The difference between tied notes and slurred notes in music can cause confusion—which is not surprising, since they are both noted the exact same way! Both slurs and ties are indicated with arc-shaped lines placed either above a grouping of notes (if the notes’ stems are pointing down) or below a grouping of notes (if the stems are pointing up).
Music notation is a language that has been developing for thousands of years; even the manner in which we read music today has been around for several centuries. In learning to read music, we encounter basic symbols for pitch, duration, and timing. As we advance, we learn about dynamics, expression, timbre, and even special effects. […]
“The theory of relativity occurred to me by intuition, and music is the driving force behind this intuition. My parents had me study the violin from the time I was six. My new discovery is the result of musical perception. … I see my life in terms of music.” —Albert Einstein Einstein considered playing […]
If you want to get into playing the piano, it’s a good idea to get a basic understanding of how the instrument works. Before you even sit down at the piano bench, or sign up for lessons, educating yourself about the instrument gives you a base to start from, and may even help you decide if it’s the right choice of instrument for you.
Do you sometimes struggle to get out the door and listen to live music? After all, it’s easier (and cheaper) to just stick in earbuds or crank up the speakers and listen to familiar, dependable sounds. But listening live is essential if you want to improve as a musician. “Musicians go see bands and hear […]
Drumming has so many different styles and techniques. It’s easy to get stuck in the same old basic rhythms. Getting your hands on a great drum book is a great way to enhance your development. Interested in the 10 best drumming books? Read on! These days, most drummers turn to online tutorials and YouTube channels […]
Grammy-nominated Producer ill Factor and Mixing Engineer Frank Socorro Kick Off “Modern Music Production & Mixing” with Free Access On April 4 Music Expo in association with Sound On Sound announces “Music Expo Livestream,” a new virtual series to keep music makers connected online. Grammy-nominated Producer ill Factor (Matisyahu, Justin Timberlake, Jason Derulo) and Mixing […]
Below is an article originally published by Yamaha at www.yamahaeducatorsuite.com/online-teaching. It has been reprinted with permission. During this trying and uncertain time, we want to do our part to help music educators as you explore options and search for resources to facilitate online teaching. Since teaching face-to-face is not possible during this COVID-19 pandemic, our […]
There are thousands of guitar books on the market, from instructional to biographical. We’ve compiled some recent titles—with a few older ones tucked in—to round out your reading list in 2020. The Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Complete Edition: Contains Books 1, 2 and 3 bound together in one easy-to-use volume by Will Schmid and […]
“What should I learn to play first?” is a really common question for beginner guitarists. And although it’s somewhat subjective, there are certain staple essentials. Your stylistic tastes may determine how you explore these key elements (more detail below), but still this is ground that needs to be covered. Here’s a list of the categories […]