Did you know that today, November 5, is the National Stress Awareness Day? You’ll probably tell us that you are too…stressed out to remember to put such events on your agenda, but that’s precisely a good reason why you should! After all, stress is like a nagging back pain – we all suffer from it from time to time (some of us more often that others), but we don’t really do much about it. However, there are some proven ways to ease both your backache and the stress.

Today, however, we’d like to focus on stress reduction only (since we are not licensed back healers), and talk about how music can relieve many of the symptoms of anxiety.

Down to a science

There’s lots of evidence to suggest that, aside from many other health benefits, music is a very effective stress management tool. For instance, in one study carried out at Monash University in Australia, college students made a presentation before a group with either Pachaelbel’s Canon or no music in the background. Those who were accompanied by music felt less anxiety, and also had lower heart rate and blood pressure than students who presented without music. This finding is not really a surprise to us because we’ve always known that listening to music relaxes our minds and bodies, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress hormones. Singing, by the way, is also a great way to release tension.

“Soul” music

You may be a heavy metal aficionado, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you have a lot of stress in your life, soothing music will be more effective in taming your inner chaos. In one study conducted by a British university, researchers were looking at which types of music relieved anxiety the most. They determined – not surprisingly – that the most calming sounds were harmonious. “The most common labels for the relaxing tracks were, ‘peaceful,’ ‘serenity,’ ‘sadness’ and ‘joy,’” the researchers noted. So what should you listen to when you are stressed? Actually, there’s a wide variety of tunes, ranging from the above-mentioned Canon in D Major, to Louis Armstrong’s wonderfully uplifting “It’s A Wonderful World.” There are also sounds that will thoroughly relax you from inside out. And these tunes are supposedly scientifically proven to calm you down. You can’t argue with science!

Cool, calm, and collected

So now you know what kind of music will soothe your soul, but there is even more good news from the world of science. Researchers found that playing a musical instrument can switch off the so-called “stress response,” which, in turn, promotes inner peace and emotional balance. And this is where our teachers can help. They will give you or a family member music lessons right in the comfort of your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, eliminating the stress of commuting to and from. And that’s definitely something to be happy about!

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Do rainy days and Mondays always get you down? Welcome to November, which, on average, dumps about 4.5 inches of rain on New York City. When you are wet and cold, you are probably not seeing much beauty in the rain . All you want to do is go indoors, get warm, and stay dry.

And you can always cheer yourself up with the thought that it could be worse – you could be living in Seattle! But if you have an artistic streak, you might appreciate these words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “How beautiful is the rain! After the dust and heat, In the broad and fiery street, In the narrow lane, How beautiful is the rain!” You don’t agree? Well then, continue reading.

The sounds of nature

You might find all that H2O irritating while you are getting wet outside, but once you are warm and cozy indoors, you are in a better position to appreciate the unique kind of music that the rain creates. The steady drumbeat pattern of falling raindrops has a calming and soothing effect that can help you think, contemplate, and reflect. You can just as well relax and fall asleep as concentrate on a task like reading or studying. The same effect, by the way, can be achieved by other nature water sounds as well – for instance, the ocean , river , and waterfall .

Rainy day songs

In pop music, there are a number of songs about the rain as well. Interestingly, none of them are somber; rather, they are upbeat and have a good vibe to them. Perhaps the best known one is from the movie “Singing in the Rain.” Then there’s the Beatles’ rendition of “Rain” Eric Clapton’s “Let it Rain” , “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” by BJ Thomas, Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain Gonna Fall” , and perhaps the most fittingly named of all, “November Rain” by Guns’n’Roses. Of course, one song you may not want to hear right now is Albert Hammond’s 1972 hit “It Never Rains in Southern California.” Oh well, you can’t be everywhere!

We’ll “drop” in on you!

Our Hey Joe Guitar music teachers don’t mind a bit of precipitation, so even if it rains, they will still make it to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office for a music lesson. Whatever instrument you play – the guitar, piano, voice, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, or mandolin – we’ll never, um, rain on your parade!

