On July 4th, residents of the United States of America will celebrate the  240thanniversary of their country’s  independence from Great Britain. Independence Day is a federal holiday, which means that, rather than go to work, many Americans will be commemorating the occasion with food and festivities. Here are ten patriotic songs to help you celebrate!…

The 2016 Tony Awards saw history with an incredible 16 nominations for the smash hit Hamilton, one of the most successful and critically acclaimed shows ever to grace Broadway. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s magnum opus details the life of Alexander Hamilton, an American Founding Father who (SPOILER ALERT) met his untimely end at the hands of a…

I remember Hank!  He departed us on June 14, 1992.  I remember upon hearing the news, I paused and cried.  Over the next several days, a number of co-workers and colleagues offered their condolences to me, because they knew of my special relationship with the man and his music.  Starting back in 1984, I was…

There have been a number of famous musical families throughout history. One of the largest and most famous is the Bach family; the best known member of the family, Johann Sebastian Bach, was the youngest son of Johann Ambrosius Bach, a professional musician whose brothers also were musicians. J.S. Bach had several sons who themselves…

Memorial Day weekend marks the “official unofficial” start of summer.  With the school year ending and vacations on the mind of many, it’s a good time to take a step back from the busyness of everyday life. How will you enjoy your summer break? Here are five songs that will help set the mood for…

Memorial Day is a solemn occasion, a time to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our nation. For centuries, music has been an important form for complex expression – the gratitude and sadness we feel for those who make this sacrifice, the frustration and angst we experience with war,…

Playing a challenging piece with ease, but freezing up when you see “cadenza” or “ad lib” written on the page? Getting through written music just fine, but struggling to “jam” with your buddies? Improvisation is fun for both performers and audiences, but it can be daunting. How are some musicians able to play on the…

Prince was renowned as a musical innovator, and was widely known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, and wide vocal range. Trying to pick 10 of the best Prince songs was no easy feat. Did your favorite make the list? “Controversy” The song addresses speculation about Prince at the time such as his sexuality,…

Merle Haggard was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, fiddler, and instrumentalist. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the twang of the Fender Telecaster and the unique mix with the traditional country steel guitar sound, new vocal harmony styles in which words are…

  It was a great night for country music at the 51st annual ACM Awards, hosted by Country music stars Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan, as the hit makers of the industry gathered to celebrate the best in the business. The Academy of Country Music Awards was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in…