibilities of jobs and families have not left you enough time for comfort or joy this holiday season.

But the good news is that it is not too late to “soak up” some holiday spirit and enjoy the hours ahead. How? We are not talking about the frantic, last-minute shopping, but rather about a quiet immersion in Christmas concerts that take place in almost every corner of our city.

Off the tourist track

Sure, there are famous venues like Radio City Music Hall with its Christmas Spectacular or the performance of the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. Both are superb, of course, but what we have in mind are less touristy and more intimate venues. For instance, today there is holiday caroling at Washington Square Park, Gramercy Park, and East Village (by the statue in the West Stuyvesant Square Park),.They will certainly be fun community events. Whether you are a churchgoer or not, as a music lover you will enjoy Christmas concerts in various churches around the city. Tonight at 10:30 pm and tomorrow at 1 am, there will be plenty of music at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street. Following traditional carols sung by the Cathedral Choristers, a concert featuring Mozart’s Adagio and Rondo, K. 617, Coronation Mass, K. 317, and more, will be performed by he combined Cathedral Choirs. On December 26, you can hear Handel’s “Messiah” at Trinity Church on Wall Street and Broadway. These are just some of the many Christmas Eve/ Day events that will brighten up your holidays.

Post-holidays lessons

In a couple of days, Christmas will be over, though the holiday season will continue until New Year’s Eve. We’ll understand if you want to spend this special time with family and friends rather than with your music teacher! However, once all the festivities are over, please contact us and ask us to send one of our excellent music teachers for a private lesson at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. For this occasion, we’d like to re-write Moore’s poem this way: “T’was after the holidays and all creatures were in good mood cleaning the violin and waxing the flute. The guitar was dusted and piano polished with care In the hopes the music teacher soon would be there.” Okay, so we are not great poets (nor have we ever pretended to be), but we sure know music!

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“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas; Soon the bells will start, And the thing that will make them ring Is the carol that you sing Right within your heart.” Can you imagine the Christmas season without the carols? We are guessing not (unless you have a Scrooge-like disposition), because these songs are an integral part of the holidays. But before we go any further on this topic, this may be a good time for a little historical reality check: did you know that in 1659, Puritans who settled in America actually banned caroling for about 20 years because they associated it with singing, dancing and drinking – all the practices they found reprehensible. In fact, before 1800, celebration of Christmas by singing was regarded as a rowdy and potentially violent activity.

All this to say that caroling did not always enjoy the wholesome image depicted in Victorian art or Normal Rockwell’s paintings. Having said that, most people today enjoy listening to (or singing) Christmas songs, because they reflect the spirit of the holidays. But as much as we love traditional renditions, we are also fond of less conventional, but nevertheless beautiful, versions. Let’s explore some of them.

They did it their way

Many people associate one of the most popular holiday songs, “White Christmas,” with Bing Cosby. However, we also like this more modern version of the old classic, performed here by an Australian group, Human Nature. Then there is this gripping a capella rendition of “Little Drummer Boy,” by five vocalists who form an American group Pentatonix. We also like the way the duo of Sugar & the Hi-Lows bring a retro swag to “Jingle Bells .” And how about the smoky -voiced Nora Jones putting her own touch on “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear ?” Last but certainly not least, we find these two mall flash mobs really great, because they bring an element of surprise to on-lookers: “Home for the Holidays and “Hallelujah Chorus .”

Spreading the cheer (all year round)

Christmas comes but once a year, but we don’t have to tell you that music lessons know no seasons. That’s why our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office regardless of what time of the year it is. And when they arrive, you don’t have to deck the halls with boughs of holly. The only thing you need is your guitar, violin, or whatever other instrument you play. That and a festive mood!

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Christmas is less than two weeks away and the stores around New York City are full of shoppers looking for just the right gifts for family and friends. We love the traditional exchange of presents around the Christmas tree, or the unwrapping of packages left by Santa. We realize that most people these days (both adults and children) prefer big-ticket items that cost an arm and a leg – figuratively speaking, of course.

However, having said that, we are partial to gifts that are personal and symbolic – ones that have special meaning to you and the person who receives it. Such a present, no matter how small or inexpensive, is a wonderful gesture because it comes from the heart. It says to your loved one: “I chose this particular present because I knew you would enjoy it,” instead of, “I had to idea what to buy you, so here’s this tie. It doesn’t matter to me whether you’ll wear or or re-gift it; at least I didn’t come empty-handed.” Does this sound familiar?

A partridge in a pear tree…or two front teeth?

Actually, we are betting that nobody (okay, to be on the safe side, let’s say very few people) want to receive either a partridge or a set of front teeth for Christmas – no matter what the songs say. So how do you choose a gift that is personal and specific rather than generic? It’s easy: most people love to receive something that is useful to them. If they have a hobby or an interest, it makes it even easier to choose an appropriate gift. We don’t mean to sound self-serving, but let’s say your friend or family member is a music fan or musician. There are literally dozens of things you could offer them, ranging from tickets to one or more concerts that are scheduled to take place in New York in 2016, to some unique objects like a bracelet made from a recycled guitar string, vintage band posters, or any other of these cool items. It’s the thought that counts!

Play it right!

Of course, among the best gifts for music lovers are music lessons. It doesn’t matter whether the person is already playing an instrument or wants to start. In either case, we can help. First of all, you can’t go wrong with our gift certificate. Whether you buy a 3 or 5-pack of lessons, or a monthly membership; a 30-minute, 45-minute, or hourly sessions, the gift card is a perfect present for any music aficionado. Secondly, once the music lesson is set up, we will send one of our amazing teachers to the student’s Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale residence. (He or she will ring the bell, not come down the chimney). Think about it: isn’t a gift of music better than another tie, sweater, or scarf?

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Many people, including some music lovers, may not realize that mid-December marks the 245th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven. His exact day of birth in 1770 remains elusive, but we do know that he was baptized on December 17, which means he was born just days prior (in the 18th century, it was a common practice to baptize newborns within a week of their birth).

Beethoven, of course, grew up to be one of the most gifted composers of all time, with nine symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, one opera, five piano concertos, and many chamber works to his name. A remarkable thing about Beethoven’s music is that he began to lose his hearing at the age of 26, and became completely deaf within the next 20 years. However, this disability did not stop him from composing – in fact, he wrote one of his best known pieces, the Ninth Symphony , with little hearing ability. Beethoven had not given up his passion because of deafness, providing inspiration in resilience and perseverance to future generations. Here’s a look at some famous musicians of our time, who had to overcome various disabilities to achieve greatness.

Their own “Ode to Joy”

Let’s start with Itzak Perlman, widely considered to be the greatest violinist of the 20th century. He contracted polio at the age of four and his legs were paralyzed. But he managed to walk with crutches and learned to play the violin while seated . Then there is the “wonder-ful” singer and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder, who has been blind since birth. Yet, despite his disability, Wonder has released more than 30 No. 1 hits and is among the most decorated artists in history. And speaking of blindness, let’s not forget to mention the great Ray Charles. He lost his sight to glaucoma by the age of seven, but still managed to learn to play the piano, organ, saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet, becoming one of the most successful singers in the R&B, jazz, soul, pop, and country music. Let’s also remember the Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen who lost his arm in a car accident on New Year’s Eve 1984. He worked long and hard to learn how to play drums with extra foot petals to replace his missing arm. He was back and drumming with the band for their 1987 hit album, “Hysteria ,” which sold more than 20 million copies.

Keep on playing!

If there is a teachable moment in the above-mentioned stories, it is this: adversity happens, but with strength, courage, and determination, we can overcome the obstacles on our way. It’s not just disabilities or health issues in general that can cause us to lose faith. Sometimes stress, tiredness, or other issues lessen our motivation to keep going – whether with music lessons or any other task. Do you (or your child) need encouragement to keep up with the music lessons? Our teachers are known around here as “great motivators!” So invite them into your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, and keep on playing!

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We bet you don’t know what today is. Yes, it is Thursday, December 10, but this day also marks a little-known and not much celebrated occasion: the Nobel Prize Day. Why December 10th? Because Alfred Nobel, who created this prize, passed away on this day in 1896. A year prior, Nobel, a Swedish chemist who invented the dynamite, wrote his last will, leaving much of his vast wealth to the establishment of the Prize that would honor men and women for outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and for work in peace.

The first Nobel was awarded in 1901 to Henri Dunant, the Swiss doctor who founded the International Committee of the Red Cross. Since then, some 900 people and organizations received this honor.

Geniuses at play

What we found very interesting is that many of the Nobel Prize winners, especially in the physics category, were music aficionados and even accomplished musicians themselves. It only goes to disprove the common perception that music and science don’t mix or, if you prefer to re-phrase it, that people with “scientific” minds have no interest in or “feel” for music. Clearly, this isn’t so. Let’s see which geniuses were music fans.

• Albert Einstein, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, loved his violin, although he could also play the piano. And according to a biography of the great scientist, one of the pieces he had been working hard to master as a student was the G-major violin sonata by Brahms.
• The recipient of the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize, theologian Albert Schweitzer, loved to play the organ.
• Donald Glasser, a physicist who was awarded the Nobel in 1960, played the violin.
• Richard Feynman, who co-won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, was good at playing the bongo drums.
• Saul Perlmutter, who was awarded the Nobel in Physics in 2011, is not only a violinist, but he also teaches a course at UC Berkeley titled “Physics and Music.”
• Thomas Südhof, who won the 2013 Nobel Prize for Medicine/Physiology, plays the bassoon. In fact, in an interview with the editor of a bassoon magazine, he stressed the value of the discipline he had acquired from immersion in music.

Obviously, we can’t mention here hundreds of other distinguished Nobel musicians, but the six listed above prove that music and brilliant minds go hand in hand!

Prized teachers

We are not going to tell you that when a teacher of ours comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, you will have a genius on your doorstep. We believe in full disclosure so we are letting you know that none of our teachers ever won (or was even nominated for) the Nobel Prize. But that’s okay, because we know beyond a shadow of the doubt that we have the best-trained teachers in New York City. Their dedication, experience, and teaching techniques take the prize!

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Starting yesterday and for the next eight days, Jewish people around the world celebrate Hanukkah. Like every year, there is no lack of cool Hanukkah events and celebrations being held in New York City, for adults and kids alike. This holiday commemorates the victory in 165 B.C.E. of the Maccabees over the Greek army that occupied the Holy Land, and the subsequent liberation and “rededication” of the Temple in Jerusalem. Because this holiday is traditionally celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, it is called the Festival of Lights.

In fact, Hanukkah arouse from what could probably be called the world’s oldest oil shortage crisis: when the Maccabees liberated the Temple, they found only a small cruse of oil – enough to light the Menorah for one day. It would take eight days to produce new oil, but, miraculously, that one cruse lasted eight days and nights.

חנוכה שמחה

There is not as much Hanukkah related music as there is about Christmas, but we really like these flash mobs and other street scenes that could be enjoyed during the holidays:

• In Hebrew, Hashem Melech means “The Lord is King” and this lively melody , even though it’s not a “typical” Hanukkah song, is likely to put people of many religions in a celebratory mood.
• New York’s “StandFour,” which is made up of four former members of Yeshiva University’s all-male a capella group, recorded this cheerful song .
• Very appropriately, this flash mob took place on a street in Jerusalem, the city where Hanukkah traditions originally started.
• And how about these two different but upbeat renditions of Hanukkah mash-ups: one by the aptly named group “The Maccabees ,” and the other performed by a Chicago troupe.

