I get comments like these in my email inbox occasionally: "It's been really difficult to get my daughter to sit down and practice for the past couple weeks." "My son is talking about quitting because he says it's too hard." "We have been struggling to keep our daughter interested in piano." These examples are issues … Continue reading Hitting the Plateau–and What to Do About It

I sent this out as an email in October 2015, but wanted to publish an easy to find reference here. I've talked with most of my students about practice habits, especially when looking at a new piece. My overall goal when I sit down to look at something new is to play it correctly THE … Continue reading Practice Habits and Tips

Before I jump in, I'd like to make a couple disclaimers. First, these are largely my opinions. However, they are based on real observations in my teaching studio, from my own experience as a guitar student, and from the experience of others in my immediate circle. I've also done some research to find out what … Continue reading Guitar Buying Guide for the Beginning Guitarist

In today's musical instrument market, purchasing a piano comes down to this question: digital or acoustic? I'll define what these terms mean, describe the different types, list some of the pros and cons of each, and describe what to look for in a reliable, quality instrument. In general, though, the old adage applies: buy the … Continue reading Acoustic and Digital Piano Buyer’s Guide for the Home