
The Beatles Complete Chord Songbook

Music Lessons and Instruction for All Ages
After waving goodbye to the children, Frosty the Snowman reassures them that he will be back again someday. Did Frosty ever return as he promised? Some people who are not satisfied with the ambiguity of “I’ll be back again someday” decided to change the lyrics to “I’ll be back again on Christmas Day”. Is it safe to assume that if Frosty returns on Christmas day that those dreaming of a white Christmas will also be enchanted? Perhaps it does, but perhaps Frosty is coming in from a trip out of town. There are many other examinations that one can make about this song and what it’s all about. One thing we know for certain is that this is a very popular tune that has been covered by various artists over the years. The list of cover artists includes The Jackson 5, The Ronettes, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Larry Groce, Ray Conniff, Cocteau Twins, Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Beach Boys,Leon Redbone with Dr. John, Red Foley (and his daughters), Fiona Apple, Connie Talbot (2008 and 2009), 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Partridge Family, and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (as his character Major Monogram from Phineas and Ferb. Also sings it as Perry Saves Christmas.) and countless other musical acts (including a 2005 recording of the song by actor Burt Reynolds). The song was written by Walter E. “Jack” Russell, who also co-wrote “Here Comes Peter Cottontail”. The first version of the song was recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys. Their recording made it to number 7 on the US Pop Singles Chart in 1950.
The melody to Frosty the Snowman is a basic melody that can be played on almost any instrument. Like any simple melody, beginning music students will often learn to play this song. Guitar players and Piano Players can easily learn the basic chord changes to accompany singers or a right hand melody. Whether you like Christmas songs or not, they tend to serve as a valuable aid to learning vocal and instrumental music. Most people have a strong familiarity with Christmas songs because we hear them every year from many different sources. Learning songs that you know by ear will make learning new songs that you haven’t heard before easier. It will also make learning more complex music easier to perform.
Let me know if anyone spots Frosty in the Grosse Pointe Village with or without a broomstick in his hand. That would be cool if he came to our town upon his return!
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
I am feeling generous today so I’m going to give you a free guitar lesson by writing this blog on how to play the guitar. You will benefit from this whether you are trying to learn Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, or Classical Guitar. While each of these types of guitars have a different function in music, each has the same tuning therefore making them all ok to learn basic guitar playing skills on.
Being a guitar player doesn’t mean you have to be the best. Technically speaking, there can only be one BEST player so I think it’s better to not worry about that and just focus on things that are within our control like how much you practice guitar. Being the best is an idealistic fantasy that very few will come close to reaching. I want all guitar students to be the best they can be, but it shouldn’t be your focus or even cross your mind. The guitar lessons that I’m going to give here will be more of a primer lesson that will help undo preconceptions and mindless tendencies about guitar and guitar instruction.
Lesson 1:Choose a Guitar
Find a guitar that fits your budget and make sure it’s comfortable to hold. If the guitar is new be certain to ask the store to setup and calibrate your new instrument. If it is used then seek a professional guitar technician to setup and calibrate the guitar for you. Don’t fall into the trap of just trying to find a beautiful LOOKING guitar. Let’s instead focus on making the guitar SOUND beautiful. You can reward yourself with a new guitar after learning to play at a certain level.
Grosse Pointe Music Academy is expanding to Canton! Before opening up in Grosse Pointe, I used to teach 45-50 students weekly in Plymouth. An opportunity opened up for me to start a guitar store in Grosse Pointe Park and I decided to make the move. With quick success on the eastside, I was able to give up the lessons in the Plymouth-Canton area and focus exclusively on Grosse Pointe. After originally starting off with just guitar lessons and guitar sales, we quickly started offering the full gamut of music instruction. Guitar Union Music Shop became the Grosse Pointe Music Academy and we offer lessons for piano, drums, bass guitar, voice, violin, saxophone, clarinet, flute, rock band classes, and early childhood music classes. We moved from Charlevoix St. to 17012 Mack Ave. in the summer of 2009.
Over the years I’ve received many requests from parents and teachers to offer the same music instruction services in the Canton area. Our new location at 5880 N. Canton Center Rd. Suite 425 in Canton is a short commute from Novi, Northville, Plymouth, Livonia, Westland, Cherry Hill Village, Van Buren Twp., and other surrounding metro Detroit communities. It is truly a joy for me working with teachers and students of music. I am excited and eager to offer the highest quality music instruction to everyone in the Canton area.
In addition to music instruction we will offer professional instrumental and amplifier repair services. Students in our Grosse Pointe location love the convenience of being able to have their instruments serviced by experts in a timely fashion.
Although we have hired some teacher, we are still looking for a few more and would like to interview qualified candidates. If you are interested in teaching music in the Canton area please email a resume and information about yourself to info@grossepointemusicacademy.com.
Although the title of this post is ‘Canton Music Academy’, I’ve decided to keep the same name. Thanks to our amazing students, teachers, and staff; we’ve gained a reputation for being one of the best schools in all of Southeastern Michigan.
We will soon be making changes to grossepointemusicacademy.com to accommodate the new location information. Please help us spread the word to anyone you know, especially anyone you may know in Canton! If you are in Grosse Pointe, please don’t worry, we will continue to operate and improve our facilities and programs continuously.
Sincerely,
Henry Bahrou
Grosse Pointe Music Academy
Grosse Pointe Music Academy (New Location)
5880 N. Canton Center Rd. Suite 425
Canton Township, MI
48187
734-418-0640
canton@grossepointemusicacademy.com
“Grosse Pointe Music Academy has been incredible for my son, Zach, and I am continually impressed by everything they do. Grosse Pointe is so fortunate to have this in the neighborhood!” - Sharon Sparrow
Read more testimonials...
Grosse Pointe Music Academy
19443 Mack Ave.
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
(view map and directions)
Phone: (313) 458-7723
info@grossepointemusicacademy.com
Canton Music Academy
5880 N. Canton Center Rd. Suite 425
Canton, MI 48187
(view map and directions)
Phone: (734) 667-4983
canton@grossepointemusicacademy.com
GP Music Academy in Clinton Township
20738 Hall Rd.
Clinton Township, MI 48038
(view map and directions)
Phone: (586) 846-2984
ct@grossepointemusicacademy.com
Brighton Music Academy
719 W. Grand River Ave
Brighton, MI, 48116
(view map and directions)
Phone: (810)775-3476
brightonmusicacademy.com
info@brightonmusicacademy.com