As a female drummer, I know I’m a bit of an oddity. And I don’t mind it one bit. In fact, I kind of like the shocked faces that follow me as I lug my huge bass drum across the bar to the stage. Tearing down misconceptions is a good thing. In this article, I share my confessions as a female drummer.
Lessons In Your Home Blog
Classical, Jazz, and Modern/Pop Trumpet Teachers: What To Expect
As a team of trumpet instructors who work with students of all ages and levels, one of the most common questions we hear is: “What’s the difference between trumpet teachers who teach classical, jazz, or pop?” If you’re wondering what to expect from trumpet teachers in these genres, you’re not alone. Each style has its
Tips and Techniques for Improving Sight Reading
Sight reading is the act of picking up a piece of music you’ve never seen before and playing it through to the best of your ability. Proficiency in sight reading is one of the goals of any music instruction. Of course, your ability to sight read will naturally improve as you develop your note-reading skills
Why I Teach Piano: A Teacher’s Passion
Hello! I’m Anna, a piano teacher with Lessons In Your Home, and I’ve been asked many times: “Why do pianists teach?” For me, the answer centers on sharing discovery, building confidence, and helping beginners form a lifelong connection to music. When someone asks me why I teach piano, I’m happy to share that it’s about
Guitar is a Lot Like Basketball
A routine is nothing more and nothing less than a checklist, or a set of reminders, that can help you establish habits. In this article, I am going to share my routine for practicing and performing on guitar. Whether you adopt my routine or create your own, my hope is that the routine you follow
How Advanced Drummers Can Get Past the Plateaus
For most people, the word plateau conjures up an image of a flat, elevated area, one with inclines above and below. A plateau can be a welcome resting place when climbing a mountain. On a plateau, we are not climbing, not making any real progress up the mountain. Instead, we are walking forward. Now think
How Environment Affects Music Lessons
When it comes to music lessons, I think the environment is extremely important. Most of my music teacher friends and colleagues teach in a school or music studio setting. As a teacher with Lessons In Your Home, I teach in students’ homes. Although private in-home music lessons are far more convenient for the student than
Do I Really Need to Practice Guitar With a Metronome?
Should Your Child Practice Guitar with a Metronome? Absolutely! As a musician, I often reflect on my own learning journey, especially the mistakes I made along the way. One common regret I hear from fellow musicians is the wish that their teachers had emphasized practicing with a metronome from the start. Trust me, practicing with
Private Lessons, Band, and Orchestra Go Hand In Hand
If it were up to me, every student who plays in band or orchestra would take private music lessons, and every student taking private music lessons would participate in band or orchestra. Students who take private lessons and play in bands or orchestras have the greatest opportunity to grow in both their mastery and enjoyment
The First Four Music Lessons for Beginners
The first four lessons for any beginning music student — no matter the instrument — are truly special. These first moments help shape what a music lesson feels like for a student, setting the tone for future growth, excitement, and learning. Most importantly, they lay the groundwork for the bond between teacher and student —