The classics

Now, you may be wondering if there are any classical pieces that would fall under the category of Hanukkah music, the way that, for instance, the “Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah ” symbolizes Christmas? Not really, but there are some beautiful classical compositions of Jewish themes, such as Leonard Bernstein’s 3rd Symphony (“the Kaddish”) , Sergei Prokofiev’s “Overture on Hebrew Themes ,” and quite a few others. Here is the bottom line: no matter what kind of Hanukkah (or other holiday songs) you enjoy the most, one of our music teachers will give you a lesson in the privacy of your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. With that, we wish you a very happy holiday season!

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Christmas is soon here and you know what that means: Santa Claus is coming to town . But wait. Before the jolly old Kris Kringle makes his annual appearance, he will be pre-empted by another traditional holiday visitor: St. Nicholas. In fact, long before the white-bearded, red robe-clad Santa became popular towards the end of the 19th century, it was St. Nick who –according to the traditional lore – distributed gifts to good children in many parts of the world.

But while Santa is “on the job” on Christmas Eve, transported hinter, thither and yon by his flying reindeer, Nicholas works the world on December 6, traveling by foot, on horseback, donkey, or other modes of transportation. Who exactly is this mysterious figure? Unlike Santa, who, in his modern form, was created by the Coca-Cola Company in the 1920s, St. Nick was a real Greek bishop, who lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries; by the early 13th century, he became known as a patron of children and a magical gift bearer.

Overshadowed by Santa

December 6 is still largely celebrated as St. Nicholas Day across Europe. The gifts he brings usually consist of treats like cookies and chocolate, unlike big ticket-items Santa is known for. Also, if a child has been particularly naughty during the year, St. Nick will give him ribbon-tied birch twigs, which are comparable to lumps of coal in the more modern Santa version. What about the United States? The tradition of St. Nick is not as common here, even though early European immigrants brought some of their customs to America. To this day, some Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, as well as those with the strong Dutch or German heritage, still celebrate December 6 as St. Nicholas Day. But at least at one point in history, St. Nicholas made news in our city. On December 7, 1773, the New York Gazette reported: “Last Monday, the anniversary of St. Nicholas, otherwise called Santa Claus, was celebrated at Protestant Hall, at Mr. Waldron’s; where a great number of sons of the ancient saint [the Sons of Saint Nicholas] celebrated the day with great joy and festivity.” Another such notice appeared in 1774: “Monday next, being the anniversary of Saint Nicholas, will be celebrated by the descends of the ancient Dutch Families.”

Celebrate with music

You don’t want St. Nicholas to bring you birch twigs, or, even worse, get lumps of coal from Santa? Well then, don’t skip your lessons (the same goes for your kids) and continue to practice regularly. No matter what holidays you celebrate, our teachers will always be available to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, bearing the gift…of music!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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A few more hours and the month of November will be over. Tomorrow December begins and, with it, all the excitement surrounding the holidays. While celebrations of Hanukkah (December 6 until the 14th), Christmas (December 25), and Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1) dominate this month’s agenda, other special occasions are not getting as much attention. But the fact is that December is full of (mostly wacky) holidays that most people don’t even know exist. We thought it would be fun to match some of these crazy events with appropriate songs. So let’s get to it!

A bit of craziness…

OMG – texting is no longer a new technology; as a matter of fact, December 3 will mark the 23rd anniversary of the very first text message, which was sent out in 1992. What did it say? Very appropriately, the message read “Merry Christmas.” We think a good song to mark this occasion is this upbeat tune . Let’s move on to December 9, which is the “Weary Willie Day.” In case you are not an expert on clownery, you may not know of a professional clown Emmett Kelly, who was born on this day in 1898. He went down in the clowndom history by creating one of the more memorable clown characters of the 20th century, known as “Weary Willie.” What’s the best song to commemorate this day? It’s a no brainer ! Now, if you are an animal lover, this next holiday will be right up your alley. December 14 is Monkey Day, an “annual celebration of all things simian, a festival of primates, and a chance to scream like a monkey” – if that’s your thing. And the next day, December 15, marks another animal-related event, National Cat Herder’s Day. What exactly is it? It celebrates humans whose lives or jobs feel as if they are constantly herding around cats. Songs? How about these , two? These are just a few of the bizarre December celebrations, but there are many more. Aren’t you glad we told you?

Keep playing!

Whether you commemorate one of the above-mentioned wacky events or celebrate more conventional December holidays, one thing is certain – no matter how busy you are during the festive season, there should always be time for music. What we mean is this: New York has no shortage of concerts during the month of December, so whatever kind of music you like, it is right there in your neighborhood. But also don’t forget music lessons. Our teachers are not so busy celebrating National Cat Herder’s Day that they would not find time to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office!

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To most of us Thanksgiving means stuffed turkey with all the delicious trimmings, pecan and pumpkin pies for dessert, and afterwards a football game. That’s the traditional take on Thanksgiving. But there is no law, rule, or regulation that says it’s the only way to celebrate this holiday. Is there a reason you shouldn’t have pizza instead of turkey? No, there isn’t.

In fact, some folks are eschewing the customary way of celebrating Thanksgiving and creating some wacky traditions of their own. And that is okay – after all, change is good. So this blog is dedicated – in the words of Apple founder Steve Jobs – “to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.”

Re-writing tradition

A couple of years ago, USA TODAY asked its readers on Twitter about the unusual family traditions that people look forward to the most on Thanksgiving. Among some funky answers was a longstanding tradition of ordering Chinese food on Thanksgiving and eating it in the den. Another reader reported that much of the day is spent “hiding in the garage, sipping apple pie rum.” On another site, people report having Thanksgiving paintball tournaments, and roasting a turkey on a stick over a sage fire. And if you believe David Letterman, New York has a funky Thanksgiving tradition of its own, which has nothing to do with the Macy’s annual parade. “In New York City there are lots of engaging Thanksgiving traditions,” he said.  “For example, a lot of New Yorkers don’t buy the frozen Thanksgiving turkey. They prefer to buy the bird live and then push it in front of a subway train.” (Lest animal lovers take this seriously, let us assure you that Letterman was joking – at least we hope so!) And speaking of odd Thanksgivings, many of us tend to think that the modern version of this holiday is similar to the way Pilgrims celebrated it. If you subscribe to this view, you might be surprised by these archives from the Library of Congress. They show that 100 years ago, Thanksgiving was celebrated very much like the present-day Halloween is. It seems that back then “children and adults alike would dress up and go on ‘crawls’ in big cities like New York and Chicago… fantastically garbed youngsters and their elders were on every corner of the city.” Instead of turkeys, they would get “pennies and nickels, apples, or pieces of candy.” See? You learn something new every day!

Don’t forget the music!

If you are a traditionalist rather than an out-of-the-box thinker, you will probably want to celebrate Thanksgiving in the customary way. If so, have you thought about what background music will be playing while you feast? There are some very nice compilations that will make your meal even more special. And speaking of music, we’d like to remind you that our teachers are happy to follow tradition – the one that involves private music lessons in your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office.

The post Beyond the Turkey: New York Music School’s Take on a “Different” Thanksgiving appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Here’s a thought that probably never crossed your mind: if classical composers were alive today and good at using social messaging tools, what kind of tweets or Facebook posts would they be putting out about their BFFs? We are only guessing, of course, but perhaps Mozart would post something along the lines of: “Hanging out and jamming with Haydn.”

Smiley Face!

Sounds far-fetched? Maybe it is, but the fact remains that even though we think of great composers as geniuses (and rightly so), they too were human and enjoyed friendships with other accomplished musicians of their time.

The Mozart effect

One of the best-documented relationships of the Classical period was the friendship between Mozart and Joseph Haydn. Based on historical evidence, the two Austrians got along, um, famously, even though they had different temperaments: Haydn was, by all accounts, calm and reserved, while his younger counterpart was more vivacious and mercurial (which only goes to prove that opposites really do attract). Their orchestras were structured slightly differently as well: Haydn preferred the English horn over the clarinet, whereas Mozart favored the latter instrument. As Mozart said, referring to Haydn, “He alone has the secret of making me smile and touching me to the bottom of my soul.” In fact, between 1782 and 1785 Mozart dedicated a group of six string quartets one , two , three , four , five and six to Haydn

A talented pupil

Now, what about the relationship between Mozart and Beethoven? It was not so much a friendship as a mentor – student relationship. As a young man, Beethoven admired Mozart, who was 14 years his senior, and hoped to take music lessons from the great composer. Finally, in 1786, young Beethoven traveled from Bonn to Vienna to meet his idol. According to historical accounts, Mozart was reportedly in a foul mood and when the young prodigy showed up at his house, he demanded: “Play something!” Beethoven performed the opening of Mozart's C minor Piano Concerto . “Not that,” Mozart said gruffly. “Anybody can play that. Play something of your own.” Beethoven did and when he finished, Mozart told his wife, Constanze, “Watch out for that boy. One day he will give the world something to talk about.” He agreed to take Beethoven on as a student, but Beethoven’s mother became ill and he had no choice but to return to Bonn. By the time he came to Vienna again in November 1792, Mozart was dead. Beethoven remained an admirer of Mozart’s even as his own fame grew. In 1798 he published his variations for cello and piano on the aria “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” from Mozart’s The Magic Flute, followed four years later by his variations on another Magic Flute aria, Papageno’s “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen.”

Let’s be friends!

We find the above stories of friendship / mentorship very inspiring – and there are more examples! We hope that they will inspire you to start playing any of the instruments mentioned above – the piano, cello, or other instruments. Contact us, and one of our fantastic teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office for a truly inspiring lesson!

The post What is it Like to Have Friends in High Places? Manhattan Music School Tells You All About It appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

If asked what is your favorite time of year, chances are you won’t say it’s mid-November, unless you live in the southern hemisphere, where it is spring right now. But in New York, November is often grey and chilly, which may be the reason why so many people exercise much less that they do during the spring and summer months. (There’s actually a Gallop poll showing that Americans are less physically active as weather gets cold). Are you one of them?

We get it: when it is dark and cold outside, you don’t feel like going out for a jog or even a walk. It is so much easier and more pleasant to stay inside. But if this is your mindset, we hope you reconsider, especially since there is a good way to make even the most strenuous workout more enjoyable. We are referring to music, of course!

Breaking sweat with music

You might think we are giving you a song-and-dance routine here since we have a vested interest in teaching you to play an instrument. Actually, this statement is not totally self-serving: Studies suggest that listening to music while you exercise makes your workout more effective. There are several reasons why that is. For instance, a good beat not only makes you want to move, but it also helps you keep your pace. Also, listening to music creates a surge of energy that keeps you going, and it diverts your focus from physical discomfort – like soreness and tiredness – that a more strenuous workout might cause. In other words, music “tricks” your mind into concentrating on the sounds generated by your iPod rather than on your exertion level or the repetitive movements of your exercise routine. If you are wondering what is the best “exercise music,” here are some general suggestions:

• As you warm up, you’d want to listen to tracks that give you a burst of energy.
• Whether you prefer high, medium or low intensity exercise, choose something upbeat to keep your juices flowing during the main phase of your exercise.
• A slower and more mellow sound will help you cool down afterwards.

Feel the (calorie) burn

As long we are on the subject of music and exercise, did you know that the mere action of playing an instrument provides a terrific workout as well? While it may not improve your athletic performance per se (unless you are a member of a fast-moving marching band), it can help you burn calories. Just as an example, playing drums for an hour will burn 270 calories; a guitar will “eat up” 204 calories; and a trombone 238. In fact, practically any instrument will use up at least 100 calories in one hour of playing. Also, since playing certain instruments is physically demanding, you can get a good workout while you are at it. Drum players, for instance, use practically all the body’s muscle groups for strength, speed, endurance, and coordination. In fact, all the instruments, as well as signing, exercise some muscle groups.

