The day after tomorrow, New York will be, almost literally, a ghost town! That’s because Halloween’s traditional creepy and spooky creatures will take over the city – ghosts, of course, but also monsters, mummies, zombies, witches, goblins, black cats, and other scary apparitions that will go bump in the night. Once the kids are back from trick-or-treating and are getting their sugar rush from all the candy, you can have a Halloween celebration of your own.

It doesn’t require costumes, a witch’s brew, or howling sounds . All you need to create a Halloween-ish environment in your own home is some classical “mood” music!

On the edge of your seat…

Long before the custom of trick-or-treating appeared in the United States in the 1950s, several classical composers wrote some pretty scary music. We can’t think of anything more appropriate for a dark Halloween night! For instance, in 1886, Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky wrote a series of compositions titled “Night on Bald Mountain.” His frightening ghouls wreaking havoc on a mountain village in the middle of the night were depicted in Disney’s 2009 movie “Fantasia” Watch, listen and shudder! Then there is no less scary piece called “Dreams of a Witches' Sabbath” the final movement of “Symphonie Fantastique” written by French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830. If you can stomach allusions to witches, sorcerers and monsters assembled at a funeral, this piece is for you! Okay, let’s move on. By some accounts, Hungarian composer Franz Liszt was obsessed with all things macabre, as is evidenced in his ominous-sounding “Totentanz (Dance of the Dead)” . The piece was several years in the making and finally completed in the mid 1800s. Are you sufficiently spooked yet? We hope not, because there are two more pieces of music you absolutely must listen to on Halloween night: Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov’s 1908 work “The Isle of the Dead” and Camille Saint-Saëns sinister tune “Danse Macabre” which the French composer wrote in 1874. We hope all this music will not give you nightmares!

We are harmless!

No matter how frightening it is, Halloween only lasts one night. By the time you wake up on November 1, you will hopefully be fearless! Of course, most classical music is not scary at all; in fact, it is soothing and uplifting. Another thing you should never be afraid of are our teachers. That’s because when they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, they will never use scare tactics!

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Summer’s gone and a lot of people are suffering from a condition known as “seasonal affective disorder” (SAD) – a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons. But if you are a New Yorker, there is no need to feel sad (or SAD) at the passing of summer. That’s because there are plenty of events going on around the city and adjoining areas this month that are sure to lift your spirits and improve your mood.

For music lovers, the choice of offerings is huge, from excellent Broadway musicals to classical concerts. This may also be a good occasion to remind you that a pre-eminent New York institution, the Carnegie Hall, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year with an exciting new project. But that’s not all: there are also a number of pop, rock, jazz, and other performances taking place around the city. Let’s have a look at some of them.

Music, music everywhere!

From now until December 17, New York’s own Billy Joel will be performing with the help of his revolving piano at Madison Square Garden. And in case you didn’t know, to date, Billy has set a record for most performances at Madison Square Garden! And if you a fan of Stevie Wonder, hurry up and get tickets for his October 14th performance at Prudential Center in Newark. The Who will perform at the same venue on October 25th – a good reason to hightail it to Newark not once but twice! The above performances are just “teasers” intended to whet your appetite. There are so many more musical events taking place this month in our area!

Music as a cure

We hope you agree with us that as New Yorkers, we are really lucky to have so many opportunities to hear great music all year round. Another thing to be grateful for is the possibility to take music lessons right in your own home or office, whether in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale. We are not making this up: there is scientific evidence to prove that music is a real mood booster, regardless of what instrument you are playing – the guitar, violin, or anything else. So contact us and we’ll send you an upbeat teacher who’ll stop any SAD-ness in the tracks!

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Let us give you some cryptic clues about the topic of this week’s blog: “here today, gone tomorrow;” “tempest in a teapot;” and “if you blink, you’ll miss it.” What are we talking about? If you know the answer, raise your hand! Okay, okay, here it is: we are referring to musical hits that sizzled and soon after, fizzled out!

This is a good time to talk about these songs because this coming Friday, September 25, is the National One-Hit Wonder Day. See, you always learn something new and interesting here!

No staying power

Just to make sure we are on the same page, a one-hit wonder is defined as “a group or singer that has only one hit record before returning to obscurity.” An interesting thing about these one-hit wonders is that they are not only a modern phenomenon. Long before music charts came into existence, there had been many undoubtedly talented classical composers who, sadly, didn’t leave behind a lasting musical legacy. For instance, the mere mention of the name Pachelbel evokes the sounds of his best (and only) known work, Canon in D . But most people would rack their brains if asked to name other famous works by this Baroque composer! There are plenty of other examples of composers who became known for one specific work, only to be forgotten afterwards!

