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

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

Seriously?

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

No excuses – please!

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

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You might think that July is a quiet month and, in some ways, it is. Those lazy, hazy days of summer put all of us in a relaxing mood. Still, this doesn’t mean that there are no exciting events taking place this month. The 4th of July is one such occasion, celebrated all across the country, from sea to shining sea. But there is more: today there is another, though certainly lesser known, event: July 6 marks the International Kissing Day, also called World Kiss Day.

You get the idea: on this day, the art of locking lips is celebrated all over the world. Needless to say, there are many different forms of smooching – from friendly cheek pecks and chivalrous hand kissing, to the romantic locking of the lips.

A kiss is not just a kiss…

Germaphobes will argue that kissing is unhygienic because it spreads germs, bacteria, and viruses from one person to another. If that were truly the case, wouldn’t the human race have disappeared from the planet long ago? We prefer to believe that kissing is good for us. In fact, there is plenty of evidence showing numerous benefits – both physical and emotional – of kissing. For instance:

• By dilating blood vessels, kissing may help reduce blood pressure. The dilation effect may also help to relieve pain.
• For obvious reasons, it releases your happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.
• A vigorous kiss may burn anywhere from 10 to 15 calories. Kiss 20 times a day, and there goes that chocolate bar.
• It tones your facial muscles, particularly those around your mouth and jaw.

Now, all that is great, but what we like best about this business of kissing is that its benefits resemble those you get from music training. For example, just as smooching lowers your blood pressure and releases mood-boosting endorphins, so does playing an instrument. And yes, it also burns calories. What about toning your facial muscles? That’s a no-brainer! Do you really think you can play the flute, saxophone, trumpet, or harmonica without giving your face a good workout?

Work your muscles!

Now, our teachers are not the kissing types, but they obviously know all about the benefits of music training – those mentioned above and others. If you wish to take July 6 off to celebrate International Kissing Day with your loved one(s), go ahead. But don’t forget to book music lessons for the rest of the summer in the comfort of your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. With kissing AND music, you will have a dual advantage – “double the pleasure, double the fun!”

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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We all know how important good education is – as the late Nelson Mandela noted, it is the most powerful weapon, which we can use to change the world.

Subjects such as English, math, and sciences are the backbone of every school’s curriculum. But a nationwide survey released last month shows – to our delight – that parents and teachers alike believe music education in public schools is vital. In fact, the majority of those who were surveyed stated that music should be a required class in middle school, and that students should have a chance to learn an instrument as early as elementary school.

The study in question, called “Striking a Chord, A Public’s Hopes and Beliefs for K-12 Music Education in the United States in 2015” also raised some very important points, one of which is that parents and teachers believe music is critical to a child’s social and emotional development. They are right, of course!

A multitude of benefits

Clearly, parents and teachers know the value of music education. The study has shown what we have always known, both through the scientific evidence and our own experience: children benefit from music lessons in many different ways:

• Music training improves academic performance in reading, science, math, history, and foreign languages.
• It helps build reasoning and cognitive abilities.
• It boosts confidence and self-esteem, leading to better social skills.
• It bolsters focus and concentration, which, in turn, build discipline and perseverance in setting and achieving goals.
• Last but certainly not least, it improves motor skills, coordination, and agility by working all the major muscle groups.

And there is even more: youngsters will carry all these skills and abilities into adulthood, which proves the saying that good education is never wasted!

By the way, these benefits apply to all the instruments: the guitar, piano, flute, or whatever else your child wants to play.

Given all the great advantages of playing an instrument, it is a great pity that music education program in this country’s public schools is not adequately funded.

A child’s play

Many of our students are children and we see first-hand how much they enjoy learning to play an instrument. That’s because kids are naturally curious, enthusiastic, and open to new experiences.

Our teachers love working with children and they are really good at it. They are very patient and know how to keep a child interested and motivated. But that’s not all: the teacher will also ensure that your child learns only the correct techniques, which is an important part of the overall music training.

And we believe is “homeschooling:” lessons take place in your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, so your child can feel comfortable in his or her own environment.

Let’s hear it for education!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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Recently we wrote about some musical instruments of yore that no longer exist The question is: are they lost forever or is there a way to bring them back to life?

