Articles & Blogs

Articles & Blogs

Music Is Common Sense

admin October 18, 2014 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Throughout history, music has played a significant role on one’s knowledge from birth to adulthood. You don’t need to be a musician or know how to read and understand music to know how music operates. With a large majority of the world playing or at minimum listening to music, one can say it is as common as reading a book or knowing how to swim. We all listen to music and have that general knowledge on how music affects our emotions. Science has proven that music affects mood. Just think about how you feel when you listen to your favorite song? How about a sad song? Or even songs about break-ups? If you can simply create a beat by tapping a pencil on your lap then you can learn the basics of music development. Read More

Basements and Barstools: North Fulton Music Scene is Diverse Mix of New and Old

admin July 9, 2014 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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When people think of a local music scene, they logically think of places like Nashville, Brooklyn, or south Atlanta as the kinds of places where “the scene” occurs. No doubt, these international hotspots for country, indie and hip-hop/R&B music are top destinations where artists and other industry types gravitate and collaborate. But there also is a surprisingly deep and diverse music scene right here in North Fulton county that has both connections to some of these bastions of song craft as well as roots right here in our familiar red clay. Read More

The Reasons You Still Can’t Play Piano

admin April 9, 2014 Tags: , , , , , , ,
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1. You Don’t Have Goals. It’s hard to know if you are improving if you don’t have a standard for measuring progress. Tangible, specific, time-sensitive goals are the key to improvement in any endeavor. As a piano student, there are number of areas that might demand your attention. Posture, finger placement, dexterity, right/left hand coordination, pedal technique, knowledge of music theory all advance at different rates for different players. A documented game plan for improving your skills in each area is essential for improving your overall skills as a pianist. Add specific, tangible milestones and timeframes to your online practice log or good old fashioned paper journal (you have one of those, right?) and hold yourself accountable for achieving them.
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Jazz Vocalist Kim Gordon’s Voice Master Class and Work Shop

admin March 6, 2014 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Taking voice lessons can improve a student’s singing no matter what level of training they are at. For Alpharetta area students, North Fulton School of Music is a great place to find a voice teacher or vocal coach for voice lessons. Whether beginner or advanced, age 5 or 80, we have the teachers to support your music education. Our teachers range from teaching contemporary, pop, and r&b music to more technically demanding classical and jazz. Students taking voice lessons will also be interested in programs like this one, Kim Gordon’s Jazz Vocal Workshop and Masterclass. Read More

Long Term Benefits of Music Lessons

admin December 8, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Sometimes taking music lessons can be grueling. Working at a music school based in the Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell area in Georgia and seeing the faces of frustrated students on a daily basis, I know its not just about attending the private lesson but about studying and understanding the theory and practicing the instrument. It doesn’t matter if the student is taking a voice lesson, piano lesson, or guitar lesson – it can and will get tough at times. Read More

Music and Early Childhood Development

admin August 9, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Studies have shown that learning music has had positive results in early childhood development through language development, spatial temporal skills, increased IQ, greater brain function, and improved test scores. Though there are great benefits from taking piano or voice lessons early on, parents should note that putting your young student through piano lessons isn’t going to make them significantly smarter. It will, however, improve various aspects of the brain and will help them with life-long disciplines that in turn may make them more well-rounded and interested in learning which could yield results that appear to have made them smarter. To sum it up, put your young one into piano lessons or voice lessons to help them become musical and the byproduct will make for a better student. Read More

Piano: The Perfect First Instrument

admin August 3, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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Why are piano lessons recommended as a starting point for anyone who is interested in learning how to compose music? Musician or not, the piano is not only frugal but is also the easiest way to learn basic music theory. Pressing piano keys is easy at any age, unlike instruments such as guitar or violin where more technique is involved in getting the sound you want. Read More

House Concerts: American Roots Music In Our Own Backyard

admin May 16, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Music and musicians have always played a role in building and defining our culture. This is especially true in the Appalachian and Southern regions of the United States, where many rural southern families in the 1800s held gatherings that revolved around music as a regular part of their recreation. These gatherings, full of local food, musical festivity, and folklore, would often involve all generations of multiple nearby families, with people sharing stories from their ancestral roots as well as chronicling their immigrant and farm-based experiences through songs and storytelling. During the Civil War and later, the Great Depression, families used these communal gatherings to interpret (and in some cases, forget) about the harsh times they lived in. Traveling musicians, looking for a way to earn a living from their art, would also perform at these communal events. Read More