As a business owner, and a relatively new one at that, I’m just in the learning stages on managing entrepreneurial work/life balance. But I had a bit of a head start thanks to my plethora of part-time employment and music gigs, and I have a supportive network of family and friends, which helps. Here are some of the tricks I’ve employed to manage a schedule that includes business management, family time, friends, church, music practice and writing. Continue reading “Work / Life Balance”
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In Singing Competitions, Song Choice is Everything
Last week, I judged the December video entries for Ohio Idol. The competition was fierce this round! I’m looking forward to judging the January 80’s entries and, eventually, the live competitors.
Some of the videos were taken in a quiet, home setting, but many were recorded at live shows. I was struck by how the audience reacted to some of the performers, and it gave me pause to consider my own performance and how it touches my audience.
Almost all the singers had great voices; they have an amazing amount of talent and should continue to nurture that talent, because they could easily become professional singers even if they don’t advance in the Ohio Idol contest. But in comparing performances – not just singing, but performances – the performers who had their audiences engaged win hands down. Continue reading “In Singing Competitions, Song Choice is Everything”
Where to Buy Instruments – and What to Buy
As a musician, I have eclectic tastes in musical instruments. I like my pianos Boston, keyboards Yamaha, acoustic guitars Breedlove, drums Pearl, cymbals Sabian, and electric basses Schecter. I like my electronics Roland and my amplifiers Marshall. I like Line 6 Pod pre-amps. I’d love a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, though I haven’t dropped the cash to buy one. But those are just my own preferences. Continue reading “Where to Buy Instruments – and What to Buy”
SCIENCE ACTIVITY: How do guitars make sound?
Guitars make sound because of two things called VIBRATION and AMPLIFICATION. Here’s how it works. To conduct this science activity, you will need the following supplies:
1. A bowl
2. Water
3. A pebble, marble, or other small object
4. Two shoeboxes with lids
5. Scissors
6. Two rubber band
7. Four pens with lids
When you pluck a guitar string, the string vibrates, which means it wiggles back and forth really fast. That’s called vibration. Try it: Continue reading “SCIENCE ACTIVITY: How do guitars make sound?”
2. Water
3. A pebble, marble, or other small object
4. Two shoeboxes with lids
5. Scissors
6. Two rubber band
7. Four pens with lids
When you pluck a guitar string, the string vibrates, which means it wiggles back and forth really fast. That’s called vibration. Try it: Continue reading “SCIENCE ACTIVITY: How do guitars make sound?”
Why I Love to Sing
by guest blogger Ashley Fredenburg
Music speaks what cannot be expressed
Soothes the mind and gives it rest
Heals the heart and makes it whole
Flows from heaven to the soul.
‘I lo-o-ove to sing’ A common warm-up for singers going up the C-major scale, but as I step back a minute and think, these words…they mean so much to me. Why? Continue reading “Why I Love to Sing”