 Getting started with violin classes online can feel so overwhelming for those starting out - we have all been there. A violinist needs to engage in regular practice for years before they feel confident and fulfilled with their sound, intonation and shifting. Then comes high positions, vibrato and bow strokes, etc. As a beginner, you have to give extra attention on, and build solidly on the basics. This will help you seamlessly advance on your skills; saving you the stress and frustration of re-learning all the fundamentals again.
When it comes to posture, I am picky with my beginner students in Burbank and Los Angeles. I insist that both hands are correctly placed. Emphasis is also laid on standing straight, reducing any form of tension. Arm levels is another aspect I ensure they always get right. When playing on the strings, there is a standard positioning level for both hands. When the left arm is not placed at the correct level, students will feel frustrated with their results. You will also not get accurate intonation with an awkward positioning. Your right arm will most likely hit other strings, producing an undesirable sound if wrongly placed. To help my online violin students build muscle – training their fingers on where to go – I normally place tapes on the fingerboard. Then, we take it a step further. We practice in front of a mirror – the idea is to ensure students can watch themselves play and monitor the movement of the bow. This will help them maintain a parallel position between the bridge and fingerboard. Playing too close to either side will produce awful sounds. Does the whole concept of learning the violin seem daunting? Relax. We all had that feeling. However, with proper devotion and a seasoned tutor to take you through the process step by step, you will notice great improvement within a relatively short time. Follow me closely, and you will soon experience a quicker and much easier path to becoming a pro; not just in violin, but as a musician. For more questions or inquiries contact Los Angeles Music Teachers at (818) 209-2620
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How Do Online Music Lessons Work?
3/24/2020
 Los Angeles Music Teachers allow instructors to upload course information for easy student access. Common LAMT lessons include free recording of your Zoom lesson which provide accessible exchange of information between teachers and students. If the teacher delivers a new song, it will include song materials, such as music sheet and notes, at their leisure. Online lessons, however, require scheduled attendance through online video calls.
One issue that arises in the online classes versus in person classes debate relates to performances, since teachers and students communicate virtually. If you’re in the need to perform in person, you can coordinate that with your teacher to do it once a month if its possible. If not, you can record a video of you performing the song and sending it to your teacher for him/her to give notes to you. If you need more information, please contact us at www.losangelesmusicteachers.com and we will reach out to you and discuss the benefits of taking lessons at this time of the coronavirus outbreak. Are online music lessons for you?
3/24/2020
 Perhaps when doing a search for music lessons you found teachers near you, but also noticed advertisements for online instruction. Here are things to consider if you're thinking of taking music lessons online.
Access to Teachers If you can’t find a quality teacher in your area, or any teachers at all, then obviously studying online will open up many potential options. Also, you’ll almost certainly be able to find someone that teaches exactly the repertoire, technique etc. that you’re interested in. Online lessons with a superior teacher are likely to be more worthwhile than in-person lessons with a mediocre teacher. Distractions Distractions in your home environment may interrupt online lessons depending on your living situation. However, keeping household members informed can prevent such problems and make you focus more on the lesson. Human Presence The value of human presence is undervalued when weighing the costs and benefits of virtual instruction. So many of us live isolated lives mediated by technology. There are obvious benefits for students, too. Not only do you get to interact with a live, breathing human, but the possibility of connecting more deeply with your teacher is enhanced when you are together in person. However, teachers online try to bring that in-person presence to the lesson so you do not feel like you’re not getting what you paid for. Instruments If the size of your instrument (e.g. piano) means you can’t bring it to in-person lessons, you may sometimes feel frustrated having to play a different instrument than you practice on at home. Online lessons allow you to experience the comfort and security of playing your own instrument for your teacher. Recitals Most music teachers like to offer recitals. While some online teachers may compensate for the lack of recitals by having students share performance videos with each other (perhaps even live performances). Recording The nature of online instruction means it’s also easy to record your lesson. You can save the recording for posterity, replay parts, or even replay the entire lesson again and take notes. Of course it’s also easy to record in-person lessons, as long as your teacher is comfortable with it (and most are). But have you ever done it? Sound Quality The sound quality of Zoom lessons, for both conversing and playing, will never match in-person lessons. But it is getting really close to it. Technology Online teachers are more likely to use tech than in-person teachers. This may include supplementary videos, phone apps, online games, computer software, etc. It’s also true, though, that many teachers who don’t teach online use state-of-the-art tech in their studios. Travel Perhaps the most obvious benefit of studying online is that no travel is required. Of course, the size of this benefit depends on your location. If you live in a small town and your teacher lives a few blocks away, you might not mind the walk. But if you live in a big city, especially one renowned for terrible traffic, then online lessons might be perfect for you. Technique Many superior teachers like to be able to physically adjust your arms and hands to improve your technique, just as a tennis coach will physically correct your strokes. In online lessons you will need to follow your teacher’s precise instructions to get the same benefits. Conclusion Both online and in-person music lessons have benefits and drawbacks. Considering the corona virus thats happening now, weighing the factors above that are important to you will help you decide whether or not online learning is the best approach for you. If it is, and you're looking into taking guitar, violin, saxophone, piano, flute, cello, or improvisation lessons, please contact us at www.losangelesmusicteachers.com  Singers, you are musicians. Often times we are lost in the solo world of performance and emotive expression through sound. Which is awesome. But we are musicians and expected to be, and definitely respected much more so, when we act as such.
