After several days of cold weather in Los Angeles, it’s sunny skies and warm temps.
Following the hiking trail in Eaton Canyon.
Stopped to take in the amazing view at Eaton Canyon Falls.
Perspectives on Effective Practicing Techniques
An article entitled When Repetition isn’t the Best Practice Strategy sheds some light on what really works when practicing music. Although the technique seems geared toward more advanced students’ practice routines, it can be beneficial for students at every level.
The article suggests that an effective practice routine could consist of choosing two or three focus points which students can alternate between during a practice session. For example, a beginner might play song A, then play song B, then play song C, and then play the songs again in a varied order. By alternating between songs the student will be more focused during each piece. For advanced students, the focus could alternate between different sections or passages of a longer piece. The student might play section A for 3 minutes, section B for 3 minutes, section C for 3 minutes, and so forth.
The most important takeaway about practicing is that the quality of the practice is more important than the length of time practicing. We agree that an efficient and focused practice session should be the objective for students of all levels.
Article about the link between musical rhythm and improved language skills
Rhythm doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but it can be taught to anyone at any age. We enjoyed this engaging article from BBC News which provides a thought-provoking example of how music instruction provides academic benefits.
Moving to the rhythm ‘can help language skills’
What makes learning music so rewarding?
Here are four reasons why learning a musical instrument can be so fulfilling.
- Listen to music in a new way. Once you learn the fundamentals of music and how it works, you will have a different ear when listening to music of all genres. You will understand songs on a heightened level.
- Play songs that you love. It is enjoyable to hear yourself play a tune that you know well from the radio, a favorite album, or concert that you have attended.
- Make an impression. Music is an art form and how each individual plays and performs a piece of music is unique. When you add your own interpretation to a song, it is satisfying to yourself and means something to your audience.
- Play with other musicians. Becoming proficient in an instrument provides you with the ability to easily play with other musicians. Being part of a musical group is rewarding because of the fuller sound of many instruments playing together and the enjoyment gained from interaction with other musicians.
For information about music lessons at the Altadena Academy of Music, please call (626) 296-0799 or use our email contact form.
Why is it important for music students to practice scales?
For many beginning students, practicing scales may seem like the least interesting part of their practice routine. However, as professional musicians of all genres and instruments know, a proficiency in the relevant scales can carry your musicianship to the advanced level.
Music is based on a scale, which is a set of notes in a predetermined order. The scale that music is based on varies depending on the genre, but the scale will determine the set of notes and patterns to be played in the song. The scale can be used to compose a melody, to improvise a solo, and to accompany other musicians.
Practicing scale patterns on instruments helps students gain the muscle memory necessary for each scale. Gaining this proficiency with scales can take a number of years, depending on the instrument. The reward for doing so is well worth the effort: a student who becomes familiar with different scales will have an easier time improvising music in any desired genre of music like jazz, rock, pop, and even classical.
For information about music lessons at the Altadena Academy of Music, please call (626) 296-0799 or use our email contact form.
What’s the right age for kids to start learning a wind instrument?
The winds include two families of instruments: Brass and Woodwinds.
French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba are common brass instruments. Examples of woodwinds are clarinet, flute, recorder, and saxophone
As indicated by their name, wind instruments require a significant amount of breath to play them. It is recommend that a student be at least 8 years old to start learning a wind instrument (with the exception of recorder) because the student will have a larger lung capacity which will make learning the instrument easier and more enjoyable.
For students younger than 8 who would like to learn a wind instrument, the recorder is often the ideal instrument to start with. The recorder is small and requires less breath capacity to play. With recorder lessons, students learn the fundamentals of music, rhythm and note-reading. Since the recorder is also a wind instrument, students learn breathing techniques that would help them transition to learning a brass or woodwind instrument of their choice in the future.
For information about music lessons at the Altadena Academy of Music, please call (626) 296-0799 or use our email contact form.
Congratulations for Outstanding Vocal Performance
Congratulations to Altadena Academy of Music student Princess Anniyhel for her outstanding vocal performance at her debut birthday party! Anniyhel is accompanied on piano by her instructor Daniel Brummel.
Venice Themed Fabric Art Decorates Music Lesson Room
Special thanks to Jeanne, the artist who contributed the Venice themed wall hanging that now decorates one of our music lesson rooms! 
Fabric art detail.
For information about music lessons at the Altadena Academy of Music, please call (626) 296-0799 or use our email contact form.
Flute Care and Maintenance Tips
The flute is a delicate instrument made of precious metals with many small and fragile key mechanisms. Proper care and maintenance will help keep your flute in good working condition. Special thanks to music educator and flutist Melissa Reichert for sharing these flute care and maintenance tips.
- Always swab your flute out after playing. As a flute is played, condensation builds up inside the instrument. To prevent the condensation from accumulating on the pads, swab your flute out after every time you play.
- To polish your flute, use a microfiber cloth. By handling the flute, our fingerprints and oils rub off on the flute’s exterior. To remove these, gently wipe the flute down with a microfiber cloth, sold in most music stores. Do not use household silver polish.
- Handle your flute with care. Flutes are very delicate instruments made of soft precious metals that scratch, dent and bend easily. Never grip any moving mechanisms of the flute, and take care not to hit a flute against anything such as a music stand.
- Sticky pads? If you begin hearing a suctioning sound, coming from your pads, you can purchase Pad Paper from most music stores to remove the excess residue that may have accumulated.
- Avoid tarnish by inserting an anti-tarnish strip. As with many precious metals, flutes will begin to show tarnish over time; by adding an anti-tarnish strip to your flute case you can help keep your flute extra clean for up to 6 months!
- Never leave your flute in a hot or cold car. Flute pads and mechanisms are very sensitive to extreme changes in temperature. When in doubt, carry it with you.
- Flutes do require regular maintenance by a professional flute technician. All flutes, new and old, will require a clean, oil and adjust (COA) every 6-12 months from a professional flute technician. By taking good care and maintenance of your flute you will extend the time period in which your flute may need this procedure.
For information about music lessons at the Altadena Academy of Music, please call (626) 296-0799 or use our email contact form.
View of Pasadena and Altadena from Echo Mountain
Photos taken while following the Sam Merrill Trail to Echo Mountain in the Angeles National Forest.
The trail begins at the beginning of North Lake Avenue in Altadena, which is pictured below with Pasadena in the background.
Enjoying the view of North Lake Avenue in Altadena and Old Town Pasadena.
For information about music lessons at the Altadena Academy of Music, please call (626) 296-0799 or use our email contact form.