We are happy to tell you that modern technology is doing wonders in reconstructing the sounds of some ancient instruments that had not been heard in hundreds – and in certain instances even thousands – of years.

One such long-lost marvel is the epigonion, a stringed, harp-like instrument that was popular in ancient Greece. It had disappeared with the fall of the Greek Empire, as had other once-common instruments like the salpinx (a kind of ancient trumpet), the barbiton (a bass guitar), the aulos (an oboe), and the syrinx (a pan flute). But in recent years they had been painstakingly recreated based on archaeological data such as excavated fragments, pictures on ancient urns, and other historical records.

Lost and found

The fact that these long-lost relics of past civilizations had come to life again is due to the cutting-edge technology, as well as a team of dedicated researchers, historians, physicists, archaeologists, engineers, and musicians.

An international multi-disciplinary team working for the ASTRA (Ancient Instruments Sound/Timbre Reconstruction Application) project used the physical modeling synthesis – a complex digital audio rendering technique – to accurately recreate models of these old musical instruments and reproduce their long-forgotten sounds.

As you can imagine, a lot of work is involved in this process, but it is all worth it in the end, when an ensemble of professional musicians, appropriately called the Lost Sounds Orchestra, gives a concert using the reconstructed instrument. This really brings a new meaning to the phrase “everything old is new again,” doesn’t it?

So what do they sound like? Truly beautiful! It really is a special experience to listen to instruments that had not been heard, literally, in ages .

It’s not lost on us!

At Hey Joe Guitar we are excited to know that (some) old instruments never die – they spring to life again thanks to the convergence of science, technology, and human creativity. You might say that these long-forgotten instruments are getting a second wind!

Now, as amazing as our teachers are, they are the first to admit that the epigonion, salpinx, barbiton, aulos, and syrinx are…all Greek to them. However, they can certainly come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and teach you to play the modern versions of these ancient instruments: the harp, trumpet, bass guitar, oboe, and flute.

Let’s put it this way: with our music lessons, you’ve got nothing…to lose, and everything to gain.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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“God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.”

~ Rudyard Kipling

That’s certainly one thought nobody can argue with – we all know that moms have eyes in the back of their heads. Just like Santa Claus, they see you when you’re sleeping, they know when you’re awake, and they know if you’ve been bad or good (so be good for goodness sake)!

This brings us to this blog’s topic: Mother’s Day. Traditionally – at least in the United States – this event is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, which this year falls on the 10th.

Celebrations of motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans – all of whom, of course, had mothers. In the United States, this holiday started only at the beginning of the 20th century when a West Virginia woman named Anna Jarvis campaigned, after her own mom died in 1905, to set aside one day each year to honor all mothers.

Her efforts had not been in vain; in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation creating Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May as a national holiday. And the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Singing praises to mom

There are many ways to celebrate Mother’s Day, beyond the usual gifts of flowers and chocolates. We are referring to music!

You may think that moms are not your typical muses for songwriters but, in fact, there are quite a few pieces of music that pay tribute to mothers’ love, advice, and devotion.

Take, for example, The Supremes’ 1966 hit song “You Can’t Hurry Love” , which talks about a mother’s wise advice:

“I need love, love to ease my mind
I need to find, find someone to call mine
But Mama said
You can’t hurry love.”

One of the most heartwarming “mom” songs is the Beatles’ 1970 hit, “Let it Be.” As Paul McCartney told it, back in 1968, as he was going through a particularly difficult time in his life and career, he had a dream about his late mother, Mary. “There was her face, completely clear, and she said to me very gently, very reassuringly: ‘Let it be.’”

And how sweet it was when the Backstreet Boys dedicated their 1999 song “The Perfect Fan” to their moms.

A more recent mom tribute is Taylor Swift’s “The Best Day” (2008), where she remembers her childhood and tells her mother, “you’re the prettiest lady in the whole wide world.”

There are, of course, many more songs dedicated to mothers, as this playlist from Billboard magazine demonstrates.

Mom says…call Hey Joe Guitar!

As you can see, Mother’s Day could be a truly musical celebration. But we don’t have to tell you that playing music is not an activity that’s limited to any particular holiday or celebration. Music really is perfect for any day and any reason.