Solo performers are at somewhat a disadvantage when they show up at rehearsals with other kinds of musicians, a band, an orchestra, back up singers, or a pianist. We need to keep time so that people can play with us. We need to be able to follow a conductor during a staged performance. We need to be able to count. And that is where piano or guitar lessons will do you some good. Learning to really read music, for real; rests, quarter notes, time signatures, key signatures, key changes, dynamics, tempo markings, minor, major, harmony... And number one, being able to learn your part spot on, by yourself correctly, even when it is hard. May we suggest you sign up for some piano or guitar lessons? We have been teaching and working in the profession for over 20 years. We love to teach the piano and guitar at los Angeles music teacher with a passion because it works a different part of your brain than a voice lesson. It always feels like completing a complicated math test after a good lesson and that is great for us. I am sure our piano/guitar students feel that way as well. Also, what is fantastic about piano and guitar is that you can really track your improvement by completing levels of music so you know you are getting better. Singing is more complicated. You have to be born with a certain amount of talent beyond your control. Lessons are important and help so much in singing, but it is different than piano playing. (You do need a certain amount of natural talent to be a concert pianist/guitarist of course- I am not referring to that). So consider putting learning the piano/guitar on your list of things to do to further your singing level. We can not tell you as a singer how many times it came in handy for me to be able to pluck out my parts, or play the harmonies with my part so we could practice singing against them. Piano/guitar especially helped me out of college because we are able to teach voice lessons. If you want to combine your voice with a guitar and piano, contact us at www.losangelesmusicteachers.com  Why online music lessons?
For most of us, there are just not enough hours in the day, especially for busy families, business professionals, or students involved in multiple activities or dealing with the virus going on today. Families are often forced to choose between one activity or another because each additional activity requires additional preparation time (packing up gear and arriving early), travel time, and lesson time …for both the parent and the student. We also realize that there are a number of families that live in areas with harsh climates and excessive traffic. If you live in the south or in highly populated areas, it means not having to fight the hot traffic while trying to get to your lesson. And for those of us who live in the north, it means not having to decide between missing a class that you already paid for, or driving your family on icy roads through a dangerous snowstorm. To accommodate students/families in these situations we’ve opened up online lessons. The online lesson format is very similar to a private lesson Clear and Accurate Sounding Lessons With a background in audio and video production, we understand the importance of clear and accurate audio and video. We have invested heavily in high-quality microphones, audio capture devices, lighting, and video cameras. Much of which is actually used during our private online lessons. It’s important to us that you are able to hear clear vocals and accurate instrumentals, without the room distortion or background noise that you get on a built-in laptop mic or with most of the entry-level microphones. We also have a fast upload speed, so you’ll be able to view our time together in high-definition. Lesson Recording Did you know that the average student forgets 30-70% of what they learned within just a few hours of their lesson? On top of that, each day that passes by without practice, the student will lose another 50% of what’s left. Needless to say, the last thing a parent or student wants is to be paying for lessons (plus drive time and gas), only to spend most of their lesson time relearning old content from the previous week. A free option available to all of our online students is to have their lesson recorded. This allows students to review EVERYTHING they learned in the previous lesson, not just the parts they can remember; and they can do it at a time when they are most receptive to learning. It also creates a new level of transparency between the parent and teacher, allowing parents to review all of the content that their children are learning. This combination truly creates an opportunity for full lesson-retention, and puts students in a position where they are able to progress at a much faster rate compared to traditional music lessons. So if you're interested in learning about our online lessons, please contact us at www.losangelesmusicteachers.com or click on one of the links below  Knowing how to choose a lesson length is an important aspect of learning music. This is why it is very common to hear people ask, “what is the best time length for music lessons?”