Let there be music!

No, we can’t promise that you will lose loads of weight while playing an instrument (though you might) or that we will help improve the quality of your workout. What we can promise is that whatever instrument you’d like to play, we will be happy to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons. Whether you use your new musical skills to drop a few pounds and get in shape is up to you. But as you can see from all the research above, music can help you be …as fit as a fiddle!

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Let’s talk about motivation, especially as it pertains to music lessons. There are many reasons why a student may sometimes feel that he or she just doesn’t have what it takes to become proficient in playing an instrument. We have heard students say things like “I am not good enough” or “I keep making mistakes.” Making mistakes, as you know, is natural when you are learning a new skill and it is certainly not a good reason to get discouraged. In fact, we’ll let you in on a secret (well, it’s not exactly a secret, but a lot of people may not realize it): even the most famous musicians occasionally hit a wrong note. Why? It is certainly not because of lack of practice, but it could be due to nerves (yes, even the most experienced musicians sometimes suffer from stage fright), a wrong move of the fingers on the instrument, or a number of other factors. After all, even the most acclaimed virtuosos are only human!

Slip of a finger

Of course when experienced musicians are performing, an untrained ear of a spectator in the audience may not catch a wrong note. Do you think your ear is fine-tuned enough to hear it? Listen to these pieces and try to catch the slips. There is a very interesting compilation of the world’s most accomplished pianists hitting wrong notes. In the video, the great Arthur Rubinstein explains how, during a concert early in his career, he faked an entire Chopin etude and even deliberately played wrong notes— and still won rave reviews from the critics! (Obviously, we don’t recommend that you do the same thing – unless you have Rubinstein’s spectacular talent and can get away with it!) Then there is the Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang, who had a mishap in a section of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue.” Can you hear it? And while performing Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” , the late German pianist Wilhelm Kempff slipped at 0:40, 1:25, 2:06, 2:38, 3:59, 5:08 to 5:11, and 6:42 minutes. As matter of fact, Beethoven was a challenge to another virtuoso pianist as well. Argentinian “Daniel Barenboim made a mistake at 2:41. You may be wondering whether geniuses like Mozart, Beethoven or Chopin ever make mistakes? We have no way to prove it, of course, but keep in mind that before they became skilled musicians, they had to master the craft from scratch. And we bet they hit plenty of wrong notes while they learned! Imagine how different the world would be if these composers had given up because of the mishaps.

Helping your progress

If there’s a moral here it is that making errors is not a reason to give up – if anything, it’s a reason to try harder the next time. Our teachers understand that mistakes are a normal part of a learning process, and when they come for a lesson in your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, they will patiently teach you the right technique. This means they will not only instruct you on how to read notation and play, but also on how to hold and handle your instrument, breathe correctly, feel confident and comfortable, and generally get the most out of your lesson. So make no mistake about it: keep playing!

The post With Manhattan Piano School You’ll Never Be Out of Tune appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

Awakening the memories

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

Remembrance of things past

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

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Two days from now, on November 11, we will celebrate Veterans Day, which honors US veterans past and present. We salute them and thank them for their service. Like cities and towns across America, New York will hold its own parade – the largest celebration of veterans in the country. Every year since 1919, when the 369th Infantry – just back from fighting in WWI – proudly marched up Fifth Avenue, thousands of veterans and other participants re-trace the same route.

This year’s parade will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and the 25th anniversary of Desert Shield. We think one of the best ways to remember the sacrifices of our veterans is to look back at the music that accompanied them into the battlefield. From the bugles, pipes, and drums of the Civil War to the protest songs of the Vietnam era, the music has been an important part of American history.

Songs of glory

At 239 years, America is a relatively young nation. The first armed conflict it engaged in was the one that actually served to lay the cornerstone of our country – the American Revolutionary War, which lasted from 1775 to 1783. Of course, there are no original recordings of any pieces of music from that era (or until WWI, for that matter), but we do know that one of the most popular songs at that time was “Ballad of the Green Mountain Boys.” During the Civil War (1861 – 1865), the only other battle that was fought on American soil, “The Liberty Song,” originally written in 1768 by Founding Father John Dickinson, was popular, as was “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” And then there was the famous Confederate tune “I Wish I Was In Dixie Land.” By the end of the 19th century, there was another conflict involving the United States – Spanish American War. Even though short-lived (from April to August 1898), it produced patriotic music by John Philip Sousa, such as “Hands Across the Sea.” In the next century, WWI spawned a number of songs, several of which were written by George M. Cohan, including “Over There.” During WWII, Big Band music got the civilian population dancing, but the soldiers fighting overseas were not forgotten. “Remember Pearl Harbor” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” were big hits. Unfortunately, WWII was not the last conflict of the 20th century. The Korean War of the 1950s sparked songs like Jimmie Osborne’s “Victory in Korea” and Wilif Carter’s “Good-bye Maria, I'm Off to Korea.” “Ballad of the Green Berets” was released at the height of Vietnam War in 1966, followed, three decades later, by “God Bless the USA” during the years of the first Gulf War.

Patriotic spirit right in your home

The above-mentioned songs are just a few of many written and performed during various wars. We can only hope that these tunes had provided moral support and some pleasure to our soldiers. You too can learn to play or sing any of these songs. Just get in touch and one of our teachers will march right into your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to give you lessons.

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The day after tomorrow, New York will be, almost literally, a ghost town! That’s because Halloween’s traditional creepy and spooky creatures will take over the city – ghosts, of course, but also monsters, mummies, zombies, witches, goblins, black cats, and other scary apparitions that will go bump in the night. Once the kids are back from trick-or-treating and are getting their sugar rush from all the candy, you can have a Halloween celebration of your own.

It doesn’t require costumes, a witch’s brew, or howling sounds . All you need to create a Halloween-ish environment in your own home is some classical “mood” music!

On the edge of your seat…

Long before the custom of trick-or-treating appeared in the United States in the 1950s, several classical composers wrote some pretty scary music. We can’t think of anything more appropriate for a dark Halloween night! For instance, in 1886, Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky wrote a series of compositions titled “Night on Bald Mountain.” His frightening ghouls wreaking havoc on a mountain village in the middle of the night were depicted in Disney’s 2009 movie “Fantasia” Watch, listen and shudder! Then there is no less scary piece called “Dreams of a Witches' Sabbath” the final movement of “Symphonie Fantastique” written by French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830. If you can stomach allusions to witches, sorcerers and monsters assembled at a funeral, this piece is for you! Okay, let’s move on. By some accounts, Hungarian composer Franz Liszt was obsessed with all things macabre, as is evidenced in his ominous-sounding “Totentanz (Dance of the Dead)” . The piece was several years in the making and finally completed in the mid 1800s. Are you sufficiently spooked yet? We hope not, because there are two more pieces of music you absolutely must listen to on Halloween night: Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov’s 1908 work “The Isle of the Dead” and Camille Saint-Saëns sinister tune “Danse Macabre” which the French composer wrote in 1874. We hope all this music will not give you nightmares!

We are harmless!

No matter how frightening it is, Halloween only lasts one night. By the time you wake up on November 1, you will hopefully be fearless! Of course, most classical music is not scary at all; in fact, it is soothing and uplifting. Another thing you should never be afraid of are our teachers. That’s because when they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, they will never use scare tactics!

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We all know that music education offers a lot benefits. That’s a fact. Another fact is that when it comes to music training, regularity is very important: weekly lessons and practice – even in small increments – will ensure steady improvement. That’s because for a musician, progress is all about familiarity and repetition.

And yet, when it comes to NOT practicing, kids come up with most convoluted excuses. We compiled, for your enjoyment, a partial list, though it obviously doesn’t cover all the clever fibs that are hatched in children’s minds.

Seriously?

One of the most brilliant people in history, Albert Einstein, once said, “Every child is born a genius.” He probably didn’t intend it to mean that very often kids use their ingenuity to say the darndest things. These are real excuses that music teachers have had from their young students. Be ready to be amused! “I couldn’t practice because: We moved to new a house and I couldn’t find the piano. My dog gets sick whenever I play the clarinet. Some aliens from outer space abducted my guitar. My mom put the washing machine on top of the piano. I was kidnapped by terrorists and they only just let me go, so I didn’t have time to play the cello. My house is being fumigated and I don’t want to go in there and suffocate just to get my violin. I put the flute in the safe, but lost the combination. I got soap in my eyes and was blinded for the rest of the day. I dropped my flute in the toilet accidentally and it got flushed. I had radon poisoning. A big bird flew in the window, stole my violin, and flew away. My dad told me I didn’t have to practice because I’d never be another Mozart. My little sister used my sheet music to line the canary’s cage. As we said, this list is just a drop in the bucket of sneaky excuses. But really, you have to love the kids for their creativity!

No excuses – please!

Okay, let’s get serious for a moment: despite the often-used saying, practice won’t make your children perfect. But it will more than likely make them better musicians, even if they do not end up in Carnegie Hall! We recommend between 30 and 60 minutes of practice each week, which can be broken into short daily sessions. Even the busiest of kids or parents can spare 10 minutes a day to play their instrument! And our lessons are tailored to your and the children’s schedule. We make it easy and convenient because we come right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, so your child doesn’t have to waste valuable time commuting to meet the teacher. Our teachers make no silly excuses – and neither should your kids!

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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.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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In his 1976 hit, “I Write the Songs ,” Barry Manilow sang about putting “the words and the melodies together.” In the simplest terms (although the process can sometimes be quite complex), that’s what songwriting is all about: the blending of lyrics and music.

A question people sometimes ask us is this: what do I create first– the music or lyrics? This is just like the age-old brain teaser of what comes first, the chicken or the egg? We are not about to debate the issue of the chicken versus the egg, but when it comes to songwriting, there is no definite “right-or-wrong” answer. If an idea or a theme strikes you, you will likely write the lyrics first and then create the music that matches the song’s mood. On the other hand, if a melody swirls in your mind, you might want to expand it and then add words to it. Either way, it works!

Words and music

History tells us that various musicians have their own, individual approaches to the process of song creation. For instance, opera composers like Puccini and Rimsky-Korsakov wrote music first, and then had the librettists create words. However, the famed team of Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein usually wrote the lyrics before the music. While many musicians may disagree with this statement, English theatre and film director Peter Brook said in an interview, that “never in history has a guy written the tunes, and someone has come along and put the words to them. I once asked Richard Rodgers whether he had any tunes in his bottom drawer waiting for a lyric. He told me that it was only when he heard the lyricist’s precise words, such as Hammerstein’s ‘O, what a beautiful morning,’ that the melodies emerged.” Others may argue with this “lyrics first” approach. For instance, The Beatles’ hit “Yesterday ” began as a melody in Paul McCartney’s dreams. Later, he added lyrics to it. But Elton John reversed the process – at least in this particular case . As you can see, he created an impromptu melody to match an existing text!

In a word…

Whether or not you are interested in writing your own songs or playing the ones already created by others, our teachers can help. When they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will offer their guidance and inspiration, no matter what instrument you play. And if you take voice lessons, you’ll be able to belt out any song – music AND lyrics!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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Autumn in New York, as Frank Sinatra famously sang, is “so inviting.” He was right, of course. There is something special about this season. Yes, it’s sad to say goodbye to the sunny and warm days of summer , but early fall in New York is usually lovely as well. Trees in Central Park and other green spaces in the city are “dressed” in eye-popping colors of yellow, orange, and red. And the freshly fallen leaves emit a subtle, earthy scent into the crisp air.

