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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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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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons Licence.

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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons Licence.

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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons Licence.

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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons Licence.

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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons Licence.

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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.”

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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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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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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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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Just because Tudor City is a small NYC neighborhood – just three blocks from north to south and one block east to west – doesn’t mean you can’t find important services there – like music lessons.

Yes, you can! In fact, we at Hey Joe Guitar offer a variety of music lessons in your Tudor City home or office, just as we do in many other Manhattan neighborhoods – big or small.

Why a residential area consisting of Neo-Gothic skyscrapers was named after England’s Tudor dynasty (which had a distinct architectural style of its own) is somewhat of a mystery.

Be it as it may, this East Side residential area, tucked between First and Second Avenues, and 40th and 43rd Streets, has an interesting history.

From beavers to high-rises

When one of the most prominent members of the Tudor dynasty, King Henry VIII was executing his wives over in England in the 1500’s, Manhattan was still a primitive island overran by beavers and other furry creatures.

It may be difficult to believe today, but when explorer Henry Hudson arrived in what is now Manhattan in 1607, he reportedly saw, according to one historic account, “a pleasant shore bordering a strait opening into an illusory ocean beyond…and the presence of fur-bearing animals, whose skins could be bought with trinkets and stuffs of the coarsest kinds.”

Fast forward to the 19th century. By mid-1800s, the farmland that covered much of the East Side, including the present location of Tudor City, had given way to a high-crime neighborhood of shoddy tenements where many poor Irish immigrants lived.

It took a real estate developer named Fred F. French to turn this decrepit area into what he imagined to be an “urban Utopia.” By the early 1930s, his dream was realized with the construction of nine high-rise apartment buildings, as well as a hotel (the current-day Hilton, at 304 E 42nd Street) that accommodated 4,500 residents.

A rich music history

Before we tell you where you can find great music haunts in the vicinity of Tudor City, here is a brief overview of the musical history of the Tudor era, which spans the period between 1485 and 1603.

While it is impossible to sum up nearly 120 years in just a few words, music, song and dance scene thrived during that time in England. In the cities, many musicians were sponsored and supported by the Church and the Royal Court. In the rural areas, where mostly poor farmers lived, folk ballads were performed in the villages and even in the fields.

Quite a few instruments were refined and perfected, including early forms of the violin called the viol, as well as the oboe called the hautboy. Keyboard musical instruments, such as the spinet, harpsichord and the virginal, were also popular.

Henry VIII might not have liked his wives very much, but he was reportedly a music aficionado who not only wrote music to the English folk song  “Greensleeves,” but also owned 10 trombones, 14 trumpets, five bagpipes, 76 recordes, and 78 flutes.  (It’s a good thing his palace walls were thick and, anyway, who would dare complain about the noise, considering his fondness for beheadings).

Party like the Tudors!

Ok, so you may not be able to find many venues nowadays where you can listen to the sounds of the viol, hautboy, spinet, harpsichord and the virginal (though we at Hey Joe Guitar can teach you to play modern-day versions of these instruments).

Still, there are quite a few places just blocks away from Tudor City where you can listen to live music.

For example:

• Live jazz, funk and R & B can be heard seven days a week at SOMETHIN’ Jazz Club, 212 E. 52nd Street, between Second and 3rd Avenue.

• Tuesday and Thursday evenings are jazz nights at McAnn’s,

• 948 First Avenue and 52nd Street.

• Lunchtime is a jazz-at-noon time at Saint Bart’s, 109 50th Street and Park Avenue.

• Something a bit different: Jazz sessions every Wednesday at 1 PM at St. Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Avenue and 54th Street.

As you can see, Tudor City might be small, but music venues, as well as music lessons, abound.

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Photo Credit: ahisgett

The post Royals Don’t Live in Tudor City, but it is Fit for a King! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Say what you will about Harlem’s reputation as dangerous and squalid, but this neighborhood is no longer the symbol of urban decay. If it were, would a former president of the United States open his offices there?

In 2001, when Bill Clinton headquartered his Foundation at 55 West 125th Street, this is how he explained his choice of the location: “Harlem always struck me as a place that was human and alive, where there was a rhythm to life and a song in the heart, where no matter how bad it was, people held up their heads and went on, and where, when things got good, people were grateful and cared about their neighbors.”

That’s the kind of Harlem its residents are proud of: one of the most important historic centers of African American culture and arts. It is home to 12 colleges – including the prestigious Columbia University – 14 museums, and numerous music venues.

To say that Harlem has a very distinct vibe of its own would be an understatement: from a once downtrodden area, it has morphed into one of NYC’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Harlem globetrotters

In the mid-17th century, Dutch settlers named this part of upper Manhattan, located between 110th and 135th Streets, Nieuw Harlem, after the city of Harlem in the Netherlands.

In those early days, this area was a farming community, which had become, by the beginning of the 18th century, an upper-middle-class suburb of NYC. Eventually, however, the land became barren and the residents started to abandon their properties. Irish immigrants began to squat in the neighborhood, turning the desolate area into a shantytown.

However, like the mythical phoenix bird rising from the ashes, Harlem experienced a remarkable revival, sparked by scores of talented and creative people who settled here at the dawn of the 20th century.

Great expectations

Modern Harlem’s history of transformation from a slum to a vibrant multicultural area it is today began in the early 1900s, with the influx of African Americans from the southern states. Freed from slavery only decades earlier, they started to move north, with many of them settling in Harlem. People of African – Caribbean descent also flocked to this part of Manhattan. Together, these new arrivals laid foundation for a phenomenon that became known as the “Harlem Renaissance.”

