“Fall” Into Music, With Brooklyn Piano School

Hey Joe Guitar — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 00:01:55 +0000

Brooklyn Piano School Will Get You In Mood for Autumn

Autumn in New York, as Frank Sinatra famously sang, is “so inviting.” He was right, of course. There is something special about this season. Yes, it’s sad to say goodbye to the sunny and warm days of summer , but early fall in New York is usually lovely as well. Trees in Central Park and other green spaces in the city are “dressed” in eye-popping colors of yellow, orange, and red. And the freshly fallen leaves emit a subtle, earthy scent into the crisp air.

As the 19th century English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley so beautifully wrote, “There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky.” Is it any wonder that the beauty of the fall season has inspired not only poets, painters, and other artists, but also many composers and songwriters? Let’s listen to some pieces of music inspired by colors, scents, and the mood of the autumn.

Season’s bounty

At the beginning of the 18th century, Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote four violin concertos, which turned out to be his most famous work. Titled “The Four Seasons,” it included the very beautiful autumn concerto . A century later, Austrian composer Josef Strauss wrote a waltz entitled “Autumn Roses” . Another beautiful waltz celebrating the fall season, aptly named “Autumn Dream” was composed by a 20th century British composer Archibald Joyce. What about autumn songs? Speaking of waltzes, listen to Tony Bennett’s 1956 rendition of “The Autumn Waltz” . Of course, one of the most famous fall songs of all time is a 1945 classic written by a Hungarian composer Joseph Kosma and called “Autumn Leaves.” It was recorded in both English and French . There is also Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” , U2’s “October” , and many others. Which of the above pieces of music inspires you the most?

Fall for us!

We hope all these compositions will motivate you to start making some music of your own. A great thing about music lessons is that you can begin them at any time of the year – in other words, music is always in season! Thankfully, our teachers are not just fair-weather friends; even when it rains and the temps drop (as often happens in the fall), they will still …waltz into your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. So don’t wait until fall turns into winter – contact us while the leaves still have their radiant color!

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A Clean Bill of Health, With Brooklyn Music Lessons

Hey Joe Guitar — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 00:01:34 +0000

With Brooklyn Music Lessons, History Won’t Repeat Itself!

Oh, what a difference a few centuries make! Today, we know for a fact (having had abundant scientific evidence as proof) that music is good for humans, animals, and other living things as well. However, it has not always been like this. As a recent article in the Smithsonian magazine tells it, some 19th century physicians thought music could actually infect the brain!

As a matter of fact, there are many instances throughout history when medical profession warned the public about the dangers of music. As the article states, “By the time the 1800s rolled around, music was a full-blown pathogen.” Physicians of yore warned that music was especially risky for women because of their supposedly fragile nerves: “The fairer sex had weak nerves and were prone to fainting. They also warned that excessive keyboard playing could aggravate such issues. Gynecologists thought music might be too sexy for women or that it could lead to heavy menstrual cycles. On the flop side, others linked it to infertility and reproductive problems.” Of course, in those long-ago days, doctors often made flawed judgment calls. For instance, it was believed that a woman’s womb could wander throughout her body, spreading disease in its wake, and that epilepsy and mental illnesses were “demonic possessions.” Seen in this context, is it any wonder that music was regarded as evil?

We’ve come a long way, baby!

Today we know of just one potential danger: hearing loss resulting from prolonged exposure to very loud music. As for everything else mentioned above, all these warnings, myths, and pseudo-science are downright hilarious! Far from inflicting diseases and other medical conditions, music is actually a health booster, both physically and mentally: it can lower our blood pressure, relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, and lift our spirits. In other words, there is no doubt (and plenty of scientific evidence) that music improves our lives in countless ways. Who are you going to believe: modern science or old superstitions?

Fit as a fiddle

If anyone witnesses first-hand the true advantages of music training, it is our teachers. They have yet to see any students – young or older, male or female – whose brain was “infected” by music (though they have seen lots of students become “infectious” – spreading the love of music to others)! All this is to say that when a teacher comes to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office, you need not fear any health consequences. You or your child will learn to play the guitar, piano, or any other instrument in total safety. We are happy that, at least in this case, history doesn’t repeat itself!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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Private piano teachers Riverdale Archives - Hey Joe Guitar

“Fall” Into Music, With Brooklyn Piano School

Brooklyn Piano School Will Get You In Mood for Autumn

Season’s bounty

Fall for us!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

A Clean Bill of Health, With Brooklyn Music Lessons

With Brooklyn Music Lessons, History Won’t Repeat Itself!

We’ve come a long way, baby!

Fit as a fiddle

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License