 | During the 20th century, music was able to take off as a hobby for everyone. Just seven years before the start of the century, gramophones were introduced to the market. Then, twenty years into the 20th century, commercial radio was invented. The combination of these two inventions opened the musical door to people of low income because concerts and musical theatre, the most common places in which people listened to music, were mostly reserved for people of higher income. |
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 The first step in any aspiring musician’s lessons is basic music theory, which typically begins with notation. Music notation is used for nearly all musical instruments and is also used by singers. Although musical notation looks like a foreign language initially, some practice recognizing notes and learning rhythm will quickly allow individuals to read music as if it were second nature.
 A common struggle for many new musicians is how to write their own music. We all start by learning the basics of chords and structure and other people's songs, but at a certain point any musician will want to start getting creative with their own original songs. While the first few songs written may not be instant hits, the important part is the starting. That may sound like a daunting task for brand new song-writers, but worry not! There are tons of resources out there to assist in feeling much more confident, including this short guide that may ease a bit of stress.
 Parents of children with autism are often given little to no hope of ever reaching their child. It is frustrating not only for the parent but for the child to be locked in a world where no one can find a way to bridge the gap of communication. While autism looks different for each child there is a common therapy that seems to work well with many of them. Music is the language that seems to reach even the most profound levels of autism and helps many children become more social, interactive and receptive to other types of therapy and learning.
 Ah, the power of music. We look forward to hearing it every morning in our cars while driving into work. We'll purchase tickets to watch our favorite performers live in concert. In fact, you might even enjoy singing in the shower or playing an instrument during your spare time. There's no doubt that music has a very powerful impact on us in our daily lives, regardless of whether you're a child or an adult. This impact can be quite personal, too.
If you have any say in keeping a music program in a public school, you should absolutely consider doing so. There are tremendous benefits to having students learn music while they attend any school, regardless of whether it's a private or public institution. Here are a few fundamental reasons why keeping music in public schools can benefit students.  Congratulations on choosing to learn the art of the piano! Before you get started, there may be a lingering question quite common to the new musician. What is the better purchase, a keyboard, or a piano? Though it is usually preferred a student develop skill on an acoustic piano, it is not always practical. Also, due to technological advances, there are many keyboards available that can provide a learning experience similar to that of an acoustic piano. Let's learn about both and ultimately find the right choice for you.
 One of the very first decisions a beginning guitarist must make is what type of guitar he or she wants to learn on initially. Guitars are classified into three basic categories: electric, standard acoustic and classical. The best guitar for you will depend heavily on the type of music you plan to play. Following is brief guide to all three principal guitar categories that will help you decide which one is the right choice for you.
Electric Guitar Electric guitars are extremely popular for use in rock, metal, modern blues, pop and even some jazz music. Thanks to their ability to be amplified and enhanced with various effects, electric guitars have wide-ranging versatility when it comes to musical styles. These guitars are typically solid-bodied, although some hollow-body models are available on the market. One thing you should be aware of if you're choosing to start out on an electric guitar is the fact that you'll also need a guitar amplifier to accompany it. This increases the initial cost of learning guitar, but also offers you access to a greater range of tones than conventional acoustic guitars are capable of producing.
 In recent years, more and more parents are leaning toward having their kids engage in music lessons. One of the major queries these parents have is when they can know their child will be capable of taking on music lessons and if they require any skills beforehand. Ideally, children should start their music lessons from at least five or six years of age. However, since kids mature differently, you may find that your child could start earlier or have to wait a bit longer. Read on to know what to look out for that would indicate if your child is ready for music lessons or not.
