How Has Technology Changed the Way We Learn and Teach Music?

These days, you can learn practically anything you want online.  For music students and teachers, the resources include helpful videos, guides, apps - and of course, online music lessons! With so many resources at your fingertips, it's easy to find the best teacher, technology, study guides - whatever you need, wherever you live. 

Check out the infographic below, put together by our friends at TakeLessons, showcasing the ways technology has changed (and improved!) the way we learn and teach music for the better! 

Why Learning Music With Others Is Better Than Going It Alone

This month's post is from our friend Christopher Sutton at Musical U

Who doesn’t want to feel close to their family and friends? The need to belong and connect with other people is one of the most important elements of living a good life.

Music can be a fun solo activity but it’s also an excellent way for us to connect with those around us. Learning music gives you a wonderful opportunity for creative self-expression and doing it in a group setting can be even more rewarding and beneficial to your wellbeing.

If you only ever make music by yourself you are missing out on some of the most enjoyable experiences the world of music has to offer - and although it may seem intimidating at first, the skills and memories you gain from making music with others will reward you throughout your life.

There are many ways to include others in your music learning. You might choose to take a group lesson at the local music school, finally start that band you’ve been dreaming of, find a new instrument teacher for lessons or join an online music community where you can get help with your training.

If you’re hesitant about whether you should learn music with others or try to go it alone, consider the following benefits of learning music in a group.

1. You Will Learn Faster

Music is learned more quickly when playing with others. You can be actively involved and contribute to the group. If you have a question, instead of spending valuable time puzzling over it, you can simply ask someone in your group. Similarly, you can help others when they have problems understanding something you know.

Learning music with others is also a way to receive personal feedback. The more ideas and responses exchanged between you and the members in your group, the better you understand the material and fill in your learning gaps. These benefits don’t just cover factual knowledge, they apply to your live music performance skills too!

In fact, getting feedback and support from others is one of the 3 most effective ways to get better results from your musical training.

2. Communicate Musically

When you are in a group environment, you get to work with all types of people. You learn and develop important skills in teamwork, cooperation, listening and concentration. You learn to understand your individual part, yet know when to adjust and work toward a common goal.

By working in a group, you tap into vital human connection. You get to make new friends who can motivate and inspire you. The ability to effectively communicate with others is invaluable, whatever you do in life.

These benefits have a specific musical impact: you learn to play music with others, trading musical ideas and synchronising beautifully in a way that only practising music in a group can teach you. Whether you plan to perform with a group or not you will become a better musician by learning in a group.

3. Develop Confidence

Confidence is a challenge for all musicians, but especially those who try learning music in isolation. Learning music with others boosts your self-esteem. Sharing ideas and turning negative feedback into positive change helps build confidence. You learn that nobody is perfect, and we can all improve.
Even if you don’t aim to become a professional musician, the ability to perform in front of others is an important skill. With encouragement from your teacher and other musicians, you can be at your top performance level.

One example of a friendly and supporting group learning environment is Musical U where you can develop your musicality surrounded by people just like you who will help you improve faster and have more fun along the way.

Of course the first person you should consider including in your music learning is an expert instructor. If you’re ready to find the right music teacher and get personal advice on perfecting your musical skills, check out The ZOEN. A live, online music lesson from The ZOEN’s experienced music teachers is only a few clicks away!

Making music in a group is the beginning of an exciting journey towards achieving musical understanding and gaining great skills in life. Have you joined a music lesson with others before? Where do you go to get valuable group feedback? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Christopher Sutton is the founder of Easy Ear Training and Musical U, where musicians can discover and develop their natural musicality. Born and raised in London, England, he lives with his wife and far too many instruments.

10 Tips for a Successful Online Flute Lesson

Preparation is key to getting the most out of your online lessons. Here are 10 things to keep in mind when you’re scheduled to have a live, online flute lesson.

