Christmas Music: Love It or Not, It’s Everywhere Christmas music is a universal part of the holiday season. Whether you enjoy its festive cheer or prefer to avoid it until the last possible moment, there’s no denying its presence. Starting just after Thanksgiving, these melodies fill the airwaves, stores, and gatherings across the country. But […]
Music Tips
Practice
Are you or your child enrolled in music lessons? Are you struggling with staying motivated to practice outside of lessons? Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many students face this challenge, but with some helpful tips and tricks, you can overcome this slump and become a virtuoso in no time. Here are some ways to […]
Minimum age for Music Lessons
What Is the Minimum Age for Music Lessons?Guidance from Grosse Pointe Music Academy At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we understand that every child develops at their own pace—especially when it comes to starting music lessons. While there’s no universal rule, we generally recommend beginning private piano lessons at age 5. This is based on our […]
Can Anyone Learn to Sing?
Can Anyone Learn to Sing?Brought to you by the team at Grosse Pointe Music Academy If you love singing along to your favorite songs, humming show tunes, or performing with a school or church choir, voice lessons might be the perfect next step for you. At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we believe that singing is […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
How to choose the right guitar for beginners
10 Things to Know Before Buying Your First GuitarBy Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director Buying your first guitar is a pivotal moment—whether it’s for you or someone you care about. It’s not just a purchase; it’s the beginning of a rewarding musical journey. With so many options and opinions out there, […]
Learn Bass Guitar
Why Learn Bass Guitar?If you’re interested in playing music in a group setting, the bass guitar is an excellent instrument to consider. Bassists are in high demand, as guitar players tend to outnumber bass players by a significant margin. In many bands, it’s not uncommon for one of the guitarists to switch to bass simply […]
Where can I get Piano Lessons?
Looking for Piano Lessons? Grosse Pointe Music Academy offers private piano instruction for students of all ages and skill levels at our Grosse Pointe Woods and Canton locations. Lessons are available six days a week, and students can choose from a variety of lesson lengths and scheduling options to fit their needs. 10 Helpful Practice […]
International Songwriting Contest Deadline Extended
International Songwriting Competition — Deadline Extended (2012 Archive Post) Note: This is an archived announcement originally distributed by the International Songwriting Competition. We’re sharing it for informational purposes only as part of our support for songwriting opportunities. For current competitions, visit www.songwritingcompetition.com. The 2012 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) extended its submission deadline through November 1, […]
Dogs play piano
If Dogs Can Play Piano… So Can You!By Henry Bahrou – Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff Have you ever said something like, “I’d love to play music, but I just don’t have rhythm”? If so, you might want to take a minute and watch this video of a dog playing piano on YouTube — it’s […]
A Common Mistake That’ll Grow Hair on Any Guitarist’s Palms
Why Sticking to Your Comfort Zone on Guitar Holds You Back At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we often remind students that real growth on an instrument doesn’t come from playing what you already know — it comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone. We recently came across a great article by Nicholas Tozier at […]
Health: Music and the Mind
Music and Healing: The Powerful ConnectionGrosse Pointe Music Academy Staff More and more every day, it seems we hear how music helps promote healing and emotional well-being. While it’s unlikely that musicians or music therapists will ever rival pharmaceutical companies in wealth, it’s surprising that the healing power of music hasn’t become more mainstream in […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Considering compensation for twelve string guitars
So, do you calibrate a twelve string guitar or not? It is a common question and a very valid one. With fretted instruments we are always battling the limitations of the equal tempered scale. I’ve discussed in previous posts how intonation and calibration works. Basically, frets are placed at a place where a mathematical compromise […]
Who came up with the blues?
Blues music is unique in that it blends the structure of classical harmony with the expressive, raw tonality of altered melodic scales. Unlike traditional major or minor scales—where the harmony is built directly from the notes of the scale—the blues melody often includes variable third, sixth, and seventh degrees that bend between major and minor. […]