Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

Music Teaching Tips Based on My Experience

June 7th, 2011

I would probably say that I was not the only one, who got bored looking at musical notes during a Music class years ago. Perhaps, it is because children just do not get fascinated with pages of lines and notes, colored black and white. Now, that I am no more a kid, I admit that it’s still dull to look at those stuffs and I still feel the same way.

I have nothing against reading musical notes but I would just rather sing than struggle dealing with such complicated matters. Music teaching tips might help me learn music easier, but I would also need of a very patient teacher to assist me so.

When I was in grade school, I used to be a member of a drum and lyre band. I experienced playing both the lyre and the drums and found the latter easier. However, I ended up playing the lyre. It was fun especially when we won awards in exhibition competitions. We also did caroling during Christmas holidays and played in different events and occasions.

I enjoyed playing those instruments although there were times I got embarrassed when I made mistakes. There came some instances when I escaped attending band practices because I knew I would be called by our bandmaster. I did not like the feeling of receiving special attention. Worst, I got such because I messed up.

We had our band practices a group at a time. Usually, the lyrists practiced first then the drummers, or otherwise. Then, we played in a classroom as a whole – all together. Our bandmaster used different music teaching tips and strategies to help us learn music pieces easily. What was remarkable to me was that of Psychology’s Operant Conditioning.

Does it ring a bell? Or does it sound unique? I somehow have a clue how Music is related to Psychology but the other way around, I am not really sure. But I can say it was effective in my case.

Our bandmaster gave us two options: (1) we had to perform in our exhibition drills as if we were in the actual competition-meaning having minimal mistakes as possible- so we could get home early. We used to have practices a couple of whole consecutive days and those were really exhausting; or (2) he would pull our sideburns for every mistake we would commit. The former condition is a ‘reward’ while the ‘latter’ is a punishment. Of course, we would go for the reward. After all, who would want to be punished?

There are lots of accessible music teaching tips and strategies anywhere. You can look for books at the nearest bookshop from your home or visit a fellow music enthusiast and ask for useful tips. Also, you can surf the Internet for easier access of general or specific information.

(This article was written by a friend named Morgan Hall)

Know more applicable music teaching tips, log on to Music Teachers website.

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Music Teachers Resources and Tips: the Power of Motivation

May 26th, 2011

There are many reasons, issues and circumstances that can be associated with missed music lessons and classes. Though these incidents have been saddening and frustrating to most dedicated music teachers, such really inevitably happen. There is only one key to resolve this conflict: the Power of MOTIVATION.

Consequently, various music teachers’ resources and tips, which are designed and intended to motivate students attend their music lessons and classes regularly, have been made readily available online. There are some reliable and objective websites that can certainly provide music teachers some great resources to modify and develop their music teaching strategies.

Since you have gotten into this page, your willingness and urge to adopt music teaching resources and tips seem to be intense and obvious. Well, you are on the right track; this article tends to give you some helpful tips and resources in teaching music more effectively and efficiently.

Motivate Young Minds
Motivation is the key issue to gauge how exactly students learn. A music teacher may be puzzled or even worried when it seems to him that his students lack self-motivation. With that thinking, he must know the motivational needs of his students.

Motivation may come from the teacher himself or from the learning environment. What matters here is the students would be encouraged to attend classes with much determination and perseverance.

In a classroom setting, learners can be motivated by their own music preference, interest, background, experience, skills and abilities. Also, music teaching efforts and strategies should always adhere to the personal motivational needs and qualities of the students. With these methods, you could see their willingness and eagerness to learn and eventually love music more.

Inspire Your Students
Some would agree that motivation in a classroom setting is quite synonymous to inspiration. Meaning, one’s motivating factors are the same as his sources of inspiration. Basically, he tries his best to achieve his objectives not just because he is determined to do so but because he is indeed motivated and inspired to succeed.

Inspiring students is never easy. You need to come up with a variety of new strategies that can make them really interested and hooked with your daily activities and sessions. With you and your music teaching resources or techniques, they would surely look forward to seeing you next meeting.

It is true that teaching as a whole is a noble profession. In fact, it is more than just a vocation or a career: it is more on commitment and fulfillment. A teacher feels his worth and success when he sees his students succeed in time. Indeed, teaching young minds is a rewarding experience.

Still searching for more relevant music teachers resources and tips? Visit this music teachers website.

A Teacher’s Passion for Music

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Tips for Creating Musical Magic in the Studio

May 25th, 2011

Having recorded my new CD Sacred Love with Grammy-award winners Will Ackerman (producer) and Corin Nelsen (recording and mix engineer), here are 6 sure-fire ways to make musical magical happen on your next recording session and take your CD to the next level.

