10 years ago, I would have said no to any parent wanting me to teach their 4 year old. How is that possible? Don't they wiggle around constantly? Aren't their brains merely capable of understanding shapes and some alphabet letters? Boy, was I wrong. I can't take much credit at all for this. The reason I feel so comfortable teaching such young students is because of the incredible...
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by Jamey Mann Often students and professionals find themselves at a plateau that can be difficult to work out of. Just like athletes need to change up their workouts to make gains in sports, musicians need to get out of comfort zones to make gains musically. At a certain point everyone’s routine begins to get stale which in turn, is mentally exhausting. Doing the same technical...
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Does anyone else out there notice their long time students starting to lose enthusiasm once they reach 12 or 13? Maybe even younger at age 11? Many teachers I speak with say the same thing. It's a tough age. Many of those kids have been with you since they were very young. It's really amazing, isn't it? To see someone once a week from the...
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Be Prepared Being prepared is something that I have been taught since I was young. This was reiterated all my life by family, teachers, coaches, and scout leaders. Not only has this help me immensely in my musical career, but often in many other day to day life situations. In music as many other careers being prepared can mean the difference between being successful or...
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Rehearsal is an important aspect (at least it should be!) to all musicians, performers and teachers. It’s something we have spent countless hours doing throughout our careers. Whether it’s with a band, orchestra, or solo in a quiet place, it takes practice to develop good rehearsal skills. Something I ask of my students often is to walk me through their home practice and rehearsal routines. How...
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