It’s always impressive to see young children excel at playing instruments like electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, or others with high levels of skill and control. Witnessing the discipline and focus it takes to perform challenging music at fast tempos reminds us that musical ability is a combination of natural inclination and dedicated hard work. […]
Plymouth
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Understanding Intervals on Guitar
It’s common for beginning guitar players to start with a basic chord chart, focusing on essential open-position chords that span 4, 5, or 6 strings. While this is a great entry point into playing, what’s often overlooked is the study of intervals—specifically simple melodic intervals on a single string and harmonic intervals on two adjacent […]