It doesn’t matter whether you want to play the guitar piano, or any other instrument, or perhaps sing your heart out (figuratively speaking, of course). We have great teachers, who can come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, give you music lessons – and maybe even mother you a little!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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

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

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

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

Music fit for a king

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

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

Orchestrating change

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

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

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

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

Start practicing!

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

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

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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Back in December, when Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge visited New York, the press reported every detail of their whirlwind tour of our city. One thing that we found especially interesting was a story about a meeting between Kate and Hillary Clinton, during which the former U.S. Secretary of State mentioned the importance of singing to babies. “We’re trying to encourage more people to sing … because the research suggests that it’s beneficial,” Clinton told Kate.

This may or may not have been news to the Duchess, but it’s not news to us. There is plenty of scientific evidence demonstrating that singing lullabies or nursery rhymes to infants before they learn to speak may help develop their language skills later on. And there are other benefits as well, including fostering emotional comfort as babies grow and develop.

The expert’s take

All this is important, of course, but there is more you should know: singing is good for older children and adults as well.

Studies have shown that raising your voice in a song has both physical and psychological benefits. Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at University of London, has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years, so he is certainly an expert in this field. This is what he says: “Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting.”

What about the psychological / emotional aspect of this activity? The professor explains that singing “reduces stress levels through the action of the endocrine system, which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being.”

The positive effect comes from the endorphins and oxytocin (NOT to be confused with a drug Oxycontin!). These two hormones, which are released during singing – and music in general – are associated with feelings of pleasure and stress reduction, respectively. In our book, any activity that can make us healthier and happier is certainly worth pursuing!

Sing, sing a song!

Do you want to be able to sing but feel you don’t have what it takes? Maybe you think you can’t carry a tune because you are tone-deaf? Actually, only a tiny percentage of the population is truly tone-deaf, suffering from a rare condition called amusia. For the vast majority of people, however, “tone-deafness” – inability to hear pitch or distinguish among musical notes– is nothing more than lack of training. It could also boil down to lack of confidence in your ability to carry a tune, or not knowing how to use your voice.

Let us reassure you with another piece of scientific evidence: research suggests that a good singing voice is simply a matter of training and practice. Singing is not an unattainable art form reserved only for the most talented and gifted vocalists; it is a skill that anyone can master with the help of an experienced and patient voice teacher.

This is where we can definitely help. When one of our teachers comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, you will learn proper breathing techniques, tone placement, muscle control, and other fundamental aspects of singing that will give you confidence to belt out many a tune.

Remember: the key to…singing in key is training, practice, and an awesome teacher!

Photo by Connie Larsen

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It’s not exactly a news flash: January is typically the coldest month in New York. Even if we are lucky enough not to be hit by snowstorms that immobilize the entire city, we still have to put up with crummy weather.

During these bleak winter months, various viruses and germs that lay dormant the rest of the year attack our bodies. Let’s put it this way: the holiday season may be over, but the flu season is in full swing. Whether we are struck by sneezes, sniffles, and nose blowing of a common cold or suffer from shivers, aches and fever, the winter bugs make us feel miserable.

What can you do to stay healthy when everyone around you is sick? Admittedly it’s not easy – after all, cold and flu are called contagious diseases for a reason. However, you can take some steps to bug-proof your body and make it more resistant to the pesky viruses around you.

Be the picture of health

Some of the preventive measures are just common sense: exercise, wash your hands often, drink lots of fluids, and eat right. An apple a day may not always keep the doctor away, but several pieces of fruit might: a vitamin-rich diet is an excellent immunity booster.

Also, as surprising as this may sound, going out for some fresh air (well bundled up, of course) is actually a good way to avoid contagion. That’s because viruses tend to live longer and spread more effectively when you are indoors with an infected person.

There is also another very effective way to strengthen your immune system – music! Although this statement may sound self-serving (after all, Hey Joe Guitar is a music school), we can assure you that it is based on science.

Researchers from several international universities have discovered that exposure to music may, in fact, help you fight off disease. How is this possible? It all comes down to how some of our body mechanisms react to the sound of music.

Here is how this works: listening to music for about 50 minutes a day increases the levels of antibodies, which neutralize bacteria and viruses. At the same time, scientists found that music lowers the levels of cortisol, one of the main stress hormones. Since stress weakens the immunity, it is logical that when less of it circulates in the body, we are less likely to get sick.

