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

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

Flip-flop moments

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

Bring the beach into your home!

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

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It wasn’t so long ago that New York City was in the throes of cold, wintry weather and we wrote about how to keep warm and healthy. At that time we predicted – accurately, as it turns out – that the gray and bleak winter would not last forever. We were right! Three days from now, on June 21, summer will officially be here and if past years are anything to go by, pretty soon the temperatures will rise, the humidity level will be high, and we will probably remember those cool and crisp winter days with bittersweet nostalgia!

Seriously though, summer in the city – especially if you are a music lover – can be a barrel of fun. There are many concerts and other musical performances taking place over the next two months, and it goes to prove that this city not only never sleeps, but it doesn’t take a vacation either!

The streets are alive…

Here are some not-to-be –missed events music lovers will enjoy: New music July 4 – Sept. 5, 2015 Warm Up is experimental live music, DJs and dancing in the outdoor courtyard of MoMA PS1 in Queens. Free concerts at MoMA July 5 – 26, 2015 (Sundays) Attend four weekly jazz and classical music concerts at Summergarden in the sculpture garden of the Museum of Modern Art. Lincoln Center Festival July 6 – Aug. 2, 2015 Enjoy extraordinary opera, music, dance, and theater that showcases contemporary artistic viewpoints at Lincoln Center Festival in and near Lincoln Center. Indie music festival July 9 & 23, 2015 (also Aug. 6) River Rocks is a music concert on three Thursdays along the water at Hudson River Park. Seaport music festival July 11, 2015 4.2 miles south Rock out with two stages of performers at the 4Knots Music Festival in historical South Street Seaport. Tony-winning musical July 11 – Aug. 29, 2015 (Saturdays) 4.5 miles north The cast of In the Heights sings and dances around you to vibrant hip-hop, pop, and Latin music as they tell the story of tight-knit Dominican-Americans at Harlem Repertory Theatre. Jazz festival July 21 – 30, 2015 Hear dozen of world-class jazz artists (including soulful singers, piano partners and dueling drummers) at 92nd Street Y Jazz in July Festival. Classical music festival July 22 – Aug. 22, 2015 Attend concerts, operas, late-night recitals, and world premieres at Mostly Mozart Festival, performed by the festival orchestra and special guests at Lincoln Center. Outdoor concerts August 1 – 9, 2015 (begins July 22) Out of Doors is three jam-packed weeks of world-class music, dance, and spoken word in the plazas of Lincoln Center if dry. These are just some of the concerts that take place in out city in July and August. There are many more, so start marking your agendas!

Summer school

If you love music, you will surely find what you are looking for among the above-mentioned performances (if you can’t find it in New York City, where can you find it?) And just because it’s summer doesn’t mean there are no music lessons. Our school’s never “out,” and our teachers are always on call – whether you want to continue your lessons or start new ones. We will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office to teach you cool music for the hot days!

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Unless you are a fan of musicals (as we are), you may not have realized that this year marks a momentous anniversary: 50 years since the release of the film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, “The Sound of Music.”

The 1965 Academy Award winner that has popularized whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens is a poignant tale of an Austrian family forced to escape Nazi occupation of their country during WWII. The film is based on the real-life von Trapp family, though, as it often happens in movies, some parts were fictionalized.

“The Sound of Music” is not only a heart-warming story, but it also has some beautiful and memorable songs – for instance, “The Hills Are Alive” and “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.” But perhaps one tune that has stuck in most people’s minds is the catchy “Do Re Mi Fa.” In fact, a few years ago this upbeat song was presented in a massive flash mob at a Belgian train station.

All we can say is happy birthday, “The Sound of Music,” and thanks for the memories!

Some of our favorite things

“The Sound of Music” is one example of classic film musicals and the memorable songs that made them famous. Of course, it’s impossible to mention them all here, but here’s a partial list of the most popular ones:

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939). Who could forget young Judy Garland’s voice as she sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

“Singing in the Rain” (1952). Gene Kelly makes it look so easy!

