MTMS Blog Posts – Page 37 – Michelle Tuesday Music School

Reading Music Part 1: Rhythm

So, you want to read music! Maybe you sing: You’re in the choir at your place of worship, or you landed a part in the local community theatre musical, and you’d like to practice at home. Perhaps you play an instrument by ear, or you read guitar, bass or drum tabs, and you’d like to learn more. But those symbols all over the page look like a foreign language to you, and the task seems daunting.

You’re right about one thing: Music is a language all its own, and you have to learn what the symbols mean before you can interpret the language. The good news? There are a finite amount of symbols to learn, and the list is much shorter than your German-English translation dictionary. You can learn it, and it’s easier than you think. Continue reading “Reading Music Part 1: Rhythm”

Recovering From Marketing Blunders

New Coke: it was possibly the biggest marketing blunder in history, except maybe the Chevy-Nova-in-Mexico fiasco (get it? “No va” is Spanish for, “It doesn’t go.” Yeah, Chevy didn’t get it, either, at least not in time to stop the launch.) Continue reading “Recovering From Marketing Blunders”

Work / Life Balance

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”

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”