Piano Lesson - What Are Octaves?
4/29/2022
In this piano lesson, we are going to discuss one of the most basic concepts in music. What is an octave and what does it mean, and what does it look like on a piano? Over the several hundreds of years the piano has taken to develop, the number of keys has changed dramatically, from as little as 32 keys when the piano was first developed, to up to 96 keys on a modern Bosendorfer Imperial. But why is this important to you when buying a piano today? Is it important to know how many octaves your piano has? Acoustic pianos usually all have the same amount, but when you're buying your first beginner piano for your kid you may only want a 61 key Keyboard instead of the full 88 key electric piano. There is no need for 88 keys until you or your child is more advanced. Those last 12 or so upper keys and 12 lower keys are rarely used except in classical music. Generally, a piano has 7 and 1/4 octaves. A standard modern upright, grand or digital piano has seven and a quarter octaves; seven full octaves, and three extra treble notes; B-flat, B and C. That's a total of 88 keys. There are variations, mainly in digital instruments, which we'll discuss in this article. What is an octave? An octave is defined as a series of eight; the term is derived from the Latin word "octo," meaning "eight." The same reason an octopus is called as such; because it has eight legs. See the image above to see how it looks on the piano keyboard. You can easily identify the 7 octaves on any piano by looking for the pattern of 2 black keys followed by 3 black keys. That is where every octave starts and ends. The note C is to the left of the first group of 2 black keys and then it ends on the next C. That is a full octave. Every beginning piano lesson starts with that discovery. The word "octave" can refer to two different things in music; an interval and a scale. An octave scale is a series of notes, iterating through the seven notes of any particular scale until you arrive on the note you started on, but one octave higher. G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G. You'll notice that we start on G, we iterate through all the notes of the G Major scale, and we finish on G. However, it's not the same G that we started on; it's the next G up on the piano. We refer to this as being an octave higher; essentially it's the next occurrence of the note you start on. This also ties into the octave as an interval; in the same way that a fifth is five notes apart, and a fourth is four notes apart, an octave is eight notes apart. On a modern piano, the very bottom note is A. There are seven more As on the piano, making for a total of 7 A octaves. Older pianos finished here and just had seven octaves; modern pianos have an extra three notes; a B-flat, a B and a C, to make seven octaves plus three notes. If you're interested in taking Piano lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best piano lessons in Los Angeles. Our piano instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-piano-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html
Beginner Drum Beat Breakdown
4/28/2022
This is the basic form of showing a student how to count a basic beat and separating it by steps. In this guide you will see the breakdown of the beat and then when it is all together, you will be playing your very first beat. First we will start off counting 1-2-3-4 and Repeat 1-2-3-4 because he will be playing to these numbers. Each Number represents a beat. And I will show you during the lesson and put it on the sheet for your son. So you can practice his homework with him. Hi Hat: (If he is a righty, use right hand on Hi-Hat) (If Lefty he plays Hi Hat with his left Hand) Snare: (If he is a Righty, He will use his Left hand on the Snare) (If he is a lefty, he will use his right hand on the snare) Bass Drum: (if he is a righty, his left foot will be on the bass Pedal) ( if he is a lefty, His right food will be on the pedal) Would look like this below: R-Right Hand, L - Left Hand Snare: R,L 1,2 Tom 2: R,L 3,4 Tom 3: R,L 5,6 Floor Tom: R,L. 7,8 Crash Cymbal R. Crash Lesson Number 1 (first Beat) Step 1 Tap Hi Hat on Every Number. Tap on 1, on 2, on 3, on 4 (Count out loud when doing this) Repeat (Twice) It will look like this when I write it out. Hi Hat: 1-2-3-4 Step 2 Next we will add the Snare Tap Hi Hat and Snare on 2 and 4 at the same time. (So we will Count 1 then have him hit the hi-hat and snare at the same time. So we will count 1, Tap on 2, count 3, then tap on 4) it will look like this. Tap Hi Hat and Snare on 2 and 4 with sticks Count: 1-2-3-4 Hi Hat: 2 4 Snare: 2 4 When he’s comfortable doing this, we will tap the hi hat on every number Tap Hi Hat on all numbers and Snare on 2 and 4 with sticks Count: 1-2-3-4 Hi Hat: 1-2-3-4 Snare: 2 4 Step 3 Next we will add the Bass Drum/Pedal We will be taping the Hi-hat and bass pedal with his foot and we will be doing this at the same time but on number 1 and 3 (So we will tap and step on 1, count 2, then tap and stomp on 3, and then count 4) it will look like this below Tap Hi Hat and step with foot on 1 and 3 Count: 1-2-3-4 Hi