Lesson Tips/News
Events
See Upcoming Events & Announcements
Check back regularly to see the latest & upcoming events and announcements from Downingtown Music Academy! The calendar is regularly updated with all of the information you’ll need to stay up-to-date.
2019 Best of Downingtown Awards in the category of Music Instructor
It is our pleasure to inform you that DoRayMi Lessons has been selected for the 2019 Best of Downingtown Awards in the category of Music Instructor. For details and more information please view our website: 2019 Best of Downingtown Awards - Music Instructor If you are...
Seven reasons to gift music lessons this Christmas
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 you love the gift of music this year....
Healing musical wounds – Part 1
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 usually comes from old wounds...
The Elusive Head Voice
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...
Downingtown Farmers Market
DoRayMi Lessons will be doing a student showcase on May 12th and May 19th at the Downingtown and Malvern farmer's markets, respectively. Check out our most talented students at these events and see what lessons can do for you!
3 singing habits that keep your voice healthy
Singers, Please Belt Responsibly! 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...
How to raise a music prodigy
Recently I was invited to write a blog entitled “How to raise a music prodigy”. 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...
Trouble reading notes? Try these tricks!
Oftentimes I come across students, especially younger students who have some difficulty reading music at first. Here are some of my suggestions for at home practice: Make it a fun, multi-sensory and colorful learning process! I use pipe cleaners, play dough, crayons,...
Music and The Brain
LEARNING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CAN BENEFIT YOUR BRAIN IN SO MANY WAYS! HERE ARE JUST A FEW: Improve literacy/reading fluency Increase spatial awareness Improve focus Improve motoric coordination Improve sequencing skills Raise IQ Improve multi-tasking skills Help you...
Latest Posts
Taking Lessons in the Summer: 5 Reasons why it’s important to keep up your music skills after school lets out
Summer hits and schedules get crazy. It can be tempting to take a break from music lessons for the summer, after all-school’s out, right? While it may seem like this makes sense, let’s talk about the benefits of sticking with lessons throughout the summer and how...
Masters Class – Diane Matthews from Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts
Learn what you need to know to excel in broadway musical dance auditions. Date And Time Sun, May 16, 2021 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT Do you want to better understand what dance moves you will need for community theater and school musical auditions? Join Doraymi and Diane...
When to modify vowels when singing
Do you want to learn how to modify your vowels for singing? Today I’m going to be teaching you four tips on how to modify your vowels to successfully sing higher and lower notes, for pop and classical singing, and to fix different problems with your singing voice....
Masters Class – Cherisse and Cherissia Williams
Do you want to learn what it takes to perform and get feedback from people who have done it? Join us for our first monthly zoom masters class on April 18 at 12pm. Our guest speakers will be Cherisse and Cherissia Williams-who have performed with opera houses around...
Preparing a song
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: Flash cards: choose notes from the song to make flash cards with. This...
Monday – Thursday: Extended Lesson Times