Born to a home-based piano teacher mother, and an amateur violinist father, we three children knew we had to learn to play an instrument as a basic life skill. To their credit, we were never driven by our parents to excel, just left to enjoy music as a language of togetherness and family expression. I […]
On a lovely Saturday afternoon, our composer sits at the piano and begins to put melodies together. Maybe they put a crescendo here, a forte there, and some rhythmic counterpoint. Using their deep knowledge of music theory, they consider interesting harmonic movement and possibly, a risky unexpected Napolean 6th chord then voilà, composition done. […]
The Essence and Evolution of Segue 61, a Music Industry Immersion Program in Nashville SEGUE: (sĕg′wā′) intr.v. se·gued, se·gue·ing, se·gues Music – To make a transition directly from one section or theme to another. 2. Standard – To move smoothly and unhesitatingly from one state, condition, situation, or element to another: “Daylight segued into dusk.” […]
Back-to-school season is a timely reminder of the impact a great music educator can have on a young student’s mind. Whether you’re actively taking music lessons or have done so in the past, you can probably point to a particular teacher as being your main influence or source of inspiration. From teaching you responsibility […]
Those who diminish the importance of arts education often argue that most music students will not pursue music professionally, rendering their music education meaningless or an activity with a dead end. This fact—that most students will not go on to be music professionals—is true, but the issue with that argument lies in a narrow […]
Ramon Rivera’s music program at Wenatchee High School is a Give a Note Foundation grant recipient. Ramon Rivera was named a 2017 CMA Music Teacher of Excellence by the CMA Foundation this past spring. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, D.C., with a small-town mariachi music ensemble is a dream come true to […]
As a teacher, I always looked at my job as more of a “student producer” than a teacher. Unfortunately, the term producer has become somewhat distorted. These days we tend to think of producers as famous people who throw parties, get wasted, and constantly demand attention, but real producers are very different. When I think […]
High School Cypher has made a significant positive impact on students in the DC-metro area. Learn more: It was the summer of 2013 when super producer Andrew Messam first had an epiphany. Youth in his community were eager to share their musical talent, but lacked a formal outlet to do so. To rectify this issue, […]
Miss Florida 2017 Sara Zeng Speaks Up for Music Education When you were five years old, did you know what you wanted to do when you grew up? Most children do not, although they are exposed to people and experiences along the way who help develop who and what they will become as adults. That […]
The Power of Music in Students’ Lives Early in my teaching career, I was a band director in a public high school on the “less economically advantaged” side of a major Midwestern city. It was here, among some students from middle socioeconomic status (SES) homes and some students from lower SES backgrounds who called the […]