Assess their ability to read Granted, children are knowledge sponges. They tend to absorb information much faster than adults do. This is why children have an easier time learning a foreign language. Music is also a language and learning music is much easier when you can read the staff and understand the notes. You may be tempted to start music lessons before your child even begins school. Luckily, learning musical notes is much easier than learning the alphabet as the basic notes are only seven of them. And even if your child can’t read yet, don’t worry! Young children learn effectively by rote and memorization. In fact, many traditional teaching methods, including the Suzuki Method, emphasize learning by ear in the initial stages. Assess their physical capabilities If you are interested in your child taking up an instrument as part of their music lessons, then it would be pertinent to assess their physical capacities. Some musical instruments are much easier to handle than others are. For example, if your child is small in stature, they would not be able to take on a trombone as their first instrument. However, you would be able to start them off on something smaller such as violin or even a simple flute. Guitars are some of the instruments that come in an assortment of sizes, so this would also be a suitable first instrument for your child. Additionally, the piano is always a great beginner instrument for all children. Assess their mental growth Another important aspect to consider before deciding on music lessons for your child is their mental capability. To ensure that the music lessons you are paying for do not go to waste, you need to determine whether your child would be capable of concentrating for the length of the lesson. At the very least, before you start these lessons, your child should be able to pay attention for at least half an hour at a time. Moreover, they would also need the temerity to sit down and practice on their own on a regular basis. If your child is easily distracted, you may want to wait until they learn how to hone in their concentration. Assess their fine motor skills Learning an instrument may not be akin to writing, but it does need the learner to have some fine motor skills. Thus, you need to determine if your child would have the dexterity to play an instrument before you sign them up for music lessons. Younger children who have not yet learn how to hold a pencil or use a pair of scissors properly may have a hard time learning how to coordinate their fingers to play an instrument. Additionally, an instrument such as a the guitar or violin, in which the student’s’ hands are performing two opposite movements, may be more challenging than an instrument such as the piano in which the hands perform the same type of movements. If your child meets the above criteria, then they would be ready to start their musical lessons. You can opt to take them to a formal class with other students or have an instructor carry out personal lessons at your home!  A recital is a great time for family and friends to enjoy performances, and of course, it’s a great photo opportunity to show off your child’s hard work on your social media. Beyond the music and the photos, however, performing in a recital or showcase has real benefits to your child’s development. Learn more about the four major ways a recital helps music students.
1. Setting Goals It can be hard to practice the same song and scales over and over for months. Practice often takes place alone, at home, and may not feel exciting or rewarding. When students know there is a performance associated with their practice, they have a deadline to work toward. Many students look forward to showing off all that hard work and are more motivated to put time into focused practice. Adults who haven’t had lessons in years can often remember a song they played at a recital, as the muscle memory from those motivated practice sessions remains. A bonus benefit is that often this new practice routine persists even after the performance! 2. Overcome anxiety Over 70% of Americans report feeling stage fright at some point in their lives. Students who get experience performing in recitals at a young age build confidence in their ability to be the center of attention on stage. It’s not obvious to the audience, but performance actually engages a whole different set of skills from musical skills needed to complete a song. Controlling your breath and posture under stress, being comfortable with your body on stage, and having resilience when you make a mistake are skills that will serve you well in both future performances and beyond. 3. See the Future Especially for students who spend most of their time practicing alone, the recital is a great opportunity to engage with the social aspect of music. Younger children naturally look up to older kids, and when beginning musicians perform with others who are more advanced, they see what can happen with dedication and practice. Over the years, they will gain a sense of what is coming next for them in their lessons and skills, and the progress they want to achieve becomes a concrete goal to work for in between performances. 4. Sense of Accomplishment Of all the benefits to playing music, this is the most rewarding. Preparing a song for performance takes a lot of time and focus. The performance requires bravery, stamina, and professionalism. All that hard work pays off when they’re taking their final bow to a round of applause. That magic moment sticks with children as they internalize the pride in their hard work and build their self-esteem. No matter what their skill level is, a recital gives every child a chance to be a musical star for one afternoon. Not only does preparing for performance build musical skills, but the lessons and rewards of the recital build character and self-esteem that will enrich your child’s life on and off the stage. |
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