1.            Make a Budget and Stick to It

Records cost lots of money to make. If you’re recording in your home studio, you’ve probably spent thousands of dollars for a computer, software, audio interfaces, speakers, microphones and musical instruments. Whether you’re recording your CD at home or working with a producer at independent studios, you want to make a budget and stick to it.

My budget included fees for producer, studio, travel, musicians, mastering, PR and radio promotion, duplication, and distribution. Make sure you know what you expect to spend and over how long, so that you can raise the money.

Producers get paid hourly or by the song, or a custom deal plus points on a song. If you are co-producing, you can split the points.

Musicians get paid different fees from free to sky’s the limit. The more famous and accomplished musicians get larger fees than your friend might – unless your friend is Sting.

Figure all the possible costs of your recording and put them into your budget. Then try to spend money according to the budget.

And even if you do, it’s more likely than not that you’ll go over budget. So add a 10 per cent contingency right now. Then when it comes time for you to professionally master, and design, duplicate and promote your CD, you can have the cash you need once the recording is finished.

2.            Surround Yourself with the Best

Whether you’re planning on a solo or group recording, bringing together neighborhood musicians, or recording with the best producers, musicians and production staff, you’re only as good as the company you keep. As an acoustic guitarist and a composer of conscious music, I approached the legendary producer and guitarist Will Ackerman who I felt had the experience and expertise to help me take my music to the next level. As the founder of Windham Hill Records, a gifted creator of acoustic guitar music, and producer of artists like George Winston, Michael Hedges, Alex DeGrassi, Shadowfax, and Jeff Oster, Will brought his vast expertise and a unique sensitivity to my recording project.

His own Imaginary Road Studios in Windham County, VT also features customized state-of-the-art microphones and preamps that helped make me sound my best.  Grammy Award-winning engineer Corin Nelsen is the resident recording and mixing engineer. At Imaginary Road I felt comfortable because the studio was situated in the Nature on 100 acres of spacious beautiful Vermont woodlands. So I was in a great place surrounded by accomplished production people, and I was able to focus on creating the music I needed to create for the recording.

3.            Prepare

Preparation in the studio means you’re making an efficient use of costly studio and staff time. If you’re working with a producer, get together before you get into the studio to discuss and agree on a gameplan for the recording. How much time do you need to spend per song, how many total days in the studio for recording and mixing, which musicians are you planning to add to your tracks, and when are you scheduling the sessions, etc.

If you are bringing together musicians to perform on your CD, write out lead sheets and chord charts beforehand. And practice your songs. Make sure your own performances are so tight that you can deliver your best in the studio the first take. I practiced the songs on my CD, and recorded them in my home studio, so that I could perform them well in a studio-like environment. It really helps to be prepared and you’ll likely save money as a result.

I was really impressed when my studio musicians contacted me before the sessions for copies of the lead sheets and recordings, so they could practice. Tony Levin played bass on five songs and he was totally prepared.

4.            Build Time Into the Process

Sometimes in recordings, you’re pressured to record and mix without a break. When that’s due to budget considerations, you have to go with it. I suggest building time into the recording process. Time is your friend.

I scheduled about 2 weeks between the recording of the guitars on Sacred Love, and layering of other instruments. That gave me time to familiarize myself with my own performances of the songs on “Sacred Love.”  From there both Will and I heard specific instruments playing melodies, leads and harmonies on the recordings, and we had time to line up the instrumentalists.

You can watch videos of my sessions for Sacred Love on YouTube.com/ShambhuMusic.

Building in time for reflection was necessary for ideas to form, crystallize and then emerge. We added violin, drums, cello, bass, sarod and other instruments, and we sought out the most sensitive musicians to create with us. These artists included Eugene Friesen on cello (Call to Spirit, Edge of Eternal, Revelation), Jill Haley on English horn (Edge of Eternal, Revelation), Premik Tubbs on windsynth (Together) and flute (Nirab Amare), Ravichandra Kulur on flute (Humility and Call to Spirit), Jeff Haynes (percussion), Celso Alberti (drums) and Todd Boston (sarod).

I also scheduled about two weeks between the final recording session and the mix session. And then two weeks between the final mixes and Mastering, and a few days before mastering, we did the ‘final’ final tweaks.

5.            When You’re Done Recording, Then there is Post-Production

Congratulations…the recording is finished. Now you need to think about mastering, design of the cover, duplication, copyrights, digital rights management, etc.

Mastering adds the simonize to ‘shine’ the recording. A good mastering engineer can match the volumes and tone of the various tracks so your tracks soundåßß like they belong on the same album. I was fortunate to work with Adam Ayan, mastering Engineer at Gateway Mastering in Portland, ME, and Corin Nelsen was on hand to make sure we got the sound just right.  Most major duplicators offer mastering services for 10-20 per cent of the cost of a Gateway. If you can afford the best, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.

