Beating the Stereotypes
By Administrator Friday, October 30, 2009
Rightfully or wrongly, musicians are often stereotyped. From the effete neighbor who looks down his nose as we load our gear into the car to the drunken bar patron who thinks his request to “Play some Sabbath, man!” will be met, the world tends ... [read article] |
Teachable Moments in Pop Culture
By Administrator Thursday, October 29, 2009
In “Everything Bad is Good For You,” author Steven B. Johnson argues that while pop culture is often looked down upon, it can actually make its consumers smarter. I’m not suggesting that to be a successful music teacher one must extol the virtues of... [read article] |
Helpful Links
By Administrator Friday, November 20, 2009
Here are a few links that teachers and students alike may find helpful. If you have an idea for a link or of you want to exchange links with your site, please email us at info@findmymusicteacher.com.
GENERAL MUSIC SITES
read article] |
Interview: Micah Mata of "Lessons that Rock"
By Administrator Thursday, October 29, 2009
Micah Mata of Lakewood, CA, is the owner and founder of Lessons That Rock (www.lessonsthatrock.com). As its name implies, Lessons That Rock blends fundamentals, such as theory, scales and ear training with a strong emphasis on live performance with a... [read article] |
The Pros and Cons of Guitar Hero
By Administrator Friday, October 30, 2009
In the fall of 2007, an Australian made the news by selling a hard-to-find copy of “Guitar Hero 3” for almost ten thousand dollars on Ebay. While such a story today wouldn’t be a big deal, mainly because demand for that particular game isn’t q... [read article] |
Maestro's Musings: Diversify This!
By Administrator Saturday, October 31, 2009
Some people believe that diversification is a four-letter word. The adages abound: “Do one thing and do it well.” “If everyone’s your customer, no one’s your customer.” I’m not going to suggest that you try to supplement your teaching income with a s... [read article] |
Maestro's Musings: Diversify That!
By Administrator Saturday, October 31, 2009
Inspired by the response I got to my "Diversify This" blog, I decided to make this “sequel.” From “Diversify This”, you know that even if you play the guitar, there’s no reason you can’t pick up a didgeridoo or alpenhorn student here and there. Diver... [read article] |
Writes of Passage: Getting Your Students to Express Themselves with Composition
By Administrator Saturday, October 31, 2009
It’s common for students to get tired of doing the same stuff over and over again (as it is for teachers to keep teaching the same stuff over and over again). If you’re looking for a way to put a new spin on your lessons, consider giving them some ki... [read article] |
Gustavo Oliveira on Guitar Lessons by Video Conferencing
By Administrator Monday, November 02, 2009
If you are a music teacher reading this, odds are most of the lessons you've given are face-to-face with students. Yet today fairly accessible technology makes it possible to teach students online, thus eliminating geographic constraints and other l... [read article] |
Q & A with Mike O'Cull
By Administrator Monday, November 02, 2009
I am turning this issue of Maestro’s Musings over to Mike O’Cull, my first of hopefully many interview subjects. Mike is a successful Chicago area guitar teacher who teaches between 30 and 50 students per week. He was kind enough to take the time to ... [read article] |
Strings Attached: Twists on Free Trial Lessons
By Administrator Monday, November 02, 2009
Many teachers offer free trial lessons to help attract business. Should you be one of them?
Obviously, a free trial lesson can give you a chance to pitch yourself to a reluctant student. If you can get a student who turns out to be loyal for se... [read article] |
Student See, Student Do: Modeling the Behavior You Want
By Administrator Monday, November 02, 2009
I was talking once with a high school English teacher who told me a story about having to call the mother of one of his students. When he told her that her son was using profanity in his classroom, she apparently had a tirade, something to the effect... [read article] |
"Erin Go Bass" Not Included: Successful Music Instruction Videos
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
It’s no secret that youtube is huge. It’s also common knowledge that many musicians have advanced their careers, teaching and otherwise, by posting instructional videos on the site. In this blog, I have selecte... [read article] |
"Yeah? Well YOUR mom writes a BLOG!"
