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 […]
Grosse Pointe
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 […]
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 […]
Balduck Mountain Ramblers
Balduck Mountain Ramblers – Follow Them Online!The Balduck Mountain Ramblers, a well-loved local band known for their energetic mix of bluegrass, folk, country, and classic tunes, continue to perform throughout the metro Detroit area. Fans of live, roots-driven music should be sure to follow them for updates on upcoming shows, special events, and new performances. […]
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 […]
Band in a Box
Band-in-a-Box: A Great Tool for MusiciansBy Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director Yesterday, I mentioned the mid-90s Roland PMA-5, a pioneering device that allowed musicians to compose music on the go. Today, a comparable — and much more powerful — option for musicians is Band-in-a-Box by PG Music. Band-in-a-Box is a popular […]
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 […]
Guitar Theft – Protect yourself.
Musicians often feel a deep and personal connection to their instruments, which is why having one stolen can be especially devastating. While any theft is upsetting, losing a guitar or other cherished instrument can feel like losing a piece of yourself. Unfortunately, instrument theft is all too common. Guitars are often taken at gigs, rehearsals, […]
Can I convert my guitar to left handed?
In most cases a right handed instrument can be easily converted to a left handed instrument. In fact, on a classical guitar, the conversion may be as simple as restringing it. The saddles on classical guitars typically have no compensation angle, and the nylon strings are close enough in diameter that the nut slots are often […]
About the Violin
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 […]
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 are scalloped frets?
Scalloped frets are most commonly used by “shred guitarists.” The concept is that by “scooping out” a portion of the fingerboard wood between the frets, the players fingers then never make contact with the wood, thus eliminating friction between the guitarist’s finger tips and the wood. This allows the player to run scales with more […]
Just a few general maintenance tips for players
There are a few things that guitar players can do to keep their guitars in good condition. These are very simple things that can make a world of difference for the longevity of your instruments life. First and foremost, most novice players do not change their strings often enough. A string’s life begins its process […]
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 […]