“West Side Story” (1961) features Leonard Bernstein’s famous song, “Maria.”

“Mary Poppins” (1964). A year before she starred as Maria in “The Sound of Music,” Julie Andrews was a nanny with a magic touch, as demonstrated in this cheeky song, “A Spoonful of Sugar.”

“Grease” (1978). It’s difficult to choose just one song from this original “high school musical,” but we’ll go with “You Are The One That I Want.”

As we said, we can’t list all the wonderful musicals here, because there are so many of them. But you can get a more comprehensive glimpse from the American Film Institute.

Our own sound of music

Whether they are “oldies but goodies” like the ones mentioned above, or born out of more recent films , we at Hey Joe Guitar love show tunes! A movie like “The Sound of Music” and others listed here combine melodies with a theme – a plot, if you will – and this combo makes the whole listening / watching experience all the more interesting.

Now, we are not filmmakers so we can’t really set a story line to music. We leave this task to those who know this field. What we do best is stick to the “music” part as it pertains to an instrument or your voice.

So if you want to learn to sing or play any show tunes on the guitar, piano, saxophone, or any other instrument, contact us. Alas, we don’t offer lessons (as much as we would love to) in the Austrian Alps or at Rydell High, but we will happily come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. In other words, we are…Hopelessly Devoted To You !

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Roses are red, violets are blue, I like poetry and you do too.

Okay, we know we won’t win any literary prizes for this little ditty, but this is just a way to let you know that the Academy of American Poets has designated April as National Poetry Month.

Not only does this event highlight “poetry’s vital place in our culture,” but it also encourages private and public readings as a way for people of all ages and walks of life to get to know this art form.

We love this initiative, especially considering the very close relationship between poetry and music. What could be more poetic than this?

Common ground

If you think that there is no correlation between the two art forms, we beg to disagree. They are tightly intertwined, like a close-knit family, and not only because both are creative and inspirational forms of expression.

One might be communicated through words and the other through sounds, but music and poetry both rely on the same elements: flow, rhythm, expression, and emotion. And speaking of emotion, there is actually a British study, which demonstrated that listening to music and reading poetry produce the same strong, shiver-in-the-spine sensations, thoughts, and imagery.

As the 17th century English historian Thomas Fuller said, “Poetry is music in words and music is poetry in sound.” We couldn’t have put it better – or more poetically – ourselves!

Songs inspired by poems

There are quite a few songs whose lyrics had been inspired by poems. For instance, “My love is like a red, red, rose,” and “Auld Lang Syne” are based on poems by the 18th century Scottish poet Robert Browning.

“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by our own Emily Dickinson was also set to music , as were some of her other poems, such as “If You Were Coming In The Fall” and “Hope.”

Many of William Shakespeare’s poems provided lyrics for songs as well, among them “Under the Greenwood Tree,” and “Double Trouble” from the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban soundtrack.

There are many more examples: lyrics to “Hail to the Chief,” came from a poem, “The Lady of the Lake,” written by Sir Walter Scott. And the words to “America the Beautiful” are from a poem of the same title by Katharine Lee Bates.

We’ll stop here, but there are numerous other examples of poems that were set to music, proving that the two art forms seamlessly converge.

Artistic expression

Now, our music teachers are not poets in the traditional sense of the word, but their music lessons are poetry in motion.

We don’t mean to wax poetic, but when one of our music teachers shows up at your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, he or she will make sure your fingers perfectly strum the strings of the guitar or flutter gracefully over the piano’s keys.

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Recently we came across a fascinating article, which shows how truly smart whales are.

As the article states, they have learned to target the boats of black cod fishermen and swipe their catch off their lines. The whales are alerted to the fact that fishing is taking place from several miles away by the sound of boat engines shifting gear. There is actually footage showing how one sneaky creature’s long jaw creates tension on the line, which, in turn, snaps fish off the hooks.