That’s the power of music, baby!

Just what the doctor ordered!

Your doctor may not make house calls, but our music teachers certainly do. And when they show up at your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, you can expect an immunity-bolstering experience.

Now, you might be wondering which musical instrument is best for your health. It all comes down to this: whatever instrument “speaks” to you is the one that has – figuratively speaking – your name on it. The sounds of the guitar, flute, saxophone, or any other instrument, really are healing!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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Here in New York, when we think of Christmas, we visualize snow – and lots of it. In fact, all the traditional depictions of the holiday season in the city almost invariably portray powdery and glistening snow blanketing the sidewalks, buildings, and red-cheeked children. (Interestingly, the tableau never shows blizzards, sleet or slush).

On the East Coast and in much of the country, that’s how we want our Christmas to be – a white and magical winter wonderland. But have you given any thought to other places in the world, where Christmas is celebrated in a hot and sometimes even sweltering weather? Can you imagine Santa wearing shorts and sunglasses? And what about this: instead of roasting chestnuts on an open fire and drinking hot cocoa, people cozy up under a palm tree and sip a margarita ?

We personally know some people in Florida, who not only have no idea what real snow looks and feels like, but also can’t imagine shivering on Christmas Day in thick coats, hats, and gloves.

“Hot” music

Obviously, in Florida Christmas is celebrated pretty much the same way as it is here up north – minus the cold – but in other parts of the world, the ambience is much more tropical.

In Hawaii, for example, Christmas is “green and bright” . In the Southern Hemisphere, where December 25 is smack in the middle of summer, barbeque, ice cream and cool drinks are more common than our traditional Christmas fare. And in Polynesia, families often hang out around a lagoon on Christmas Day, roasting a pig for dinner.

What about the Christmas music popular in those tropical climes? It has a totally different beat and vibe than the sounds we are accustomed to. Just listen to some of them:

“Reggae Christmas” – Bob Marley

“Calypso Christmas” – Mark Knauss

“Drink a Rum” – The Merrymen

“Polynesian Christmas” – Tupulaga

Warm up to our teachers!

As mentioned, New York is not exactly a tropical paradise during Christmas, so we are pretty sure that when our music teachers go to give lessons in the dead of winter, they won’t be wearing a Hawaiian hula costume. Their instruments – guitars, saxophones, and such – will also be well protected from the elements in sturdy cases.

However, you can be sure that when a teacher of ours shows up at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, he or she will radiate warmth and good cheer even in the coldest weather!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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“The only thing better than singing is more singing.” So says the famed jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, whose impressive vocal range spanned three octaves.

We, of course, agree. Powerful human voice that breaks into a rousing song is a beautiful sound. And even if there are no lyrics involved, it can still send the chills up your spine! Just listen to this “wordless” song by a Russian performer. Several years ago, it was plucked from obscurity and posted on YouTube, where it quickly became a viral sensation.

And here is another example of a strong, ear-pleasing voice.

See? When we say “the power of the voice,” we mean it!

A perfect pitch

Now, it’s certainly true that most people are not born with voices that can shatter glass (though many babies seem to have amazingly strong voices – especially in the middle of the night!).

What does singing off-key sound like? It sounds like this .

Vast majority of humans can carry a tune – some better than others. But there’s a huge difference between singing in the shower and performing in front of an audience – even if it is only your family and friends.

The best way to sing with power, passion and confidence is to know how to control your voice. You may have heard about vocal components like the pitch, rhythm, volume, tone, and pace, but learning to fine-tune and use them to the best effect while singing is an art!

There are other important singing skills to master as well – for instance, how 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.

All of this might seem like a lot of work and you may not know where (or how) to start building and developing your voice. No need to worry – we are here for you!

With a song in our hearts

As you know, Hey Joe Guitar offers guitar, piano, drum, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, and mandolin lessons right in the comfort of your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home.

But that’s not all! We also have excellent voice teachers who certainly know how to carry a tune. They also have the ability to help you whip your own voice into shape, so that you can sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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“All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.”

Yes, you can argue that this famous quote and book title by minister and author Robert Fulghum is flawed. After all, advanced calculus or quantum physics are not your typical topics five year olds routinely master.

However, for the purpose of this blog, let’s not be such purists. The general idea here is that young children are naturally curious, creative, and motivated to learn new things – a great time to expose them to music.