CD duplicators can deliver 1000 CDs to you in a few weeks. You get to design the cover and can work with your duplicator on all aspects of the recording. This includes design of cover and CD art, writing of a booklet or insert and inside and outside sleeves, and they can also help set up electronic distribution to iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers.

Copyright your sound recording with the U.S Patent and Trade Mark Office.

Set up your publishing with BMI or ASCAP. And if you’re expecting to get radio play, sign up with Sound Exchange.

6.            CD is Done? You’re at the Beginning.

When you have your finished CDs in hand then you’re at the staring line again. Now comes the challenge of promoting it and engaging with listeners and buyers. And you might want some help. There are people who specialize in radio promo, public relations outreach, social media and retail distribution. If you have the cash and budgeted for experts, hire them now. And if you want to get your songs into major chain stores, work with a music distributor who can help.

Sacred Love features Shambhu on guitar with:

Will Ackerman – guitar

Tony Levin – bass

Michael Manring – bass

Jeff Haynes – percussion

Eugene Friesen – cello

Jill Haley – English horn

George Brooks  – sax

Ravichandra Kulur – flutes

Todd Boston – sarod

Premik Russell Tubbs – wind synth and flute

Celso Alberti – drums

Charlie Bisharat – violin

Jeff Oster – flugelhorn

Rocky Fretz – piano

Claytoven Richardson and Noah Wilding – vocals

 

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Resources and Tips for Music Teachers With Special Learners

May 12th, 2011

Music lovers and enthusiasts have all the rights to learn their chosen musical instrument despite of their impairment, as long as such will not completely forbid them to play such. Various tips and instructional guides are available on the internet and some libraries that will give music teachers the resources to be effective in handling special learners.

Let us say in the case of Andrea Boccelli, a great tenor and musician who was diagnosed with glaucoma and lost his sight at an early age of fourteen; if not for his music teacher, we might not hear his tranquil and heart warming voice. More so, he reached success in music because he had such self-motivation and certain love for music. And these had made it all possible.

Generally speaking, special learners are regarded as those students, who either have cognitive, physical, mental or social abilities and disabilities. These groups of special individuals are faced with different learning challenges. However, through the professional assistance of music teachers and enthusiasts as well as effective and efficient music teachers’ resources, they are able to comprehend, adopt and adjust to such learning situations. Also, acquisition of skills and knowledge has been possible through these resources for music teachers.

Great examples of music teachers’ resources are those from the Internet such as tips and inputs from various music teacher sites, personal experiences of the music lovers and experts themselves, other extensive techniques and methods of music teachers, and some findings from different music researches. When music teachers are in need of such reliable and effective resources, they may adopt any of those mentioned sources and make each a part of their music teaching strategies.

Music teachers’ resources truly come in variation. You may actually choose from different available resources nowadays. However, you have to bear in mind that it takes a lot of analysis and discernment to find out which among those resources would be appropriate and effective for each special learner. Remember that as a music teacher, your role does not end in mere teaching music but most of all, in making them discover their talents and feel that they are treated as typical and average students.

Though it may be quite difficult to deal with special learners, music teachers will then feel and realize that teaching them can be very rewarding. Your time, efforts and hard works will soon pay off especially if you have seen your learners succeed and unleash their music talents and inclinations.

Furthermore, when these special learners tend to appreciate their music teachers, have made them their real mentors, and have considered them as their source of motivation and inspiration, these music educators can proudly say that being one has been a blessing, thus gives them such feelings of fulfillment and self-worth.

For more tips and music teachers’ resources, visit this music teaching website.

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Music Education Resources and Tips for Teachers

May 5th, 2011

Music education has been included in many curricula in different nations around the globe. However, since not all students are musically-inclined, not all of them are motivated to learn music. As a result, they are no longer excited to experience formal music schooling inside their classrooms. With this conflict of interests, music teachers are then challenged or pressured on how they could make their students learn and love music at the same time.

To basically adhere to the problem, they are determined to research the latest music teachers’ resources. Since both teaching and learning are two dynamic processes, music teachers and their students should meet half way – adjusting to the kind of individuals they are.

And because they are up to music education, these music teachers need to update their lists and records with the most modern trends and techniques, which are believed to be very effective and influential with the kind of students they have right now. From time to time, there could have been new music teachers’ resources that could improve their teaching strategies as well as their way of relating to their dear students.

