Ok, so we as musicians aren’t really known for our attention span, having the cleanest rooms, or for that matter our organization skills. In fact, here’s a quote I live by- “Creativity is messy and I am very creative.”
 
That doesn’t mean you should strive to be the messiest person you know! Keeping your music organized can actually make you ten times more effective and efficient as a musician. No more spending 20 minutes looking for that one missing sheet of music! Let’s get organized so you can get rocking quicker!
 
1.Binders, binders, binders!
If you’ve taken one lesson here with us at Littleton School of Music, or 100 lessons with us,chances are you’ve been told to bring a binder. Because they work! Keep all your music in one easy to find binder or folder. Also be realistic! If your binder has 2,000 sheets of paper in it- maybe it’s time to let go of some of those sheets from 2 years ago. If you still need all 2,000 nuggets of information, don’t be afraid of having two binders.
 
2.Sections of Knowledge
Music can really be split into 2 easy sections- Songs and theory. Instead of looking through every page of your binder for that one song, keep all your songs in one section. Use dividers to help you find your subjects easier. My guitar binder has the following sections: Scales, exercises, chords, solos, songs.
 
3.ABC’s
In my career as a musician and teacher, I’ve learned well over 1,000 songs. Could you imagine trying to remember that many songs? I sure can’t! The best musicians I know have binders dedicated to only charts. Chances are you probably won’t remember how to play every song you’ve ever learned. But that doesn’t mean you can’t play them. The skill is still there- Just listen through the tune while reading the chart and it’ll come back to you. As your repertoire grows, keep charts of your favorite tunes and alphabetically organize them to easily find them later.
 
Yes we are creative people full of inspiration, but there’s always a method to madness. Don’t let disorganization get the best of you. All work and no play can be dull but I promise you a tiny bit of work keeping everything organized will give you more efficient practice time, band practices, and lets face it- it’ll take away the stress of tearing your room apart looking for one piece of paper. Reach out to  Littleton School of Music today and let us help get you on the right track to becoming a more organized, effective musician!

Parents, if you’re looking to buy your student a new guitar, or guitar pedal, or drum kit, or whatever you may be in the market for, we want to help you make the right decision! Looking into musical instruments can be overwhelming. And that’s just for me, as a musician! If you’re newer to music and don’t know a whole lot about instruments, it may seem impossible to find the right choice out of so many options. So today, I’m happy to share with you a few questions that can help you narrow down what to look for.
 
Should I buy a new instrument or a used instrument?
Parents Often ask “So my daughter is really interested in music but I’m not sure if she’ll stick with it. We want her to have a nice guitar, but we may not want to spend a whole lot on it if she’s not interested after a few months. What should we buy?”  If you’re new to music and not sure, used gear is great! You can find a decent quality guitar at a lower price if it’s used.  This way your student gets a quality instrument to warm up to and you don’t have to break the bank hoping they don’t get bored with music.
 
Now for more experienced musicians looking for an upgrade, new is a good option but not the only option. You might find great deals with used instruments or gear that are in great condition. Make sure you get what you want in an upgrade, but keep your options open.
 
What do the reviews say?
Reading reviews online is a bit subjective. Music gear connoisseurs might be picky and use a lot of their personal opinions. “I don’t like the sound” “the tone is terrible” “I was unimpressed”. You might come across a few “bad” reviews. What you really need to look for in a review should focus on durability. If 3 out of 5 reviewers say that “the guitar won’t stay in tune”, that’s a quality problem that you want to avoid.
 
Look through reviews that comment on the instrument/gears functionality (does it do everything it says it will?), and durability (will this item last a long time?).
 
Will you use it every day?
Your student may want seven tom drums for their kit, or a fancy new guitar pedal that makes their guitar sound like a rainbow- but is this gear necessary? A great way to tell if you should invest in more music equipment is to ask- “Will you use it everyday?”  A guitar tuner pedal- yes! You tune your guitar everyday. “Seven more tom drums?” if you’re not using all the pieces of your drum kit currently, You don’t need more.
 
Do your favorite artists use it?
Now here’s a goofy question. But it’s a good question for the musician who’s really starting to hone in their craft. We all have favorite artists. And most the time, we’re trying to sound a lot like them- stylistically, getting the same vibe, stuff like that. The best way to sound like them- is researching what they use!
 
