Part of the job of a parent is to sort out which activities best resonate with our children and to support focus in their interests. With the array of extracurriculars available for today’s youth, it can be hard for a parent to determine what activities or areas of study are worthwhile for their child to explore. Kids are unique, dynamic individuals and tend to have quickly changing interests. More commonly than not, they come across the idea to study music.
Read moreHow Long Should I Commit to Guitar Lessons?
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and commit to guitar lessons. Congratulations! It’s likely you’re asking yourself how long it will take you to become the next John Mayer (or Jack Johnson… there’s a genre for everyone).
Read moreOnline Music Lessons vs. Private Music Lessons
In an ideal world, we’d all have ample time to pursue our hobbies and passion projects freely, but for many of us, the fast pace of the internet age has made in-person commitments to learning new skills increasingly difficult.
Read moreA Decade Review: The Top Selling Music Albums (2010-2019)
In the spirit of the new decade, we mined the charts to revisit Billboard’s best of the best from 2010 to 2019. From Top 200 to Electronica, here’s what we found:
Read moreSilent Night
Christmas time is here! In honor of all that is calm and bright, we’ll be diving deep into the classic, “Silent Night”. In addition to an examination of the history and meaning of the song, I have arranged two original versions for both beginning and intermediate guitarists that will be available for download (plus a YouTube demonstration, linked below).
Read more2019: Salt Lake City Winter Venue Guide
Winter’s chill came early this year, but no amount of cold can stop the music. This month, we’ll outline venues and concert going opportunities to keep you busy in Salt Lake City’s great indoors!
Read moreAdolescent-Teen Years (pt.3)
Exposing children to a strong music education can be crucial for their earliest formative years (check our last two posts for a refresher on the impacts this can have on infancy through elementary school). The closer kids creep toward teenagedom, however, it can become increasingly easy to forget that they are still developing… and that their exposure to music is arguably at its peak of importance.
Read moreMusic and Kids (pt.2)
It’s officially back to school season! From new backpacks to back-to-school nights, parents and educators everywhere are dedicating significant amounts of time to ensuring our kids are starting the school year right. But how often do we spend considering what access they’re getting to arts… especially music?
Read moreMusic and Kids (pt.1)
Can you count how many songs you heard today? Since lunch? In the last hour? If you found this challenging, don’t beat yourself up…conscious of it or not, the average adult listens to about four hours and five minutes of music per day.
Read moreConcert Etiquette
Utah Summer Concert Guide 2019
From bustling parades to serene campgrounds, Utah is home to many beloved summer traditions… and live music is no exception. No matter what your taste, there are plenty opportunities to get outside and enjoy a performance! Here’s a collection of the state’s most celebrated and unique summer concert series and festivals.
Read moreBenefits of Learning Guitar as an Adult
Have you always wanted to play guitar, but reaching adulthood dashed your chance to learn? Good news… it’s never too late! Neuroscientists and seasoned musicians alike overwhelmingly agree: learning guitar is an achievable task at any age.
Read moreGetting Started with Guitar: Everything You Need to Know
While enjoyable, getting started with learning something new can feel like a daunting task. If you are serious about learning guitar or improving your current skill-set, it’s important to have all the materials and advice necessary to make the most of your process.
Read moreHorror Music: Uncovering the Sound of Fear
With its turning leaves and shorter, chillier days, October is the perfect month to stay inside and watch our favorite horror films. But have you ever wondered exactly what it is that makes scary movies so... scary? Music may play a larger role than you’d think.
Read more2018 Summer Music Guide: Salt Lake City, Utah
While Salt Lake is a smaller city, there’s no shortage of outdoor community events to check out during its summer months. This guide compiles some of the most popular festivals and series keeping Utah’s live outdoor music tradition alive, and will hopefully inspire you to get out and explore some fun and interesting events this summer!
Read moreAcoustic Guitar Body Styles
Acoustic Guitars Sizes - Dylan Baker Music
When shopping for an acoustic guitar, taking the time to understand the basics of body styles and what you’re looking for can make all the difference. The body shape of your guitar will determine playing comfort, certain sound characteristics and the volume level you’ll hear. In this post, we’ll dive in and explore the ins and outs of different acoustic guitar body styles.
Read moreLearning an Instrument: Process vs Perfection
Thanks to our current era of technology, we’re able to see thousands of videos of incredible musicians, both professional and amateur, at the tap of a search bar. It can be easy to compare your current skill set to a YouTube prodigy halfway around the world, or even in the same city as you. Inevitably, for most beginners that are studying music, the question that eventually arises is: “How long until I’m as good as that person?”
Read moreCeltic Music
From entrancing Irish laments to energetic jigs or reels, Celtic music is a range of experience for the ear. This post gives an overview of the origins and history of Celtic music, the instruments typically played, and how the music works theoretically. As a bonus, I have included a video and sheet music to an original Celtic song I composed, outlined at the bottom of the page.
Read moreChill Inducing Music, What Causes It?
Have you ever listened to a song you enjoy and suddenly felt a shiver of chills or goosebumps across your body? This type of response from any stimulus besides a cold temperature (commonly music, art or poetry) is called frisson (pronounced free-sawn). While not everyone experiences this phenomenon, there are scientific and physiological explanations as to how this happen, and who it happens to.
Read moreAcoustic Guitar Strings: Buyers Guide
Guitar strings are available in a wide variety, and knowing which type to buy can be confusing. Once one starts considering gauge size, material of the string, coatings, and different brands, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed!
The best way to buy strings is to educate yourself on some of the generic terms and figure out what type of music you mainly like to play on a specific guitar. Since using the wrong strings on your guitar may damage your instrument, knowing these things will give you a better idea of what type(s) you should purchase.
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