CHECK YOUR GEAR:

One of the most common problems when it comes to performing live is musicians forgetting to check and double-check their gear prior to a show. Forgetting to check your gear can lead to a variety of problems including low-quality sound, equipment malfunction, differing volume levels and difficulties with sound feedback. Most, if not all of these problems can be avoided if musicians commit to making sure their gear is ready to go when it is time for a live show. Another great tip for improving your live performances is to always bring backups of things you may need in order to be prepared for anything.

PERFECT YOUR STAGE PRESENCE:

An additional tip for improving your live performances is to become more confident in public and on-stage. Being more comfortable in front of people, especially while in a live music setting, will not only make you feel better about performing, but it will ultimately lead to a higher-quality gig. One great way to increase your confidence for live performances is to watch yourself perform. Whether you record yourself during a performance or have someone help you, being able to watch yourself live is a good way to make corrections to your stage presence. This is also a great tip if you are playing in a band. After all, confidence is key in being a top-notch performer.

Even though there are a lot of aspects that go into a live musical performance, the most important part of it all is that you have fun and play music that means something to you. After that, the experience and knowledge of playing live that comes with being a musician will follow if you commit to practicing and getting better.

To successfully navigate the ups and downs that come with learning music, you’ll need two essential resources: a phenomenal music instructor and the right type of music lesson — one that’s specifically designed for your particular style of learning.

Don’t worry; there’s no need to scour the internet looking for top notch guitar or drum lessons in Scottsdale, or spend hours researching the best music lessons in North Phoenix…we’ve got you covered. At Scottsdale Music Academy, we not only have the most amazing music teachers, we also have just about every type of music lesson you could ever want or need.

The real question, then, becomes not where to go to learn music, but what type of music lesson is right for you. To help you answer that question, we’ve put together this quick guide that lists the best type of music lesson for you based on your preferred style of learning.

~The Solitary Learner

Like the name implies, solitary learners learn best by themselves where they’re able to ask the questions they want and get tailored feedback and advice. For these types of learners, our private music lessons in Scottsdale are the perfect choice. With one-on-one attention, custom guitar, bass, or vocal lessons (just to name a few), and a personalized learning plan made just for you, our private music lessons are exactly what you need to learn music at your own pace and in your own unique way.

~The Social Learner

Are you a social butterfly? Do you feed off of the energy of others and love working in a group setting? If so, then SMA’s group lessons are for you! Our group music lessons offer students the chance to mingle and learn with other like-minded students who are at the same skill level and learning the same instrument. With a seasoned instructor to guide you and your peers to motivate and inspire you, you’ll discover that group music lessons are one of the most fun and rewarding ways to learn music.

~The Stage-Bound Learner

Perhaps you want practice perfecting your stage presence and performance skills. If so, we’ve got the perfect type of music lesson for you. Our band coaching goes a step beyond the normal bass, drum, or keyboard lessons offered at our Scottsdale location. With band coaching, students will get to perform at live shows and are coached on stage presence, audience engagement, and show setup. If you dream of rocking out on stage, our band coaching can teach you everything you need to make sure your next performance is out of this world!

Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned musician or simply a hobbyist, Scottsdale Music Academy has what you need and then some. With a diverse and skilled staff of music instructors and a variety of music lessons to choose from, you’ll learn music on your own terms, the way you want to and in the way that best suits your learning needs. Come enjoy a free music lesson  on us, and learn more about the different ways we can help you achieve your musical aspirations, no matter what they are!

Although many people long to play an instrument, they are often reluctant to learn because they don’t know how to read music. But contrary to popular belief, learning to read music isn’t as hard as it seems! If you’re interested in learning to play an instrument, don’t let your lack of music knowledge stop you. Not only is it easy to learn to read music, once you do, your song options as a musician will be limitless!

We know learning to read music can be intimidating, which is why we’ve created a short tutorial to help simplify the process. 

How to Read Music

When it comes to learning how to read music, there are many different symbols and notations that you’ll need to know. Here are a few of the most important and basic music elements.

The Staff

In music, the staff (sometimes known as the stave) is a set of five horizontal lines on which notes sit. The position of the notes on the staff indicates what note it is and, ultimately, the pitch. There are seven possible notes: a,b,c,d,e,f & g. Essentially, the lines and spaces of a staff communicate which notes should be played and when.

The Clef

Next up on the list of important music symbols is the clef. The clef is located on the left hand side of the staff and is used to indicate what range the piece is played in. In standard music theory, there are two different kinds of clefs: treble clef and bass clef. The treble clef is designed for instruments played in the higher range, such as a flute, saxophone or violin. The treble clef symbol resembles a fancy, cursive “G” (which is why it is sometimes known as the G-clef) whereas the bass clef is shaped like a curved comma with two dots positioned along the F line. In contrast to the treble clef, the bass clef is used for instruments that have a lower range, such as a tuba, cello or bassoon. 

Note Names

Another important element of music are notes. Notes are the building blocks of music and come in many different varieties. A note serves two main functions: to indicate pitch and duration. As mentioned before, there are seven different music notes. A key component of reading music is learning to differentiate these notes. There are several different acronyms and memory tricks to help beginning musicians learn notes, such as “Every Good Boy Does Fine” for notes on the treble clef lines and “F-A-C-E” for notes in between the lines. For bass clef lines, the acronym “Good Bikes Don’t Fall Apart” is commonly used while “All Cows Eat Grass” is used for note names on the spaces of the bass clef.

Note Values

Not only do music notes convey pitch, they also convey duration or time length. In order to properly read and play music, you need to know the different music note values. That’s because they indicate how long a specific pitch should be held. Some of the most common note types are:

• Quarter note = 1 beat
• Half note = 2 beats
• Whole note = 4 beats
• Eighth note = ½ of a beat
• Sixteenth note = ¼ of a beat

Now that you know the basic music elements, the next step is to sign up for music lessons and put your knowledge to use! With an experienced music teacher to guide you and teach you even more, you’ll be reading music like a pro in no time at all! Stop by our music studio in Scottsdale to learn more.