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

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

Words and music

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

In a word…

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

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

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

Music of the Renaissance

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

That’s amore!

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

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September is stretching out before us and we couldn’t be happier. Why? Because it marks a very important occasion: Classical Music Month, as declared by President Clinton back in 1994. “Classical music is a celebration of artistic excellence,” Clinton noted in his official proclamation. He also emphasized why it is important to pay tribute to this timeless and universal genre: “At the heart of classical music is continuity and tradition. What was heard in a Vienna opera house was heard again in a colonial theater in Charleston, South Carolina, was echoed at the inauguration of President Lincoln, was repeated in turn-of-the-century Chicago, and is played again today by a range of musicians from the most skilled of virtuosos to the youngest student struggling with the complexities of the violin.”

Needless to say, we agree! Even though other types of music have emerged in the past decades, the magnificent sounds of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and other noted composers of centuries past are still filling our ears – and hearts – with beautiful sounds.

Historical context

What exactly is “classical” music? In our Western understanding, it is a genre created by European composers from (roughly) the 16th to 19th centuries. But what many people may not realize is that the term “classical” actually covers three historical periods: the Baroque (1600–1760), Classical (1730–1820), and Romantic (1780–1910). Among the most noted composers working during each of these periods were Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi for the Baroque era; Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin for the Classical one; and Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, and Wagner in the Romantic period. As you can see, all the above eras overlap with each other, so there is no clear cut-off point from one to the next (although, as you can imagine, historical, cultural, social, and intellectual contexts had undergone tremendous changes in the four centuries that separate the beginning of the Baroque and the end of the Romantic period). So what are the specificities of each of the above eras, you may wonder? Generally speaking, Baroque music is characterized by its fluidity and flow . Classical pieces tend to be more dramatic , while the Romantic period featured strong contrasts in the rhythm, tonality, and harmony, as well as a larger variety of instruments .

Bring music into play!

As we mentioned before, a variety of music genres were created in the past century, but classical music never fell out of fashion. Our teachers are classical music aficionados as well, though most are quite versatile in their tastes: they also love jazz, blues, folk, rock, country, and every other kind of music ever invented. What this means is that whichever genre and instrument you are interested in playing, we have an excellent teacher for you. Just contact us and we’ll send him or her right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale doorstep. Together, you’ll create a beautiful symphony of sound!

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

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

Sing, sing a song

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

We speak your language!

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

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We have said it many times before and we still stand by it: music training is good for you! However, this doesn’t mean that every music experience is always calm and uneventful; sometimes, concerts incite not only applause and calls for an encore, but also utter chaos.

You might think we are talking about women throwing their panties at Elvis Presley so he could wipe his sweaty brow with the undergarments, or teenage girls screaming, swooning, and sometimes even fainting at the Beatles’ concerts. No. We are referring here to real riots, which, surprisingly, occurred at classical music concerts. And some of them happened even in our city! Let’s look at a few of the most famous – or, in this case, infamous – ones that… struck the wrong notes with audiences.

Dissention in the ranks

It is no secret that not everyone is a fan of Richard Wagner, the 19th century German composer known for his somber music. In 1861, at a Paris performance of his opera “Tannhauser,” he placed the ballet sequence in the first act rather than in second, as originally written. Talk about a faux pas! The change outraged purist spectators, who showed their discontent with loud cat-calls, whistles, and general ruckus that disrupted the performance and caused a scandal in Parisian art circles. Half a century later, also in Paris, broken canes and crushed fedoras were not the only victims of a brawl that broke out in May 1913 during the premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s ballet, “The Rite of Spring.” Though now a classic, at that time both the music and choreography were clearly too shocking to audiences accustomed to the elegance and grace of classical ballets. As soon as the performance began, furious spectators started to boo the orchestra and dancers. Their outrage, according to eyewitness reports, was sparked by the sound of the bassoon – described as “strangled” – “fluttering and twittering woodwind sounds,” as well as “pulsating rhythms” that were far too avant-garde for the sensibilities of the early 20th century music patrons. Very soon, fighting erupted and spread throughout the audience. Police were called but were unable to contain the riot; Stravinsky did the only rational thing he could under the circumstances – he fled the scene. Much later, in 1973, a riot of sorts was staged – pun intended – in our own Carnegie Hall. A concert by Boston Symphony featured Mozart and Liszt, which, of course, appealed to the tastes of classical music lovers. However, the musicians also performed Steve Reich’s “Four Organs.” Some of the audience members didn’t dig the repetitive music of this minimalist piece, creating a scene. One elderly woman even removed her shoe and struck the stage with it in protest. As the conductor later said, “We kept going, even though people were having fistfights in the audience.” And there are many more instances of musical riots throughout history.