Hat: 1 3 Bass: 1 3 When he’s comfortable doing this, we will tap the hi hat on every number Tap Hi Hat on all numbers and Foot on 1 and 3 Count: 1-2-3-4 Hi Hat: 1-2-3-4 Bass: 1 3 Final Step Next we will put step 2 and 3 together Now we will slowly put step 2 and 3 together. (On 1 it will be Hi Hat and Bass Drum, on 2 hi hat and snare, on 3 hi hat and bass drum and on 4 its hi hat and snare. Then we will end with a crash cymbal. Tap Hi Hat and Bass on 1 and 3 and Snare on 2 and 4 I’ve color coded for you. (The Hi Hat will be going all the way through Count: 1-2-3-4 Hi Hat: 1-2-3-4 Bass/Foot: 1 3 Snare: 2 4 If you're interested in taking Drum lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best drum lessons in Los Angeles. Our drum instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-drum-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html
Best Way To Find Your Voice Range
4/27/2022
If you're interested in taking Singing lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best Voice lessons in Los Angeles. Our Vocal instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of teachers and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Vocal Range I’m sure we’re all familiar with words like bass, tenor, alto and soprano, but how do we actually find out our voice type when we start singing? Discovering our voice type is in fact a really simple exercise, and certainly one which is worth spending a bit of time on as a beginner. Knowing and understanding vocal range gives us an important guide on the notes and songs we are able to sing safely and effectively. It's important to remember that vocal range really isn’t related to singing ability: many experienced singers can have a narrow vocal range, and are still able to produce a beautiful, rich sound. As vocal range is mainly determined by the shape and structure of each individual's vocal folds, it's difficult to train to reach notes outside our range. However, we can strengthen the notes at the edge of our range, and much of vocal training focuses on improving the quality of the notes at the top and bottom of our register, giving us a wider range to sing with a clear and natural sound. Here are some simple steps for finding your vocal range and voice type: 1. Warm Up Before doing any type of singing, it’s vitally important to do a vocal warm up, particularly when singing near the edges of our vocal range. This is in order to avoid straining or damaging the voice. Simple techniques to warm up the vocal choirs include: humming scales, sirening, and singing scales using different vowel sounds. 2. Find Your Lowest Note Using a piano, find Middle C (also known as C4) and sing along as you play the note. Travel down the white keys to the lower notes and sing along to each note until you reach your lowest note. Any note within the octave of Middle C is designated a number 4, any note in the octave below is designated a number 3, and so on. Your lowest note will be the last note you can sing comfortably and sustain without croaking or breathing the note. Write down the note (for example G3). Once you’re sure you’ve found your lowest note, don’t attempt to try singing any lower as this might strain your voice. 3. Find Your Highest Note Much like finding your lowest note, travel up the piano from Middle C until you find the highest note in your normal voice and write the note down. Continue up the scale in your falsetto voice until you find the last note you can sing and sustain comfortably and again write the note down - this note it is the top of your vocal range. It’s very important not to push your voice and attempt to sing past this note. 4. Compare Your Lowest And Highest Note Once you know your lowest and highest note, check these against the voice types below:- - Soprano: C4 – C6 Mezzo Soprano: A3 – A5 Alto: F3 – F5 Tenor: C3 – C5 Baritone: G2 – G4 Bass: E2 – E5 You've now found your vocal range and voice type. However, it’s important to bear in mind that many singers within the categories above can often sing higher or lower than the ranges displayed, so don't worry if your range doesn't match exactly. The top and bottom note are not the only things to determine voice type: factors such as tessitura (the most comfortable part of the range to sing) and timbre (texture and quality of the voice) also inform voices types. As you gain more experience as a singer you will develop a better awareness of the parts you are able to sing most comfortably comfortably and naturally. If you're interested in taking vocal lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best vocal lessons in Los Angeles. Our vocal instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of vocal instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-voice-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html
3 Voice Lesson Bad Habits To Avoid
4/26/2022
The Top 3 things to avoid Bad singing habits. These cringe-worthy bad habits are high up on my list of things that make beginner singers sound well… beginner. If your voice gets tired after a warm up routine, or you feel a strain in your neck, you might be missing a step somewhere.
