The Joy of Singing and the Value of Voice LessonsI’ve always found it fascinating to watch birds imitate the sounds and songs of other animals—especially human voices. Anyone who has spent time around birds can see that they are deeply interested in sound and music. While many animals have sharper hearing than humans, birds seem […]
Music Lessons
This is Your Brain on Music
Music and the Brain: A Look into Neuromusic with Daniel LevitinDaniel Levitin, a prominent researcher and author in the fields of psychology and neuroscience, has made major contributions to our understanding of how the brain processes music. As a professor at McGill University, his research has explored topics such as perfect pitch, musical memory, and […]
That’s what she said: Quotes from Famous Female Songwriters
Inspiration from Great Female Songwriters and Performers Collected by Henry Bahrou, Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff Throughout history, female artists have shaped the world of music with bold creativity and honest expression. Their words not only reflect their craft but serve as a source of motivation and wisdom for anyone on a musical path. Here’s […]
Make music when practicing
Make Music When You PracticeBy Henry Bahrou The title of this blog is inspired by a key message from Mark Levine’s well-known Jazz Theory Book. While Levine’s advice is often geared toward jazz musicians, I believe it applies equally to anyone learning any style of music: you should always make music while practicing. It’s common […]
Don’t let your children quit playing music
Don’t Let Your Child Quit Music LessonsBy Henry Bahrou Children often begin music lessons with big dreams of becoming skilled musicians or talented singers. The first few lessons are typically filled with excitement as they start learning the basics of their instrument or voice. In the beginning, it’s important to structure lessons so that students […]
Exploring Classical Indian Music
Introduction to Indian Classical MusicGrosse Pointe Music Academy invites you to join us for a special workshop exploring the foundations of Indian classical music. This event will take place at our Canton location: Monday, February 27th, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Indian classical music is a deeply rich and ancient tradition, featuring two primary approaches: […]
Seaquence.org
Explore Musical Creativity with Seaquence.orgIn celebration of our upcoming songwriting workshops at Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we want to introduce you to a fun and innovative online tool: Seaquence.org. Seaquence is an interactive experiment in musical composition, where users create and combine musical “organisms” to build unique, living soundscapes. Each musical lifeform you design is […]
Music makes things worthwhile
The Value of Music and Art EducationBy Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director A little over a week ago, I wrote about how music and art programs are often the first to be cut when public schools face financial challenges. On days like Super Bowl Sunday, I can’t help but think about […]
Songwriting classes at GPMA
Introduction to SongwritingBy Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director Songwriting is an activity that musicians of all ages and skill levels can explore. While it certainly helps to have experience and practice on your instrument, learning the art of songwriting can begin at any time — even with just a basic understanding […]
What makes instruments sound different from one another?
Why Instruments Sound Different: A Look at HarmonicsBy Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director When you listen to a song, it’s common to hear multiple instruments playing together, either during certain sections or throughout the entire piece. Sometimes, two different instruments — like a piano and a guitar — might even play […]
The Music Together Difference
If you’ve been searching for a music class for your young child, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to Music Together of Grosse Pointe, held at the Grosse Pointe Music Academy. We are music and movement program for children ages 0-5, and the grown-ups who love them! We offer research-based music education, in a […]
Temperament: Information for real musical nerds
Understanding Piano Tuning SystemsBy Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director When it comes to tuning a piano, you might think that the perfect approach would be to tune every consonant interval — like fifths and thirds — so that no “beating” or wavering in the sound can be heard. While this might […]
Songwriting Workshop
Songwriting Classes at Grosse Pointe Music AcademyAt some point in every musician’s development, the desire to create original music — to write songs — becomes a natural next step. Thanks to modern technology, songwriting has never been more accessible. Today, people can compose full songs with just the tools available on their smartphones. Compared to […]
The Importance of Music and Art in Education
The Importance of Music and Art in Education It seems like every few days I hear about another school in Michigan cutting funding for its music and art programs. I understand that tough decisions have to be made, and many people assume that music and art aren’t essential subjects. As someone who has studied music […]
Young Guitar Players and the Power of Practice
It’s always impressive to see young children excel at playing instruments like electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, or others with high levels of skill and control. Witnessing the discipline and focus it takes to perform challenging music at fast tempos reminds us that musical ability is a combination of natural inclination and dedicated hard work. […]
GP Music Academy in Canton
Grosse Pointe Music Academy – Canton Township LocationServing Plymouth, Canton, and Western Wayne County Grosse Pointe Music Academy in Canton Township has quickly become a leading destination for music education in the western Wayne County area. Following the success of our original Grosse Pointe location, we proudly expanded to Canton to offer a second, vibrant […]
What Is Tablature, and Should Guitar Students Learn It?
Tablature—often called “tab”—is a system of music notation specifically designed for fretted string instruments like guitar, bass, banjo, and lute. It’s a visual representation of where to place your fingers on the instrument’s fretboard, making it a popular tool for beginners and experienced players alike. Unlike standard notation, which uses a five-line staff to represent […]
Tablature
One of the most common questions I hear from students is whether or not they should learn to read tablature for guitar or bass. There’s a common misconception that tablature is a recent shortcut developed by modern guitarists to bypass learning standard notation. In reality, tablature has been around for centuries—long before the electric guitar […]
Grosse Pointe Music Academy Helps Crossroads Reach New High
2011 Crossroads East Giving Reaches New HighBy Janet and Larry Peplin for Crossroads East Outreach We’re proud to share that in 2011, we reached a new milestone by donating 13,044 pounds of food to Crossroads East—surpassing our 2010 total by 2,840 pounds! A few highlights from the year: We’re filled with hope and enthusiasm for […]
Is it too late for me to take music lessons?
Many people have preconceived ideas about the “right” age to begin learning an instrument—whether it’s guitar, piano, voice, or something else. While minimum age guidelines exist based on general developmental readiness (and should usually be followed), there is no maximum age for learning music. If you have the interest and a bit of time to […]