While there is no guarantee that this early start will turn them into prodigies or even lifetime music aficionados (though we can certainly hope this will happen), the immediate effects of music training are well documented: sharper learning skills, improved motor coordination, and better emotional stability.

Those are compelling reasons to strike while the iron is hot (in the manner of speaking, of course) – certainly before your sweet child turns into a burly and defiant teenager, for whom “music” means harsh-sounding, ear-shattering sounds of heavy metal, not the soft and mellow tunes.

True, all you, as a parent, can do is guide and encourage them while they still listen (and maybe even look up) to you.

From the mouths (and fingers) of babes

So many of the most prominent musicians and composers started to “dabble” in music at a very young age and had become masters of their art.

The best known, perhaps, is the ultimate “child prodigy,” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who famously started learning the keyboard instrument called the clavier at the age of three, and by five he was composing minuets.

Ludwig van Beethoven too was an early starter: he played the piano at the age of five, gave his first public performance at seven, and composed his first piece of music at 11. In both Mozart’s and Beethoven’s cases, parental guidance was crucial: Wolfgang’s father, Leopold, and Ludwig’s dad, Johann, were driving forces behind their sons’ musical training. We don’t know whether these two youngsters had to cajoled into playing, but the result was truly amazing!

There were others, too. Frederic Chopin began to play the piano at five. Violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin started music lessons at four, playing his first concert at seven. The list is truly endless.

Better late than never

What if you didn’t start your music training in childhood? Is it ever too late to begin? We can’t say this empathically enough: when it comes to music (or learning in general), there is no such thing as “missing the boat.” Music training is one boat you can easily catch midstream.

Just ask Andrea Bocelli . The world-renowned Italian tenor started his opera career at 34, even though some “experts” warned him that it was too late to begin.

We are here to tell you otherwise – that there is no such thing as the “wrong” time to start playing an instrument or taking voice lessons, and don’t let any so-called “experts” or other naysayers dissuade you.

Fact is, adults of any age can derive many benefits from music, just as children do. As Greek philosopher Plato put it, “Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.”

Who can argue with that?

Not for kids only

Now, we can’t promise you that your child will become another Mozart (or Einstein, for that matter), but with our Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale in-home music lessons, he or she will be able to learn to play an instrument in the comfort of your own home.

As we stated above, playing music is a wonderful activity for people of all ages – whether you are a late bloomer, a baby boomer, or just a “regular” adult. Remember: the oldest violins make the sweetest music.

We bet you didn’t learn THAT in kindergarten!

Photo by Angel of light

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“I don’t do fashion, I AM fashion.”

Coco Chanel

The famed French designer said these words at the height of her career, in the first half of the 20th century. She was right – to this day, Chanel’s name is synonymous with high fashion and classic elegance.

Some fashions and fads come and go (think “Goth,” and “grunge”) but even four decades after her death, Coco’s signature styles – such as the iconic “little black dress” and a string of pearls – are still very much in vogue, as is her perfume, Chanel no. 5.

All this goes to prove that fashion and music have at least one thing in common: the best pieces are timeless!

As Fashion Week commences on New York City this week, let’s talk about style.

Runway hits

There is a reason why we are talking about clothes here – February 15 to 19 marks the New York Fashion Week, which every year showcases the latest couture by the world’s top designers.

Though the spectators’ dress code for this event is elegant and chic, the music that typically accompanies the show is quite eclectic, ranging from chill tunes to electric hits, a mix that keeps the models sashaying and the audience riveted.

Each season, designers create the playlist to animate their collections, choosing the music that best reflects the mood they want to create.

Here are some examples of the sometimes surprising and / or unconventional soundtracks from a recent New York fashion show:

A soaring drum score from the movie Avatar was Donna Karan’s pick; Lacoste’s models strutted to the sounds of “Higher Ground” by TNGHT; and Tommy Hilfiger’s pick was “I Follow Rivers” by Lykke Li.

All dressed up

It may seem like each season new styles, cuts, hemlines, colors, and fabrics are in vogue. But if you are really observant, you will notice that fashion trends tend to repeat themselves every few decades. Just look at platform shoes, shoulder pads, and other “deja-vu” styles.