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
In 2001, Heather Armstrong took her job and shoved it. Well, actually Armstrong’s job shoved her. Armstrong, you see, was let go when her superiors found some less than flattering things about them on her blog. However, Armstrong proved that the pen ... [read article] |
Student Profiling
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
If it works for the government, it just might work for you too. I’m talking about profiling—student profiling, that is.
In fifteen years of teaching lessons, I have noticed certain trends. There will be exceptions to what I am about to say... [read article] |
Learning from Sports
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
For the most part, musicians and athletes tend to run in different circles. Anyone who has seen me play a sport would probably take it as evidence that musical and athletic talent are mutually exclusive. In grade school, while the normal kids playe... [read article] |
"Keep Your Friends Close..."
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
You’ve seen the ads. “We accept competitor coupons!” “We’ll beat any advertised price!” “Our customers’ dads can beat up the other guy’s customers’ dads!” Well, perhaps that last one is a stretch. But the reality is, as a music teacher, you can... [read article] |
"Here's Looking At You, Ad!"
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
In Blog #3, I talked about how to word your ad for music instruction. In Blog #17, I discussed video ads (from the Super Bowl) that were effective. Today I will get into visual aspects of posters, fliers, email and other graphic formats. There are di... [read article] |
"In Search of the Perfect Ad"
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Greetings, class. Today’s topic is: How to write an effective ad for music instruction.
I’ll start out with this cheerful note. One way in which the current economic conditions has particularly effected music teachers is that even if the consumer... [read article] |
Where Books and Videos Fall Short: The Real Need for a Teacher
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
“I’d sign up for lessons, but I can just learn on Youtube, right?”
“I have this book I’m working out of, so I don’t really need a teacher.”
“I can just practice a lot on my own and I’ll get better.”
If you’re like most music teachers, you... [read article] |
Put Yourself In My Shoes: Understanding the Perspective of Your Students
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
I am going to talk a little about role-playing. No, not THAT kind of role-playing; I’m going to discuss ways that you can put yourself into the shoes of your students–future, present and past.
Think about the last time you had to buy a good or s... [read article] |
"Respect My Authority!"
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
It’s pretty much an accepted fact of nature that most musicians hate authority figures. In the film “School of Rock”, Jack Black explains to his students that the purpose of rock’n’roll is to “Stick it to the man!” Music and authority have always... [read article] |
Verbiage and Diplomacy
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words cause permanent damage.”
–Eric Bogosian, “Talk Radio”
It has been said that diplomacy is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they will look forward to the... [read article] |
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Stage Fright But Were Afraid To Ask
By Administrator Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Many teachers have students who experience stage fright. In some cases, you may even have experienced it yourself when you were first starting out. Even the great classical pianist Rudolf Serkin suffered from it. To a certain ext... [read article] |
Maximize Practice Schedules
By Administrator Thursday, November 19, 2009
Editor's note: This article was written by Micah Mata of Lessons That Rock. In it he gives good suggestions for helping your students achieve quality, not just quantity, of practice time. For more information about Micah and Lessons That Rock, visi... [read article] |
Using Holidays To Your Advantage
By Administrator Thursday, November 19, 2009
With even giant retailers less than optimistic about sales for this upcoming holiday season, what’s the independent music teacher to think?