During this period in the 1920s and 30s, Harlem saw a veritable explosion of music and other artistic expressions.  Jazz, blues, swing, big band, and spirituals had their heyday, launching the careers of singers and musicians who would become world famous, among them Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and countless others.

Their careers were often launched at venues that have survived to this day and are now considered to be a legendary part of Harlem’s history.

Harlem nights

It’s impossible to talk about the neighborhood’s music scene, past and present, without mentioning the Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street, one of the most famous music halls not only in NYC, but also in the whole of the United States.

In addition to the above-mentioned performers, this landmark launched the careers of other vocalists and musicians as well: Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, and many others. In 1964, Jimi Hendrix won the first place prize in an Amateur Night, an Apollo tradition that is still thriving today.

And let’s not forget the Cotton Club, another legendary Harlem music venue at 656 West 125th Street. Actually, its early years in the 1920s were not exactly boastful, at least by today’s standards. Reflecting the mores and practices of that era, the club was segregated – only white patrons could come to the establishment, where they were entertained by black artists.

But despite this shameful past, the Cotton Club has become a true Harlem tradition. Through performances by – among other renowned entertainers of the day – Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Josephine Baker, the club has been an important part of our country’s jazz history.

Today, the Cotton Club is still a great live music haunt open to all, where you can listen to jazz, blues, swing and gospel.

Let’s play together!

We at Hey Joe Guitar agree with President Clinton: Harlem definitely has “a rhythm to life and a song in the heart.” That is why we are happy to offer music lessons in this NYC neighborhood, which vibrates with so many different sounds.

Whatever instrument you’d like to learn, we will come to your Harlem home or office – or any other Manhattan neighborhood, for that matter – and teach you.

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 Photo Credit: Simon Whitaker

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Among all of NYC neighborhoods, the section known as Midtown West is one of the busiest and liveliest. Every day (and much of the night as well), it is a beehive of frantic activity and nervous energy – always on the move, never at rest. That may be why New York is known as a city that never sleeps. In a span of just a few minutes, hundreds of taxis whizz by, cars honk, street vendors sell hot dogs and other fare, and throngs of pedestrians elbow their way through the sidewalk. This cacophony of sounds, sights and smells is a quintessential Midtown West, the part of Manhattan that famous architect Le Corbursier referred to as “the vertical city with unimaginable diamonds.”

Bright lights, big city Take our word for it: no one who lives, works, or just visits this lively neighborhood — which stretches from 30th to 59th Street on the west side of Fifth Avenue — will ever be bored. Whether you look straight ahead, behind you, left, right, or even skyward, there is something interesting to see. Some of the most famous NYC landmarks are right there in Midtown West, starting with the ultimate high-rise (and not just for King Kong) — the Empire State Building, located at 350 Fifth Avenue. The junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, between 42nd and 47th Streets, is the home of Times Square, possibly the most dazzling sight in the whole of New York. And let’s not forget the Rockefeller Center at Fifth Avenue and 49th Street, not exactly small potatoes if you consider that millions of people from all over the world visit this spot each year, especially during the holidays, when a spectacular Christmas tree illuminates the site with thousands of lights. The vicinity of Rockefeller Center is also famous, because that’s where Radio City music Hall is located at 1260 Sixth Avenue. The legendary home of the Rockettes is the largest indoor theater in the world, and certainly among the major music venues in the city, along with Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, both of which “live” in the Midtown West as well. And let’s not forget this neighborhood’s history as a textile-manufacturing hub, with numerous designers’ offices, wholesale and retail shops still in existence along Seventh Avenue, between 34th Street and Times Square – the area known as the Garment or the Fashion District. And, of course, there is no shortage of dining options in this neighborhood – restaurants, diners, and coffee shops abound at practically every turn. A hell of a neighborhood Despite its name, Hell’s Kitchen is not actually a restaurant (if it were, we are guessing that not many people would want to eat there). It is an area located within Midtown West, between 34th and 52nd Streets, and Eight Avenue to the Hudson River. Though nobody knows for sure how the rather unusual name originated, fact is that from the 19th century until the 1980s, this used to be one tough and dangerous neighborhood, where numerous gang wars played out on almost daily basis. In the past 30 years, however, the area has been cleaned up, “reformed,” and given a new identity: Clinton. Today, Hell’s Kitchen / Clinton is a “respectable” area full of theaters and restaurants – a long way from its gritty beginnings. Given this transformation, New Yorkers now venture into the formerly hellish neighborhood with a new “devil-may-care” attitude! Give our regards to Broadway! We can’t talk about Midtown West (or even New York City, for that matter), without giving its due to Broadway. Not just the street, mind you, but everything it represents: the artistic and musical center of our great city. Whether you call it the Theater District or the Great White Way, for more than a century this stretch of Manhattan, as well as the neighboring streets and avenues, have housed dozens of theaters big and small. Broadway musicals are legendary; no wonder so many of us can play, sing (or at least hum or whistle) some of the more famous tunes. We at Hey Joe Guitar love all the music that’s rocking Broadway – and Midtown West as a whole. If you live or work in this neighborhood and would like to learn to play an instrument, call us. We’ll come to your residence or place of business and teach you. Even in Hell’s Kitchen, we’ll make heavenly music together!

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Photo Credit: Paul Lowry

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