What sparked our interest in this article is not just the sheer spunkiness and undeniable intelligence of these mammals, but also the fact that they, along with many other aquatic creatures, know how to sing!

A rousing chorus

Okay, let us clarify: we don’t mean “sing” in human terms. But the fact is that deep under the ocean’s surface, there is an aquatic orchestra of different sounds.

The underwater environment is very noisy: heavy rain, volcanic activity, toadfish calls, burbles, grunts, croaks, buzzes, clicks,
and other sounds emanating from the sea can be so loud as to be audible to a human ear. According to a New York Times article, the sea reverberates with “fish barks, chatter, groans, drones, and cries.”

Do these disparate sounds fall under the category of “music?” Certainly not the kind we are used to hearing on dry land. But one definition we found describes music as “a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.”

Perhaps we humans are not able to relate to this cacophony of noises, but who is to say that these sounds are not beautiful, harmonious, or emotional to the creatures that emit them?

The seas are alive with the sound of music

Let’s start with the aforementioned whale songs. Interestingly, a song helps a humpback male explore the seas around him and adjust to the new neighborhood: when he moves to a new place, he literally changes his tune to fit in with other nearby whales.

Then there are mating calls – songs to attract female whales. Either way, we find these haunting sounds really beautiful.

Now, let’s talk about dolphins. These friendly creatures can also belt out a tune .
They do this with their mouths open, and songs express their mood – happiness, sadness or anger (though it’s difficult to imagine a dolphin angry, they always seem to be cheerful and good natured).

What about the manatees? These creatures also communicate their feelings through squeaks, chirps, or grunts: however you want to call these sounds , it’s music to their ears!

Neither fish nor fowl

Needless to say, when our voice teachers come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, they won’t teach you to squeak, chirp, grunt, or groan. While they are nature lovers and appreciate a good whale or dolphin song, you can rest assured that they will train you in HUMAN voice only.

The same goes for learning to play any instrument – the teachers will put all their “people” skills into the lessons!

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Did you know that March marks the International Women’s Month, not only in this country, but also all over the world?

There are numerous reasons to honor women past and present, because they have made significant contributions to arts, humanities, sciences, politics, as well as many other areas. And not just the famous ones, mind you, but also the so-called “unsung heroines” who, through their efforts and dedication, have made a meaningful impact on our lives.

We at Hey Joe Guitar would like to celebrate the women of the world by honoring female composers. Yes, you heard it right – FEMALE COMPOSERS. If you think that composition is strictly a man’s domain, prepare to be surprised!

Out of the shadows

We know that there are many women songwriters, but, throughout the centuries, there had also been women composers of classical music. They are not as well known as their male counterparts (historically, women always had to struggle for recognition),
but their contributions to music have been remarkable.

Obviously, we can’t list all of them here, but we are pleased to introduce you to several who had composed beautiful pieces of music that remain largely unknown. We think this is a great opportunity to present some of these gifted women who have lived in the shadow of male composers far too long.

Lack of recognition

The names Mendelsshon and Schumann are familiar to music lovers, but we are not talking about Felix and Robert, respectively. Rather, we are referring to Felix’s sister Fanny and Robert’s wife Clara.

Let’s start with Fanny (1805-1847). Although she showed musical aptitude from an early age, she did not get as much encouragement and support as her brother did. In fact, in an 1820 letter to her, Fanny’s father wrote: “Music will perhaps become his [i.e. Felix’s] profession, while for you it can and must be only an ornament.”

In her short life (she died at 42 from a stroke), Fanny composed 460 pieces of music, many of which were published under Felix’s name. To those who had an opportunity to hear her work , there’s no doubt that Fanny was a talented composer in her own right.

What about Clara Schumann (1819 – 1896)? A child prodigy who performed recitals around Europe from an early age, Clara’s deftness at the piano won her an admiration of composers like Frederic Chopin and Niccolo Paganini, among others. Her most fervent admirer, however, was a man who would become her husband, Robert Schumann.

