Thinking about music lessons in the New Year? If you have the desire to play music then why not make this your New Year’s resolution? Take music lessons in Canton, MI at GP Music Academy. We have instructors with University training in music to assist you on your musical quest. Studying privately with a qualified music instructor is great for both child and adult music students. Learning a musical instrument is a very disciplined activity with many technicalities involved. Students who work with an instructor will avoid common pitfalls and other bad habits. It’s easiest to learn the correct way first!
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 the name, “Drum Major” because I wanna be a major drummer? Pretty sweet, right?
Anyway, I was wondering if you guys gave drum lessons because I think taking a few lessons could help me figure out the secret to drumming. I’ve been working on it, pounding away all through the night, ‘til mom yells down the stairs and tells me to cut it out. But I just can’t seem to figure out how to get my foot to hit the foot pedal while my left hand pounds the snare and my right taps the cymbal. When I do it, it sounds like a car crash and I get all tangled up. I know I’m doing something wrong.
You know the other thing is that I can’t really get my drum set to sound as loud as I think it should. I don’t get it. I’m drumming but it sounds muffled. And after I’m drumming for a little while, my fingers really start to hurt. In fact, sometimes when I’m really jamming out, my fingers actually start to bleed. Is this normal?
So, if you give drum lessons, let me know. I’d love to sign up. I know Grosse Pointe Music Academy gives lessons in just about every instrument, so I figured drums have got to be on the list. I’m hoping at least a couple lessons will help me figure this whole drumming thing out so I can tour with my band, “Drum Major” soon.
Chad C.
RESPONSE:
Grossepointemusicacademy.com:
Dear Chad-
Yes, we offer drum lessons and you may want to start using drum sticks.
Music Academy in Canton
It seems like parents love the first recital. When their kid gets up there in front of a crowd for the first time and strums out his or her first guitar solo, that’s a moment a parent will never forget. But someone else is beaming when they see that child conquer their inhibitions and perform in front of a crowd: The music teacher.
When you give lessons for guitar, or piano, or voice, or whatever, it’s like you’re transferring age-old secrets to a whole new generation. You burst with pride when a student is able to take what you’ve taught them and use it for the first time. When a student is able to take what you’ve passed on to them and put it all together in that one moment, you can’t help but smile, knowing that you have had an effect on that child’s life and, quite possibly, the lives of those they will effect with their newfound knowledge of music.
Now, imagine being able to feel that kind of pride over and over again.
I not only get to, I have been able to experience it for years.
When I started teaching guitar in the Plymouth-Canton Area years ago, I never thought that I’d develop a passion for teaching that would rival the passion I have for the instrument itself. It seemed that the more times I saw one of my students succeed, the more it fed my fervor to spread everything I knew about music.
But I couldn’t do it alone.
That’s why I opened The Grosse Pointe Music Academy. Through research and personal contacts, I recognized a need for personal music lessons in the Grosse Pointe area. The suburb was ripe with talented musicians and thriving music programs at the middle school and high school level. But, other than in-school instrumental programs, there was no organized program in town that could offer music lessons for guitar, piano or voice for all ages. After humble beginnings offering guitar lessons at our small location, we began to grow. As interest in our programs increased, we found a need to move to a new, larger space.
Now, the Grosse Pointe Music Academy is thriving. We offer a full range of private and group instrumental and voice lessons for all ages. Along with lessons in just about every instrument this side of the zither and accordion (they could come back around someday, but I wouldn’t hold my breath), we have some of the finest musicians and music teachers in Detroit, sharing their talents and passions with a growing number of future musicians.
And now, I want to bring that same opportunity to the Plymouth-Canton area.
I grew up here. I graduated from Canton High School and spent most of my life in this area and to me, it only makes sense to bring our successful music program back home. With 90,000 residents (up 2000 from a year ago), Canton is a growing community with a unique culture for music. The Music Academy of Canton will offer all the benefits of a full music training school, for students of all ages. The same highly qualified, fully-accredited, University-trained instructors–with complete background checks– will be helping your children (or you) learn in a clean, comfortable environment. Lessons are customized to the student’s ability as we all learn music at a different clip.
The Music Academy of Canton will work around your schedule to ensure your student gets a lesson slot that fits your family’s demanding week. We have phone service available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. all week long, and we stress the importance of lessons in a low pressure, stress-free atmosphere for all ages and all levels. We also offer free yearly recitals so parents can see their child’s progress with their instrument.
From guitar to piano, from flute to drums, from brass to bass and everything in between, The Music Academy of Canton is bringing professional music lessons to a whole new audience. I can’t wait to get started with your child. And I can’t wait to feel that sense of pride again when they complete a solo at their first recital.
All about Drumming
Did you know that late night talk show host, Craig Fergueson, is a drummer? So is actor, Billy Bob Thornton and the Mindfreak himself, Criss Angel. It seems keeping steady rhythm on a set of skins would be pretty easy if Criss Angel can pull it off without the aid of mirrors or camera tricks. But, drumming isn’t as simple as it looks. It is an art form that can only be mastered if you have a little bit of ability and a good teacher.
History says that man has been beating drums since around 6000 BC. Archeologists have dug up hollowed out logs that they believe were used for communication in primitive times. Eventually, the drum became part of rituals and celebrations within tribes. Rhythmic drumming has always been the basis for music. The drum may be the oldest known instrument.