As the 19th century English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley so beautifully wrote, “There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky.” Is it any wonder that the beauty of the fall season has inspired not only poets, painters, and other artists, but also many composers and songwriters? Let’s listen to some pieces of music inspired by colors, scents, and the mood of the autumn.

Season’s bounty

At the beginning of the 18th century, Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote four violin concertos, which turned out to be his most famous work. Titled “The Four Seasons,” it included the very beautiful autumn concerto . A century later, Austrian composer Josef Strauss wrote a waltz entitled “Autumn Roses” . Another beautiful waltz celebrating the fall season, aptly named “Autumn Dream” was composed by a 20th century British composer Archibald Joyce. What about autumn songs? Speaking of waltzes, listen to Tony Bennett’s 1956 rendition of “The Autumn Waltz” . Of course, one of the most famous fall songs of all time is a 1945 classic written by a Hungarian composer Joseph Kosma and called “Autumn Leaves.” It was recorded in both English and French . There is also Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” , U2’s “October” , and many others. Which of the above pieces of music inspires you the most?

Fall for us!

We hope all these compositions will motivate you to start making some music of your own. A great thing about music lessons is that you can begin them at any time of the year – in other words, music is always in season! Thankfully, our teachers are not just fair-weather friends; even when it rains and the temps drop (as often happens in the fall), they will still …waltz into your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. So don’t wait until fall turns into winter – contact us while the leaves still have their radiant color!

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On August 3, 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus set sail from the Spanish port of Palos. He was in command of three ships – the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina. The goal of this historic journey was to find a new sea route to China, India, and other parts of Asia.

More than two months later, on October 12, Columbus’ ships found the “New World” – the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands. But despite the myth that had persisted for hundreds of years, Columbus didn’t “discover” America — in fact, he never set foot here. Of course, in the 15th century, America was already settled by Indians; historians are not sure who actually discovered the continent, but we do know it was named after another Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. Still, October 12 is observed in the United States as Columbus Day, which celebrates the contributions Italian immigrants have made to our country.

Music of the Renaissance

There are some songs that commemorate Columbus’s discovery of the New World . They are decidedly modern, but what about the music that was in vogue in Columbus’ home country of Italy, as well as in the rest of Europe, during his lifetime? The music of the Renaissance era is not as widely known to us as the styles that developed in the next century. Baroque had given us Johann Sebastian Bach, George Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi, whose music is still played and loved to this day. But that is not to say the Renaissance compositions are not worth listening to. A lot of the music from that period, both religious and secular, is based on modes, has a rich texture, and harmony . Among the most popular Renaissance instruments were the cornamuse, cromorne, shawm, clavichord, and virginal. None of them is still commonly used; the only instrument of that era that remains popular to this day is the recorder. We have no idea whether Columbus listened to music while he sailed the ocean blue, or, for that matter, whether he was a music aficionado. But we do know that the music played in churches and royal palaces during his lifetime was really beautiful! That’s the kind of music Europeans were fond of. But what about the inhabitants of North America, which Columbus allegedly discovered? Native American tribes of the 15th century were quite evolved and their music often included drums, rattles, flutes, wood whistles.

That’s amore!

As we said, Columbus Day is a holiday in the United States, a celebration of the rich Italian heritage. In New York, where approximately 1.8 million people of Italian descent live, a parade takes place today (as it does every year) along Fifth Avenue. As always, it’s lots of fun! Even if he didn’t actually discover America, Columbus still went down in history as an explorer and an adventurer. Learning to play a musical instrument is also an adventure of sorts – your curiousity will help you discover new sounds and other musical elements that you never knew before. That’s where our teachers can help. When they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, your music lesson will be smooth sailing!

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You know by now that our teachers make house calls in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale. But here’s a question: what kind of learning environment have you created in your home in preparation for your music training? Does it foster creativity and productivity or, to the contrary, are there too many distractions around you, preventing you from concentrating?

Trying to master an instrument is not that different from any other kind of learning. Your surroundings are a big factor in how well you are able to absorb the information at hand. If things around you are chaotic – say your cat is jumping on your instrument and your dog is chewing your notes (just as n example), you’ll be too distracted to pay attention to your lesson. Now, before, we tackle some of the ways to “clean up” your learning space, let’s look at why it is important to have an environment that’s conducive to your music lessons.

Noises off!

It has been scientifically proven that too much stimuli in our environment, such as disorder or noise, will diminish our learning capacity. These factors create bad study habits; your mind is distracted and “all over the place,” instead of concentrating on the most essential tasks. That’s why it is important to develop a one-track mind! Your attention should not be diverted by things that are unrelated to music. When you lose your focus, you might as well pack up your instrument.

Get ready!

We know that living in New York – the city that never sleeps – is not always conducive to a learning-friendly environment. Plus, apartment walls are often paper-thin, so noises from the neighbors trickle into our own living space. What’s a city dweller to do? It’s true that you can’t eliminate all the distractions around you, though you can certainly minimize them. Focus on things that you can – and should – control. For instance:

• Location, location, location: Pick a quiet room in your apartment where you feel most comfortable and relaxed.
• Clean up and organize your space: You may think that clutter doesn’t affect your learning capacity but it does, because the mess around you creates a distraction. You don’t need a large room to practice your music, but you do need a tidy space.
• Disconnect yourself: During your lesson or practice session, turn off your computer and cell phone. Incoming calls, tweets, texts, etc. are sure to interfere with your lesson.

Make your lesson count

The above are some of the suggestions for creating an environment that is pleasant and conducive to music learning. But there are other things you should do as well, which should be obvious but we are going to reiterate them anyway: no matter what you play – whether it’s the guitar, violin, or any other instrument, please be prepared. In other words, when your teacher rings the doorbell, you and your instrument should be ready to go. Preparedness is a lesson worth learning!

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Summer’s gone and a lot of people are suffering from a condition known as “seasonal affective disorder” (SAD) – a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons. But if you are a New Yorker, there is no need to feel sad (or SAD) at the passing of summer. That’s because there are plenty of events going on around the city and adjoining areas this month that are sure to lift your spirits and improve your mood.

For music lovers, the choice of offerings is huge, from excellent Broadway musicals to classical concerts. This may also be a good occasion to remind you that a pre-eminent New York institution, the Carnegie Hall, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year with an exciting new project. But that’s not all: there are also a number of pop, rock, jazz, and other performances taking place around the city. Let’s have a look at some of them.

Music, music everywhere!

From now until December 17, New York’s own Billy Joel will be performing with the help of his revolving piano at Madison Square Garden. And in case you didn’t know, to date, Billy has set a record for most performances at Madison Square Garden! And if you a fan of Stevie Wonder, hurry up and get tickets for his October 14th performance at Prudential Center in Newark. The Who will perform at the same venue on October 25th – a good reason to hightail it to Newark not once but twice! The above performances are just “teasers” intended to whet your appetite. There are so many more musical events taking place this month in our area!

Music as a cure

We hope you agree with us that as New Yorkers, we are really lucky to have so many opportunities to hear great music all year round. Another thing to be grateful for is the possibility to take music lessons right in your own home or office, whether in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale. We are not making this up: there is scientific evidence to prove that music is a real mood booster, regardless of what instrument you are playing – the guitar, violin, or anything else. So contact us and we’ll send you an upbeat teacher who’ll stop any SAD-ness in the tracks!

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Welcome to October! The whole month unveils before us, so let’s get organized. We mean this literally because the first week of October is the National Get Organized Week. What exactly does this entail, you may wonder? Actually, it could mean a variety of things, from organizing your closet and drawers, to organizing a labor union! In other words, any task or activity to which you give an orderly and coherent structure.

What about music lessons? We are so glad you asked because, while there’s absolutely nothing wrong (and a lot of good) about improvisation in music, when it comes to lessons, good preparation and advance planning – in other words, organization! – are very important.

Get ready!

You want your lessons – and music experience in general – to be both productive and enjoyable, don’t you? We do too! To achieve this synergy, we suggest that you follow these simple steps: First of all, make sure your instrument is in good “working” condition, which means that you always protect it from harm and damage, and generally take excellent care of it. Now that you’ve taken care of your instrument, take care of yourself. Sit (or stand) comfortably and hold your instrument correctly. Proper posture is very important – not only because it helps you play better, but it also prevents aches and soreness. How do you make sure your body is ready? Start by stretching and strengthening your wrists, hands and arms before your lesson. Simple exercises like squeezing a tennis ball or lifting a dumbbell will be useful. Building up the core strength of your diaphragm trunk muscles is essential, especially if you play a woodwind or brass instrument. If you take voice lessons, learn how to use your abdomen muscles and have proper breathing techniques. Your instrument and body are ready, but what about your attitude? Are you enthusiastic, motivated, and focused? We hope so, because mental readiness is just as important as the physical one. Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to schedule your lessons on regular basis and practice in between.

Always prepared

Now that we’ve given you some tips on how to get organized for your lessons, you may be wondering what to expect of our teachers? We can assure you that besides being excellent music instructors, they are also very organized. For instance, they always show up at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office on time and well prepared for the lesson. It’s true that we can’t micro-manage everything, but when it comes to music lessons, we have the right …key! With our organizational skills and yours, we’ll make quite a team!

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It happens every year: come September, school is back in session! We do hope you took our advice and kept up your music lessons during the summer, so that your skills have not gotten rusty. But if you (or your child) are just starting your music training – welcome! We are happy to have you on board and will do our best to make your musical journey as fun and exciting as possible.

But before we start, there are some things you should know: our excellent teachers  love excellent students! What we mean is this: if you (or your child) are disinterested, indifferent, or unmotivated, then you will probably not enjoy your music lessons (of course, there is always a chance that, given time, music will grow on you). Ask yourself: do you or your child have what it takes to be a good student? Obviously, we hope the answer is a resounding “YES!” You may think that in order to master an instrument or sing beautifully you have to be musically gifted. Talent is nice, of course, but that is not the most important requirement. So what makes a good music student? Let’s have a look.

Our wish list

We realize that there are no “perfect” students. That’s fine. But we love pupils who are as close to “ideal” as humanely possible (again, we are not talking about talent here. It’s more about the attitude!)

• First and foremost, we like students who are enthusiastic – about music in general and their instrument of choice in particular. It doesn’t matter whether they choose the guitar, piano, voice training, or even the tiny harmonica . What counts is that they play that instrument with passion.
• As we said, we like the students who play their instruments – not hooky! This means you have to stick to a regular lesson and practice  schedule. Don’t cancel and miss your sessions unless you really must. If that’s the case, reschedule as soon as possible to keep the momentum going.
• Stay focused during lessons! We know – it is sometimes difficult to concentrate on just one task when your brain is going in all directions. But if you are not going to be mentally present and attentive, then what’s the point of having a lesson?

To sum up, we’d love our students to be enthusiastic, disciplined, and focused. Hey, it’s not too much to ask for, is it?

We solemnly swear…

Now that you know what we are looking for in a student, you may be wondering what to expect of our teachers. When a teacher of ours comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, he or she will:

• Help you develop your skills and improve the mastery of your instrument.
• Teach you the right playing technique  by making sure you handle the instrument correctly, have a good posture, etc.
• Ensure that you make steady progress.
• Inspire and motivate you to stay on course!