While Clara was a successful pianist, she was not widely recognized as a composer, even though she composed a number of piano concertos and other pieces of music . As she once explained, “Composing gives me great pleasure… there is nothing that surpasses the joy of creation, if only because through it one wins hours of self-forgetfulness, when one lives in a world of sound.”

However, since Clara never received any popular acclaim for her works (even though her husband was supportive), she eventually gave up composing. “I once believed that I possessed creative talent, but I have given up this idea,” she said. “A woman must not desire to compose—there has never yet been one able to do it. Should I expect to be the one?”

Sadly, Clara’s music, like that of so many other women composers of her time, had never been taken seriously.

Prolific composers of yore

Of course there had been many other women composers throughout history, and most of them had no family ties to male musicians. Marianne Martinez and Louise Farrenc were among them.

Marianne (1744 – 1812) frequently performed with Mozart (they were both Austrian) and worked in the shadows of famous male composers of that era. However, she went down in history as the creator of the only symphony written by a woman during the Classical period.

Louise (1804- 1875) was a French composer who wrote music not only for the piano, but for chamber ensembles and orchestras as well.

To know them is to love them

At our NYC music school we are happy to honor women composers, songwriters, and musicians in general – past and present. In fact, we are open to all kinds of music, even to the works that have been little known by general public.

Our excellent teachers will be happy to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you or your child music lessons on an instrument of your choice – whatever gender (or age) you are.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Star trek

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

It turns out that they did.

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

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

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

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

“Out of this world” music

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

“Fly me to the moon,” Frank Sinatra

“Rocket man,” Elton John

“Walking on the Milky Way,” OMD

“Venus,” Frankie Avalon

“Blue Moon,” Billie Holiday

“Ground control to Major Tom,” David Bowie

“Across the universe, ” The Beatles

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

“Twinkle, twinkle little star,” Jewel

When you wish upon a star

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

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

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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

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

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

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

Taste for music

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

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

Cook up your own batch!

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

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

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

No pairings required

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

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

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

Photo by Krystin Norman

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

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

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

The sounds of space

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

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

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

We are “worldly!”

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

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

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

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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

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

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

Oh, Christmas tree

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

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

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

Christmas extravaganza

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

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

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

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

Festive music lessons – all year round!

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

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

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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

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

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

Dress warmly!

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

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

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

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

More festivities…

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

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

Celebrate with music!

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

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

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

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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Can you imagine the holiday season without the music? We can’t! Fact is that music makes Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations all the more special and meaningful.

Of course, when we listen to the holiday music, we love to hear the sound of different instruments. You may not have given it much thought, but certain instruments are very prominent in Christmas and Hanukkah festivities. Some of them have roots in religion and history, while others are borne out of tradition, art, and even pop culture.

Then and now

In Renaissance art, some of the Nativity paintings depict musical instruments. One such 17th century piece of art, “The Adoration of the Shepherds” by Italian artist Domenico Zampieri features a shepherd playing his bagpipes for the Infant Jesus. In another, by Piero de la Francesca, musicians standing over newborn Christ play guitar-like instruments. Other Nativity paintings of the era feature harps, tambourines, as well as instruments that resemble violins and flutes.

All of the above instruments are still widely used today, in one form or another. Others, however, are mostly relegated to history – or perhaps a museum. For instance, at Christmas time, families in the 18th century America gathered around the piano-like spinet and the hammer dulcimer . And modern-day re-enactments of the colonial era show the popularity of fife and drums .

Some still-popular Christmas songs, like “12 Days of Christmas” (which includes “Eleven Pipers Piping”) was written during the colonial times as well, while another instrument –related song, “The Little Drummer Boy” was composed much later, in the 1940s.

Need other examples of “Christmas-y” instruments? Look no further than the Rockefeller Plaza and its dozen trumpet-playing sculpture angels – wonderful symbol of Christmas in our city.

And as this musically versatile family demonstrates , several different instruments can be included in a Christmas celebration.