A peaceful experience

As the above examples demonstrate, when it comes to music, people’s emotions sometimes run high. We too are very passionate about music, though in a more positive and peaceful way. That’s why when our teachers come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will not run riot. To the contrary, they will always be respectful of your (or your child’s) musical tastes and support your efforts to master your instrument with kindness and patience. Yes, our teachers are definitely pacifists, but when it comes to excellent music education, they will fight the good fight!

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Did you know that today, June 1, marks an important holiday? (Let’s just say it’s important for anyone under 18). We are talking about the International Children’s Day.

Yes, it’s an actual holiday, proclaimed back in 1925 by The World Conference for the Well-being of Children, a Geneva-based United Nations agency that works to help youngsters around the globe have happier and healthier lives.

Depending on where they live, “happier and healthier lives” could mean proper nutrition, clean drinking water, medical services or educational opportunities – all the things we often take for granted.

And what about music lessons? Obviously, in some regions of the world, access to instruments and music training is rare, and that’s sad. But there is also positive news – for instance, this story about children living in a slum in Paraguay who used their creativity to fashion musical instruments out of discarded household items and formed an orchestra!

It only goes to prove that where there’s a will, there’s a way!

From all corners of the world

Music, as we all know, is universal, and since the Children’s Day is celebrated internationally, we looked at what youngsters are up to (music-wise) in other parts of the world.

It’s truly amazing to see so much young talent – children and teens performing on a variety of instruments or raising their voices in a song. We find all of these examples inspiring and uplifting:

USA : A beautiful concert by the LA Children’s Orchestra.

China : We are awe-struck by what this five-year-old can do.

Germany : This street performance gives a new meaning to the song “Drummer Boy”.

Argentina : This kid is amazing – so young and already so talented.

The Netherlands : What a gifted violinist this boy is.

India : This little girl has a big voice!

Australia : A good example of what you can accomplish with regular singing lessons.

Child’s play

We wrote before about the numerous benefits youngsters derive from music training. There is plenty of evidence to prove that regular music lessons – whether learning any kind of instrument or working with a teacher to master the art of singing – can improve all aspects of our children’s lives: academic, social, and emotional.

If you are wondering what present to offer your son or daughter (or any other child), our gift card is wonderful token of your love. It can be used to introduce a new student to music or allow an already initiated one to continue his or her training with one of our excellent teachers, who will come to a Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office to give lessons.

Remember, the best gift for this, or any other, day, is the one that will keep on giving –as Plato put it, “the rhythm and harmony that find their way into the inward places of the soul.”

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The month of May is coming to an end, and for parents this means school is either already out or soon will be. For high school seniors, it also marks a major event, a rite of passage known as the prom.

Most of us may have forgotten the algebra we learned in high school, but we remember what we wore, who our date was, and what songs we danced to at our prom. These are the memories that last a lifetime.

Sure, there were occasional mishaps and awkward moments, but for the vast majority of seniors the prom night is a special and magical occasion. And it should be, because it symbolizes so much more than just dancing the night away – it is about growing up and moving on to life’s new challenges.

This magic moment

Fashioned after the debutante balls that were popular in the 19th century among the titled and wealthy, the word “prom” is derived from “promenade” – the march of elegantly clad guests arriving for the dance.