If you keep to your checklist and we keep to ours, we will make such beautiful music together!

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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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How do you listen to music? Is it more of a passive experience – for instance, you hear “background” music while you go about your daily business, or do you get really immersed in each sound? There is nothing wrong with the “peripheral” approach – as long as music is a big part of your life, lifts your spirits, relieves the stress, and generally improves your well-being, it’s all good!

But there is also another way to let music into your life and allow your brain to absorb it more fully. It’s called “mindful” or “active” listening. Basically, it means that you don’t just “lend an ear,” but actually listen with all your senses. This kind of “active” approach will help you develop not only better listening skills, but also a deeper appreciation of music.

Mind the music

In 1939, American composer Aaron Copland wrote a book titled “What to Listen for in Music.” Yes, this work is more than 70 years old, but, like music itself, it is timeless and as pertinent today as it was back then. If you are interested in this fascinating topic, then the book will provide an insightful resource. With “mindful” listening, you will not only hear different rhythms, pitches, variations, instrumentation, etc., but will also be able to “see” (in your mind’s eye) the figurative color and texture of music. But while there are several ways through which you can enhance your music listening experience (see below), how you actually interpret each piece is deeply personal. It’s just like looking at a painting or another piece of art – you may learn how to distinguish one technique from another, or understand various artistic influences, but only you know what this piece means to you.

What makes music tick?

This very interesting National Public Radio piece explains very well how to hear more in music. How do you go about it? Choose your favorite piece of music and focus on its rhythm and meter, melody, harmony, and overall dynamics. Look for these elements in various styles of music: classical, jazz, pop, rock, and whatever other genres you like listening to. With time, you will develop a much deeper appreciation of music. Now, you might be wondering how to foster this skill in children, so that they develop interest in music. The good news is that kids are naturally curious and open to new experiences, so exposing them to various music genres, as well as a variety of musical instruments, will lay a solid foundation for the future.

Listen up!

To understand how music works and how it is put together you should learn music theory; it will really open your eyes to many different aspects of music. When our teachers come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will show you not only how to play your instrument, but also how to “understand” the music. Think of this experience as a deep ocean: it’s fine on the surface, but once you explore what lies beneath, a whole new and exciting word is opening its mysteries to you!

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Did you know that the world-famous Steinway Piano Company was founded right here in New York in 1853, in a loft on Manhattan’s Varick Street? If you are curious to see how these elegant instruments are put together, you can go on a tour of Steinway’s factory in Queens.

And that brings us to the topic du jour: September is the National Piano Month, dedicated to this elegant instrument that has contributed so much to the development of music, both classical and modern. This is also a great occasion to talk about the piano, which continues to be one of the most popular instruments in the world. There is a good reason for that: this instrument is versatile and can be used to play different styles of music. Think of the piano as a “gentle giant:” its takes up a lot of room, weighs between 400 and 1,000 pounds, has over 12,000 parts – 10,000 of which are moving – 200 to 250 strings, as well as 88 keys. But oh – what beautiful music this mighty instrument is capable of producing!

Proud history

It seems like the piano has been around for a long time – and it has. But before an Italian instrument maker Bartolomeo Cristofo created the piano in the 17th century, many composers (including Bach) played on a look-alike instrument called the harpsichord . Over the next centuries, composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Chopin, and many others, created the most beautiful, emotionally stirring piano concertos , sonatas , and other pieces of music. Later, different styles of music– including jazz , pop , rock , and other genres – took over the piano as well. And though the piano is such a “grand” instrument, it lends itself to some musical whimsies as well!

Let your fingers do the…playing

We hope that all the above exampled have inspired you (or your child) to start taking piano lessons. If you are nervous about having to strap your piano on your back and schlep it across town – don’t. Our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office – wherever your instrument happens to live. They won’t haul their own pianos but they will certainly teach you how to tickle the ivories on yours!

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

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

Sing, sing a song

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

We speak your language!

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

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Oh, what a difference a few centuries make! Today, we know for a fact (having had abundant scientific evidence as proof) that music is good for humans, animals, and other living things as well. However, it has not always been like this. As a recent article in the Smithsonian magazine tells it, some 19th century physicians thought music could actually infect the brain!

As a matter of fact, there are many instances throughout history when medical profession warned the public about the dangers of music. As the article states, “By the time the 1800s rolled around, music was a full-blown pathogen.” Physicians of yore warned that music was especially risky for women because of their supposedly fragile nerves: “The fairer sex had weak nerves and were prone to fainting. They also warned that excessive keyboard playing could aggravate such issues. Gynecologists thought music might be too sexy for women or that it could lead to heavy menstrual cycles. On the flop side, others linked it to infertility and reproductive problems.” Of course, in those long-ago days, doctors often made flawed judgment calls. For instance, it was believed that a woman’s womb could wander throughout her body, spreading disease in its wake, and that epilepsy and mental illnesses were “demonic possessions.” Seen in this context, is it any wonder that music was regarded as evil?

We’ve come a long way, baby!

Today we know of just one potential danger: hearing loss resulting from prolonged exposure to very loud music. As for everything else mentioned above, all these warnings, myths, and pseudo-science are downright hilarious! Far from inflicting diseases and other medical conditions, music is actually a health booster, both physically and mentally: it can lower our blood pressure, relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, and lift our spirits. In other words, there is no doubt (and plenty of scientific evidence) that music improves our lives in countless ways. Who are you going to believe: modern science or old superstitions?

Fit as a fiddle

If anyone witnesses first-hand the true advantages of music training, it is our teachers. They have yet to see any students – young or older, male or female – whose brain was “infected” by music (though they have seen lots of students become “infectious” – spreading the love of music to others)! All this is to say that when a teacher comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, you need not fear any health consequences. You or your child will learn to play the guitar, piano, or any other instrument in total safety. We are happy that, at least in this case, history doesn’t repeat itself!

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We don’t mean to be too inquisitive about your, um, bedroom habits, but we would like to know this: how well do you sleep at night? Are you lucky enough to fall into deep and relaxing slumber, or are you tossing and turning all night long?

If you are like most people, chances are that you sometimes (or maybe often) have difficulties falling – or staying – asleep. If you’ve tried natural remedies like drinking warm milk before bed or counting sheep, but sleep still eludes you, music may be a great remedy. Several studies conducted in recent years have demonstrated not only that certain types of music promote restful sleep, but also that listening to music during sleep could enhance brainpower and lead to better memory.

Land of Nod

We know that lullabies help fussy babies catch some zzzz’s, but what kind of music will lull adults to sleep? For most people, heavy metal is probably not the most effective sleep inducer, unless, of course, you are a hardened Metallica fan and find the group’s biggest hit, “Enter Sandman ” to be a Zen-like experience. For the majority of us, however, soft and smooth sounds have a more relaxing and calming effect. In fact, psychologist Dave Elliot of the University of Cumbria found that the most relaxing music features 90 beats per minute, a 4/4 beat, piano and strings, and narrow note sequences where the notes move from low to high. What does this tune sound like? The aptly named “World’s Most Relaxing Music ” may just do the trick. Then there is a new 8-hour long piece of music by British composer Max Richter, which is believed to be the longest “lullaby” ever recorded. Titled “Sleep,” it will premiere in Berlin in September from 12pm to 8am. The audience will be given beds instead of seats. It will probably be the first time in history that a concert’s success will be judged by how many people fell asleep during the performance!

Night sounds

If you can’t be in Berlin for this particular concert, or can’t wait until September to get a good night’s sleep, you may try listening to these calm and soothing tunes: Binaural sounds
Deep sleep music
Weightless music
Dream music
Relaxing music
Delta waves

A hard day’s night

Many musical instruments can play soothing and relaxing tunes – for instance, the flute, harp, sitar, or the violin. Also, many items that don’t fall into the strict category of musical instruments produce the most beautiful and relaxing sounds: Tibetan “singing” bowls or wind chimes , for instance. And what about our music teachers? Rest assured that when they give you a music lesson, they will never (intentionally) put you to sleep! We guarantee that no matter what time of day or evening they show up at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, you’ll never catch them napping!

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Here is one question you probably don’t ask yourself very often (if at all): are you a drum, piano or violin? Or perhaps you are a flute or ukulele? The reason we are urging you to ask (and answer) this question is simple: if you (or your child) are thinking about taking up music lessons but are not sure which instrument to learn, it is a good idea to reflect upon which one would fit your personality best.

This is not an exact science so please don’t sue us if you happen to end up with an instrument that you or your teacher consider unsuitable – though please keep in mind that there is no such thing as a “bad” musical instrument; it may not fit your personality but it is a good match for others.

Satisfy your personality

There are several criteria for choosing an instrument: the age and size of the player are first and foremost. An instrument that “grows” with your child – such as the guitar, violin, flute or recorder are good choices. Also to be taken into consideration are the player’s physical capabilities: does she or he have flexibility, agility, and coordination to correctly hold and handle the instrument? But what about matching instruments based on personality? Generally speaking – though of course there are many exceptions to these “rules” – someone who is quiet and laid back might be a good fit with a bass, because it is considered to be a “background” instrument. If, on the other hand, you are outgoing, bold, and even brash, then a solo instrument like the trumpet might be your cup of tea. And if you are a high-energy person who can’t sit still, the drum is an obvious choice. Now, if you don’t fit into any clear-cut and defined category – in other words, if your personality has many facets – you might want to opt for instruments that produce a multitude of tones and characteristics, like the piano, guitar, or saxophone. Still not sure what instrument has your name on it? This quiz may help. One thing we are sure of: no matter who you are, there is that special instrument out there for you, just waiting to fall into your arms!

So happy together!

When you and an instrument of your choice are matched together and living happily ever after, that’s when our teacher comes in – literally – to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. It doesn’t matter whether you and your instrument are hyper or introverted – we will make sure that, when you play, your true colors are shining through!

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Think of a very hot summer day in New York City. Temperatures are soaring past 90 degrees and the humidity is so high, you feel like somebody wrapped a wet blanket around you. Now, ask yourself: if you are so sweaty and uncomfortable that you feel like crawling out of your skin, what about your musical instrument? True, an instrument is an inanimate object and has no feelings, but you should know that heat and humidity – especially big changes in moisture – will ultimately damage the instrument. This applies even more to those constructed from wood – like the guitar, violin, cello, double bass, and others.

Why does this happen? Wood is the kind of material that absorbs moisture, so constant exposure to a humid environment is not good. (By the same token, excessive dryness is also damaging. It could weaken the glue, distort framing, and cause cracks). Clearly, it is important to protect your instrument from extreme changes in temperatures and moisture. Fortunately, the summer is still young so it’s not too late to take action.

Instrument TLC

A few years ago, in an article he wrote for Premier Guitar magazine, Bob Taylor, co-founder and president of Taylor Guitars, said: “At one time, probably 70% of the repairs performed in our service center could have been avoided if the guitar had not been exposed to humidity extremes.” Let’s look at some ways to ensure that your wood instrument is not having a heat stroke this summer: 1. You wouldn’t even think about leaving a child or a dog in a parked car because the temperatures can rise very quickly. It’s the same with a wooden instrument – it shouldn’t sit / lie / stand / recline in a stationary vehicle in hot weather. 2. When humidity is extremely high, you like to be in an air-conditioned room. So do your guitar, violin, and cello. Basically, when you feel uncomfortable on a hot and humid day, you can be pretty sure that your instrument does too. That’s when you know to place it in a cool and dry (but not too dry) room. 3. If you want to have a precise measurement of humidity in your home, consider purchasing a Hygrometer, an inexpensive device that lets you control moisture levels in your environment. It’s good for everyone – humans, pets, and instruments!