In and out

A more recent (century-wise) list of one-hit wonders is also long. For example, Tina Sinatra made it big with her 1966 smash, “These Boots Were Made for Walking .” But even though she continued to perform, Frank’s daughter never reached this degree of success again. Let’s continue: most people remember Tiny Tim (the one with the falsetto voice, not the character in Dickens’ Christmas Carol) for his 1968 rendition of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips .” Chances are, you can’t name any of his other songs without doing the Internet search. Now, if you say “Bobby McFerrin,” his 1988 hit, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy ” jumps to mind. But do you know, off the top of your head, what other famous songs he performed? And do you remember all the hoopla around the 1993 single, “Macarena ?” We are not stretching the truth when we say that the band, Los del Río, never again had a hit of such magnitude. These are just a few examples of one-hit wonders. Rolling Stone Magazine has a more comprehensive list.

In for a long haul!

One thing is certain, no musician can know in advance whether he or she will achieve lasting (or merely fleeting) success. But you can predict your musical progress by how regular your lessons are and how well you practice in between. With the help of our talented and experienced teachers, each lesson at your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office will leave a truly lasting impression!

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How do you listen to music? Is it more of a passive experience – for instance, you hear “background” music while you go about your daily business, or do you get really immersed in each sound? There is nothing wrong with the “peripheral” approach – as long as music is a big part of your life, lifts your spirits, relieves the stress, and generally improves your well-being, it’s all good!

But there is also another way to let music into your life and allow your brain to absorb it more fully. It’s called “mindful” or “active” listening. Basically, it means that you don’t just “lend an ear,” but actually listen with all your senses. This kind of “active” approach will help you develop not only better listening skills, but also a deeper appreciation of music.

Mind the music

In 1939, American composer Aaron Copland wrote a book titled “What to Listen for in Music.” Yes, this work is more than 70 years old, but, like music itself, it is timeless and as pertinent today as it was back then. If you are interested in this fascinating topic, then the book will provide an insightful resource. With “mindful” listening, you will not only hear different rhythms, pitches, variations, instrumentation, etc., but will also be able to “see” (in your mind’s eye) the figurative color and texture of music. But while there are several ways through which you can enhance your music listening experience (see below), how you actually interpret each piece is deeply personal. It’s just like looking at a painting or another piece of art – you may learn how to distinguish one technique from another, or understand various artistic influences, but only you know what this piece means to you.

What makes music tick?

This very interesting National Public Radio piece explains very well how to hear more in music. How do you go about it? Choose your favorite piece of music and focus on its rhythm and meter, melody, harmony, and overall dynamics. Look for these elements in various styles of music: classical, jazz, pop, rock, and whatever other genres you like listening to. With time, you will develop a much deeper appreciation of music. Now, you might be wondering how to foster this skill in children, so that they develop interest in music. The good news is that kids are naturally curious and open to new experiences, so exposing them to various music genres, as well as a variety of musical instruments, will lay a solid foundation for the future.

Listen up!

To understand how music works and how it is put together you should learn music theory; it will really open your eyes to many different aspects of music. When our teachers come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, they will show you not only how to play your instrument, but also how to “understand” the music. Think of this experience as a deep ocean: it’s fine on the surface, but once you explore what lies beneath, a whole new and exciting word is opening its mysteries to you!

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

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

The streets are alive…

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

Summer school

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

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Have you ever wondered where various genres of the so-called “American” music originated? Let’s see: jazz and ragtime were born in New Orleans, while the country western style had its beginnings in Georgia. However, the South, although prolific, was not the only birthplace of American music. Our great city, New York, has a rich history of its own, and it is not limited merely to Broadway’s musical theater. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Big Apple has been an important center for many different musical genres and phenomena.

It all started with Tin Pan Alley, the hub for city’s songwriters and music publishers from the late 19th century until the 1930s.

New York, New York

In the early 20th century, New York’s lively song-publishing industry was centered on 28th Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway. By the 1920s, it moved south and west – around Broadway and 32nd Street; ultimately, it ended up on Broadway between 42nd and 50th streets – not coincidentally, the area of the budding musical theater. The phrase “tin pan” – or so the story goes – referred to the sound of piano keys pounded by players demonstrating latest tunes – ballads, dance music, and vaudeville – to publishers. Quite a few of these “Tin Pan Alley” songs became American classics: Irving Berlin’s “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “I Got Rhythm” by the Gershwin brothers, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s “Ol’Man River,” and Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes,” among many others. You can see why, in its own time, Tin Pan Alley was such a significant part of New York’s musical and cultural history. And as the 20th century progressed, several genres sprang up right here in our city.

The birth of music

Originally, blues came from the Mississippi Delta at the end of the 1800s. Decades later, the New York blues emerged with a newer, more urban sound. From the 1940s to 1960s, musicians in Greenwich Village created a new style of American folk music rooted in political activism. Pete Seeger and Joan Baez were among the most outspoken New York-born folk singers of that era. In the 1970s, the downtown music scene saw the advent of punk rock with home-grown groups like New York Dolls and Ramones . At about the same time, at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, hip-hop was born. According to PBS, “on August 11, 1973 DJ Kool Herc, a building resident, was entertaining at his sister’s back-to-school party, and tried something new on the turntable: he extended an instrumental beat (breaking or scratching) to let people dance longer (break dancing) and began MC’ing (rapping) during the extended breakdancing.” As you can see, New York City’s musicians have played a significant role in the creation or expansion of various music genres.

