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!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Get “High,” With New York Music Lessons appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

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

The post Night at the Museum, With Manhattan Music School appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.