By Jamey Mann As a guitar instructor I spend a great deal of time working on my students’ technical development. In order for a student to reach the pinnacle of their ability proper technique is an absolute must. Everything from sitting position to the finger independence of the right and left hands must be scrutinized. With the need for technical excellence in all musical disciplines comes...
Read MoreBy Alyssa Cowell Every once in awhile, a student will ask me a question that seems like it should be easy to answer, but isn’t. Recently, I had a young vocalist ask me who my favorite singer is. The follow-up question: “Why are they the best?” got me thinking a little bit more. The student in question is fairly young, and while it is flattering to think...
Read MoreBy Marc Powell Examinations for music students are becoming more popular each year. These tests can be great to build confidence and give structure for students in their studies. ABRSM, Trinity Guildhall, Piano Guild, NFMC are all examples of organizations who provide assessments for all levels of study. These examinations are also helpful for college bound students, especially those thinking of pursuing a degree in music. The...
Read MoreBy Julia Kossuth In our studio, we consistently get students who either need an instrument, or would like to upgrade their instrument, so I thought I'd talk a little about what guidelines we give our students for their search. When a beginning piano student is looking for an instrument, we will often tell them that any keyboard they already have is fine to start out with, however,...
Read Moreby Jamey Mann I am the newest member of The Catoctin School of Music family. I am a classical guitarist with years of playing and teaching experience. Through my years of teaching I found that one of the most important things I can teach my students is how to practice efficiently and correctly. This is sometimes more important than any riff or technical exercise I can...
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