These 6 basic factors are established to enable music students to get the best time length for their music lessons. 1. Goals Goals are established to give learners a clear idea of what they want to achieve. Goal setting is an important aspect of learning that cannot be underestimated even in the music world. Learning how to choose an appropriate goal can go a long way to help you obtain the best time length for music lessons which depends largely on your ambition. 2. Concentration It is imperative to learn to play accurately. Interestingly, this cannot be achieved without a high level of concentration. It is a bad habit for a musician to make mistakes while playing. This doesn’t reflect growth in any way. Your concentration levels will determine the length of music lesson you take. Consider taking a shorter lesson especially if you find it difficult to concentrate for a longer period (about an hour). 3. Comfort Generally, it is difficult to achieve progress in an uncomfortable state or situation. You must ensure to be comfortable with what you are doing to achieve a significant time length with your music lessons. There is no need to stress yourself learning music when you are not comfortable with it. 4. Teacher Music teachers play an important role in helping learners achieve their goals regardless of the lesson length set. When it comes to learning music, there is simply no need to dish out long tiring lessons. The most important thing for every music teacher is to provide the necessary information required to improve learning. This can go a long way to enable the learner to find the best lesson length set. Note that too much information can overwhelm the learner. 5. Experience Experience, they say, is the best teacher. It is important for learners seeking to know what the best time length is for music lessons to ensure that they build on their experience levels. Studies have shown that the more experienced a person is at a thing, the longer he or she will concentrate which can be very helpful in building confidence. 6. Ability Like experience, ability is built over time. Your ability to focus on the project at hand (learning music) can help you identify the best time length for music lessons. Develop your ability to learn and you will find ample time to achieve perfection. Finally, your practice and budget will also play an important role in improving your lesson length. So ensure to practice effectively and ensure to go with a lesson that you can afford. If you have more questions, please contact us at www.losangelesmusicteachers.com Piano Lessons for all Ages
3/12/2020
 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 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.
Warmups keep your hands from Hurting
3/11/2020
 Guitar learners are curious about how to prevent their hands from hurting while playing on the guitar. Truth be told, the simplest and easiest way to achieve this feat is by warming up. As with most exercises, it is always important for people to warm up first before engaging in any strenuous activity which can go a long way in helping to prevent them from hurting themselves.
Warm-ups are essential for both novice and professional guitarists. Before doing anything on the guitar it is highly recommendable for players to perform a series of warmup exercises such as rehearsing, playing a gig or doing some recordings. Just so you know, many muscles, tendons, and bones are responsible for finger movements. This is why it is essential for guitarists to perform some warmup exercises before they even start flailing them around recklessly. Here are two important things you need to know about these preparatory exercises. They help to prevent injuries Ultimately, warming up can be every efficient in helping to improve your playing skills and technique. However, it is also important to note that these little exercises can go a long way in helping to prevent injuries from occurring. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and tendonitis are some common problems that can occur as a result of not warming up before play. Just so you know, that are many guitarists that have been forced to retire from playing the guitar due to problems of this sort. This is why warming up before playing is important as it goes a very long way to help to prevent body injuries. Parting shot Warming up should be regarded more like a precautionary exercise than an optional thing. There is no better way to avoid those nightmare experiences associated with hurting hands than this. Now that you know how warmups can keep your hands from hurting on guitar, it is imperative to ensure that you make these activities a norm. Don’t just grab your guitar and let rip without taking the time to do some warming up exercises. Medically speaking, it is advisable to observe some finger stretching routines before setting out to play the guitar. There is no need to cut your guitar playing dreams short due to your inability to perform proper warm up routines before playing which has finally messed up your hands. In fact, doing so doesn’t even make any sense. The main aim of engaging in warmup routines is to awaken all the necessary ligaments, tendons, and muscles needed for playing the guitar. This can go a long way in preparing the hand and even the mind for the vigorous playing demands you are about to engage in. If you have more questions on the guitar, please contact us at www.losangelesmusicteachers.com WANT TO PLAY THE CLARINET?
3/10/2020
 The clarinet is as versatile as it is fun. It is a great woodwind instrument to learn to play. If you're unsure on how to properly clean your instrument, our list of advice is designed to assist beginners. For more personalized, speak with your music instructor.