If you’ve had any formal training, you already know this: expanding your diaphragm is good, raising your shoulders is bad. To make sure you know how to breathe correctly to improve your singing skills, stand in front of a full length mirror and place your hands at the bottom of your ribcage on both sides to locate your diaphragm muscles. While you’re breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your mouth, your goal should be to expand your diaphragm, while keeping your shoulders down.
So many singers make the mistake of whispering during their vocal rest days, thinking that if their cords are not vibrating, whispering should still count as resting. Not true. Whispering, especially loud whispering, leads to tense muscles in the front of the neck. When you strain your neck, it becomes more difficult to sing with a healthy technique, because your voice box lacks the support from the surrounding muscles it usually relies on. So Try to avoid these 3 vocal warmups that could end up creating bad habits for your vocal lessons. If you're interested in taking vocal lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best vocal lessons in Los Angeles. Our vocal instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of vocal instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-voice-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html
Musical performances have always been part of history. Since the advent of the piano, as a musical instrument, performers have always stunned their audience at concerts so phenomenally. History is replete with the remarkable achievements of piano grandmasters such as J. S. Bach and Franz Liszt. Generally, learners can gain the right technical approach to this practice by seeking the best piano lessons in Burbank. Here are some helpful piano training tips that can substantially elevate a learner’s skills when incorporated. 1. Maintain a natural posture Keyboardists are always advised to maintain a calm posture and portray good deportment when addressing the keyboard. This can be effectively achieved by ensuring a comfortable seating posture while maintaining an appropriate distance from the keyboard for enhanced ease of movement. 2. Ensure proper use of the full arm As a constituent of the full arm, the forearm provides support to the hand which in turn supports the fingers. It is best to ensure that the forearm is well-positioned to ensure easy movement of the hand (sideways, upward and downward). 3. Make the wrist flexible Playing with a supple wrist can bring about a seamless execution of gestures. The legendary music tutor, Beethoven strongly advocates the development of a unique feeling of musical impulse when playing slurred notes. This would require the light withdrawal of the hand purposely. 4. Play with a compact hand By default, the hands are meant to be kept in a compact position when playing the piano. Apart from helping to keep the arm and hand calm, this also helps to enhance finger movements. 5. Flow naturally with the fingers There is no need to exert force while playing the piano. As a best practice, players should try to keep the muscles relaxed, as well as maintain a natural arch when working with the fingers. 6. Follow the right finger motion (fingering) It is very easy to play the wrong note when adopting the wrong fingering. To avoid creating execution difficulties, pianists should ensure that they articulate gestures with the right fingering. 7. Try to be consistent To achieve greater reliability, it is best to ensure full consistency by maintaining a regular hand shape. 8. Understand the structural function The left hand is the foundation of playing the piano. This is where the bass line which is responsible for clarifying harmonic rhythm, maintaining timing, providing direction, sustaining the rhythmic energy, and setting the tempo is located. Ensure to work with the left hand by listening and building from the bass up. Conclusion As it is commonly said, practice makes perfect. Following the best piano lessons in Burbank can set anyone on the right track to perfection. If you're interested in taking Piano lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best piano lessons in Los Angeles. Our piano instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-piano-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html
Mistakes That Slows Your Progress In Learning Any Musical Instrument When learning how to play any musical instrument, you could catch up fast or you could progress at a snail’s speed. It all depends on your learning approach. Most music teachers focus more on making sure that you don’t miss your learning sessions. Of course, missing your practice will slow your progress down, but your learning approach is more important than the time spent on it. Students make several mistakes in their approach and these mistakes impact the result they get from their practice sessions. Here are some of the mistakes and their solutions. 1. Playing without concentration Some students practice with their musical instrument while doing something else. Most commonly, people play an instrument while watching the TV. Learning requires full concentration as it requires the whole of your mind. When you play an instrument without full concentration, it is just a repetition of what you have already learned. It is a waste of time because you won’t learn anything more. Whenever you want to practice, you have remove anything that may cause a distraction, so you can listen to what you’re playing and look out for flaws. 