The Latest Music News in Downingtown, PA

Summer hits and schedules get crazy.  It can be tempting to think: "Should I stop my music lessons for the summer?"  While it may seem like this makes sense, let’s talk about the benefits of sticking with lessons throughout the summer and how you can maintain a practice schedule when vacationing and even on the go!   1. If you keep up with lesson... read more

Many students struggle with the application of their skills after doing warmups or learning notes. Here are some ways you can apply your new skills to learn that killer vocal or piano repertoire, and better know how to practice a song-with results. Flash cards. Choose notes from the song to make flash cards with. This will help you target the notes you need to learn to be successfu... read more

Do you have a loved one or child who wants to learn music?  Or perhaps you’d like to treat yourself this holiday season to some lessons and learn to play some seasonal classics?  Here are seven reasons to give yourself or someone music lessons for Christmas.   When you give lessons you are giving someone another tool for self-expression.   Playing an... read more

A couple years ago, I had a blog on the ways to deal with performance anxiety. More years teaching have passed and I’d like to think I’m a little older and wiser (maybe ????) about this heated topic. The truth is that extreme stage fright and thoughts like "I hate my singing voice", usually comes from old wounds that have not healed around music and performance, and... read more

A major concern of many beginning students is expanding their range.  So many potential singers subscribe to the belief that they “just can’t sing high”.  Many are shocked when in the first lesson with me, they are able to reach pitches as much as an octave or more (8 notes) above where they could sing before lessons.  Sometimes the results are not as ins... read more

Many singers want to keep their voice in tip top shape in order to retain range, flexibility and power. No one wants to hassle of a fatigued voice or worse, vocal damage, right before a big performance! Aside from rest, hydration and good ole' singer's tea, here are some vocal techniques you should be practicing right now to make sure you understand how to belt safely.   ... read more

Recently I was invited to write a blog entitled “How to raise a musical genius”.  While the cringe-worthy title has some obvious pitfalls, let’s examine the reasons behind it for a moment. It was immediately clear to me that the person extending this invitation was not a music teacher, but a marketing representative. I’m here to tell you there are NO shortcuts to success in music. Shocker, right?  It’s about practice, plain and simple.  True some people are more naturally g... read more

Oftentimes I come across students, especially younger students, who have some trouble reading music notes at first. Here are some of my suggestions for at home practice, so that you can understand how to help your child read music: Make it a fun, multi-sensory and colorful learning process! I use pipe cleaners, play dough, crayons, songwriting, games, rhythm sticks, stickers and more in my lessons with kids who have trouble reading music notes. Why? Because it's fun and because ... read more

Nasal resonance in singing is often something we want. That clean ring to a sound helps to carry it and make it beautifully clear. However, nasality, the nasal sound that often afflicts some singers is usually not what we want. Here are some ways to figure out how to deal with a nasal singing voice: Release tension in your voice. Nasality is usually due to the vocal chords squeezing together, rather than the singer thinking about singing through his or her nose. Release tension through mas... read more

I have been working with many of my piano students recently on sightreading and emphasizing the importance of being able to pick up a piece and fumble through it.  My experiences have led me to some interesting discoveries about common pitfalls of students when playing through a piece.  Here are my best suggestions for figuring out how to sightread piano music:  Practice. It sounds obvious, but practice makes perfect when it comes to sightreading.  You need to put time into honing and deve... read more

We are born to be musicians!  Research has proven that babies can show preference for melodic patterns they have heard in utero, that music aids a young child’s language development,  and that toddlers move in response to sound.  Exposure is key to developing your child’s musical intelligence.  Don’t miss out! Here's how to introduce your baby to music: [caption id="attachment_3711" align="alignnone" width="225"] My daughter Lyra and I attending a music class when she was six weeks!... read more

Tis the season!  For colds, stomach bugs, strep and more!  Bah Humbug!  Don’t fret, though.  You can keep your singing voice healthy by following some of these tips: 1.        Wash your hands!  We all know this, but you will want to do it thoroughly, and often.  Wash your hands after the bathroom, before eating, and after coming into contact with germy places (such as the subway) and people who are sick.  You will want to sing “Row Row Row Your Boat”  while scrubbing, to ... read more

I often hear from new students asking the question, "how do I find the right piano?"  While I am not a piano technician or repair person and by no means the final authority on this subject, I do have some suggestions to keep in mind as you begin your search.  Here are some things to consider when looking for a keyboard or piano for your lessons: 1.       Number of Keys. A full size piano has 88 keys.  Keyboards offer anywhere from 64 to 88 keys.  I would suggest at least purchasing a... read more