With ballrooms and stretch limos, today’s proms are pretty lavish – certainly a far cry from humble school gymnasiums of yore, which were festively decorated with disco balls and streamers. In fact, in the 1930s and 40s, when high schools first started to organize proms (and mention them in yearbooks), they were simple, strictly chaperoned events. Kids wore nice “Sunday best” clothes, but certainly nothing as extravagant – or expensive – as is customary today.

It is interesting to note how proms have changed over the past decades – the fashions, the songs, and the whole experience.

A night to remember

Is it just us, or did teenagers of the 1940s really look older than the current generation ? In any case, proper manners and etiquette seemed to be of paramount importance back then and continued to spill into the next decade as well, at least according to this trailer . But those of us who saw the movie “Grease” know better: the teens of the 1950s knew how to party and push the limits of propriety!

Speaking of movies, here is a great compilation of prom scenes spanning the decades between the 1980s and the present. And if you are wondering which prom songs have been the most popular in the past decade or so, here’s your answer!

Save the last dance for us

We are not sure how good our teachers are on the dance floor (some of them may, in fact, have two left feet), so if you want dancing lessons we suggest you look elsewhere.

However, if you need top-notch music training – on whatever instrument – one of our teachers will swing by your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons. Even without the dancing, we’ll have a ball!

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Last month, we had a blog about how some songs used to be censored in the United States. Fortunately, though, most music these days is alive, well, and being enjoyed by millions of people.

Unfortunately, musicians in certain regions of the world do not have the same opportunities that we take for granted – to perform freely, without the fear of sanctions or even persecution. We are referring to various media reports in recent months, which related how certain governments ban all musical expressions. In Mali, for instance, listening to music had been forbidden for many months, and in Afghanistan a shelter for girls was forced to discontinue its music program. In other parts of the world, musical instruments are seized and destroyed. All this is extremely sad because music is a positive and uplifting experience – the idea that we always assumed was universally accepted. What a pity that this isn’t the case.

Music without borders

Still, countries and regions where music is banned are relatively few. In most parts of the world, it is generally accepted as a unifying force among people of diverse backgrounds, nationalities, cultures, and religions. As U2’s Bono put it, “Music can change the world because it can change people.” In the very least (which is already a lot), it can bring attention to existing social or political problems and the need to find peaceful solutions. For example, not too long ago, as social unrest grew in Kiev, Ukraine, one man faced the riot police armed only with…his piano . He played folk songs and classical music that seemed to have had a calming effect on all involved, and the incident ended peacefully. And over in India, 600 guitarists gathered in the street and played John Lennon’s “Imagine” to protest widespread violence against women. Both these examples show not only the power of music, but also demonstrate how it can bring about – calmly and peacefully – social and political change. But wait, there’s more! The aptly named “Playing for Change” initiative was founded in 2002 with the goal of uniting people through music. This video demonstrates how this works: the musicians performing the same song in different parts of the world are connected to each other by music – when they play, distances and differences disappear!

Let’s do this together!

At Hey Joe Guitar, we believe in the power of music, both as a “people connector” and an agent for change. We hope that in their own small way, our music lessons and all the instruments we teach can contribute to a better world. If you are not “fluent” in music yet, now is a good time to start. Just contact us and one our teachers will arrive at your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office with a noble mission: to make music part of your life, and the lives of all those around you! To paraphrase a well-known saying, a beautiful concert starts with a single note!

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We recently came across a very interesting article about books that, at one time or another, had been either censored or banned in the United States.

It turns out that some of the most famous works of American literature were placed on the “no-read” list, among them Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Call of the Wild by Jack London, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, and even John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath.

What about the music? In his famous 1971 song, “American Pie,” Don McLean sang about “the day the music died” .
This was intended to be a tribute to the death, 12 years earlier, of rock & roll icons Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. But, in many instances, some songs of the era did die – figuratively speaking, of course.

