Uncategorized

by Robert Fisher, Catoctin School of Music Ask any seasoned music teacher what they view as one of the most critical elements for success in music lesson and the words “motivation” and “practice” will move to the top of the list. As the old saying goes, “the teacher opens the door, but the student must walk through it”. In a time where attention spans are seemingly...

Read More

by Jamey Mann, Catoctin School of Music Injuries for musicians are common and something all teachers and students must take seriously. A student ignoring pain or a teacher not paying attention to a student’s technique may have dire consequences in the future. Most recently Steve Vai (one of world’s best and accomplished guitarist with over 4 decades of experience) suffered an injury in his left hand...

Read More

Let’s get to know CSM’s Folk Instruments! Today’s instrument is the Tank Drum – also known as the tongue drum, or hank drum.   What is a tank drum? The tank drum is a cushion-shaped percussion instrument made from metal. The top of the drum is sliced into small petal or tongue shapes to create different pitches when struck with a mallet. When played, the tank drum has...

Read More

by Jennene Estes, Catoctin School of Music Almost all of my most successful motivational ideas are borrowed, stolen, or are a modified version of another teacher’s idea.  “Listen Like a Maniac” is no exception. Michelle Horner and her daughter were practicing daily.  Together, they were carefully following the advice of her daughter’s violin teacher.  But even though Michelle is an accomplished guitar teacher, her daughter’s progress on...

Read More

What does a music studio manager do? Obviously they manage their music studios, but their everyday tasks can sometimes be made more difficult when encountering some of the most common mistakes in the business. Let’s have a look at some of these common mistakes and how to correct them or avoid them altogether in order to become a better music studio manager. Not Taking Care of the...

Read More