1. SOFTWARE: For ZOEN lessons, be sure you install Google Chrome as your web browser (download here).  The ZOEN videochat happens right in the browser and opens when you click on the link in your reminder email or from your dashboard.
2. SPEED: Check your internet speed at http://www.speedtest.net/.  Ideally, your download speed should be a minimum of 5 mbps. Upload speed is even more crucial and usually where people run into problems: shoot for a minimum of 1 mbps upload.  Also, keep your connection free of other devices during your lesson, especially download or upload activity and if possible, use a wired connection instead of wireless.  
3. COMPUTER: I find it sometimes helps to restart the computer a bit before the lesson – occasionally there’s some sort of glitch, and this can be very helpful for preventing problems.  Make sure no other webcam-related software is running.  
4. POSITION: I like to do flute lessons standing up, so position the computer/webcam to the proper height for standing so your teacher can clearly see you as if they were standing in the room with you. 
5. PREPARE MUSIC: Have your flute and sheet music set up and ready to go, with a music stand also set up near the computer at standing height.
6. HYDRATION: Have a glass of water handy! Flute playing can be thirsty work – and flute tone can be impacted by dry mouth.
7. BRUSH TEETH: Make sure there are no other food or drinks during the lesson. I recommend brushing teeth before your lesson to help ensure the longevity of your flute pads (in addition to cleaning the flute right after every lesson or practice).
8. HEADPHONES: It’s great if you have headphones to eliminate echo and get better sound/bandwidth than computer speakers – some students seem to do fine without – but I find them helpful. If a parent or other additional person is listening in, you can use a headphone jack splitter.
9. SHEET MUSIC: Let me know ahead of time about any music you’ll be using at the lesson. I own a great deal of flute music, and am regularly purchasing additional new music, and much that I do not own can be acquired through online download. In some cases, it’s permissible to scan your music in and email it to me as a PDF attachment. With online lessons, we will each need a copy of the music (unless it’s something we have memorized or that you’re learning by ear) – so communication on this is essential.
10. INSTRUMENT: It’s also a good idea to check with a repair technician to make sure your flute is in good repair. With online lessons I can’t simply pick up your flute and try it myself to ensure that it’s working properly – so do be sure you know who’s recommended in your area and have annual check-ups as well as someone to check in with when something seems to not be quite right.

Going through this checklist for the first few lessons until the routine is established will help us both to make the most of your lesson time, and set you up for the best possible progress! I look forward to meeting you online!

Lisa Carlson is in demand as a teacher and performer both in her hometown of Montpelier VT and live online. Schedule your live online flute lessons with Lisa Carlson on the ZOEN. 

From A Teacher: Why Webcam Lessons Are Better

I prefer teaching lessons via webcam as opposed to live, in-person lessons, especially for kids.

The reason for this is that, because the child's view is restricted to my hands, their concentration is at a much higher level. One explanation is the modern child's sense of comfort with a video screen of any kind, television, computer or phone. Today's kids are used to staring at a screen and having that screen receive their undivided attention.

With less visual distractions, the child learns more quickly and has better focus.

The child's perception is also limited to the sound of my voice, which results in additional absorption of the rather complex ideas of beginning piano and music theory.

You'll find that the child has a more intense learning experience when using the webcam, perhaps due to the natural limitations of the webcam experience: human instinct is to look at the screen and listen, and to focus nowhere else.

While the natural camaraderie of live lessons is always welcome, you will find that webcam lessons are more serious affairs, because there is really nowhere to which the child can escape, so they give in and throw themselves into learning what the hands and voice are showing them.

In live lessons, behavior is sometimes an issue, whereas in webcam lessons, kids are eager and focused and ready to learn, and there are never any behavior problems.

If you're looking for a great piano teaching device, whether you are a teacher or a student, I suggest lessons via webcam.

ZOEN teacher John Aschenbrenner teaches piano to all ages, and specializes in children and those with special needs.  

The ZOEN's Top 10 Blog Posts of 2013

The ZOEN covered a broad array of musical topics in 2013 and the following are our reader favorites:


35 Inspirational Quotes for Musicians
Whether you're learning to play a musical instrument for the first time or picking back up with music after a long hiatus, you may need a little extra encouragement from time to time. If you're looking for inspiration, this post is for you! 

15 Tips to Make Music Practice Time Count
There’s no point to practicing music simply for the sake of practicing music. For best results you’ve got to practice with purpose. The ZOEN polled a group of music teachers for their tips to do just that.

[How To] Practice Guitar When You're Short on Time
Practicing guitar doesn’t have to take all day. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. This post will help you make that guitar practice time work for you.

The Music Student's Guide to a Successful Summer
With the dramatic change in routine that summer affords, music students must make a conscious decision about how they use their time. Summer (or really, any break from school) can be the perfect time to gain proficiency or learn a new instrument altogether. This post will help you make that happen. 