That is just as well because it means that songs about clothes and accessories are always in fashion. Here are some examples:

• “Lady in Red” by Chris de Burgh

• “She Wore Blue Velvet” by Bobby Vinton

• “Satin and Lace” by Roger Daltrey

• “Blue Suede Shoes” by Elvis Presley

• “These Boots Are Made for Walking,” by Nancy Sinatra

• “Forever in Blue Jeans,” by Neil Diamond

• “Bell Bottom Blues,” by Derek & the Dominos

No tux required

As we mentioned above, good music never goes out of style, which is why our music lessons are always relevant.

We can come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale home or office and teach you to play guitar, piano, drums, or any other instrument – fashionable or not. And, unlike the shows that take place during the Fashion Week, we do not require elegant attire (but draw the line at birthday suits).

If you want to have your lesson while wearing your oldest sweats and sneakers, that’s okay with us – the music you make will be just as beautiful.

Photo by Michael King

The post Music by Design – With Manhattan Music School appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

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

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

Warm and fuzzy…

“The Autumn Leaves” by Nat King Cole

“Forever Autumn” by the Moody Blues

“Autumn Changes” by Donna Summer

“When the Leaves Come Falling Down” by Van Morrison

“November Blue” by the Avert Brothers

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

Nature’s bounty

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

~ “Harvest Time” by Luke Bryan

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

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

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

“Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

“Harvest Time” by Luke Bryan

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

“The Harvest” by Tribal Seeds

“Chill” out with Manhattan music lessons

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

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

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

In Mexico and some other countries, this holiday (El Día de los Muertos in Spanish), focuses on the remembrance of and prayer for departed family members, so it is certainly more touching and solemn in nature than the spooky events associated with Halloween. Yet, as many other celebrations that take place south of the border, the Day of the Dead has a cheery vibe to it. We will tell you about it in a moment, but for now, let’s have a quick look at the history behind this holiday.

A cultural legacy

Mexican traditions connected with this holiday include building of private altars honoring the deceased, and visiting, as well as decorating, their graves.

It is believed that the modern-day El Día de los Muertos celebrations have their origin in centuries-old indigenous observances and traditions, including an ancient festival dedicated to the Aztec goddess with a tongue twisting name of Mictecacihuatl, who was the ruling queen of the underworld and afterlife. With time, as Catholicism became the dominant religion in Latin America and Europe, the native Mexican customs associated with El Día de los Muertos spilled over to the commemoration of All Saints’ Day on November 1. In the United States, especially in areas with a high concentration of Mexicans, the Day of the Dead is also celebrated. In NYC, Mano a Mano, an organization dedicated to the promotion of Mexican culture, is planning a variety of activities for this week’s celebrations, which everyone, Mexican or not, is welcome to attend And there are festivities for children as well. El Día de los Muertos is such as big part of Mexico’s native traditions that in 2008 this festival was recognized by UNESCO as part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which honors “traditions or living expressions passed down through generations in the form of oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, or knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe.”

Grateful dead

As we mentioned before, even though it commemorates the decreased, there is nothing morbid about El Día de los Muertos. Black is not the dominant color in this celebration – in fact, the altars and graves are decorated in vibrant colors, including elaborate floral arrangements and even the departed person’s favorite food. And what about music? Forget gloomy tunes usually associated with death and funerals – Mexico’s Day of the Dead melodies are upbeat, with distinct drum, chime and guitar sounds, like these two folk songs: “La Calaca Flaca” by Oscar Chavez “Viene La Muerte” by Amparo Ochoa

Go “live” with Manhattan music school

We at Hey Joe Guitar love all folklore-rich festivities, especially the ones that feature great music. Not only do these events expose us to melodies we may not normally get to hear, but they also show how important music is in all kinds of celebrations. Hopefully, by hearing these sounds you will be inspired to make beautiful music of your own. Starting is easy – just contact us and we will send one of our excellent NYC teachers to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office. It’s going to be muy caliente!

Photo Credit: Felicity Rainnie

The post ¡Hola Mexico – with Manhattan Music School! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

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

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

This is what prehistoric music might have sounded like.

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

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

The birth of music

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s make our own history!

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

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

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

Your child has decided to learn to play an instrument– congratulations! Music lessons are among the best and most enjoyable after-school activities for kids of all ages.

