Few instruments are as appealing to learn as the guitar. It’s portable – sure, the piano is awesome, but can you just pick one up and jam with your friends when you’re on the go? There’s a lot of repertoire for it – yeah, the glass harmonica sounds amazing, if you don’t mind playing the…

The tempo is an indicator of the speed at which a piece is to be performed. It is expressed most precisely in beats per minute, but often a composer will simply provide more general direction to the performer. These directions can be in a variety of different languages. They may be clear and concise, or…

Think you’re pretty good at singing, or playing the piano? You’re not. Ok maybe you are, but you’re probably not as good as these kids (are they even human kids?…). A good motto to live by is, if a 5-year-old can do it better than you, your life is depressing. Or in other terms, you…

As human beings we are mesmerized by a beautiful voice. Whether we sing like the seagull from The Little Mermaid or can sing like Mariah Carey, we’re awed by the talent that only a few of us are blessed with. A voice can give you goosebumps, it can move you to tears, it can make…

Pokémon has demonstrated unambiguous and lasting appeal across cultures and generations. Since it took the world by storm in the mid-1990s, the franchise has dominated multiple forms of media – television cartoons, film, card games, video games, and a great number of others. The premise is simple: there are several hundred monsters, each with unique…

Proper posture for piano performance is challenging to develop – and even more difficult to learn if you have already developed bad habits! However, it is crucial for developing good technique and for keeping your body healthy and happy as your pour hours of time into practice. What is good posture? What is the “correct”…

The year was 1983 when I was called into my Boss’ office at Columbia Pictures Publications.  Sitting there were three gentlemen (one of whom I thought I recognized).  They were the legendary Dave Brubeck, his Attorney and his Music Director/Conductor.  My Boss introduced me and told me that I was to be the Creative Editor…

Time signatures convey important information for performers. The notation indicates how many beats are in each measure and the value of one beat. For example, one of the most common time signatures, 4/4, means that there are four quarter-notes per measure. Other common signatures include 3/4, 6/8 (six eighth-notes per measure), and 12/8. Of course,…

It’s only the middle of July, and already we’re in the doldrums of summer. With school long over, and things slowing down as people go on extended vacations, the rest of us are left wondering how to spend whatever free time we have. Fortunately, this is the season for summer movie blockbusters! (Well, maybe not…

Singer, songwriter, and founder and front man for the vocal group The Miracles, Smokey Robinson has been awarded the prestigious Gershwin Prize for popular music. Robinson is a Motown legend, both for his renditions of beloved songs like “My Girl” and for his own hits, including “Shop Around,” the first Motown song to sell one…