2. Playing without looking out for flaws Another common mistake is playing an instrument through a piece of music without taking note of your flaws. If you do that, you won’t improve. You’ll only turn your training session to a formality. You will continue to move on with your flaws. You’ll slow down your progress that way. Instead, watch for flaws while you’re playing the music. And if you come across any bad spot, stop and try to improve on the spot before you move on. 3. Playing through a particular musical piece repeatedly It is true that practice makes perfect. You’ll improve when you keep playing through a piece again and again, but the rate of improvement will be very slow. You’ll keep playing through your flaws over and over again. It is better to stop each time you encounter a problem. Find the cause and solution to the problem before you move on. You’ll learn faster that way. 4. Playing a problematic passage until it sounds better Some students prefer to play over a problematic area until they observe an improvement before they move forward. The problem with this learning technique is that it is not certain that you’ll breeze through the spot when next you play the piece. It is better to get to the root of the problem. Find out the real problem and the cause of the problem. That way, you’ll be able to proffer a technical solution to the problem. When the problem is solved, you’ll be able to play it better subsequently. You need full concentration and engagement for identifying problems and solving them. When your brain is fully engaged in this, you’ll be able to take note of the problems and their solutions. Most importantly, everything you learn will stick with you for a long time. This is the most effective approach to learning how to play any musical instrument. If you're interested in taking lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-music-lessons-burbank-ca.html
For true music lovers, the piano is the mother of all instruments. The piano gives such rich sounds with each key that is pressed, to not just the person playing, but also all who listen to it. The piano is considered to be the best instrument all around due to many reasons. For one, it is the only instrument that can play all 88 notes on the musical scale. The notes played can be higher and lower than other instruments. The piano is basically the base foundation for all other musical instruments. If you're interested in taking Piano lessons on Zoom or In Person or In-Home in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best piano lessons in Los Angeles. Our piano instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-piano-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html
Top 10 Guitar Styles To Learn Online
4/20/2022
Top 10 guitar styles to learn online with Los Angeles music teachers Several cultures have managed to influence the way the guitar is played in times gone by. Today, there are various ways of playing the guitar. Learners need to understand the various playing styles available so as to be able to choose a suitable guitar style. It is highly recommended to avoid monotonous tendencies by learning various styles of play. Undoubtedly, you stand to gain more impressive recognitions among friends and colleagues when you learn to play in varying guitar styles. Interestingly, the guitar space is so diversified to the extent that players can colorfully create their own styles by simply learning more musical scales and techniques. Here are some of the top styles to learn on guitar to help you improve your own playing skill. Rock The electric guitar is mainly used to create the rock music style it features a typical 4/4 beat that is influenced by country, rhythm, and blues, and blues music. Rhythm Learners will need to understand how to support a vocalist with the right beat when playing the rhythm guitar. Percussive Of all top styles to learn on guitar, the percussive could be the most challenging as it requires lots of practice to master. Aside from playing on the strings, players will need to learn how to produce percussive sounds by hitting the body of the guitar with their nails, finger edge or palm. Lead Virtually any type of guitar can be used to play a solo and practice several other techniques for lead improvisations. Jazz Typically characterized by improvisations and polyrhythms, swing and blue notes, this is an independent art form of music that can be purely instrumental. When playing on a jazz guitar, it important for learners to understand its complicated chord structures. Folk Anyone can pick up a folk guitar to play in a piece of folk music as it doesn’t require any form of professionalism. All you need to do is to flow along with the story that is sung about common people. Flamenco Flamenco features a vigorous Spanish style of play that involves fast and dynamic movements. Playing the flamenco guitar can provide the groove to the dancer by establishing percussive hits through a distinct picking pattern. Slide Learning to play the slide guitar will also require you to learn how to change pitch with the slide instrument. Bluegrass Originating from the southern United States, this unique style of country music features a happy spirited, fast tempo that is supported with a resonating guitar on the bass line. Blues Often performed over a repetitive harmonic pattern, blues is a melancholic style of music that features a simple chord progression presented in a slow sad manner. During musical performances, the guitarist often serves as the main point of focus. If you're interested in taking Guitar lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best guitar lessons in Los Angeles. Our guitar instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of guitar instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-guitar-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html
If you've ever wanted to improvise on the saxophone or whatever instrument you play, but were feeling like it's too difficult, take a look at my latest student who's been with me for less than 8 months.