Learn Music as an Adult: Tips for the Returning Student
Music is one of the few activities you can pursue all your life. Whether you are a beginner or a side-tracked pro, this post outlines some things to consider when getting back on the bandwagon.

5 Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Musical Life
Without consulting a single study about the benefits of playing a musical instrument, it’s easy to point to several reasons to pick up a musical habit. Self discipline and self confidence are clear benefits. Happiness and a sense of accomplishment also top the list. To explore less obvious benefits of music, read this post!

Resonance Fingerings: A Clarinetist's Best Friend
One of the most problematic aspects of clarinet playing is achieving an even, fluid timbre across the instrument’s range, through all dynamics and articulations. If you're struggling, alternate fingerings just might be a huge help!

Meet Your Match: This Musician Could Be Your Next Teacher
Our goal at The ZOEN is to match music students with the teacher who is a perfect fit for their needs and interests. With the wide variety of teachers we’ve attracted, we’re making great strides toward making that perfect fit possible. This post is an introduction to just a handful of those music teachers.

Music and the Brain: A Powerful Combination
We all know to “power up” the brain with exercise, good nutrition and sleep. But would you believe music can not only ‘feed’ the brain but can actually shape the brain? If you want a healthier brain, this post is for you.

How I Became A 'Real' Musician (After a Decade of Feeling Like a Fraud)
Our friend Christopher Sutton,  founder of Easy Ear Training, wrote this powerful guest post about his experience becoming a musician. If you've been playing for a long time and haven't really caught your stride, give this post a read.


Thanks for reading The ZOEN Blog and for an outstanding 2013! If there's any topics you'd like to see us address in 2014, leave us a comment in the section below. Interested in writing a guest post? Let us know - we'd love to hear from you.

Cheers,
The ZOEN 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The ZOEN

Wishing you all the best this holiday season with good times and good cheer to last through the New Year!


CAROL OF THE BELLS

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw cares away."
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev'rywhere
Filling the air

Oh how they pound,
Raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale,
Telling their tale,
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home

[Repeat from the beginning]

Ding, dong, ding, dong

The Beginner’s Guide to Learning Piano Online

Learning to play piano online takes time, effort, self-discipline, and some experimentation, but the rewards can be great. It is an increasingly popular and accessible method of self-study.

How much time you dedicate to the piano really depends on you. Your initial efforts will be spent finding the method of online instruction that is suitable for you. This is time well spent, however, as your research will familiarize you with the various formats of lessons, their cost and you will probably be learning about the piano along the way.

Online piano lesson fees will range dramatically. Allow introductory lessons to help you decide the perfect teacher and platform for you. Most introductory piano lessons are free and will give you a frame of reference for evaluating other online piano courses and instructors. Consider that the fees for a quality online music teacher are still substantially less than you would pay for private lessons.

Enjoy the learning process rather than focusing on end goals. Your practice sessions will make up most of the time you spend with the piano. This is true for all musicians for all of their playing lives. A musician has to love the practice room.

Learning to play the piano online also takes effort. Your progress and enjoyment of the instrument is reflected in the effort you put into your studies, in keeping focused on your lessons, and in searching out more information about your instrument. Consider building a regular weekly practice schedule. You will experience the most progress for your efforts if you can set aside four or five short practice sessions per week. One of those practice sessions can simply be listening to music, or trying something new.

Self-discipline is a major component of learning to play the piano regardless of your instructional method. You will need the discipline to study your lessons thoroughly, and staying with your weekly practice routine. You can monitor your progress by recording yourself working through your lesson material. Listen to your recording at least once a week to assess your progress and set a study plan for the upcoming week.

Learning to play piano online takes a little bit of experimentation as well. Every once in a while, try an online program, perhaps a free one. This practice can provide you with the opportunity to review some earlier technique, or perhaps gleam some insight into some musical idea you have not yet quite grasped.

Keep your practice time fresh by mixing up your routine. For example, you do not always have to start your practice with scales, but you could occasionally review a simple piece as a warm up. Try sight-reading music from different styles or genres. Just for the sheer experience of it, take five minutes to try to play a really challenging piece, then put it away and forget about it.