Teacher knows best

Now that you are forewarned and forearmed about the effects of heat and humidity, let us tell you how we can help keep your instrument away from harmful temps and moisture levels. One way is that our teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, which means you don’t have to take your instrument out of its (and your) air-controlled environment. Additionally, the teacher can also advise you on how to protect your instrument in all kinds of extreme conditions – climatic and other. In all matters pertaining to music or instruments, these folks are fountains of knowledge!

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When you think about summer, do images of sandy beaches jump to mind? But what if you are spending the summer in the city – do you have to give up the thoughts of warm ocean breezes? Not at all! As New Yorkers, we are lucky to have some great beaches very close within our reach. In fact, NYC has a total of 14 miles of beaches, all of which are open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Even though one moment you are caught up in the urban hustle and bustle, an hour or so later you could be lying on the sand and soaking up the sun.

As if by careful design – by actually by mere coincidence – these patches of sandy paradise can be found in most NYC boroughs, and even if you live in one that doesn’t boast its own beach (like Manhattan), the commute to one is – no pun intended – a breeze!

Summer in the city

Brooklyn offers lots of options, starting with the iconic Coney Island. It offers three miles of sandy beaches, not to mention the amusement park and boardwalk. It is such a famous part of our city’s landscape that Lou Reed actually sang about it. Then there is Manhattan Beach, which is actually located in Brooklyn’s southern tip, and is part of the larger area known as Brighton Beach. Now populated by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants, this sandy strip is called “Little Odessa.” Moving on to Queens, the Rockaway Beach is not only very large, but it is also the only one in New York City that has two separate stretches reserved just for surfing. And it was made famous by The Ramones’ 1977 hit song : “Chewin’ at a rhythm on my bubble gum The sun is out, I want some It’s not hard, not far to reach We can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach.” The Orchard Beach in the Bronx offers 1.1- mile of sandy shoreline. When it was first created in the 1930s, it was named “The Riviera of New York!” If you live on Staten Island, you have plenty of choices: the South Beach, Midland Beach, or Wolfe’ Pond Beach. If you want to venture a bit further from the city, there’s Long Island’s Jones Beach. With a 6.5- mile stretch of sand and two swimming pools, it is one of New York state’s largest facilities of this kind.

Keep up the music!

We hope you will take advantage of the beaches that our city has to offer. After all, as the famous song says, in the summertime, the livin’ is (or at least should be) easy. Still, don’t forget to keep up your music training during the summer months – don’t let your guitar, piano, or other instruments get idle! Our teachers continue to give lessons regardless of the season. They will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, even if you don’t live by the beach!

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Chances are, you color-coordinate your outfits and home décor. But do you ever wonder whether the instruments you play (or listen to) are well matched? In other words, are they compatible and get along well together, or is there discord among them?

Okay, so we may sound overly persnickety, but bear with us. What you read here may not change your life, but in the very least you will learn something new and, who knows, maybe one day it will prove to be useful! Now, it’s important to know that there is no such thing as mismatched instruments – true, the sound they make together may not be very smooth or ear-pleasing (in the same way as wearing bright orange and lime green together could bring on a killer headache). But the bottom line is that matching instruments is not an exact science – it depends on your personal preference and the style of music you are playing. For instance, a jazz combo would have a different set of instruments than, say, a chamber music ensemble . Having said that, some combinations of instruments just naturally go well together. After all, creating beautiful music – sounds that relate to each other – should not be haphazard. Think of your favorite music genre and musicians who perform it – we can guarantee that they didn’t choose their instruments on the spur of the moment!

The “right” combination of sounds

Musicians have been experimenting with instruments and sounds for centuries – they tried different variations and, through trial and error, came up with combinations of sounds best suited to the kind of music they wanted to play. Obviously, we can’t cover all the possible matches here, but let’s have a look at combinations that sound best for various genres (keep in mind that these combos are not set in stone; there is quite a bit of flexibility): Jazz lineups usually include the guitar, piano, clarinet, sax, and brass instruments. Folk musicians play mainly the acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica, violin, string bass, flute, recorders, and drums. Rock. Electric and bass guitars, along with drums, are the basis of rock groups. As we said, we can’t list all the possible matches, but these three examples give you a good idea – all these combinations sound wonderfully together!

Meet your match!

As we mentioned, there is no such thing as a “bad” combination of instruments, unless they all play off-key. All instruments are “good” by nature, but they always work best when selected to complement each other. When they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, our Hey Joe Guitar teachers will not only tell you which instruments go well with the one you are currently playing, but also show you how to produce harmonious sounds – whether on one instrument or several. This way, you will be able to live in total harmony!

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Let’s talk about multi-tasking. As you certainly know, this term means the performance of more than one activity by one person at the same time. Of course, multi-tasking is a vast subject, so let’s narrow it down to just one area: music. More specifically, we’d like to talk here about those very talented individuals who play more than one musical instrument. They are known as multi-instrumentalists.

Why play more than one instrument? We can’t speak for all the multi-instrumentalists out there, but the folks we do know (our teachers and students) tell us it’s all about their love of music – with different instruments they are able to make different sounds or perform various genres. Let’s put it this way: if playing one instrument gives you a sense of accomplishment, think about how “masterful” you will feel if you are able to perform on two or more. Obviously, it takes a lot of work, discipline, and practice to learn to play on more than one instrument. But, as the Rolling Stones’ front man Mick Jagger famously said, “everything worth doing is worth overdoing.”

The (many) sounds of music

Mick is known to play the guitar, drums, and harmonica , but so many more musicians are gifted multi-instrumentalists as well. Let’s look at some of them: Paul McCartney is brilliant at bass, acoustic and electric guitar , piano and keyboards as well as over 40 other musical instruments. Steven Tyler is best known as the Aerosmith’s vocalist, but he also plays the harmonica , piano and percussion . No wonder Alicia Keys is on fire – she plays the piano , guitar, bass and cello. Speak about the ultimate multi-instrumentalist: Stevie Wonder performs on the piano , synthesizer, harmonica, congas, drums , bongos, organ, and a little-known instrument called harpeji . Another accomplished multi-instrumentalist, country western singer Dolly Parton is proficient at the guitar, dulcimer, autoharp , penny whistle, piano, drums, saxophone , gospel organ, mandolin, and banjo. As we said, this is just a partial list. There are many more!

Wearing more than one hat

Should you play more than one instrument? That is entirely up to you. Some of our students, having mastered one musical instrument, start to learn another, while others are happy to stick to just one. Before you decide, keep in mind that all the instruments have certain things in common, for instance, music theory and notes. Once you learn these basics, they will apply to all the instruments, although the sounds produced by different instruments will vary. Whatever you decide, we have just the right teacher for you. He or she will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and help you play as you like it.

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Here’s a question you might not have considered before: is there such a thing as a magical or enchanted musical instrument? In art and literature there are examples of instruments that have special powers. Take, for example, a recently published book titled “Echo” In it, the main protagonist is a magic harmonica, which has the ability to break a witch’s spell and save three lives. We won’t tell you how it all ends, but let it suffice to say that this little instrument is very special indeed.

And there are other examples of musical instruments that have special, magical powers.

It’s magic!

If you read “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” you probably remember an enchanted, self-playing harp that lulls Fluffy, the three headed dog, to sleep. (In fact, in this very book, Albus Dumbledore notes, “Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here!”) But magical instruments are not limited to literature. How about Mozart’s opera, “The Magic Flute?” In it, a young prince, Tamino, saves his princess by playing, ever so beautifully, an enchanted flute . Of course, you may say that the above-mentioned harmonica, harp and flute are fictional. This may well be, but in real life there had also been many musical instruments that some cultures considered to have special, mythical powers. For instance, the sound of the tanbur is believed to have had healing and calming powers, while the conch horn’s trumpet-like music was credited with bringing long and prosperous life.

Be spellbound!

“Music is the strongest form of magic” ~ Marilyn Manson Whether or not you believe that instruments have special powers, one thing is certain: music itself is truly magical in the way it brings out so many different emotions. It is soothing, uplifting, therapeutic, and generally a positive and meaningful experience for children and adults alike. Now, our teachers, enchanting as they are, do not possess mysterious or supernatural powers. In fact, their main “power” is the ability to teach music. They are definitely not witches or wizards, but when they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will show you how to coax a truly magical sound out of your ordinary harmonica, flute, or any other instrument!

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At Hey Joe Guitar, we love the month of May – and not only because spring is in the air and summer is right around the corner. There is another reason we think May rocks: tomorrow, 5-22, is the National Buy a Musical Instrument Day. Now, you probably think we invent these “holidays” just for the heck of it. Not so! This occasion really does exist and we had absolutely nothing to do with its creation – honest!

It is an “unofficial” holiday (meaning you can’t take time off work or school) and its origins are unknown. However, that doesn’t mean that this occasion should not be marked; after all, its purpose is to purchase an instrument so that you or a family member can begin to take music lessons. You’ll get no argument from us!

Be a savvy consumer

Buying your first musical instrument is a momentous occasion. This means you re ready to embark on a new and exciting adventure. As New Yorkers, we are very lucky because our city has so many great music stores. Just as an example (and this is in no way an endorsement, just information), the historic “Music Row” on 48th Street is lined with many such shops. Whether you are a first-time buyer or you are looking to replace your current instrument, there are several things to consider because an instrument is an important purchase. First of all, determine your budget – can you buy a brand new instrument, or opt for a second-hand one? If you can only afford a second-hand instrument, don’t be discouraged –there are plenty of good, quality ones available, so make sure you purchase from a reliable source rather than from the back of a truck in a dark alley. How can you vet your seller? Ask your musician friends, other students, or music teachers for referrals. And always try out the instrument – touch it, handle it, and play it – before parting with your money. If you are taking the instrument home with you right away – a difficult task if you are buying a piano– or have it delivered by the seller or another party, get insurance. Accidents do happen, whether or not you believe in Murphy’s Law!

Make a list

As mentioned before, the best way to ensure that you are not buying a lemon is to deal only with reputable sellers who have been recommended to you by people you know and trust. This is all the more crucial when you are buying a second-hand instrument, which comes with its own history. It may look wonderful but looks could be deceiving, so make sure you ask all the right questions, which are pretty much the same you’d ask if you were purchasing a used car. For instance:

• Who owned the instrument and how many people played it?
• Who tuned it and performed maintenance on it, and how often?
• When not in use, where was the instrument stored?
• Have there been any major repairs? (Cosmetic flaws due to normal use don’t matter, but stay away from an instrument that had been broken or otherwise damaged – unless you are confident it can be repaired).
• Check the valves, keys, frets, strings, and all the other pieces to make sure they are in working order. Last but not least, play it! Does it sound right, as this particular instrument should, or does the noise remind you of a pack of banshees?
• Even used equipment often carries some sort of limited warranty, so get it in writing. And never, ever, buy an instrument “as is,” unless, as stated above, you don’t care about its condition because you are certain you (or someone else) can do the necessary repairs.

We are here for you!

Now that you brought your bundle of joy home (or had it delivered), the next step is to book lessons. We recommend that you choose your music school with as much care as you put into selecting your instrument. Questions to ask: which music school has well trained and highly experienced teachers? Answer: we do! And which school offers convenient private lessons right in your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office? That would be us again! Let’s put it this way: over the years, we have given thousands of music lessons to New Yorkers of all ages and proficiency levels, and have never had a single dissatisfied client – human or instrument.

