Performance & Technique |
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Many student musicians wonder if memorizing is an important aspect of their education. For those who want to excel as performers, the answer is emphatically yes. Memorizing music gives you greater artistic freedom in your performance technique and helps you quickly master improvisation skills. Plus, for some reason, audiences prefer listening to musicians who’ve memorized a piece, rather than those who are reading from a score.
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In normal social activity, people convey all sorts of subtle meanings through body language. There have been countless studies on the influence of non-verbal communication, from facial expressions and eye movements to the way people cross their legs or use their hands during a conversation. Similarly, when you play music, you are in essence communicating with your listeners. The emotions and feeling you want to share come through in ways not related to the sounds you make.
Read More
Beginner musicians often want to develop their own “sound’ and performance style. They want to be unique, and cultivate a performance technique that sets them apart from all others. Yet, because music educators typically focus on helping students gain execution skills, actual performance abilities can get lost in the day to day efforts.
Read More
Learning to play a string instrument means spending a lot of time on at least two things: articulation and Italian. Learning a bit of Italian, musical words and otherwise, is helpful (and necessary). But sometimes, just knowing the English translation of the musical term isn’t enough to help you understand what it means for your playing.
Read More
Student musicians who want to pursue a professional career must possess certain skills, and sight-reading ranks high among them. It’s an essential skill to have for auditions and improving your performance technique. Some students mistakenly feel like sight reading is one of those skills that you either have or don’t have. However, learning to sight read music like a pro is just like every other music skill, you have to practice to learn. These tips can get you started.
Read More
Auditions are a part of life for musicians. They’re required for earning spots in music schools, festivals, orchestras, and even ensembles. And although auditions differ in format and performance technique requirements, they all have one thing in common: You are there to make the best impression you can in a very small amount of time. And while this can be easy for some people, for most projecting the confidence and capabilities you need to display is challenging.
Read More
If you’ve been considering organizing a summer concert you’ll need to start making preparations now to ensure that it goes off without a hitch. Although it can be a lot of work, the experience it provides for those who want to pursue a musical career, either as a professional performer or in an administrative capacity, is invaluable. You just need to stay organized and approach each aspect with excitement and determination.
Read More
It’s the big opening night of your concert. You’ve been practicing your part for weeks now. After preparing your instrument by polishing it and installing new strings, you carefully place it in its case for travel. Then, after careful grooming and donning your best formalwear, you hail a cab and head for the concert hall. Just as you arrive at the venue, panic sets in because you realize you have left your sheet music laying on your practice stand. Just minutes away from rehearsal, and it’s too late to head back home to retrieve it. What should you do?
Read More
Have you ever wondered how some musicians become so well-known in the competitive world of music, while others simply fade away? These are the superstars who shine so bright they are famous by the time they publish their first album.
Read More
Student violinists often aspire to include movement and dance in their performance. Artists like Lindsey Stirling and Máiréad Nesbitt are able to enthrall audiences by incorporating dance moves while playing the violin, and many students wish that there was some type of course or instruction that could teach that ability. Unfortunately for violinists who want to acquire that skill, there’s really no clear-cut method or teaching technique.
Read More
Many student musicians wonder if memorizing is an important aspect of their education. For those who want to excel as performers, the answer is emphatically yes. Memorizing music gives you greater artistic freedom in your performance technique and helps you quickly master improvisation skills. Plus, for some reason, audiences prefer listening to musicians who’ve memorized a piece, rather than those who are reading from a score.
Read More
In normal social activity, people convey all sorts of subtle meanings through body language. There have been countless studies on the influence of non-verbal communication, from facial expressions and eye movements to the way people cross their legs or use their hands during a conversation. Similarly, when you play music, you are in essence communicating with your listeners. The emotions and feeling you want to share come through in ways not related to the sounds you make.
Read More
Beginner musicians often want to develop their own “sound’ and performance style. They want to be unique, and cultivate a performance technique that sets them apart from all others. Yet, because music educators typically focus on helping students gain execution skills, actual performance abilities can get lost in the day to day efforts.
Read More
Learning to play a string instrument means spending a lot of time on at least two things: articulation and Italian. Learning a bit of Italian, musical words and otherwise, is helpful (and necessary). But sometimes, just knowing the English translation of the musical term isn’t enough to help you understand what it means for your playing.
Read More
Student musicians who want to pursue a professional career must possess certain skills, and sight-reading ranks high among them. It’s an essential skill to have for auditions and improving your performance technique. Some students mistakenly feel like sight reading is one of those skills that you either have or don’t have. However, learning to sight read music like a pro is just like every other music skill, you have to practice to learn. These tips can get you started.
Read More
Auditions are a part of life for musicians. They’re required for earning spots in music schools, festivals, orchestras, and even ensembles. And although auditions differ in format and performance technique requirements, they all have one thing in common: You are there to make the best impression you can in a very small amount of time. And while this can be easy for some people, for most projecting the confidence and capabilities you need to display is challenging.
Read More
If you’ve been considering organizing a summer concert you’ll need to start making preparations now to ensure that it goes off without a hitch. Although it can be a lot of work, the experience it provides for those who want to pursue a musical career, either as a professional performer or in an administrative capacity, is invaluable. You just need to stay organized and approach each aspect with excitement and determination.
Read More
It’s the big opening night of your concert. You’ve been practicing your part for weeks now. After preparing your instrument by polishing it and installing new strings, you carefully place it in its case for travel. Then, after careful grooming and donning your best formalwear, you hail a cab and head for the concert hall. Just as you arrive at the venue, panic sets in because you realize you have left your sheet music laying on your practice stand. Just minutes away from rehearsal, and it’s too late to head back home to retrieve it. What should you do?
Read More
Have you ever wondered how some musicians become so well-known in the competitive world of music, while others simply fade away? These are the superstars who shine so bright they are famous by the time they publish their first album.
Read More
Student violinists often aspire to include movement and dance in their performance. Artists like Lindsey Stirling and Máiréad Nesbitt are able to enthrall audiences by incorporating dance moves while playing the violin, and many students wish that there was some type of course or instruction that could teach that ability. Unfortunately for violinists who want to acquire that skill, there’s really no clear-cut method or teaching technique.
Read More
