Mar 3Cello Lesson: Finding the Right Bow with Mike BlockThe bow plays an enormous role in the quality of the tone one produces when playing the cello. At first glance, it might seem that every cello bow is relatively identical. However, in reality, all bows are drastically different, and each bow has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. In…Music3 min readMusic3 min read
Feb 24Beginner Banjo Lesson: Learn to Play “Blackberry Blossom” Using Barre Positions with Tony Trischka“Blackberry Blossom” is a tune that is synonymous with the bluegrass genre. Players of essentially every instrument within bluegrass learn to play this classic tune at some point while on their musical journey. A fiddle tune most commonly performed in the key of G Major, “Blackberry Blossom” is firmly within…Banjo3 min readBanjo3 min read
Feb 17Slide Guitar Lesson: Choosing a Slide with Keith WyattFor many of us, especially those who’ve been playing guitar for a while using more traditional flatpick or fingerstyle techniques, learning to play slide guitar can feel a bit daunting, even intimidating. We’ve all heard claims like, “you need a special guitar setup specifically to play slide,” or, “you can…Guitar3 min readGuitar3 min read
Feb 10Saxophone Lesson: Producing a Great Tone with Eric MarienthalThe techniques and elements that impact the quality and characteristics of the tone a musician creates are multifaceted on just about every instrument. …Saxophone3 min readSaxophone3 min read
Feb 3Fiddle Lesson: Learn to Play “Whiskey Before Breakfast” with Brittany HaasAs a bluegrass musician of any instrument, it’s important to have a handful of classic tunes under your belt as part of your repertoire and know how to play them. These tunes are often performed by aspiring players and professionals alike and are frequently requested at everything from jam sessions…Bluegrass3 min readBluegrass3 min read
Jan 27Rock Guitar Lesson: Bending & Vibrato with Paul GilbertOne of the innate characteristics of the human voice that we as listeners find to be so musical and pleasing is a singer’s ability to glide seamlessly from one note to the next, bending the pitch and sliding across micro-tonalities as they transition between a whole or half step. …Guitar3 min readGuitar3 min read
Jan 20Harmonica Lesson: Circular Breathing with Howard LevyOne of the beautiful qualities of wind instruments is that, much like singing, they are directly connected to the human breath. …Music3 min readMusic3 min read
Jan 13Banjo Lesson: An Introduction to Single String Playing with Noam PikelnyIn the context of more traditional bluegrass music, the most common style of banjo playing is the 3-finger technique pioneered by legendary banjoist, Earl Scruggs. When employing this technique, the banjo player will generally play slower-moving melody lines accompanied by rolling 16th-note arpeggios outlining the song’s harmonic movement and structure. …Music3 min readMusic3 min read
Jan 6Bluegrass Mandolin Lesson: Playing with Speed with Sierra HullClassic bluegrass repertoire is historically packed with fast, uptempo songs, often presented in the form of danceable fiddle tunes that feature a flurry of playful sixteenth-note melodies. As a result, students of bluegrass music often focus heavily on improving their playing speed and ability to play quickly while retaining accuracy…Bluegrass3 min readBluegrass3 min read
Dec 30, 2022Fiddle Lesson: The Concept of Tone with Brittany HaasWhen most fiddlers are first learning to play, their primary focus is on performing the proper notes of the tune, intonating those notes correctly, and producing a generally pleasing sound. …Violin3 min readViolin3 min read