Today, music educators incorporate theories and application to give a well-rounded musical experience and to teach music in various perspectives intended for international understanding. To meet many demands and expectations of their students, music teachers keep on upgrading their available music teachers’ resources by doing some researches over the Internet. In just a matter of few clicks, they would be aware of what is really the latest in the music academe as well as the newest style and approach in teaching that they can utilize in their everyday instruction.

The perceived effort to enhance music teachers’ resources also results in a greater number of students, who are now more motivated and determined to learn and love music. When their music teachers use some personal touches as part of their resources – sharing their own insights, thoughts and experiences on a particular topic, the learners become more eager to attend to their music classes and listen to their classroom discussions. This happens simply because they feel that they have something to relate to and such experience could also happen to them in time.

Indeed, teaching and learning music can be both fun and enjoyable. Just like in real life and in our daily activities, when we integrate music into anything that we do, it amazingly turns out to be more special and a lot of fun. After all, music gives most of us such inspiration and motivation to look forward to something better and brighter. Love music and enjoy tomorrow. 

This music education website offers many useful music teachers resources and tips. Visit it now.

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Music Teaching Tips That Work

March 1st, 2011

Most of us music teachers aim to offer the best services to our students and let them learn their chosen instruments in the most efficient manner. Having a good teaching strategy will not only give your students fun learning experience but it will also earn you respect in the field. Thus, I have listed some music teaching tips that will enable you to teach your students effectively.

* Target both your students’ minds and bodies – Especially if your students are still young, you must understand that they may need a combination of physical and mental exercises and activities in learning. Aside from the fun it may bring to them, the possibility of understanding and recalling the lesson you are teaching may also increase.

* Learn how to energize students during boring moments – there will always be some instances wherein you have to discuss some important topics that are somewhat uninteresting to your students. These may lead to an inattentive class or worse, a sleeping class. Being observant and flexible is important to bring back a lively discussion. Why not ask them to do some stretching or tell some old jokes. Detaching fro the lesson plan for some minutes is better that to teach a daydreaming class.

* Provide your students with the best facilities – this is not one of my music teaching tips but rather it is your key to attract more clients and students. If your students learn and practice their instruments comfortably, you may not need to explain some lessons further. Your students may have greater determination and urge to learn any lesson.

* Give commendations to well-doers – giving applause for those who excel and have positive attitudes in the class will even boost their moral. This might as well motivate all the others to exert their efforts in learning their instrument and join those who have earned commendations.

* Treat slow-learners and wacky students positively – a class includes students with a variety of learning capacities and attitudes. Slow-learners and problem students must not be treated differently. Always remember that music teaching does not only involve explaining music lessons but instilling positive personality to each of your students.

These music teaching tips may vary depending on the circumstances. Private music teachers with fewer students may have an easier time handling their students. But then again, for those who may find these tips effective, please do your part and let other music teachers know about it

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Effective Music Teachers Resources And Tips: Students? Feedback

January 29th, 2011

Primarily, a music teacher’s task lies in the idea of effective and creative communication. Thus, credibility and reliability have always been an issue to academic institutions, their teaching and non-teaching personnel and even the student body.

Music teachers simultaneously motivate, inspire, and support their students through innovative music teachers resources. Whether these resources and tips are from the experiences of other teaching individuals, educators, academes or from the internet, what important is you are able to meet your goals and stay committed to your purpose.

When you make use of effective music teachers resources and tips, you are more likely to gain the interests of your students – encouraging them to love music more. As you become good influences and examples to them, they not just tend to love music as one of their subjects but they also have come to love you as their mentors and icons.

I have here a list of different feedbacks, compliments and even suggestions of the students when a group of music educators have rendered effective music teaching strategies and have executed creative activities.

• The students are able to cultivate their interest in music and realize their potentials through unique and creative activities regarding their music class and its programs.
• Such music teachers resources allow them to learn about other aspects of music which are not covered in a specific course outline, syllabus or private music lessons.
• Music teachers are able to encourage and give them such opportunity and exposure that they truly need to create and perform music creatively and independently yet effectively and promptly.
• Students are able to learn music as well as the significance of academic freedom and independence. Thus, cooperative learning has played a vital role in this manner since they are tasked to work collaboratively with their co-students and meet a common set of objectives.
• Creative activities, which seem unusual and innovative, have brought up fun and excitement among students – making them more interested, hooked and eager to learn new things and eventually apply them in real life.
• The enhanced program for music teaching has been remarked by the students as a way to boost self-confidence, establish camaraderie among classmates, and experience the fun of learning music – all at the same time.
• Such exposure to music technology and other relevant innovations have showcased more talents and have brought out the best in most of the students.

It really pays to regenerate more teaching resources and strategies that are more appealing to the kind of students we have in today’s generation. Maximizing resources and efforts, music teachers would then realize that music education could be the most rewarding experience.

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