Make sure that you are enjoying your practice as well. This will keep you coming back to the instrument, and give you the encouragement for putting in a regular effort. You can take time away from the instrument and continue to develop musically by simply listening to recordings and going to concerts. As a player you will approach these two activities with fresh ears and from a completely different perspective.

Building a new skill like playing an instrument does takes a while. Allowing yourself that time, putting in regular effort, developing your self-discipline and having a little fun along the way while learning to play piano online will pay off in the long run. The rewards are really endless and can apply to many aspects of your leisure time. The process of studying music and an instrument will help you develop your appreciation for other musicians, the music itself, and art in general.

Andrea D. Vacchiano is a professional pianist and piano teacher of over 25 years. For more help with all aspects of learning the piano, head over to Andrea's website www.ThePianoExpert.com.

6 GREAT Reasons to Support Your Kid's Band

"Fitting in" can be awkward for kids. It's not always easy to find peers who share common interests - these are tricky waters to navigate for any young person. Some children find a sense of belonging through team sports. That same intense competition that pushes some children is a major turn off for others. So why not encourage your child or pre-teen to form a band? It’s a team building activity that is simultaneously fun, fosters creativity and creates a challenging learning environment. 

Here are some vital benefits for children participating in a group music environment:

1) A band will get your child out of his or her shell. While some rock stars crave the spotlight others are soft-spoken until they take the stage. Just think of the artist Prince! Kids that might otherwise struggle with talking with others can build confidence through this alternative form of communication. Sharing music with others will allow them to feel a deep bond with their band mates that will diminish feelings of isolation. The shared love of music will also cultivate hours of conversation, providing the children with established common ground. Plus, the confidence that comes along with learning a new skill is priceless. 

2) Bands teaches compromise. The ability to give-and-take is a skill that many children (and adults) are lacking and, as any musician can vouch for, learning to be flexible in your artistic vision can be extremely difficult. However, in a band this is a must, as it is multiple people who are coming together to create a single final product. This is a lesson and skill that will serve your kid for a lifetime.

3) Bands are a healthy way to process feelings. Being a kid is tough, regardless of who you are. It is imperative that kids have outlets for frustration and stress. 

4) Joining a band reinforces problem solving capabilities. A band blends artistic preferences and personalities. No doubt, this can cause clashes. However, learning to compromise is not the only challenge that faces a band. There’s the challenge of coordinating schedules, learning sheet music, deciding responsibilities and more. Learning to patiently sail through these problems will undoubtedly carry over into the later years when your child is learning to balance their schedule or struggling to tackle a math problem. 

5) Music strengthens communication skills. You’re probably aware that playing an instrument betters mathematical skills and memory. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that music strengthens language aptitudes and motor functions as well. Yes, this will help them out in the classroom, but it will also undeniably help them navigate social situations.

6) Bands provide further incentive to practice. There are times that your child will love tinkering on the keyboard or playing the drums. There will also be times they would rather stretch out in front of the TV. Nagging from a parent or instructor to practice will only go so far. The positive pressure to not let fellow band mates down will motivate your children to practice more than they would otherwise. 

Encourage your child to participate in music from an early age and, as they age, they’ll be practiced in healthy self-expression and the pursuit of meaningful friendships.  Let your child guide the decision of which instrument to pursue. You can view plenty of musical instruments for kids and adults at West Music and check The ZOEN to find an instructor to get your child started on a whole wide range of options, from the flue to the banjo. 

Playing an instrument and creating music with a band is something that can be enjoyed for a lifetime; there’s really no limit to what your child can learn.

Thanks to John Nicholson for submitting this guest post! If you've got a great idea for a post, we'd love to hear from you. Just email your idea to admin@zenph.com.

A Musical Method: The ZOEN Talks with Mark O'Connor (Part II)

In Part II of The ZOEN's interview with Grammy-winning violinist Mark O'Connor, we discuss Mark's own pedagogical method of music instruction and why O'Connor Method Certified teachers have joined The ZOEN:


ZOEN: In recent years you've been dedicated to creating "The O'Connor Method: A New American School of String Playing."  What are your founding ideas and principles for the Method? 

MOC:  "The O'Connor Method" for violin and string instruments as well as string orchestra is the first official offering in music pedagogy for "A New American School of String Playing." As surprising as that sounds, there has never been an official "American School" of string pedagogy, even though there is plenty of history of great string playing in the United States, Canada and in the Latin American countries.

