Why the Arts Matter—Now More Than EverCommentary on a USA Today essay by Wynton Marsalis and Drew Faust As the new year invites both reflection and goal-setting, acclaimed jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and Harvard University President Drew Faust offer a compelling case for why arts education should be central—not peripheral—to how we prepare students for […]
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Music New Year Resolutions
New Year’s Resolutions for Music Students: Practical Goals to Stay Inspired and Make ProgressOriginal article by Espie Estrella, About.com (now part of Dotdash Meredith) At the start of a new year, many of us are thinking about resolutions—ways to improve ourselves or tackle new challenges. For music students, whether you’re a beginner or more experienced, […]
Guitar maker to restore Elvis collection
Commentary: Elvis’ Guitars Get Expert Attention from Master Luthier Scott BaxendaleOriginal reporting by André Gallant, Online Athens / Athens Banner-Herald We came across a fascinating story by arts and culture reporter André Gallant about Athens-based guitar maker Scott Baxendale, who will soon begin work restoring and maintaining the legendary Elvis Presley’s guitar collection at Graceland. […]
Creating a Musical Home Environment
Commentary: How to Create a Musical Home for Your ChildInspired by Dr. Robert A. Cutietta, PBS.org At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we believe that a child’s musical growth starts at home. Dr. Robert A. Cutietta, in his insightful article for PBS.org, reminds us just how important a parent’s role is in shaping a child’s connection […]
Mozart Effect
Intelligence is defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. This simple fact was my first cause for skepticism when I saw an article that has been circulating entitled, “The Mozart Effect myth: research finds music doesn’t make you smarter.” There is a direct correlation between learning any new skill to increased […]
Music has the power to shape a child’s mind
Commentary: Music’s Power to Shape a Child’s MindInspired by Kate Youde’s article in The Independent At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we’ve long believed in the deep, lasting value of music education—and now neuroscience is backing that up. In a compelling article published by The Independent, author Kate Youde reports on findings presented by Professor Nina […]
More adults taking music lessons
Why It’s Never Too Late to Learn MusicCommentary by Grosse Pointe Music AcademyInspired by an article by Melissa Balmain, originally published in the Democrat and Chronicle, December 8, 2013 In a heartwarming and beautifully written article, Democrat and Chronicle contributor Melissa Balmain shares the inspiring story of Joe Mancini — an 84-year-old voice student who […]
December 2013 News Music Together
Thankful for 2013, Excited for 2014! Thank you for choosing to be part of the Hummingbirds Music Together program in 2013! Most importantly, thank you parents for being powerful role models in helping your children grow and develop musically and choosing to do so with Hummingbirds Music Together! We look forward to singing in 2014 […]
Music Together November 2013
Music Together November 2013 The Holidays are ALMOST here! It is always hard to believe how fast Fall goes and how quickly we go from enjoying the leaves turning colors to the busy winter holiday season. Your Hummingbirds Music Together friends are gearing up for an exciting and busy time with multiple events and we […]
November 2013
Winter Camp, Theory & Composition Classes, and Referral Rewardsat Grosse Pointe Music Academy Looking for something fun and educational over winter break?Join us for Winter Music Camp 2013! 📅 Camp Dates:Friday, Dec 27 – Tuesday, Dec 31🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM daily Our winter camp focuses on group music-making, where students gain confidence, […]
Music Together winter semester starting soon!
Leaves Are Falling All Around! While it seems like we just started the Fall semester, we are already halfway through! This is one of our favorite times in each semester – when we have all learned most of the music and we are more confident to sing a little louder, share and laugh more during […]
International Day of Peace
Hummingbirds Music Together Celebrates International Day of PeacePeace Day Sing-Along at Grosse Pointe Public Library – Woods BranchSaturday, September 21, 2013 – 10:00 a.m. Hummingbirds Music Together, in partnership with the Grosse Pointe Public Library, will join Music Together centers around the world to celebrate the United Nations’ International Day of Peace with a special […]
Music Literacy
Music Classes for Kids Ages 5–7 Now Offered in Grosse Pointe GROSSE POINTE, MI – August 28, 2013 – Hummingbirds Music Together, in partnership with Grosse Pointe Music Academy, is excited to announce a new music and movement class for children ages 5–7: Music Together Big Kids®. This fun and educational program is now available […]
Key of C Major
The key of C major, also called the C major scale, is a commonly used key for guitar players, piano players and other instruments. It is easy to teach the notes of C major on the piano because all of the white keys make up the key of C. Diatonic and Chromatic are words used to […]
Circle of 5ths
The circle of 5ths, sometimes referred to as the circle of 4ths and 5ths, is a chart that reveals many patterns of melody and harmony in music. Many students will brush it aside as another boring theory assignment but the Circle of 5ths is actually the key to easy memorization of so many music concepts. […]
Nashville Number System
Understanding the Nashville Number SystemThe Nashville Number System is a straightforward method for identifying chord functions using numbers instead of letter names. In music’s equal temperament tuning system, there are 15 major key signatures. Although each key has a different name, the functions of the chords within each key remain consistent. For example, if a […]
Playground Sessions
Quincy Jones Champions Music Education with Playground SessionsCommentary by Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff | Source: Brittney M. Walker, EURweb At 80 years old, legendary music producer Quincy Jones is proving once again that his influence goes far beyond the recording studio. In a recent article by Brittney M. Walker for EURweb, Jones shares his […]
American Idol Detroit Auditions 2013
Discover Detroit: A City of Innovation, Music, and Revival Detroit is Michigan’s largest city and part of a greater metropolitan region home to over 5 million residents. Founded on July 24, 1701, by French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac, the city began as a settlement along the Detroit River—a key waterway connecting the […]
Music Class for Toddlers
Summer Music Class – July 2, 2013 Summer music class opportunities abound for your baby, toddler and preschooler with Hummingbirds Music Together! In June we wrapped up our Spring Semester, held demos at the KickStart Your Summer event at the Ford House, hosted our first Sing and Sign free music class at the Rotary Tot […]
Guitar Classes for Guitar Ensemble
🎸 Attention Guitarists! Guitar Ensemble Classes Now Offered at Grosse Pointe Music Academy Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, our Guitar Ensemble classes are a fantastic way to grow as a musician and collaborate with fellow players. Guitarists often miss out on ensemble experiences found in traditional school bands and […]