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At Hey Joe Guitar, we love to hear or read interesting stories about musical instruments. Far from being just inanimate objects, many of them have a fascinating “personal” history, just like human beings do.

One case in point is a “trench” cello, which, as recently reported by BBC, was built by a British soldier during WWI. Obviously, given its precarious beginnings, the cello was not made out of wood (as these instruments usually are) but from an old oil can. When the soldier in question died, his family donated the war-worn instrument – believed to be the only surviving cello actually made on the front lines – to a local museum. The “trench” cello, the museum’s curator noted, “is such an evocative object – you can see the inventiveness of the maker in the beautiful hand-turning of the neck and shaping of the oil can to create a real musical instrument. It’s easy to imagine it bringing a little cheer in the most tragic circumstances.”

From the war zone

Now, you might think this is a sole example of a makeshift cello dating back to WWI. Actually, there is another such instrument that we know of. A French soldier, Maurice Marechal, (a musician before the war) asked two comrades-in-arms, who were carpenters in civilian life, to make a cello for him. The two soldiers fashioned the instrument from the only materials they could find in the combat zone: the wood from an ammunition box, as well as pieces of old door. When the regiment left for the front, the cello traveled with them, placed in the supply van above the tinned food. Sadly, the two carpenters were killed in combat but Marechal – who, as the story goes, considered his makeshift instrument to be as valuable as a Stradivarius violin – survived, as did his precious cello. It now lives in the Music Museum in Paris, but playing or restoring it could damage the fragile instrument. However, an identical copy was made and it replicates the original sound beautifully.

We come in peace!

These two stories are very touching and poignant, and we are glad that they have given us a chance to talk about the cello – a graceful string instrument that looks like a larger version of the violin. (It is, in fact, closely related to the violin, – its full name is violoncello – though the cello has thicker strings). An integral part of classical and chamber orchestras, string quartets, and other ensembles, the cello emits a beautifully deep and rich sound, especially when handled by the very capable hands of Yo Yo Ma . In case the two aforementioned stories have inspired you (or a family member) to play this instrument, we will be happy to help. We have excellent cello teachers who can come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons – whatever your age or proficiency level. Let’s put it this way: for your cello teacher, you’ll always be the first string!

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At Hey Joe Guitar, we live in the present. We don’t spend much time dwelling over the past, but we do sometimes look back at certain aspects of history, especially those pertaining to music.

By the same token, we often wonder what the future holds. We don’t have a crystal ball, of course, but we are curious about what new music-related developments are ahead.

We thought this would be a good opportunity to explore the past and future world of musical instruments – the ones that no longer exist and those that haven’t been popularized yet.

So come on board our time machine and let’s go for a ride!

It’s history!

A great number of instruments invented in centuries past are still in use today, even though they had been modified and modernized in the meantime. However, some are no longer in existence.

Obviously, we can’t mention all of them here and now, but let’s have a quick look at some musical relics of the past:

• Besides the lyre, ancient Greeks also played and listened to the cithara, aulos, and hydraulis – string, reed, and keyboard instruments respectively.
• The Mayans played the trumpet-like hom-tah , which was made of wood, clay, or gourd.
  Its built and deep sound was similar to the didgeridoo used by indigenous Australians.
• The medieval precursor of the oboe, the shawm , was made in Europe from the late 13th until the 17th century. With its loud and shrill tone, it was used by military bands during the Crusades. During the same era, there was also the pear-shaped string instrument called the rebec , as well as the psaltery , a cross between the harp and guitar.
• An instrument that did not survive the Baroque period in its present form was the lautenwerck keyboard, a combination of the lute and harpsichord. One of Johann Sebastian Bach’s favorite instruments, it emitted a smooth and mellow tone.

As we said, it is impossible to cover all the extinct instruments here, but at least you have a quick overview of some of them.

Looking ahead…

Obviously, we cannot predict the future – musical or otherwise. (As Doris Day famously sang: “Whatever will be, will be. The future’s not ours to see.”)

However, this article is giving us a glimpse into what instruments might be developed.

Among them are some truly imaginative ones, like GEPS, a “data glove” that lets the wearer create electronic music with hand gestures; the tine organ; and even something as unusual as the sponge.

Of course, all these (and other) instruments are bound to create new sounds, or at least change the ones we are used to hearing. What will the music of the future sound like? Again, we can only guess, but perhaps this video will provide some answers.

Here and now

We have some great and not-so-great news. Let’s start with the latter: as talented as our teachers are, they cannot give you lessons in instruments that no longer exist or those that haven’t been manufactured yet.

Now for the great news: if an instrument has already been invented and is in use – like the guitar, piano, drums, and many others – you came to the right place. We offer lessons in a wide variety of string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments, and give voice training as well.

Just contact us and we’ll send a terrific teacher to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office.

Isn’t it wonderful to be living in the present?

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When you are going to a concert you probably expect to be seated in an appropriate venue. We are guessing that very few people anticipate listening to a live musical performance while swimming in a pool or skiing down a slope.

But this is not always the case: some musicians like to play in unusual and surprising venues, places where you would not normally expect to hear a performance. That’s okay with us though – we believe music should have no boundaries or be defined by social conventions. Let’s have a look at some creative – and sometimes wacky – places around the world where music is being played!

Submerged in sound

Over in Europe, a British company called Wet Sounds had a genial idea to set up musical installations in public swimming pools. As explained on its website, Wet Sounds “presents listening sessions to a floating and diving audience in the water. It effectively creates three sound spaces in the physical space of the swimming pool. One inside the water, one outside the water and one a merger of the two as the listener floats on the surface of the water. These three distinct sound spaces are chosen by the listeners as they move in and out of the water. The three sound spaces are used to convey parallel narratives, musical and literal.” What does music sound like under water? This BBC report provides the answer. Now, you don’t have to get wet to hear music in offbeat places – just bundle up! A couple of years ago a ski enthusiast named Sean Pawling hit the slopes of a Northern California ski resort and slalomed down while playing “Ride of the Valkyries,” from the movie “Apocalypse Now” on his trombone. He certainly brings a new meaning to the phrase “The hills are alive with the sound of music!” And speaking of taking music to the new heights, sky’s the limit for this adventurous fellow , who decided to play his violin while skydiving. However, unless you are a very skilled skydiver and violinist, and your instrument is well insured, we advise you against such daredevilry!

Music without borders

We’ve heard the song about being in a desert with a horse with no name , but we bet that most of you have never seen this stunning footage of a female ensemble performing in a Mongolian desert. And, unlike the horse, the instrument does have a name: shanz, a long-necked spiked lute with an oval wooden frame that sounds somewhat like the banjo. Also going by the name “shudraga,” it is traditionally used in the Mongolian folk music (though not necessarily in the desert). Now, if you think a concert hall smells “fishy,” you may be right, especially if you happen to attend a performance by an Icelandic musician Sigur Ross, who decided to play with his group in a deserted fish factory . Can’t decide which music venue is the most unconventional for an instrument? This fellow solved it: he takes his long-suffering cello with him everywhere! Should you do the same? As in the case of a parachuting violin, we recommend that you first insure your poor instrument against all kinds of knocks and blows!

We’ll meet you in New York!

We are sure you already know this, but we repeat: our music lessons take place in conventional and traditional venues like your home or office. Our teachers won’t go to a fish factory or a desert, but they WILL go to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale – locations that are more convenient for our customers. So if you’d like to venture to Iceland or Mongolia, call the airlines. But if you want to stay city-bound, contact us!

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A couple of months ago, we wrote a blog about an unusual but very interesting musical ensemble that plays instruments made from vegetables. And before that, we told you about an orchestra where all the instruments are made out of garbage.

These two remarkable groups inspired us to explore this topic further, especially to find other unusual orchestras or musical experiences. We didn’t quite know what to expect, but to our ears’ delight, we discovered some ingenious ways to play – and listen to – music.

Bold and creative

One unusual musical experience that is definitely making waves – literally and figuratively – is a South African underwater orchestra. This classical ensemble performs – beautifully! – submerged in the ocean. We don’t know how they manage to do this, and we find this extraordinary performance absolutely amazing. But unless you are a skilled swimmer and diver, and your instruments are waterproof, please don’t attempt to duplicate this feat! Playing music in an aquatic environment is not something you see every day, but there is more. For instance, look and listen to musicians from Australia’s Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performing with empty beer bottles . To see their extraordinary skill and dexterity is a… sobering experience!

Fun with ukes

Musicians who perform on land may not be as funky as their underwater counterparts – though they are certainly drier. And they can still distinguish themselves from the conventional musical ensembles by doing something new and different. By its definition, a traditional orchestra consists of a variety of instruments, usually from the brass, percussion, string, and woodwind family. However, that isn’t always the case. One notable exception is the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, which has gone global with performances combining uke music with a comedy routine and vocals . It just shows you what wonderful sounds you can make when you think out of the box!

We won’t get wet feet!

In case you are wondering, we’ll tell you right away: yes, our music teachers are fun and creative, but no, they will not plunge into your bathtub or fish tank. So when they come to give a music lesson in your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they expect to keep their head above water! That said, if you or your child would like to learn to play the ukulele, we have some truly awesome teachers for you. The uke is one of a number of musical instruments we teach – in addition to the guitar and many others.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Let’s Orchestrate: Manhattan Ukulele School Introduces You to World’s Most Unusual Musicians! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Are you familiar with the concept of a petting zoo? Simply put, it is a place where people (mostly children) can interact with domesticated animals by touching and feeding them. It could be a great learning experience as it not only brings inner-city kids closer to nature, but also teaches them to be kind and gentle to our four-legged friends. (In New York, there’s a small but friendly petting zoo in Central Park)

Now, there are also other venues that provide a similar hands-on experience, minus the furry creatures: musical instrument petting zoos! This may sound like something we just made up, but we assure you that such places not only exist, but there are plenty of them.

“Show” is better than “tell”

You may think that a venerable institution like the National Symphony Orchestra, which performs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C, is not a kid-friendly place. However, as part of its education and community outreach programs, the Orchestra runs a Petting Zoo, where children have a chance to touch and handle the orchestral instruments professional musicians play. The purpose of this exercise is obvious: it gives the kids who may not otherwise be exposed to musical instruments a unique opportunity to touch “the real thing” and spark their interest in music. True, a tuba or a cello may not be as soft and cuddly as a baby goat, but the inspirational value behind the “up-close-and-personal” interaction with a musical instrument should not be underestimated. The National Symphony Orchestra is just one of numerous organizations around the country that run such programs, including some in NYC.

Music appreciation

American blues composer and musician W.C. Handy once said: “Setting my mind on a musical instrument was like falling in love. All the world seemed bright and changed.” Handy eventually learned to play the piano, trumpet, and guitar, earning the title of “The Father of Blues.” We are guessing that in his lifetime, at the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th, there was no abundance of petting zoos, so Handy most likely chose his instruments based on affinity. Today’s youngsters have so many more choices. At an instrument petting zoo, they are not only exposed to music, but they also get to know some really cool things about the instruments. For instance:

• They learn that there are different families of instruments – string, brass, percussion, and woodwinds. And, they learn to identify which family a given instrument belongs to.
• They learn the proper way to hold and play an instrument.
• By touching a variety of instruments, they become aware of their shapes and feel the texture and materials they are made of.
• When they listen to the sounds instruments emit, they hear how different they are from each other.
• They develop curiosity and interest in learning more, laying foundation for further music education.

