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Music is Harmony
Music can be such a complex, vast topic that can take years to wrap your head around. People study it their whole lives. Some people never formally study it and that works out just fine too. I think I know why. The common thread I have seen in all of my musical studies, at the…
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How to let music heal
When I started learning cello, I quickly realized how sensitive the instrument is. If I had too much coffee or felt rushed or tense, it would transfer into my playing and the bow would skip, chatter and squeak. This forced me to either get frustrated and give up or learn to relax and center myself…
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Topic of the Week: Practice
So it’s all about organization. Putting things in the right places, doing the right things at the right time. Getting into the correct mindset for the goal at hand. First you have to set your goals. Long term and short term. Avoid the pitfall of trying to work on a whole song at once and…
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Music Theory: Necessary?
Knowing how music works is like having a trail map for the hike you’re on. Do you need a map in order to have fun hiking? Nope. In fact, it could be more fun to just wander aimlessly, free of plans or structure. Is a map useful if there’s a specific area you want to…
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Standard Notation vs Tablature
This will be two things: explaining the differences between the two for your understanding, and sharing my opinion in case you don’t know which one to go with. This debate is specifically for fretted instruments, if you play anything that doesn’t have frets, your only option is Standard Notation anyway. Standard Notation Every school I…
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The Basics of Practice
Seems simple, right? Just pick up your instrument and play. Although you will still succeed by doing it that way, it’s way better to be informed and organized. This is a vast topic that I will be writing about and posting periodically. I’ll boil it down to a few points though. Practice Regularly You want…
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Practice vs Play
There are different reasons, and corresponding approaches, to picking your instrument up, and it’s important that you’re intentional about which method you choose. If you play for fun during practice time, you hurt your progress. If you work during playtime, you ruin the enjoyment. If you practice during rehearsal time, you annoy your bandmates! (haha)…
J Holguin Music 