Mockingbird Practice Strategy for Musicians Have you ever had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful and thrilling song of the Northern Mockingbird?  Many musical readers will be familiar with these bold, boisterous and beautiful avian songsters. They are native to all of the lower 48 states, most of Mexico, and southern Canada. Mockers boast the […]

In my professional opinion, music lessons and practice are a wonderful and beneficial way to spend time, especially for children.  While there’s no denying the incredible benefits our advanced technology brings to our everyday lives, we need to remember to slow down and study something in-depth that’s challenging and fully engaging for mind, body and […]

Music not only is a wonderful, fun activity for children to engage in, but it can actually help them to grow smarter.  It’s clear that something truly remarkable is going on in the developing minds of young instrumentalists.  According to an article published in The Journal of Educational Psychology (Vol. 98, #2) children who receive private […]

One of the best ways to get directly to the heart of playing music is to do so as if you’re singing the musical lines.  As you play a melody on the piano, bass or whatever instrument it is imagine that you’re the world’s best opera singer or pop star who is “singing” through the […]

Let’s recognize and reward the importance of effort and struggle in learning.