Now you don’t have to go out and buy the exact same amp, or keyboard your favorite artists use. But if all your favorite guitar players use an Ibanez guitar, you might consider getting one for yourself
 
 
Your opinion
More than anything else, your opinion matters! Who cares what the reviews say, which famous person uses it, if your student likes the way it looks, sounds, and overall likes it- it’s a good choice! I’m not saying this is the only factor, but it is the most important one. When you want your kiddo to play it everyday, you want them to like it.
 
Buying new music instruments can be a bit like buying a new car- you want something that’s the right choice, but also one you’ll like. If you’re still shopping around, and could use some help, give us a call here at Littleton School of Music.
 
At Littleton School of Music, our number one priority is music lessons. We want to provide you with the best music lessons. So if that means helping you pick the right instrument for the job, we’re happy to help.

We’ve all heard the age-old question, “If a tree falls in the forest with no ears to hear it, does it make a sound?” You are a great musician but do you feel like your shows might resemble this tree? Don’t be discouraged! Your fan base is larger than you know. The reason they’re not at your show may just be that they didn’t know about it.
 
With Littleton School of Music’s Top Hits of the 80’s show right around the corner, I wanted to take this opportunity to not only help our students, but to help any musician that is trying to have the best gig possible. So here are some great tips to ensure your music doesn’t fall on deaf ears.
 
 
Start promoting from day one
It’s nearly impossible for your fans to drop everything they’re doing to go to your show. Promoting the day of will never work. Give your audience plenty of notice. Tell them about your show a month or more in advance so they can pen you into their schedule. Say something like “Hey! My band just booked a gig at The Toad Tavern in Littleton. The show is on September 30th. You should come check it out. It’s going to be so much fun and a lot of great music!”
 
Invite everybody
All too often I hear students say, “Well I didn’t want to invite them because they don’t listen to my type of music”. That’s not true! Invite everybody you know. Your show is about so much more than music. A live performance is exciting to anybody and you never know who will show up and enjoy watching you rock on stage.
 
Use social media
Your friends list on Facebook is probably longer than your contacts list in your phone. This is a great way to reach over 100 people instantly and tell them about your rocking event. Make an exciting post that gives all the details of your show.
 
Personal invites
Don’t just rely on the Internet to invite everybody. Take some time to personally invite people over the phone or with a personal message. Maybe your band is going to play one of their favorite songs. The only way they’ll know that is if you tell them and invite them!
 
Be excited
The cool thing about being in a band- is that you’re in a band! You’re excited to jump on stage and rock out. When promoting your show don’t hide that! Your genuine excitement about the show will show people how much fun they’ll have if they go.
 
A concert is like a party. Do you want your show to be a huge awesome party? Make it one! But to make that happen, you’ve got to have guests. Your show is only going to be more awesome as you invite more people. And if you want to stage dive, you better make sure you’ve brought enough fans to catch you. Don’t be a tree falling in the forest. Be loud and make sure everybody you know hears you!

Today we’re talking about rhythm! The one thing that universally pulls music together! Wow! Music is a culmination of so many great things working together- tone, pitch, emotion, creativity. But rhythm is the one piece that changes a bunch of sound, into an organized piece of music. So no more to wait- here we go.
 
What is rhythm?
Rhythm is the pulse of music. It’s a repeating pattern. When you’re listening to a song, and tapping your pencil along with it- that’s rhythm! Or driving around using your steering wheel as a drum- rhythm! Some people claim to have no rhythm- and that’s untrue. We all follow rhythm in our daily lives. Walking, one foot in front of the other is a steady, even rhythm. Even a person who’s not very musical knows the ABC’s and that pause after the letter G is a rhythmic pause. You just sang the ABC’s in your head didn’t you?
 
What is common time?
To help us get a grasp on rhythm, we’ll use what’s known as common time. Common time is when a song has 4 beats per measure, also known as 4/4 time. So with each rhythmic note, we’ll only count up to 4!
 
Whole note (1 2 3 4)
 
A whole note is names this because it lasts for a whole measure.  If we were to count out loud and clap our hands to the beat we’d only clap on one.
 