But the drum has come a long way since Caveman Og and The Java Men hit it big with their hit, “Ooh Gah Wah-Wah” in 5902 BC.* Now, you can download drum tracks on your computer and build songs around those electronic drum files. You don’t even need a drummer. You can even play video games and sit in as a session drummer for the Beatles, Guns & Roses and more. But, it’s not real drumming. Don’t confuse the two. In fact, I like to call it the dumbing of drumming. Real drumming takes talent. And real talent is learned.
To truly understand the idiosyncrasies of drumming, you have to sit behind a set of skins and try to sound a good as Neal Peart from Rush.
Peart defines drumming and is widely known as one of the best drummers in the world. That’s not to say there’s not another Neal Peart out there somewhere. But, rest assured, even Peart didn’t get there alone. Chances are he had a wonderful drum teacher to guide him along the way. One who pressed him to practice his craft and find the secrets to keeping incredibly amazing beats.
There’s just something about the drummer that fascinates everyone. He’s usually tucked back behind the band, quietly going about his craft, never trying to over shadow the singer of the lead guitarist. Fact is, the drummer is always the unsung hero of rock show. Without him, there is no band at all. He keeps the beat. He keeps the tempo. He keeps the rhythm. The drummer is the real leader of the band. He’s a magician. Kind of like Criss Angel.
*I just made that up. There were no radio stations back then.
by Watercooler
Posted by Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff
New Location
5880 N. Canton Center Rd. Suite 425
Canton, MI 48187
734-418-0640
canton@grossepointemusicacademy.com
Extras needed for a Movie Starring Ethan Bortnick 10 yo Piano Prodigy. Attend concert for Free
Hey Everyone,
The staff, parents, students, and friends of Grosse Pointe Music Academy have been invited to a free concert by the producers of a movie starring Ethan Bortnick.
I received a call this afternoon from the movie set of Ethan Bortnick’s new film. He is having a concert at the Redford Theater on Thursday September the 8th at 7:30pm. The concert will be filmed for the indie movie starring Bortnick. Read below for more information on the film and Ethan from her September 2nd Article in the Detroit Free Press.
The Code “IGA Approved” will get you through the door Free of Charge.
When he’s not playing Pokemon video games, swimming or reading about mythology, Ethan Bortnick is busy this summer with another activity.
The 10-year-old music prodigy from Florida is in Detroit to play the lead role in “Anything Is Possible,” a small-budget independent film that’s being produced locally.
“It’s just so much fun making the movie and I want to inspire a lot of people,” says Ethan, a polite young boy who has met stars like Justin Bieber and Beyoncé on his show-business journey.
Ethan’s gift for the piano emerged when he started playing by ear at age 3. By age 5, he was composing.
He has made several appearances with Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show” and was featured on an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” about the world’s smartest children. The youngest performer on the star-filled “We Are the World — 25 for Haiti” project, he also had his own PBS special and in July was a headline act at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Now Ethan is trying out his acting skills by playing a young boy who’s separated from his mother when she goes missing during a trip to Japan to help after the tsunami.
The movie explores issues like homelessness and adoption, while giving him a chance to show off his other talent.
“I cowrote the music and I might be scoring the film,” says Ethan, whose parents and 5-year-old brother, Nathan, accompanied him to Detroit.
Gene Bortnick, his father, says his son cowrote several songs for the movie and recorded them in Muscle Shoals, Ala., working with songwriter Gary Baker of “I Swear” fame.
“We believe no (other) 10-year-old has starred in, scored and written the songs for a movie,” says his dad.
On Belle Isle this week, Ethan filmed a scene for the movie that involves his character’s search for a homeless man (played by David Haines, an actor and movie double for Will Smith) who helps him find shelter in a safe house.
Director Demetrius Navarro says Ethan is a natural at acting. “The beauty of Ethan is that he knows there’s an emotion associated with it. Being a songwriter, his talent is associated with emotion.”
Pastor Marvin Miles of Ecorse’s International Gospel Center is the executive producer of “Anything Is Possible” and the person who put the project together. He first met Ethan at WMXD-FM (92.3) early this year when the young pianist was a guest on Frankie Darcell’s show.
Miles had worked with Navarro and “Anything Is Possible” cowriter Carlos Bermudez on a previous film, “Silent No More,” about women facing domestic abuse.
Navarro, an actor and director who had a regular part as a paramedic on “E.R.,” and Bermudez wrote the screenplay in about a month and a half.
“When Pastor said he wanted to do (filming) in August, Carlos said, ‘Oh, you mean August 2012?’ ” says Navarro, joking about the speedy process.
The “Anything Is Possible” cast also includes Kym Whitley (“Next Friday” and “Along Came Polly”) and Jonathan Bennett (“Van Wilder: Freshman Year” and “Cheaper By the Dozen 2”).
Miles plans to submit “Anything Is Possible” to festivals and hopes for a domestic and international release around Easter.
On Thursday, Ethan will give a concert at the Redford Theatre that will be filmed for the movie, with a portion of the proceeds going to several charities, including the Children’s Miracle Network, one of many he helps. He’ll play several of his compositions and, as with his other performances, invite people onstage and take questions from the audience.
Describing his concerts, he says, “We have fun, we party, we hug and dance.”
by Julie Hinds
Detroit Free Press
Posted by Grosse Pointe Music Academy Staff