Practice is necessary to develop the skills required to pursue music successfully. But practice can also be a crutch – a delay tactic. Just as many people continue their college educations to avoid the necessity of getting a job – of facing the real world. It can be the same in music. You’re “never” ready. …

In this post, I answer the following reader question: What is ‘music theory?’ I know what music sounds like, but what about theory do I need to know? It sounds too academic for me. Music theory is a collection of the principles that lie under and behind music. What theory is not is a set of …

It’s morning and I’m looking at a physical training session in my schedule today. Why do I do this to myself? Partly for my voice! My recommendation to all singers and speakers is that you do some physical activity that strengthens the body’s core muscles. Without this strength, you cannot apply enough breath support and …

I have many sweet and amazing young clients, and I adore them. But I was moved, deeply, watching the Carol King and James Taylor concert “Live at the Troubador” on PBS recently. I’ve never heard either one of them sing better, or even as well, as they did on that show. And check out Tina …

People sometimes ask me to describe what the jazz guitar style is. Jazz is usually (but not always) played on hollow-body electric guitars; it uses a large repertoire of chords and voicings; numerous scales and arpeggios; octaves; improvisation over complex chord progressions; the “swing” feel in rhythm; the Bossa, the Samba, the Jazz Waltz; rubato ballads. These are …

There is a subtle psychological shift you can make to take your next performance out of the ordinary and make it leave a memory in your listener’s heart. I call it “singing from the soul” instead of just from the head. Let me use an old familiar tune to illustrate. How many times have you …

I recently received this question from a reader: I play a little bit of piano and a little bit of guitar, but I’m a beginner on both. I want to write my own songs that others can sing, and I want to get the songs down on paper. Do you suggest I take piano lessons or …

A reader wrote in with the following question: I play the guitar and sing and would like to work on vocals as well as guitar. Should I expect a guitar teacher to help me with my vocals? A guitar teacher should not be expected to work with your voice. A vocal teacher would be the …

Music education has benefits beyond the obvious. It’s great to play an instrument or sing or write songs. But few people appreciate the long lasting value of studying music. It’s beneficial at every stage of life. Youngsters benefit from the discipline, the logic, the process of learning itself. It can increase self esteem and balance …

I spent many years playing the piano and not getting much better at it, although I had a natural flair for it and began lessons at a very young age.  There were no competent piano teachers in my small town in Kansas; my first teacher was the grade school principal who knew a little about …