About the ViolinPresented by Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff The violin is one of the most iconic and expressive instruments in the world, known for its beautiful tone and versatility across musical styles. From classical symphonies to folk tunes, jazz improvisations to pop and rock embellishments, the violin has played a central role in shaping […]
News
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 […]
Releasing tight or stuck bridge pins
Often times a player will go to restring their guitar, and discover that the bridge pins wont budge. This can be a frustrating experience, and can turn a simple procedure into a struggle. Luckily, there are a few tricks that can be used to make bridge pin extraction as painless as possible. The first thing […]
A quick fix for a bone nut
Have you ever seen a bone nut with a chunk missing or a chip in it? This is a fairly common situation. When this occurs, players often choose to replace the nut entirely, and there is nothing wrong with this. In fact, it is the best scenario. However, sometimes clients want a quick inexpensive fix. […]
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 […]
Playing by ear
Many musicians like to define themselves in specific ways, often proudly claiming that they “play by ear.” While this phrase is commonly used, I’ve noticed it can sometimes be a defensive way of saying, “I don’t read music.” But it’s important to recognize that all musicians—whether they read music or not—must use their ears. Music […]
Grosse Pointe Music Academy Teacher Spotlight
At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we’re proud to offer comprehensive guitar instruction for students of all skill levels—from beginners picking up their first instrument to advanced players preparing for college auditions or public performance. Our instructors bring a wide range of musical backgrounds and specialties, including Jazz, Classical, Rock, Blues, Pop, Latin, and Country guitar […]
10 Commandments of Guitar Playing
In 1976, guitarist Moris Tepper joined Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band and became part of an era rich with musical experimentation and boundary-pushing artistry. During this time, Tepper received what would become one of the most iconic pieces of offbeat musical advice in rock history: “The Ten Commandments of Guitar Playing,” written by Don Van Vliet—better […]
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 […]
Ben Steel at Marge’s Bar & Grill in Grosse Pointe Park
Ben Steel and His Bare Hands: January Performance Recap & Upcoming AppearancesSubmitted by John Denomme Ben Steel and His Bare Hands returned to Marge’s Bar & Grill in Grosse Pointe Park on Sunday, January 15th, for their regular monthly engagement. The band performed from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and with the following Monday being MLK […]
Meet Our Music Together Teachers
Meet Our Music Together TeachersBy Sarah Boyd, Director – Music Together of Grosse Pointe At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we are proud to offer the internationally recognized Music Together® program led by highly qualified and passionate instructors. All of our teachers undergo comprehensive Music Together training and bring with them a wealth of musical experience, […]
The Value of a Great Music Teacher
When you sign up for music lessons at Grosse Pointe Music Academy, you’ll receive more than just quality information—you’ll gain access to dedicated educators with formal university training in music. Our instructors are not only knowledgeable, but committed to providing the most accurate and up-to-date instruction available. However, while information is important, it’s not the […]
Meet our Music Together Director!
It seems kind of funny to write a blog about myself, but I hope to share my passion and commitment to the Music Together program through what I write. I can remember making music as early as 3 years old, practicing my Suzuki violin lessons while my mom accompanied me on piano. Making music was […]
A MUSICAL CHEST OF DRAWERS
As a teacher myself, I relish those opportunities to talk with parents about what they see to be happening musically in their children. I have a fantastic class where most of the families have been attending the program since we began, for 5 consecutive semesters now. The growth I’ve seen in those continuing children and […]
What’s the buzz?
A guitar can buzz or rattle for many reasons. A large number of repairs that come into my shop are due to complaints of buzzing or rattling when the instrument is played. When these kinds of complaints arise, I like to have the musician play for me and show me what they are hearing themselves […]
MUSIC TOGETHER WELCOMES YOU!
Happy New Year from Grosse Pointe Music Academy!By Sarah Boyd, Director of Music Together As we welcome 2012, I’m thrilled to share that the Music Together program at Grosse Pointe Music Academy is continuing to grow and thrive! In 2011, we expanded from just one class a week in 2010 to seven weekly classes. Last […]
Happy New Year 2012
As we welcome 2012, many of us are taking this opportunity to reflect and reset. The new year often brings a fresh sense of purpose—whether it’s spending more time with family, improving health, reducing stress, or pursuing personal passions. One resolution we frequently hear is the desire to learn a musical instrument or to dedicate […]
Drummers: The Unsung Athletes of the Music World
Drummers: The Unsung Athletes of the Music WorldBy Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff It’s easy to associate rock musicians with the late nights and high-energy shows, but few people realize the extraordinary physical demands placed on drummers in particular. A recent long-term study has shown that professional drummers operate at fitness levels comparable to elite […]