NYC music teachers

It goes without saying that a musical instrument should never be chosen randomly in the “eeny, meeny, miny, mo” manner. It would serve your children well to “get acquainted” with different instruments before picking one that suits them best. The next logical step is finding the best teacher in New York City – one who is “fluent” in an instrument of your choice – to guide your child through the exciting musical journey. We can help! Whether you live in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale, our instructors will happily come to your home or office – and even pet your sheep, if you have one!

Photo by Belfast Fringe Festival

The post At a NYC Guitar School, Musical Instruments are Our “Pet” Projects! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

What does a carrot sound like? Does it make, um, a grating noise? And what about a zucchini or eggplant? We bet you never thought you’d be asked these questions, but we like to surprise and keep you on your toes! Not only that, but we actually bring you answers, so today you will learn something new and totally amazing. Wait, you’ll see!

Play your veggies!

Honestly, we are not making this up – let us introduce you to …the Vegetable Orchestra, a group of innovative Austrian musicians who tour the world and perform on instruments made from fresh vegetables. The question that begs to be asked is “why?” As the musicians explain it, veggies “create a musically and aesthetically unique sound universe.” And there is more: “There are no musical boundaries for the Vegetable Orchestra’” the band points out. “The most diverse music styles fuse here – contemporary music, beat-oriented House tracks, experimental Electronic, Free Jazz, Noise, Dub, Clicks’n’Cuts – the musical scope of the ensemble expands consistently, and recently developed vegetable instruments and their inherent sounds often determine the direction.” So what does a carrot, pumpkin, cucumber, and red pepper combo sound like? Judge for yourself!

The soup’s on!

You may be wondering where do the musicians get their instruments every day? As you can see , before each performance, the band shops for fresh vegetables. Then they start carving, drilling holes, and otherwise prepping the veggies for that night’s concert, making sure that a carrot can be used like a flute and pumpkin is hard enough to be a drum of sorts. And the experimentation never ceases. “We constantly develop new instruments,” the musicians say. “Each time we perform we refine our instruments or experiment with new variants.” What happens once the performance is finished? Obviously, unlike the conventional instruments, veggies tend to go bad, but the band doesn’t believe in wasting food. So at the end of each concert, the musicians make a big pot of vegetable soup that they serve to the audience.

Not breaking with tradition

At Hey Joe Guitar, we love our veggies – to eat, not to play them. In fact, when it comes to making music, our teachers are traditionalists – they like their guitars to be made from wood, the trumpets from brass, and they don’t expect any instruments to be edible. So if you want your music teacher to show you how to blow into a carrot or beat on a pumpkin – sorry, we can’t help you with that. But if you or your child want to learn to play a “regular” instrument, one of our awesome teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons.

Photo by unknown, available under a Creative Commons License.

The post NYC Guitar School Spills the Beans on Veggie Instruments appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Do you love your musical instrument and treat it with tender loving care? We hope so because the more tenderness and attention you give it, the longer it will serve you.

Proper care of your instrument will not only help maintain its shiny coat, but also the quality of its sound. (Yes, we realize that we are talking about an inanimate object, but if you don’t believe that instruments have feelings, just listen to the Beatles .)

As you can see, guitars do occasionally shed tears, even when handled by very capable hands of George Harrison. By the same token, the piano may wince when you step on its pedal and the drum might feel the pain when it is beaten – well, you get the idea!

All this to say that being kind to your instruments will make an…instrumental difference in how it responds to you.

Be mellow to your cello!

Yes, it is important to take good care of your instrument, and, as in so many other things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The first step is to keep the instrument safe from harm. For example, don’t hang clothes on the saxophone, keep your parakeet from building a nest inside the guitar, shoo the cat away from the piano , and – though it does sound far-fetched – make sure an elephant doesn’t step on the flute.

Needless to say, all of these actions will cause damage to the innocent instrument, and you’d have to pay a pretty penny to repair it or buy a replacement.

Fortunately, taking care of your instrument is not rocket science. It’s just a matter of common sense and is really quite simple:

• Wash and dry your hands before playing. It’s all too easy to get dirt and grease on the instrument.
• For obvious reasons, don’t eat or drink while holding your instrument. Getting crumbs out from the hollow parts and other crevices is difficult, and spilled liquid will not only damage the exterior finish, but may also alter the instrument’s sound. You don’t want your violin to screech like a dentist’s drill, do you?
• Protect the instrument from extreme temperatures, as well as humidity – exposure to both could cause the glue to soften and some parts might even break off.
• Keep the instrument properly stored – either in its own case, or somewhere safe, away from the traffic. It doesn’t take much for a pet or family member to accidentally step on or trip over an instrument.
• After you play, gently wipe down the instrument. You don’t actually have to wear while gloves – a soft cloth will do just fine!
• If your instrument does get damaged, its repair should not be a DIY project. Take it to a professional or, for the piano, ask one to come to your house. Never, ever attempt to insert sharp objects into an instrument – you might be able to hoof a horse with a Swiss Army Knife, but not repair a violin.

Quick – start polishing!

The teacher we will send to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home will be happy to give you (or your child) a lesson on the instrument of your choice.

But know this: all our teachers have an excellent ear for music (need we even say that?) and will immediately hear if your instrument sounds wacky. So if you have been neglecting your instrument, please give it some urgent TLC before our sharped-ear teacher shows up on your doorstep!

Photo by unknown, available under a Creative Commons License.

The post Keep Your Instrument as Fit as a Fiddle, With NYC Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Quite a few times, we shared with you the latest research about the benefit of music training.

By now we may sound like a broken record, but any time there is something new to add to this fascinating topic, we’ll jump right on it!

Maybe because the positive effects of music education are so widely known, very often parents ask us questions like: “My son is very hyper and can’t concentrate. Will playing an instrument help?” Or, “my daughter is very shy. How can music lessons help her come out of her shell?”

This is just as relevant for adults too. People of any age can benefit from music lessons because the triggers in our brain are the same.

Music can make a positive difference for all age groups. We have witnessed this phenomenon countless times and would like to share our experiences here.

Music “Therapy”

If you are the kind of person who is often distracted, music lessons can help boost your focus, self-control, as well as attention span. That’s because to play an instrument you need an alert mind, patience, and full concentration.

Also, music training requires a certain structure and discipline –for the lessons and for practice sessions in between. Your mind is focused not only on music itself, but also on the proper technique, breathing, coordination, as well as body posture.

True, if you are just starting your music training, you may not possess any of these skills, but with regular lessons you will develop each one, channeling your unbridled energy into a worthwhile and enjoyable pursuit.

Numerous Benefits

What if you are very timid? Very often, the reason behind excessive shyness is a poor self-image, as well as feelings of inferiority and insecurity.

If you fall into this category, you’ll be happy to know that music is a terrific “healer” of shyness and social ineptness. How does this work? Being able to play an instrument is a terrific self-esteem booster; it’ll give you a sense of accomplishment, something to be proud of, and maybe even brag about! What better cure for shyness can there be?

All this is very positive, but there are even more compelling reasons to start music lessons:

• This very scien-cy article talks about a “feel-good” chemical called dopamine. Music is one of the triggers of dopamine, so it improves the mood and lifts the spirits. In other words, it makes us happy.

• Because certain genres – including classical and jazz -have shown to lower heart rate and blood pressure, music promotes relaxation and reduces stress.

Excellent Teachers at Your Service!

As you can see, music training has multiple benefits for the whole family. However, there is one “but” – a lot depends on the kind of lessons and teachers you hire. (This is as true of music, as of any other learning experience).

An excellent music instructor is not only well educated and experienced in working with people of all ages, but he or she is also patient, kind, and enthusiastic – about music and teaching.

Our Hey Joe Guitar teachers fit all these criteria – and then some. They are graduates of the top music schools and accomplished musicians in their own right. Before we send them out to your Manhattan or Brooklyn home, we make sure they are carefully vetted and able to teach the right techniques to their students, whether on the guitar, piano, flute, or any other instrument.

Contact us to setup a first lesson and see what a positive difference music lessons make in your life.

To see the positive difference music lessons have made in the lives of underprivileged children in New York City, check out our charity MusiCan.

The post Benefits of Music: Hey Joe Guitar NYC Guitar School Tells (Almost) All! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

What do the slide guitar, mandolin, and banjo have in common? Yes, you guessed it – they all fall under the category of string instruments. But also, all of them are multi-functional: they are used in bluegrass, country, blues, and jazz music.

There is another common denominator for all these instruments, but we will not divulge it just yet. To find out what it is, just keep on reading!

The guitar…by any other name

Let’s start with the slide guitar. No, it’s not a totally different species of the “regular” guitar or the kind that you slide on ice like the rock in the sport of curling (as a matter of fact, we advise you NOT to use your guitar in this way!).

Simply put, it is a technique of playing the guitar, where a musician slides a hard object, like a bottleneck or steel tube, across strings and along the fingerboard to produce a smooth, high-pitched, “blues-y” sound

And, some slide guitars are not held in the way we normally think of when we picture conventional guitarists. For example, the lap steel model is typically placed on the player’s lap (hence the name).

Like the idea of the slide guitar? The good news is you don’t actually have to go out and buy a brand new instrument; any “regular” guitar can be used as a slide by raising the action and retuning the instrument. For instance, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones would retune to a G chord and Elvin Bishop would use a slide on a regular guitar.

Other prominent musicians who played the slide guitar include John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, as well as bands like The Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin.

“Wind” or “rain” – it’s the mandolin!

A small, short-necked lute with eight strings, the mandolin’s origins go back to pre-history. Cave paintings found in the grottos of France, which date back to between 15,000 and 8,000 years ago, depict a man playing what appears to be a small, short-necked, eight-string lute, which historians believe evolved over the centuries into the modern-day mandolin.

Though perhaps not as popular as the guitar, the mandolin has nevertheless had many aficionados, and songs have even been written about it – “Mandolin Wind” by Rod Stewart and “Mandolin Rain” by Bruce Hornsby are just two examples.

One the musicians most closely associated with the mandolin was Bill Monroe , who created the genre of music known as bluegrass, named after his band, the “Blue Grass Boys,” which, in turn, was named after Monroe’s home state of Kentucky.

In fact, the mandolin’s tremolo sound that is both sweet and fiery fits well not only with bluegrass, but also with country and even rock music.

Is it a drum or strings?

Fact is, the banjo is a bit of both – the drum with the strings. A blend of African and European sounds and musical traditions, this instrument has influenced many American music styles that emerged in the 19th century: the minstrel show, ragtime and early jazz.

Since then, the banjo has become a prominent fixture in blues, bluegrass, and country, which goes to prove that this instrument has shaped many music styles that we think of as uniquely “American.”

Folk singer Pete Seeger and rocker Jerry Garcia were banjo enthusiasts: in fact, the banjo was reportedly the first instrument Garcia remembered how to play when he came out of a diabetic coma in 1986.

String along with us!

At the beginning, we promised to reveal another common trait that the slide guitar, the mandolin, and the banjo share. So, here it is –let’s have some drum action here – with our Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale in home music lessons, you can learn all of them.

Whichever of these three instruments you’d like to master, we’ll be happy to come to your home or office and teach you.

And, if any other instrument strikes your fancy just let us know – we at Hey Joe Guitar have more than one string to our fiddle!

Photo by Bruce Jones

The post Banjo, Mandolin & Co: A New Take on the String Theory appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

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

A multitude of benefits

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

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

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

Long-lasting benefits

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

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

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

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

Benefit from us!

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