New Yorkers unite!

At Hey Joe Guitar, we are proud to be a part of New York’s cultural history. While we have not (to date) invented any new music genres, we can teach any kind of music, on any instrument. Our teachers are well versed not only in New York-born genres, but in all other styles as well – classical, jazz, rock, pop – if it has been invented, we can teach it. As soon as you contact us, we will send one of our amazing teachers to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. Maybe he or she will help you find your own sound – in New York, anything is possible!

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Did you know that tomorrow, May 5th, is National Teacher Appreciation Day? You didn’t think we’d miss mentioning such a momentous occasion, did you?

We don’t need to tell you how important good teachers are – without them, the educational system would crumble and fall apart. It’s as simple as that.

Fact is, teachers are the backbone of our music school. Without them, Hey Joe Guitar would not exist – after all, how would we be able to teach musical instruments without these talented individuals, dedicated, as they are, to spreading the joy of music to students of all ages.

Yes, teachers, really do matter!

And those are not merely tales out of school!

The art of teaching

Most people may not think of teaching as an “art,” but it is! That’s because nurturing and developing minds and talents is a skill in itself.

Let’s look at some of the qualities excellent teachers should have and impart to their students:

• Work ethic: Good teachers work hard, putting considerable time and effort into preparing lessons and following up on students’ progress.
• People skills: It is absolutely essential that a teacher is not only likeable, but actually likes and respects her students, and knows how to communicate with them effectively.
• Passion: Knowing the subject is essential for a teacher, but it’s not enough. He must LOVE the subject and convey that passion to his students. This is one example where being “contagious” is a good thing!
• Inspiration, encouragement, and motivation: A good teacher knows how to spark her students’ curiosity, and keep them interested and motivated. By making learning fun, she inspires students to keep going until they reach their full potential.

Do such teachers actually exist in the real world? Oh yes, they do! And we know them personally!

Truly remarkable!

We never tire of boasting and bragging about our own teachers, but we assure you that we are telling it like it is!

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: whatever instrument they teach – guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, mandolin, or voice – our teachers are amazing.

All of them are graduates of the top music schools and have several years of experience teaching kids and adults of all levels. They are patient, friendly, attentive, and have all the skills and qualities listed above.

And you know what else? We don’t expect the students to travel the length and width of New York City to connect with our teacher. Just contact us and we will send one right to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. Isn’t that a teachable moment?

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In a few days, on May 3, people across the globe will be celebrating a really cool holiday – the World Laughter Day, which is observed on the first Sunday of every May.

As its name suggests, this is not a serious or solemn occasion. Far from it – it is all about good humor, upbeat mood, and fun. And yes, it is also a proven health-booster, which may be the reason why laughter is called “the best medicine.”

This much we know – a sincere and heartfelt giggle or chuckle has more positive impact on our physical and mental wellbeing than most people realize. For instance, it has been scientifically proven that laughter reduces stress, soothes tension, and can even relieve pain. And some studies also show a strong connection between laughter and a healthy heart.

And that, dear friends, is no joke!

Health benefits

Now, you may be wondering what is the connection between laughter and music – if, indeed, there is one. Well, we do have some answers for you.

A few years ago, researchers at Japan’s Osaka University found that people who often laughed and listened to music had lower blood pressure, which, in turn, had benefitted their cardiovascular health.

Another study, carried out at the University of Maryland Medical Center, showed a similar effect: that laughing and listening to upbeat music improved the function of the inner lining of blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.

The doctors don’t know for sure why this happens but whatever the reasons are, at least we have evidence that combining laughter with music is good for what ails us.

A barrel of laughs

Now that you know there is science behind the laughter-music connection, it’s time to start practicing both. Where do you begin? How about by looking at these very funny videos that show that music and laughter really do go hand-in-hand:

• Whoever said symphony orchestras tend to be serious never saw this video . It sure gives a new meaning to the phrase “hitting the right keys!”
• Just because these musicians are dressed to the nines doesn’t mean they are stuffed shirts!
• We bet you never saw anyone playing the piano quite like this .
• We all know Weird Al Jankovic is, well, weird, but he can be hilarious as well !

These are just some examples of the laughter-eliciting music. Don’t you feel better already?

Never a comedy of errors!

Our Hey Joe Guitar teachers have a hearty sense of humor but they take music lessons seriously. When they come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, don’t expect them to crack jokes, perform stand-up comedy, or emulate Weird Al. Sorry, that’s not what we do!

So when you contact us, we won’t send in the clowns but, rather, an amazing music teacher who is experienced in an instrument of your choice – all joking aside!

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

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

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

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

Common ground

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

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

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

Songs inspired by poems

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

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

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

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

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

Artistic expression

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

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

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

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

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

A rousing chorus

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

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

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

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

The seas are alive with the sound of music

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

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

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

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

Neither fish nor fowl

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

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

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

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

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

The sounds of space

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

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

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

We are “worldly!”

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

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

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

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