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!

The post Manhattan Music School to Students: “Make No Excuses!” appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Do you know what today is? Yes, it’s Monday, February 2nd, but it is also a special occasion of sorts – especially for people who care about tradition, weather, and small animals.

Like every year, February 2nd is Groundhog Day, when – as legend has it – the furry rodent wakes up from winter hibernation and goes out to look at his shadow. If he sees it, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, good news: spring is just around the corner.

This custom is particularly “hot” in Punxsutawney, PA, where a groundhog named Phil has been predicting the early or late onset of spring since 1887. The tradition is based on Candlemas, the day that marks the midpoint between winter and spring. This is how a poem describes it:

“If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.”

We hasten to add that none of the above is based on scientific evidence, but there are plenty of folks out there who swear by the groundhog’s predictions.

No need to shiver

For the record, Phil has seen his shadow about nine times out of 10, and the predictions so far have been correct 39% of the time – make of this what you will.

Now, let’s assume that today Phil sees his shadow, meaning that we still have weeks of winter ahead. Does this mean you have to grudgingly put up with the continued cold weather? It all depends on your attitude and state of mind!

What we mean is this: February doesn’t have to be cold and dreary. Did you know that in 2002 and 2012 temperatures in New York City reached balmy 40s? (No, it’s not exactly tropical weather, but it’s not frigid either). And, February days are not all grey and bleak; on average, NYC has 17 sunny or partly sunny days during this month – certainly much more comfortable conditions than those in Alaska or North Dakota, the states which, according to National Climatic Data Center, have the coldest winters.

Heat up with music!

An important thing to remember as you slog through February is that each day is bringing us closer to spring – no matter what Phil would have you believe. After all, that’s the law of nature – seasons come and go (well, maybe not so much in North Dakota, but certainly in New York!)

In the meantime, you can brighten and liven up February days with upbeat music that reminds you of summer, but you can also learn to play your own “hot” tunes. We make it so easy for you – just contact us and we’ll send a friendly and…warm teacher to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office.

No need to leave the comfort of your house – we will do all the trudging through the snow, sleet, slush, and other winter obstacles.

In the meantime, we wish you a shadowless Groundhog Day!

The post Brooklyn Guitar School Helps You Weather the February Cold appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.