She's just one of hundreds of students who has never played a saxophone or any musical instrument in her life and after 8 months she's improvising at a level that usually takes 4- 6 years. It's a very simple technique. This method takes all the thinking out of your playing so your head and fingers will get out of the way and you’ll learn how to trust your ear to guide you through just like your favorite players. It’s not as hard as it may seem to you right now. There are no tricks — just a simple step by step method that you can learn in 3 music lessons and in 4-7 months you’ll be applying it to all your favorite songs you want to solo on. This is a fun method that gets you playing real music right away instead of just exercises and scales. As a part of the training you will receive a slow blues track (piano, guitar, bass and drums) that you can practice along with. In just a few months you will be a new player, soloing with confidence and catching all the chord changes. Check out Melody Chu (who was a complete beginner saxophone student). In less than 8 months she is able to improvise at a very high level. She's been improvising for about 5 months now, but we were learning more complex rhythms and expression techniques to add into her improv for the last 5 months. Pretty amazing! If you want to take music lessons on Sax, flute, Guitar, Piano or any instrument contact us as www.losangelesmusicteachers.com. 5 Benefits to Learning Upright Bass
4/4/2022
For a lot of people, the image of a talented virtuoso conjures up images of pianist in a concert hall, or an expert violinist. However, the double bass is a beautiful and necessary instrument that forms the backbone of any serious orchestra; and a number of emerging studies show that playing it can help your brain, as well. In this article, I’ll give a quick rundown of some of the major mental and physical benefits that learning and playing the upright bass provides. 1. LEARNING THE BASS CAN HELP YOUR CHILD READ BETTER The basic premise behind the claim is that musical performance and practice helps expose children to sounds they wouldn’t otherwise have encountered – thus firing the areas of the brain associated with sound processing, and analysis. This is known as “neurophysiological distinction”. Developing neurophysiological distinction in a young child gives them the tools to tackle complex words and sounds in an academic setting, giving them skills that can aid in all areas of learning, but provide a special significance to reading and writing. 2. THE DOUBLE BASS IS GOOD FOR YOUR MEMORY This isn’t necessarily a benefit unique to the upright bass, but it is one that it can give you nonetheless. Organized music lessons have a positive effect on overall IQ and general cognitive function. What’s more, the longer you keep at it, the larger the positive effects are. Memory tests administered to a control group and a group who had a musical background indicated a significant score increase in the test subjects who had affiliation with organized music education. 3. PLAYING CAN MAKE YOUR BRAIN HEALTHIER Playing the bass is a worthwhile pursuit for a number of reasons. Studies performed on developing children showed not just a difference in brain activity, but a physical one as well – those that participated in music showed a significant increase in brain volume, as well. In layman’s terms, the grey matter in the brain is the part responsible for processing information. That means an increase in volume can have benefits such as increased attention span, improved social behavior, and a greater mental acuity and cognitive response time. Grey matter is a sign of a healthy, functioning brain – it’s the part that does the thinking. 4. THE DOUBLE BASS IS GOOD FOR PHYSICAL HEALTH AS WELL Playing any instrument has elements of good posture and position, but the upright bass may be an instrument where these qualities matter most. Not only is it one of the more physically demanding instruments due to its large size and heavy strings, it also is typically played in an upright, standing position. This makes proper posture essential for learning, and encourages a healthy spinal column and correct vertebrae alignment that carry benefit through one’s entire life. 5. THE BASS CAN OPEN PROFESSIONAL DOORS The upright bass is a wonderfully dynamic and versatile instrument – professional musicians that learn the double bass have a leg up in the music industry due to the flexibility of the instrument giving it a niche foothold in several different genres. Bassists are always in demand because they are a necessary part of so many different kinds of musical styles – be it jazz groups, live music, recording artists and bands, or symphony orchestras. CONCLUSION If you’ve been considering taking up the double bass, I hope this article has convinced you the positive benefits are absolutely worth it. The bass not only helps your musical ear and body, but helps encourage brain health as well. If you're interested in taking Bass lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best Bass lessons in Los Angeles. Our Bass instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of Bass instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/contact-us-for-info.html
|
Archives
June 2022
Categories
All
|
Music Lessons Available on All Instruments:
Piano Lessons
Guitar Lessons Voice Lessons Drum Lessons Violin Lessons Cello Lessons Saxophone Lessons Jazz Improvisation Lessons Flute Lessons Clarinet Lessons Singing Lessons Acoustic & Elec Bass Songwriting & Production |
Contact Us Now
|
Website by Never Alone Business Services