Taking Your First Steps Toward Becoming a Successful Guitarist How Do You Learn To Play The Guitar? People always tell me that they wish they could play the guitar. I smile and tell them it is a great experience and you’ll probably play for the rest of your life. You will play at Christmas, around…
The Tangible and Intangible Benefits of Band Participation It’s well known that music students typically outperform their non-music peers academically. Past studies have indicated that SAT students who participated in music scored an average of 31 points above average in reading, 23 points above average in math, and 31 points above average in writing. Researchers…
Protecting Your Instrument From Life’s Little Surprises From the expected to the unexpected, conceivable to inconceivable, we have seen some interesting things happen to rented or purchased musical instruments. Whether it’s the standard wear and tear that occurs as an instrument is used over the course of a school year or your car backing over…
A Parent’s Guide for New Band Students First Steps: Recruitment and Instrument Selection Congratulations! Your student is taking their first step toward a successful musical career. While it might seem overwhelming at first, your student’s band teacher likely has a well-coordinated recruitment process in place to help guide band parents and their students. While this…
The beauty of orchestra is that it’s remarkably accommodating for students of all walks of life. Anyone can participate and succeed as a student musician.
Music Programs for Seniors & Retirees Hello there! I’m Dianne Peterson, a White House of Music employee and New Horizons Band member. I’d like to share the story of how I became involved in our local New Horizons Band and some of the benefits it offers for senior citizen musicians of all skill levels. My…
Practice Creates Proficiency When someone asks me what it takes to become a successful musician, my answer is simple: Practice. Students who practice and play outside of class or lessons typically outperform those who simply practice in class or lessons. Successful musicians don’t simply read and play music, they make it their own, putting a…
When you give, you get a lot in return. There’s a big difference in 500 guitars a day and 500 a year. While Richard Hoover truly believes “the cheapest guitar can change the world,” he and his team at Santa Cruz Guitar Company have set out to do something very different: craft fine instruments that…
Band Offers Skills That Can Last a Lifetime “Making Music For Life” isn’t just a catch phrase. It’s a reflection on the deep impression music makes on our individual personalities and chosen career paths! For many, this lifetime pursuit of music begins with participation in band. When you think of band, what comes to mind?…
I get asked all the time, “How can I encourage my child to practice their instrument?” It’s not uncommon for parents to struggle with practice time – just add it to the list of parent/child arguments, and some days it might not feel worth it! Parents, we get it! Practice time can be hard! So…