The foundation for the Method embraces the great centuries-old classical violin training and opens it up into the 20th and 21st century. The young student will still learn the proper techniques in order to the play the instrument well i.e. bowing, fingering, intonation and tone. But the means to do so is greatly heightened by way of becoming a musician and an artist in the process and early on. Not just a technician. To accomplish this more holistic process, there is no better system to employ than what I am calling the "American Music System" of learning. It involves more self-reliance and less mimicking, more inspiration and less drill and repeat, more creativity and less memorization ear-training, and more relevance and less gray wigs from Europe, always having to the practice the museum pieces for year after year as beginners and intermediates.

My centerpieces include American music, creativity, improvisation, music from across four centuries including a lot of music from the 20th and 21st century, stylistic diversity, music with ethnic diversity. There is a large component of African American music in the Method as well as Hispanic, European and Native music, all central influences on all music heard today.

For the purposes of academically structuring the materials, I have established four foundational genres that provide the language of all American music played today and those styles appear in the early books along with other various American genres that can be considered offshoots in addition to some of my own pieces that could be described as "American Classical." They include the "Hoedown," "Spiritual," "Blues," and "Ragtime." This music gives us our language, the means to play most any kind of music in the world today. It is the real "mother tongue" that we are interested in for students because it makes us creatively adept, sophisticated, articulate and responsive to our surroundings. It is a launching pad for any musical endeavor or idea in the student's future.

Technique must be acquired, which is also the case in American music training. But so much more is gained in the process that has been consistently shut out for the last 50 years of early childhood violin lessons including creativity, improvisation, real ear-training, meaning the kinds that helps a musician such identifying chords, intervals, style, rhythmic patterns etc. Not the kind of academic theory about musical form and counterpoint, just to pass an academic test at school. Something that even most Julliard violin students can't apply to their music making. The reason why those conservatory students can't apply that kind of theory lesson they eventually do learn in school is because they can't compose musical scores! They didn't learn to be creative with their music. To borrow a title from one of the pieces in the Method "World Turned Upside Down," that is what we have had for much too long in strings and I want to make the correction. The American School can turn things around and fix it for our new and modern environment. 

ZOEN: Both the ZOEN and the O'Connor Method are passionate about changing the paradigm for music learning.  O'Connor Method Certified teachers will now be accessible to the world through The ZOEN, offering live lessons online via webcam.  What are your thoughts on this shared vision of a musical world where people learn to play the music they love? 

MOC: I am excited to say that we have some of the most talented, inspired and innovative teachers in early music education for violin today. The fact that they wanted to join me in this endeavor proves that they have been looking and searching for a better way to bring music to children. That gives you sense of their own process and discovery. We want the best, and we are attracting the best to the O'Connor Method. I think online lessons are amazing and I am glad that some of our teachers wish to take this new horizon on! To think that you could be inspired from a teacher and look forward to seeing them the following week through your screen at home is a tool that I want us to use.

ZOEN: Any further thoughts you'd like to share?

MOC: After all of our training sessions, I believe that the O'Connor teachers will know how to teach violin in the American System. 
Remember this; there is no middle school orchestra director nor high school orchestra director that will keep your child out of orchestra at school if you know how to read music and play have way decent. And the O'Connor Method teaches you to read music. 

But on the other hand, if you only know how to play in school orchestra and read music, but can't jam, improvise, play rhythms, fiddle some tunes, and have fun with your music, there is a whole world of possibilities with the violin the student will not get to partake in, maybe ever. We feel we have exactly the right combination for the pedagogy. Go to it! Have fun! Hold your bow naturally and comfortably! The violin should be natural for you to hold... And perhaps we will see you at one of my camps!

CHECK OUT Part I of The ZOEN's interview with Mark O'Connor and be sure to check out Mark's outstanding, information packed blog: Parting Shots from a Musician's Perspective.

[How To] Ease Neck Pain With The Right Saxophone Strap

“I’m getting headaches when I play for a while.”

“The back of my neck hurts all the time.”

“My upper back and shoulder blades hurt.” 

This is a sampling of the complaints that some saxophonists have expressed during their playing careers. These pains are not exclusive to beginners; some professionals I gig with have said the same things to me. In fact, I didn’t realize my own headaches were coming from my neck strap until my colleagues spoke about their own situation.