Half notes (1 2 3 4)
 
Half notes last half as long as whole notes. Instead of clapping only once per measure, we’d clap twice per measure. We’d clap on the 1 and the 3 of a measure.
 
Quarter notes (1 2 3 4)
 
Quarter notes are the most common pulse you’d feel in a song.  We count them and clap them at the same time 1-2-3-4. Easy enough right? Everybody can count to 4!
 
Eighth notes (1+2+3+4+)
 
You’ve probably seen the symbols for eighth notes before. Here’s our second level of counting! Eighth notes are worth half of a quarter note and counted/clapped by using the word “and” in between every number.
 
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and
 
Yes! We say “and” after 4 as well! “And” is symbolized by a tiny plus sign in between each number.
 
Sixteenth notes (1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a)
 
That is a mouthful! How do we say it?
 
1-E-and-AH 2-E-and-Ah 3-E-and-Ah 4-E-and-Ah
 
sixteenth notes are worth half of an eighth note, which means there are four of these for every one quarter note!
 
Ok, so this was just a quick introduction to rhythm. There is so much more to rhythm! But don’t let it be daunting or scare you. You’ve got rhythm in you! Every time you play your instrument you’re using rhythm even if you’re not thinking about it. Every time you sing along with a song or tap your foot to a song- you’re using rhythm already.
 
If you want to learn more about rhythm, and you’re in the Denver area, or Littleton area, call Littleton School of Music! We teach musicians of all ages and skill levels and we can help you learn rhythm, or even just help you learn your favorite song! Mention this blog to get $25 off your first month of lessons! Call us today at 303-972-7625, email us at info@littletommusiclessons.com, or learn more here on our website.

​Summer break will be coming to a sad end in just a few weeks for most of our students here at Littleton School of Music. And whether you’re excited to be back in school, or dreading it, one thing is for sure- those school days sure do get in the way of all that extra music time you had!
 
As a musician, you’ve grown so much during summer break and you want to keep on the same track. Let us help you keep your momentum as the school year begins.
 
Practice right after school
The beginning of the school year can be a little draining and leaving you… less than excited to jump to doing homework after being in class all day. Instead of starting up on your homework, play music! It’s important to practice everyday. If you’re practicing after school, it’ll be a refreshing break that keeps your mind focused and absorbing new, but fun info.
 
Don’t take weekends off
Sure, It’s nice to have a day off. But this is your prime time to sit behind your drumkit, or pick up a guitar and jam! Your goal is to practice at least 5 days a week. Saturday and Sunday are the easiest days to fit in a good practice. Take off a day that you have a lot of homework (maybe Thursday nights). That way you get all your schoolwork done during the week and the weekend is yours to be free and play music!
 
 
Take lessons
Make lessons a priority as your new schedule begins. By taking lessons you’re holding yourself accountable, and asking your music teacher to hold you accountable and reach new goals each week. As a music teacher, I know starting school can be a hectic challenge. Finding reasonable, doable, goals is the key to your success.
 
If your student has been learning on their own all summer and find that they may not have as much time to figure it out on their own, sign up for music lessons today! If you’re looking for music lessons in the Denver area, find out how Littleton School of Music can help you or your student keep your momentum in learning and having fun with music as school starts back up. Call us at 303-972-7625 or email us at info@littletonmusiclessons.com, or contact us here. 

Knowing how much we should practice is a question that’s always being asked by musicians of all ages and skills. And it’s a hard question to answer! There’s no magic number of minutes or hours that are required to know that shredding solo, or being able to play and sing that song at the same time.
If you’ve ever asked someone, “how’s your day going?” it’s likely you’ve heard a pretty generic answer- “Good thanks!” If you’ve ever asked “How much should I practice?” I bet you’ve heard the same nonspecific answers- “all the time.” “every minute you can” “every day”. Do those answers not sound daunting?! Luckily, we have an answer we think you’re going to like.
 
20-30 minutes
There’s your answer. Practice for 20-30 minutes. Why? Ok, so you’re only going to get better the more and more you practice. But practicing an hour or more a session- you’re going to lose focus, feel sore, and most importantly run out of productive things to practice!
Practice is not your time to goof around. Practice is improving on new ideas and techniques. 5 minutes of practice won’t do you very good, but if you focus and stay in the zone for 30 minutes improving that one or two skill sets I guarantee you’ll grow your playing. Play your favorite songs for fun later! But for the next 20-30 minutes, practice.
 