Festival of lights

What about the Hanukkah? First, let’s go back to ancient times and the instruments musicians used during religious observances. The Temple orchestra consisted of 12 instruments, including the lyre, harp, trumpet, three varieties of pipe, cymbal, as well as ram’s horn called the “shofar.”

Modern-day renditions of traditional Hanukkah songs often feature a regular piano ,
a guitar , or a medley of instruments for the less traditional (but inspiring nevertheless) songs.

(Your) home for the holidays

At Hey Joe Guitar, we love all the instruments and teach many of the ones mentioned above – and then some: guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, mandolin, and voice.

Just think about all the beautiful music you can make with any of these instruments – during the holiday season and all year round.

Not sure how to strike the right note? That’s not a problem: one of our awesome teachers will be happy to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you or your child lessons.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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‘Tis the season of “fa la la la la, la la la,” and chances are you too are belting out, or at least humming to, some Christmas tunes. Whether it’s about rocking around the Christmas tree, decking the halls with boughs of holly, riding through the woods in a one-horse open sleigh, or poor grandma getting run over by a reindeer, these traditional songs are an integral part of the holidays.

But wait: have you ever wondered what interesting and maybe even wacky tales are behind the most popular Christmas carols? No? Well then, read on…

Holly Jolly Christmas

Sure you know all the seasonal standards, but – do you REALLY? Here’s a list of some curious facts about Christmas music you may have missed along the way:

Christmas is a Christian holiday, but many of the most popular tunes are the creation of Jewish songwriters and composers. For example, the music and lyrics of “White Christmas,” the most recorded Christmas song in history, were written by Irving Berlin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJSUT8Inl14&w=500&rel=0

Johnny Marks was the prolific songwriter of “Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” and “Run Rudolph Run”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xNuUEnh2g&w=500&rel=0

“I’ll be Home For Christmas”, was composed by Walter Kent; “Winter Wonderland” is the creation of Felix Bernard; and “The Christmas Song”, was composed by Mel Torme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE8D52xD4uw&w=500&rel=0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOszvL9lgSs&w=500&rel=0

And don’t think that Jewish composers are behind only the 20th century’s crop of songs – the music to “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, was composed in 1840 by Felix Mendelssohn. In fact, there is something very interesting about this particular piece of music. Read on to find out!

Stories behind the songs

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” has been a traditional Christmas carol for more than 170 years, but Mendelssohn actually composed this cantata – to the lyrics written in the previous century by a Methodist cleric Charles Wesley – to commemorate Johann Guttenberg’s invention of the printing press. Why a prominent composer would mark an invention that had occurred 400 years earlier with a religious song, we do not know. But whatever the reason is, we are happy that he gave the world this wonderful carol, which is still a part of Christmas repertoire all these years later.

Hang on – there are more fascinating facts out there. For instance, “Jingle Bells”, one of the most popular holiday songs, is not about Christmas at all; it was originally written for the Thanksgiving celebrations.

Another typical song is “Do You Hear What I Hear?” You’d THINK it’s a Christmas tune, but in reality, it is a peace song, inspired by the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7KU9bCTAM&w=500&rel=0

And there is a sweet “awwww” moment associated with the above-mentioned “I’ll be Home For Christmas:” Gemini 7 astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell asked to have this song played for them while they were in space. Their wish did come true: they returned to Earth on December 18, 1965, after two weeks spent in orbit.

Comfort and joy – in your home

We are happy to share with you all these fascinating tidbits and hope they have inspired you to further explore the world of music – Christmas and otherwise. Do you want to be a little drummer boy (or girl)? Or perhaps you’d like to start guitar or piano lessons or, for that matter, learn to play any other instrument in the convenience of your own home or office?

Contact us and one of our wonderful NYC music teachers will appear at your doorstep, whether you live in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale. With music in your life, you’ll never have a “Blue Christmas!”

Photo by The Dolly Mama

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