The age of innocence

In her song titled “Dance in the Dark” , Lady Gaga urges listeners to “Find your freedom in the music.” Unfortunately, because of their contentious (in some people’s opinion) lyrics, certain songs were seen in their time as provocative enough to be censored.

For instance, in the 1940s, George Formby’s “When I’m Cleaning Windows” was called by the censors “a disgusting little ditty” – and banned from the airwaves in his native Britain – because it portrayed him as a voyeur of sorts:

“The blushing bride she looks divine
The bridegroom he is doing fine
I’d rather have his job than mine
When I’m cleaning windows.”

In the USA, the censors were busy as well. Even though the Everly Brothers were a clean-cut and wholesome duo, their 1957 hit, “Wake Up Little Susie” was banned by radio stations. Why? The censors thought that lyrics about canoodling teenagers (“We fell asleep, our goose is cooked our reputation is shot”) would incite hanky-panky among young people across America.

Teen idol Bobby Darrin was also targeted by the censors’ wrath: his 1958 song, “Splish Splash” was condemned for its “indecent lyrics.” The censors thought America would be shocked by hints of nudity:

“Well… I stepped out the tub
Put my feet on the floor
I wrapped the towel around me
And I opened the door.
And… then-a… splish, splash
I jumped back in the bath
Well… how was I to know
There was a party going on.”

You might think that above-mentioned songs were frowned upon because the moral codes in those days were far stricter than they are today. True, but music continued to be censored well into the second, more liberal, half of the 20th century.

For instance, “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul, and Mary (1962) and “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles (1967), were banned because censors thought they could incite the use of drugs.

And “Let’s Spend the Night Together” by the Rolling Stones (1967) was regarded as purveyor of low morals.

Stayin’ alive!

Although, sadly, the teaching of music – and arts programs in general – is banned in certain parts of the world, here in New York City, it is thriving!

We believe – and know as a fact – that music lessons are beneficial for people of all ages and we are honored to be a part of this experience.

Our teachers are “free” to come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you lessons in the guitar, piano, drums, or a number of other instruments. Their mission: to keep music alive and well!

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Maybe you think that all the events happening in December are related to the holiday season. It certainly seems this way, doesn’t it – the decorations, lights, and that special ambience are reminders (as though we could forget) that Christmas and Hanukkah are here.

It is understandable that with all this holiday spirit we forget another important event that occurs three days from now. December 18 marks the winter solstice, which is not only the first official day of winter, but also the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Of course, more often than not the winter season in our city starts well before the official date as New Yorkers bundle up to brave the elements. Good thing that we are such a sturdy lot!

Warm up with music

You might be wondering what you can do to bring a bit of warmth into your life. There is a lot you can do – for instance, crank up the heat, put on a thick sweater and fuzzy bunny slippers, wrap yourself in a soft blanket, and sip some steaming hot chocolate.

You can also fantasize that you are in Australia right now, enjoying the Down Under summer, and strolling along the sun-drenched Bondi beach.

And this is where music can help!

Let’s be clear: we are not saying that music has any impact on climate control, but it can make the inclement weather more bearable. Your natural inclination right now might be to listen to songs from the movie “Frozen,” but you should put them on the back burner until summer, at which point you will probably crave a blast of arctic air!

For now, let’s focus on heartwarming, not bone-chilling songs. Here are some of our favorites:

“Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles

“Kokomo” – The Beach Boys

“Summer Breeze” – Seals and Croft

“Island in the Sun” – Weezer

“Hot Hot Hot” – Arrow

“Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer” – Nat King Cole

“Summer” from the “Four Seasons” – Antonio Vivaldi

These boots were made for walking

Bad weather is no reason to discontinue (or not to begin) your music lessons. We can promise you that our “all-weather” (and not just “fair-weather”) teachers will show up at your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home – an instrument in (gloved) hands, heavy boots or galoshes on their feet, and a tune in their hearts.

Whether you want to have guitar lessons or learn another instrument, just contact us and we’ll send one of our weatherproof teachers to you right away!

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