The next step is to choose just the right kind of instrument – by “right” we mean one that is adapted to your child’s age, size, and interests.

It is possible that you already have a specific idea of the instrument you’d like your son or daughter to play. Maybe you played the cello in your youth and would like your kids to continue the family tradition. Please, please resist the urge to influence your child’s choice and nudge him or her in the direction you want to go. (Instead, consider continuing cello lessons yourself!)

So how exactly do you go about choosing an instrument for your child? Here are some tips:

A thought-out choice

There are two things to consider: your child’s wishes, as well as his or her body type.

Let’s start with the first criterion. Say your child has been begging for a drum set. Should you acquiesce? That depends on two factors: the child’s age and the reason for this preference.

In a case of a very young child, the choice of an instrument may be just a whim. Maybe he saw it on TV and wants to have a set in the same way he’d want a new toy. So the question you should ask yourself is: is the child mature enough to know what he wants and does he have patience and discipline to follow through in a consistent manner?

If your child is a bit older, let’s say a pre-teen, the choice of an instrument might be swayed by what her friends are playing. At that age, kids are easily influenced by their peers. As a parent, exercise good judgment in deciding whether a request for the electric guitar is based on a genuine desire to learn this particular instrument, or it is just a passing phase.

Size matters!

What if your child doesn’t know which instrument he wants to learn? Let’s go with the second factor, the body type and physical characteristics.

Keep in mind that your child should be able to handle the instrument with relative ease, both size- and weight-wise. And, he should maintain good posture while playing.

For instance, if your child is little (or just small for his age), the bassoon is not the best choice because of the wide spread of the finger holes. However, the recorder, flute or trumpet might be just the right fit.

As a general rule, any instrument that is big and / or heavy is not suited for a child – unless smaller and lighter versions are available, as is the case with the guitar, violin, cello, double bass, and others (ask us for a recommendation).

Different strokes

Here are some further guidelines that will help you choose an instrument based on your child’s physical features:

• Tuba is a great choice for kids with larger lips, while flute, recorder and clarinet are better for small lips.
• To play the trombone, the student’s front teeth should be even; if your child wears braces, he will be at a disadvantage.
• Piano playing requires not only long fingers, but also hand dexterity.

What if a child has her heart set on a given instrument, but doesn’t (yet) have the size, strength, or other physical attributes to play? Don’t just give up the whole idea of music lessons – strike the iron while it’s hot, as the saying goes. Propose another, more suitable instrument with the understanding that she can switch to her first choice in a few years. Very likely, one of two things will happen (both of them good): she will get to love the current instrument so much – and become so good at it – that she won’t want to change; OR she will transition to the other instrument but still enjoy playing the first one as well.

Can we help?

Once the choice of an instrument is made, your child will need an excellent teacher. Don’t look any further: our Manhattan music lessons are just the ticket. We will send a top-notch, highly experienced teacher to your home or office in Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn, or Riverdale section of the Bronx.

We really will take a great care of your child!

Photo credit:  Cheryl Ogle

The post Choosing an Instrument is Child’s Play – with Manhattan Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Your children are now back at school, but what are they doing in their free time? If they are like a majority of school-age kids, they are probably spending hours playing video and / or computer games – certainly not the most productive – or healthy – way to mold their growing minds.

As a parent, you’d want your children to be involved in a wholesome, educational activity and there is certainly no shortage of those in NYC In fact, as New Yorkers, our kids are very lucky to have such a vast array of interesting things to do. However, as the temperature gets cooler and fall turns into winter, you probably would prefer an indoor activity and, preferably, one that doesn’t require you to take your child out in all kinds of inclement weather.

You came to the right place! Hey Joe Guitar offers not only music lessons for a wide variety of instruments (see below), but our teachers will actually come to your home or office, eliminating the need for long commutes for you or your child.

Now, we are not saying that your child should get involved in music to the exclusion of everything else – especially sports. But we ARE saying that music education should be a part of his or her after-school activities because of numerous benefits it provides.

Why music?

There is plenty of evidence indicating that music lessons are fundamental to children’s physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development. How? Let us count the ways:

1. It improves learning skills in reading, science, math, history, and foreign languages because music helps build reasoning and cognitive abilities
2. Boosts confidence and self-esteem, leading to better social skills.
3. Bolsters focus and concentration, which, in turn, build perseverance in setting and achieving goals
4. Improves motor skills, coordination, and agility by working all the major muscle groups
5. It’s fun! (We list it at the end, but this part is as important as all the others).