Well, unless the entire world decides to take a play out of Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis’s book and s... [read article] |
Music and the Young Brain
By Administrator Saturday, December 05, 2009
Note: This article was written by guest author Carolyn Studer. If you are interested in writing an article, email us at info@findmymusicteacher.com. For more information on Carolyn Studer, visit www.carolynstu... [read article] |
Six Books That Have Made Me A Better Music Teacher
By Administrator Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Friends, teachers, countrymen, lend me your ears: This week I’m going to ask you to support the economy by buying–and maybe even reading–one of these six books, all of which have helped me become a better music teacher. (Hey, since you’re probably n... [read article] |
PRIVATE GUITAR LESSONS
By Brady Wymond Thursday, December 17, 2009
Pop to Rock, Blues & Classical, etc
Electric, Acoustic & Nylon String
Rhythm, Lead & Soloing
Flat & Finger Picking
Bass Guitar also taught
Reasonable Rates
Day & Evening Openings
Call 561-622-9478... [read article] |
Making 2010 a Great Year For Yourself and Your Students!
By Administrator Sunday, December 27, 2009
I hope everyone had a great holiday and is looking forward to a successful and happy 2010.
This last year was challenging for many of us. A lot of you reading this may have had students have to quit lessons for financial reasons, or perhaps hav... [read article] |
Frequently asked questions about www.findmymusicteacher.com
By Administrator Monday, December 28, 2009
There are many places where I can advertise for free. Why should I buy a membership on www.findmymusicteacher.com?
Successful music teachers--like any business owner--need to get the word out to as many people as possible. Advertising on ... [read article] |
Setting Your Musical Goals for 2010
By Administrator Friday, January 01, 2010
Happy new year everyone!
I hope all of you reading this are psyched about making 2010 a productive, successful and happy year. Today I would like to share my thoughts on setting some musical goals for 2010.
Because music is largely subjective,... [read article] |
The 5 Benefits of Music Lessons by Micah Mata
By Administrator Friday, January 01, 2010
Foreword
Music has long been a part of culture; culture that supercedes race, religion or creed. Music can be found on every continent, in every tribe, and in every age. In short, music is timeless and in some cases embodies the spirit of a genera... [read article] |
12-Key Chord Progression
By Administrator Tuesday, March 02, 2010
12-Key Chord Progression: Works through all twelve keys with major, minor and 7th chords.
... [read article] |
"When The Saints Go Marching In" for Fingerstyle Guitar
By Administrator Tuesday, March 02, 2010
... [read article] |
"Notre Dame Victory March" for fingerstyle guitar
By Administrator Tuesday, March 02, 2010
 ... [read article] |
"Sloop John B"
By Administrator Friday, March 05, 2010
"John B. Sails", a traditional Caribbean folk song recorded by the Beach Boys as "Sloop John B", arranged for solo fingerstyle guitar. Enjoy!
 read article] |
Tabs for opening riffs to "More Than A Feeling" and "Wanted Dead Or Alive"
By Administrator Tuesday, March 16, 2010
... [read article] |
Examples from Transposition Article
By Administrator Saturday, March 20, 2010
"Mary Had a Little Lamb"
Key of F and key of C with solfege syllables
"12-Bar Blues Progression"
Key of C and key of G w... [read article] |
Examples of Tritone Substitution
By Administrator Tuesday, March 23, 2010
... [read article] |
Ear Training Examples
By Administrator Thursday, March 25, 2010
This is an ear training game called "Sophia Broke Her Wrist" - in honor of one of my students. The object is to listen to each example played in the video, and determine which of the three musical selections (1a, 1b or 1c) is being played. Enjoy!
... [read article] |
More Ear Training Examples
By Administrator Wednesday, March 31, 2010
More "Sophia Broke Her Wrist" Ear training examples to go with the video on Youtube.
 ... [read article] |
"What Would Jaime Do?"
By Administrator Sunday, April 04, 2010
It would have been a great wager. One could have made a killing, say, back in 1981, by betting that the following year, 14 students from east L.A.’s troubled Garfield High would pass the AP Calculus test. Yet, as anybody who saw the film “Stand and D... [read article] |
New Information for Teachers
By Administrator Wednesday, May 26, 2010
We at www.findmymusicteacher.com would like to take this opportunity to address a few issues, questions and concerns that have been voiced by some of the site users.
If you have completed your profile, make sure you add a picture! This will help ... [read article] |