What Equipment Is Needed? There are a few essential pieces of equipment for every clarinetist: Reeds Ligatures Mouthpieces Did the clarinet come with a stock mouthpiece? If so, it is time to upgrade a better mouthpiece that provides the desired sound. All stock ligatures should be eliminated as well. Cloth ligatures offer more control than metal ones, so most educators recommend that their students transition into the usage of metal ligatures to open up their sound. The reed's strength should be determined by the mouthpiece. A “3” is usually the most common but it is not right for everyone. Be sure to speak with your music educator to find out about the strength that is right for you. How Is Embouchure Improved? This process doesn’t happen overnight. It’s an often overlooked performance aspect that involves the proper coordination between your upper lip, lower lip, chin and teeth. To begin, drop the jaw so that it is relaxed and not forced open. From there, move the jaw from side to side slightly, so that it can loosen up. Once full relaxation is achieved, roll your bottom lip ever so slightly over your lower teeth and firm up the mouths's corners. They should be brought forward and in, much like a smile. Place the index finger against the space between your top teeth and use the upper lip to press downward onto your finger. (The chin should automatically point downward once this step is taken.) Remove the finger, do not move a muscle, insert 1/4th of your mouthpiece and keep the upper teeth resting on top. Perfect embouchure has been achieved! What About Reeds? Finding the right clarinet reeds and maintaining them in the proper manner is crucial to your success. Choose the correct reeds for your mouthpiece and the level of pressure used. Do not moisten reeds with saliva, as these acids are highly detrimental to cane. When a new box of reeds is opened, do not test them all at the same time. The lip desensitizes and reed impressions are inaccurate. The break in process should be steady and slow. It does not take place in one day, they are played for a few minutes each day. When it comes to cleaning and maintenance, rinse your reeds in water after playing and use a soft cloth to dry them before they are stored on glass. Reed adjustment requires trial and error, so be sure to speak with your clarinet instructor for further advice. Any Practicing Advice? Most new clarinet players are misguided as far as practicing is concerned. The amount of time spent practicing is not as important as how that time is spent. An hour of efficient practicing is more effective than three hours of distracted practice. Practice time should consist of warm-ups, enjoyable sheet music and technique practice. Keeping up the technical side of things can be tough. Always practice technique, no matter what. Each practice should begin with a warm up, you can switch between sheet music and technique as necessary. What If I Have a Bad Day? Bad clarinet days are a very real thing. Practice can be frustrating at times. The trick is to remain calm. Don't force yourself to complete technique exercises or run through scales. At times like these, it is important to simply play through some of your favorite tunes. Spending time playing what you want to play lets you get into the flow of playing more rapidly. Becoming frustrated? There's nothing wrong with skipping your practice session for that day. Remember: this process is a challenge. There are going to be good days and there will be bad ones. Don't be discouraged. Your determination will pay off in the long run. If you would like to know more information on Saxophones, please contact me at www.losangelesmusicteachers.com  1) Flute Lessons are a Great Extracurricular Activity: Flute lessons are lots of fun, they teach you a creative skill, they challenge your mind and body, and they aren’t limited to seasons. Flute lessons are also far more affordable than many extracurricular activities.
2) Share Your Passion For Flute: No one goes into teaching a musical instrument without feeling passionate about it. If you’re passionate about flute, you and your flute teacher will share that passion and enjoy the adventure of making beautiful flute music. There’s no buzzkill like finding out that your friends don’t care about what you’re interested in, but if you have a flute teacher, you have someone who will share your love of flute. 3) Learn Flutey Things: Obviously, flute lessons will teach you flutey things! By “flutey things” I mean exercises, skills, tips, you name it, that are specific to the flute. Any band or orchestra teacher can offer valuable insight for improving your skills as a musician, but for flute-specific advice, you want private flute lessons. A flute teacher can help you improve your tone, fix fingerings, learn technique, and learn specific tools, exercises, and tricks to make you a better flute player. For example, did you know that it takes more air to play the flute than any other instrument except perhaps the tuba? A private flute teacher will teach you better breath control, which helps you develop stronger lungs so that you can hold notes for longer, play for longer without stopping to breathe, support your sound, and stay in tune. 4) They Know The Instrument: If you’re self-teaching and your flute stops working, or you have troubles with it, who do you go to? A flute teacher could test out your flute for you and determine whether it needs repair or replacement. If it’s broken and they can’t fix it themselves, they can get you to someone who can. 5) Get Valuable Flute Information: A professional flute teacher knows valuable information about the best flute brands, where to get a good flute, what to look for, how to get your flute repaired, how to care for it, where to get great flute music*, performance opportunities, etc. It’s definitely worth it to tap into this knowledge. For more information, please contact us at www.losangelesmusicteachers.com |
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