By Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director At first glance, the term tertian chords might sound like something out of science fiction—perhaps music from a distant planet. In reality, tertian harmony is one of the most fundamental and widely used systems in Western music. It’s so common that many musicians don’t even […]
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Do I have to learn scales on the guitar?
By Henry Bahrou, Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff Practicing scales may not seem exciting, especially for beginner guitarists, but it’s one of the most valuable habits a musician can develop. While the guitar is often associated with pop and contemporary music—and sometimes treated as a more “casual” instrument—it still requires a strong foundation in musical […]
How many guitar chords are there?
By Henry Bahrou, Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff Chords are simply groups of notes played together to create either consonant or dissonant harmonies. One of the most common questions I hear from beginning guitar students is: How many guitar chords are there?The answer isn’t infinity, but it’s still far too many to count — and […]
Can I start my lessons on a keyboard rather than a piano?
Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff Modern technology has made it remarkably affordable to own a full 88-key digital piano. Many of today’s models feature hammer-action keys that closely simulate the feel of an acoustic piano. For anyone who has compared non-weighted keyboards to traditional pianos, the difference in touch and responsiveness is significant. Even between […]
Don’t you cry I’ll be back again someday
By Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff After waving farewell to the children, Frosty the Snowman famously promises that he will “be back again someday.” But did Frosty ever return? Some have found the original phrasing too vague and have altered the lyrics to “I’ll be back again on Christmas Day,” offering a more definitive timeline […]
The Impact and Importance of Christmas Music
Music is one of the few truly universal languages, present in every culture and corner of the world. From the earliest days of striking objects together to create rhythm, humans have turned to music for connection and expression. Among all musical traditions, few have had the global reach and cultural impact quite like Christmas music. […]
They tell me to start on acoustic but I’ve decided to start with electric guitar
Yesterday, I shared some thoughts on whether beginning guitar players should start on an acoustic or electric instrument. While I recommended acoustic guitar for most beginners, many will still choose to start with electric — and that’s perfectly fine. If you’ve decided to begin with electric guitar, here are a few important points to keep […]
Acoustic or Electric. What should beginners play?
By Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff Beginning guitar students are often faced with an important decision: Should they start on an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar? It’s a common debate. Some have heard that everyone should begin with acoustic guitar, while others argue that starting with electric is easier because the string tension is […]
Winter Recital Grosse Pointe Music Academy 2011
Grosse Pointe Music Academy Winter Recital AnnouncementSaturday, December 10, 2011Session 1: 6:00 PM | Session 2: 8:00 PMGrosse Pointe Unitarian Church17150 Maumee Ave., at the corner of St. Clare, Grosse Pointe City We are excited to invite you to the Grosse Pointe Music Academy Winter Recital! This special event is open to all family and […]
Stocking stuffers for that special guitar player
With Christmas fast approaching, I am having more and more people ask what my suggestions for “stocking stuffers” are. Most people are already aware of the standard small gifts to get for that special guitar player in your life such as picks, and strings, but there are some other gift ideas that they might not […]
The Guitar: A Functional Sculpture
An instrument can be seen as an extension of one’s own self to many people. Guitar players are certainly no exception to this. Guitars are more than they appear to many players. The instrument is not only a tool by which a musician can create their music, but also an extension of their own bodies. […]
A song you can learn on any instrument with no training!
“Four Minutes and Thirty-Three Seconds” is a three-movement composition by American composer John Cage. This work consists entirely of 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence — yes, pure silence. John Cage (1912–1992), often labeled an experimental composer, challenged the conventional understanding of music with this piece, written in 1952. While it is commonly perceived […]
Play Chopsticks while eating sushi
Chopsticks is the most popular piano song of all time. Some would make the argument for Heart and Soul or Beethoven’s Fur Elise. They’d be wrong. It’s Chopsticks. More people play Chopsticks than any other song when they come across an open piano. Why? Because it can actually be played with a pair of chopsticks. […]
Reflecting on Mitch Albom’s Tribute to Matt Michaels
Recently, we came across a moving article by Mitch Albom, published in the Detroit Free Press, honoring the life and legacy of jazz pianist and educator Matt Michaels. Albom’s heartfelt writing paints a vivid picture of a musician who not only mastered his craft but deeply influenced thousands of students, leaving a lasting impact on […]
Google Doodle Guitar Songwriting Contest
Looking for a fun and easy way to test your songwriting skills? The Google Doodle Guitar is a great tool to spark your creativity! Originally featured on Google’s homepage, this interactive digital guitar lets you create simple melodies using either your mouse or your computer’s number keys. The Doodle Guitar is tuned to the key […]
Take your guitar playing to new heights!
Grosse Pointe Music Academy is proud to offer a Guitar Ensemble program for guitarists of all ages and skill levels! This exciting opportunity allows students to perform as part of a group, participate in recitals, and potentially record and perform at special events, concerts, and community showcases. Ensemble classes provide guitarists with a valuable experience […]
Musical Boxing – Success vs. Excellence
by Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff Recently, I was reflecting on a memory from my childhood—my dream to become a professional boxer. My father had a heavyweight prizefighter as a friend, and after watching him perform live, I was completely hooked. I begged my parents to help me get into boxing, but they always gave […]
Why Guitarists Should Learn to Read Music
During my first year studying guitar in college, I remember seeing a comic pinned to my instructor’s wall. It showed a frazzled conductor, baton in hand, standing amid flames, surrounded by a disorganized group of guitarists and banjo players. The caption read: “Conductor’s Hell.” It was funny—but also revealing. The joke lands because there’s a […]
Violin-t Behavior
History books will tell you that the violin is actually an Eastern European descendant of the Japanese Kyoto. They’ll say something about Marco Polo bringing the idea of the violin back to Eastern Europe after his highly publicized jaunt to the Far West in the 1200’s where he enjoyed a Kyoto concert with Kubla Khan. […]
Air Guitarist Chad Cooper to give drums a shot
Dudes: So, I’ve finally done it. I’ve invested in a set of drums. I set ‘em up and started pounding the skins right away in my mother’s basement/my bachelor pad. Man, I’m rockin’ now! I’m thinking I might start up a rock band once I get my timings down. How do you feel about […]