Band & Orchestra School band and orchestra instruments are divided into four categories: brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussion. Following is a brief look at each one. Brass: Brass instruments make their sounds through the lip vibrations of the player, combined with the movements of a slide, in the case of trombones, or the opening and […]
As the calendar turns to August, we begin to hear the words “back to school,” much to the chagrin of many students. This is a chance, however, for students to explore participation in their schools’ music programs, be it by playing an instrument in the band or orchestra, or by singing in the choir. MakingMusicMag.com […]
Songwriters: Give Your Mind an Escape. When to Give in to Your Distractions. An excerpt from Emma McGann’s new book The Songwriting Handbook for Beginners, Volume One: Motivational Methods
Dramatic pauses in your music are a great way to grab the listener’s attention. Like most instructions in music, holds and pauses are also notated.
Start Writing That Song — If your mind goes blank every time you try to put words to music, these ideas will get your songwriting process in gear.
Ready to Progress? Learning to use both hands can open up a whole new world in your playing, enabling you to tackle more advanced pieces.
Jazz is a spontaneous art. If you want to learn how to improvise a jazz piece, here are 6 great jazz improv tips to master that will help you get started.
Musical inspiration can strike at any time: driving home from work, in the shower, or even when you wake up in the morning. You could hum a melody one day, and find it sticks around for days, weeks, or longer. Focus your inspiration while exploring the possibilities and you’ll soon be molding melodies of your own!
Play That Tune — Don’t let counting and rhythms keep you from playing a tune. Just play it like you hear it and you’ll be well on your way .
Formula for Improvising —This article will help you start the process of improvising so you can jam with other musicians and create your own music…