Is your toddler showing an interest in the piano?  Four-year-old likes to sing along with all her Disney favorites?  Does this mean they are ready for lessons?  Maybe, maybe not.  Wondering what age you should start music lessons? There are a few things you should consider before enrolling your young child in lessons: Every child is different. As a teacher, I do my best to individualize lessons for younger children and their temperaments. I have taught children who are... read more

The goal of this blog was always to help students, and here's the most recent question I seem to be hearing from students: "How do I accompany myself while singing??" Now, it's not easy, but what skill that's worthwhile is?  With a little concentrated effort and smart practice habits you can do it!  And make yourself a music more marketable musician in the process (and perhaps save some serious cash on accompanists!) Don't worry, we love you accompanists!   Here's some things you shoul... read more

Quite a few of my students this week have been under the weather.  It takes a while for the voice to bounce back from illness.  Many times the vocal cords are swollen and the sinuses are congested which leads to problems with resonance and reaching higher pitches as well as tone control.  Wondering how to practice singing when you aren't feeling well? Read more to find out! 1.  Colds or other sinus related issues (including allergies):  you can practice gentle exercises such as hummi... read more

We’ve all had those days.  You wake up, congested, with a swollen throat and possibly, (gasp) a fever.  Does this mean practice is off the table?  Not necessarily.  Here's how to know when your singing voice isn't healthy: Congestion is not necessarily a deal breaker for practice or for lessons. Congestion may mean some difficulty finding the resonance in your voice… (ever tried to talk with a clogged nose?)…but you should still be able to phonate (fancy word for sing or speak) w... read more

As back to school rolls around, you are probably thinking about your child's education and after school activities. Music lessons are an important supplement to your child's classroom. Here are a few important music lessons benefits for kids: Learning a musical instrument improves focus. Research has demonstrated that learning a musical instrument can help a child learn to attend to one stimulus without distraction by allowing their brains to discriminate effectively between activities that r... read more

As a voice teacher, I come into contact with many young and beginning singers throughout the week. Performance can be a scary thing, and sometimes we can forget common sense!  So to make it easier I have compiled a list of the ways to be prepared for an audition (by avoiding the most heinous audition mistakes!): 1. Not bringing your music. You think: "Hey my accompanist will bring a copy and I don’t need mine so it will be fine!"  Keeping your accompanist happy is the best thing you can do... read more

When thinking about voice lessons, maybe you've asked yourself  "Am I tone deaf?". Oftentimes people avoid taking lessons because of certain preconceptions they have about learning music.  Well, guess what?  Anyone can learn!  I’m here to bust the myths and take away the excuses!  Here are seven common reasons potential students give up on their dreams of learning an instrument.   Music is for everyone, folks!  Not convinced?  Read on… “I can’t sing, I’m tone deaf!�... read more

Preparing for a college audition?  Trying to become a professional performer?  These practical resources, skills, attitudes are what you need to have so you can understand how to make it in music. 1.  The ability to sightread and understand music theory. Yes, there are some musicians out there who have magical ears, who can hear a song one time and perform it perfectly.  They are the exception and not the rule.  Having a good ear is important too, but in order to work with other music... read more

  One muscle we could all do with working out as musicians is that of sight reading.  Reading music is truly like reading a foreign language.  In order to become fluent, you must understand the structure and patterns of syntax.  Total immersion begins with sight reading experiences.  Sound scary?  Follow these tips on how to sightread well and you will be fluent in no time! 1.  Put some time in each day to work on your sight reading skills. Practice makes perfect!  Select so... read more

When singers and performers are evaluated, often one of the phrases that comes into the topic of conversation is that of stage presence. But what is stage presence and how can a performer develop it?  Oftentimes it is presumed to be something you either have or you don't.  But as with most things with voice and with performance, it can be groomed and developed.  For the purposes of this blog here today, I will define stage presence as the ability to perform with confidence and... read more

Ever wondered which voice part you are and which artists most sound like you?  Read on to find your vocal doppleganger! Finding your tessitura (comfortable singing range) is easy.  Your teacher will listen to your voice as your complete some ascending warmups on one pitch and listen for your passaggio (aka your "switch"), the place where you switch from more robust chest resonance which vibrates in the chest to lighter and airy head resonance which vibrates primarily in the skull.  The place... read more

The curtain rises, the lights brighten, your palms sweat and your heart races.  Suddenly you forget your words and your feet become frozen to the floor.  What do you do?  Below are some tips to prevent, control and recover from performance anxiety. Let go of stage fright for good and focus on enjoying your performance!   1.  PREPARE AHEAD The best way to tackle the on stage jitters is to get ahead of them with strategic preparation.  You want to be able to ... read more