Playing a musical instrument often entails uninteresting tasks such as playing scales that can become boring. Scales are a necessary evil, if you will and if applied properly can be a path to better playing, no matter the instrument. If you can remember why you are playing scales you can receive the best result from their use.

How Do Scales Help?

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Playing the guitar in front of people may seem easy when it’s just a few friends or family, but when it’s a crowded room full of strangers waiting to be entertained it’s a different story. Standing in front of a large and live audience can be a scary experience, especially if you are a performer.

It doesn’t matter if you are completely new to performing on stage or you are a seasoned performer, there are a number of things you can do to make the very best of your performance. These tips have been taken from the experts – those who get up and perform with stability and amazing talent every week – we have compiled them here to make sure you perform at the best of your ability every time you go on stage.  Read more... (783 words, 14 images, estimated 3:08 mins reading time)

Stage fright is much the same anxiety as public speaking, a phobia of being humiliated in front of an audience.  One of the most common anxieties we all have as performers is stage fright.  Performing must be learned by most people and is not a natural inclination or talent.  There are certain people that love attention and are natural performers.  The list of idolized performers that have to manage stage fright is exhaustive and sometimes surprising.  Barbra Streisand is one example of a well known performer that has a problem with stage fright.  With help and study you can learn to manage stage fright and all of its complications.  Read more... (325 words, 14 images, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

The marvelous musical instrument that is the piano is appreciated by all. Below, we have put together just 10 of the many reasons for learning to play it, and play it well. It’s really not as difficult as you might think. Learning to play the piano is one of the best things that you could possibly do for yourself. Whatever your reason for wanting to learn, even if you have the slightest inclination to play, then there really is no reason not to!  Read more... (831 words, 14 images, estimated 3:19 mins reading time)

© Norine Peardon, July, 2009

Being able to read music is a requirement to speak the music language.  Music is a language unto itself.  Given that, how can you communicate if you cannot speak it?

Ensembles, bands, choirs, opera, jazz all operate on the written notes first.  As far back as we can research, some sort of written notation existed to pass the songs of a generation to the next one, as well as teaching people to sing together.  Read more... (539 words, 14 images, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)