Many beginning students slump in their chairs because they can’t adjust their neck strap to bring the instrument higher. They end up ducking their chin to try to reach the mouthpiece, instead of bringing the mouthpiece to them. They also slump because it is less painful on the neck, especially if their strap has no padding. 

I have always known about the importance of having a padded neck strap; one that helps to take a lot of the weight of the instrument off the neck and right thumb. I have always used them and recommend them for my students. 

Posture

So why doesn’t the padded neck strap alleviate this problem?  The first thing to look at is posture. Are you seated or standing up straight with your shoulders back and relaxed, or are you hunched over? When your shoulders move forward, more stress is felt in the upper back and shoulder blades. More weight is felt on the back of the neck as a result. Your shoulders may be back, but are they down and relaxed?  Shoulders that are up towards your ears also put undue stress on the neck and upper back, as well as affecting breathing. 

Proper Posture (www.saxophone-guy.com)

The next area to examine is the quality of your neck strap. Many times, when a student rents a saxophone, a stock neck strap is placed in the case. This strap is basically just a strap; there’s no padding at all. This I feel is not sufficient for beginning saxophonists.

I always recommend the Neotech brand for beginners because of the added the padding. This strap is a very good choice for beginning alto sax players. This neck strap will work great for you if you are also mindful of your posture and shoulder position. 

There are other manufacturers who are starting to make quality padded straps. (BG, Oleg, Pro Tech) You can check your local music store, search the internet, or check out the Woodwind and Brasswind site.

Alternatives to the Neck Strap

For those of us playing the larger saxophones (tenor, baritone), the quality of the strap is crucial. But here is where alternatives may need to be explored. 

Some players, especially those on the baritone sax, use a harness instead of a neck strap. The idea behind the harness is that the weight of the instrument is distributed evenly across the shoulders and back. Some popular harnesses are made by Neotech and BG. These are great products, but one consideration is that these harnesses are not made to accommodate smaller people, often beginners with narrow shoulders.

A new harness system was produced by Van Doren, the famous reed manufacturer. The Vandoren V System Harness uses aerodynamic technology and ergo-dynamic design to distribute the weight in such a way that you barely feel the saxophone on you at all. This is a big deal for Bari sax players, where the instrument can feel heavier as you play for long periods of time. It’s also great for tenor and bari sax players in marching bands. For a smaller person like me, I think this system works great. I use it on tenor sax and  even alto if I am doubling on a gig. It fits perfectly and is very comfortable. You can find this on the Woodwind and Brasswind site by clicking on the link above.

Another new type of harness, the saXholder is made by Jazzlab. It is designed to distribute the weight across the shoulders, and it fits smaller players.  I have also used this, and it is very comfortable.  My only concern about this harness is that it if you lean forward too far (i.e. when picking up something you dropped), it will fall off your shoulders. This may be a good choice for more agile students and adults only for that reason

Other Concerns

I currently have a student who was recently diagnosed as having epilepsy. Any kind of pressure on the back of the neck could be an issue for her. A good quality harness that fits well is very important in this situation. The saXholder fits smaller people really well, and can be disassembled in one move, which for this medical condition may be crucial if the student has a seizure.  

Conclusion

As a teacher, it is important to be in tune with your students (no pun intended!) and check to make sure that they have the proper neck strap. If you observe their posture, and notice forward protruding shoulders, the chin being ducked to reach the mouthpiece (instead of bringing the mouthpiece to the student)  or slumping in the chair, check to see if the neck strap is padded and can adjust up or down. Listen to what the student is saying; they may outright state that it hurts to play the instrument. 

As a performer, be more aware of how you physically feel before and after you play.  Feel the back of your neck and see if there are knots (very tight muscle lumps). Notice if you experiencing headaches after you perform for extended amounts of time. Notice if your shoulder blades hurt more after you perform. 

Through careful observation, we can prevent that “pain in the neck” when we play our great instrument, the saxophone!

Donna Schwartz has been teaching Band and Jazz Band in public elementary and middle schools in New York for over 13 years, and has been teaching brass and saxophone students privately for over 26 years. She has a website at http://donnaschwartzmusic.com, where she offers weekly blogs on teaching music and videos for solutions to common performance problems.