If you’re not sure what percussion is, you’re not alone. Most people don’t recognize the word when I say it to them, and they certainly don’t associate it with music. ‘Percussion’ is a category of instruments that are played by striking them with a hand, stick, mallet, or beater, or by shaking them. There are
Pianists come in all shapes and sizes, with different skill levels and varying degrees of commitment to the craft. Whether you see yourself as a casual, dedicated or professional pianist, in many ways you will face the same challenges to obtain personal growth. After all, your journey with the piano always centers around a quest
Children who are well acquainted with music at an early age are set up for a rich and engaging life. Learning a musical instrument is proven not only to bring joy and satisfaction to people, but it is also proven to promote discipline as well as hand-eye coordination. For parents looking to start their children
When you start taking violin lessons in Seattle, there’s much to look forward to! Learning the violin is a rewarding and enriching activity that will bring you challenges but also great joy. There’s so much to learn, and one of the most important things you’ll need to learn initially is how to tune your violin.
The violin and viola present two outlets of musical expression often seen as similar, but I find that each instrument has its own unique quality and beauty. Starting my musical journey on violin, I felt like I joined a wrestling match against violists as my violinist peers threw around a plethora of viola jokes and
As a private guitar teacher who specializes in working with beginner students, I can’t tell you how often this question comes up: “How do I change my guitar strings without messing anything up?” The good news is that learning how to restring a guitar isn’t as complicated as it might seem—and once you’ve done it
Learning to play the violin has its highs and lows, but sometimes, the journey has its plateaus. At this point, students find that their progress is not improving but at the same time, their skills are not getting worse. I have experienced this issue numerous times in the middle of learning a new piece and
The simple answer to knowing whether or not a violin student needs to learn music theory is yes. Still, this answer involves knowing why, when, and how. Playing violin is more than just holding the instrument correctly and producing a beautiful sound. All the elements for the learning process can seem overwhelming, especially when music
In our experience teaching beginner guitar students, one musical skill rises above the rest when it comes to long-term success: rhythm. Technique, tone, and chord knowledge all matter—but if a student can’t keep a steady beat, even a well-played melody can fall flat. This guide walks you through the importance of rhythm for guitar in
Curious about how long to learn guitar? We hear this all the time from students and parents. As a group of private music teachers working with beginners every day, we’ve seen real progress shaped by time, dedication, and effective guidance. Typical Learning Timeline Here’s a helpful breakdown of what to expect: 3–6 months (100–500 practice