Let’s get acquainted!

Okay, so now you know all the reasons why your child will benefit from music education. Now, you might be wondering why choose Hey Joe Guitar. We are happy you asked.

We don’t mean to sound immodest, but we are really proud of our music school and our top-notch teachers, who are among the best in New York.

Again, let us list all the ways in which our Manhattan music lessons strike just the right note:

1. We teach guitar, piano, voice, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, and mandolin.
2. Our carefully screened teachers are all graduates of top music schools and conservatories, and have many years of teaching experience. They are patient, motivated, and used to working with children
3. Lessons will take place in the comfort and convenience of your Manhattan home or office. (We also come to parts of Brooklyn and Riverdale section of the Bronx). This way, your child will get personalized lessons geared to his or her age, level, and personality.

One more thing…

Now that you know why music training is an excellent extracurricular activity for your son or daughter (or grandchild, niece, nephew), you might be interested to know that we make the enrollment process as easy as do-re-mi.

If you sign up before November 15, 2013, you will get 25 percent off the first two months of lessons. And if you want to offer the lessons as a gift, you can purchase a gift card and get a child on the right back-to-school track!

Photo credit:  Kirstin Mckee

The post After-School Time Can Be Well Spent – With Manhattan Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”  
~Oprah Winfrey

So let’s talk about New Year resolutions. Yes, again! Doesn’t it sound like 2011 all over again – and each year before that?

You know how it goes: you make a list of things you commit to do (or quit doing) in the New Year.  But, by the time Easter comes – or maybe even earlier – all these promises are forgotten.

We are not making it up. There are actually studies showing that only about a third of people stick to their resolutions.

And, in case you are wondering what other people resolve, there’s a government website  that lists the most popular resolutions. Not surprisingly, drinking less, eating healthier, improving education and career, as well as getting fit are at the top of the list.

We are sorry to see that learning to play an instrument is not anywhere on this list. This is not exactly music to our ears!

Be realistic!

One of the reasons that so many of us don’t follow through on our commitments (other than lack of motivation) may be that we are setting the bar too high.

For example, if you decide that in the New Year you are going to climb the Everest, when your physical condition doesn’t even allow you to climb a flight of stairs (and you don’t have any immediate plans to start exercising), then it is clear that you have been too ambitious, not to say unrealistic, in setting your goals.

The message here is that in order to bring your New Year’s resolutions to fruition, you should stick to commitments that are doable.

And of course, you should only plan to accomplish activities that are healthy, pleasant and enjoyable – take up a new hobby (like playing music or singing, for example), participate in a sports activity, visit more museums – whatever strikes your fancy and makes you happy.

That’s the best way to ensure that your resolutions for 2013 are kept.

Music rules!

You knew we would be talking about music here, didn’t you? We genuinely believe that music training is a terrific activity for people of all ages.

Why do we love music? Let us count the ways:

It makes us happier: A number of studies have shown that music reduces stress and anxiety because it releases the “feel good hormones” like endorphin and serotonin in the brain.

It makes us smarter: There is plenty of scientific evidence demonstrating that children who play an instrument not only score higher on academic tests and generally have better verbal and intelligence skills, but their emotional development is also boosted.

It makes us fitter: Yes, that’s right. Playing an instrument for one hour can burn as many as 204 calories (drums), 170 calories (trombone), 136 (rock-n-roll guitar), and 102 (piano).

It makes for a better world: Music has been shown to be a great “people connector,” bringing together hostile nations and communities in peace and harmony.

Have we convinced you yet?

We’ll let you in on a secret: we at Hey Joe Guitar have a resolution too – to continue bringing music education to people in our community in 2013 as we have done in the years past.

We’d be pleased and honored to bring our Manhattan music lessons to your home or office – all you have to do is call us.

We may not be able to motivate you to climb the Everest, but we will teach you a few crescendos anyway!

Have a happy, healthy, peaceful and MUSICAL New Year!

***

Photo credit: Abhisek Sarda

The post In 2013, Bring Music Into Your Life – with Manhattan Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.