Don’t call it quits
It’s easy to lose focus. But don’t give up. This time is dedicated to your instrument and musical growth. Set a timer and don’t call it quits till the timer goes off. Start with a more manageable goal- like 20 minutes (out of your ENTIRE day!). You can do that!
Most importantly- if your timer goes off, you’re being productive and don’t want to stop… Don’t! I encourage you to practice more! The secret to practice is how long you can stay focused and work on things that are improving you.
 
How many days?
To be entirely clear, there’s no limit to how much you can or should practice. I for one know that I can only be productive for about 45 minutes at a given time. But I also have practiced multiple times in a day- one practice session in the morning, another practice session after dinner. In a week sometimes I practice 3 times, sometimes its 10 or more times.
“Sooo…. What about me?”, you’re probably still asking. 5 days. 5 separate days, and once a day at least! It’s important to take a day off from all the things you have to do. You still need to keep your chops up! If you practice more- awesome! You’re going to progress if you practice one day a week, just exponentially slower than if you practice 5 days a week.
 
I encourage you to practice and play all the time! Music never gets boring. I also understand it’s an endless road and we’ve got to rest once in a while.
 
As teachers at Littleton School of Music, it’s our job to help you learn, and also help you find the best practice routine for you. Our teachers love taking on the challenging questions like “how much should I practice?” So if you’re looking for music lessons in Colorado in the Denver area or Littleton area, give us a call, email, or contact us here. We teach guitar lessons, piano lessons, voice lessons, drum lessons, and more!
 
Keep playing, more importantly- keep practicing!

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER! YES! So much fun in the sun, no homework, no waking up early, and stay up as late as you can handle! Your summer vacation just started and you can’t wait to practice music every single day. But how can you make the best of your time and really improve as a musician? Don’t get caught in the usual plateau of playing that we all get caught in some times, climb up the never-ending mountain of music. Here are just 4 ways to improve your music skills over summer.

Take lessons

As a teacher, one thing I constantly hear throughout the year is, “I couldn’t practice. I had too much homework.” It is THE WORST! Because as much as I wish I could say forget about your homework, I know those 3 essays, and 2 math worksheets were pretty important for you to get good grades. But now, no more homework to stand in the way of practice.

Take this summer to really delve into your instrument! Hear me out- summer is about taking a break BUT if you’re really serious about music, and serious about improving, you can take this summer to learn. Not to mention, music is fun! If you’re currently taking lessons, try taking longer lessons! If you’re not taking lessons, what’s stopping you? Click here to sign up for the best music lessons in the Denver and Littleton area.

Learn a song a day

This is without a doubt a challenge. I am inviting you to give it your best effort. Maybe you only do this for one week, or one month, or maybe your entire summer vacation! Learn a new song everyday. The more music you play, the more you learn. Pick up on new styles and new techniques you like in songs.

I personally took a 100 day challenge and I picked songs from different bands, different genres, different difficulties (depending how busy I was that day). It was such a great experience and it forced me to be a better musician. Another great example is this dude on Youtube. He did this for an entire year! Check it out here!

Learn a new instrument

Always wanted to learn about bass or piano? Maybe even pick up the guitar for the first time? Learning a new instrument takes up a lot of time and you’ve got that in abundance now! Learning a new instrument opens up a whole new world of sound. It makes our brain think differently about rhythm, tone, and structure. All things that can help you write new music with your primary instrument and help you communicate in a band.

Join our summer camp!

If you’re looking to improve your skills over summer, this is the place to do it! A weeklong day camp packed full of music! You’ll learn new music, learn to work with new musicians your age, have the opportunity to work with new instruments, and play a concert at a real concert venue in Denver! This is such a fun and engaging way to become a better musician. As a member of a summer camp band, your band mates will help motivate you, push you to new limits.

If you want to learn more, click here! Or click here to sign up today!

Discover why our campers keep coming back every year!

You've all heard of summer camps that leave your kids and teens wanting more. Or how about camps that sound fun to parents, but aren't really to kids? Well it's time to try our camp. Kids love it and so do parents. In short, this summer camp will help you be the hero!

Let this be the year your kid or teen finally gets to play music in a way that is fun and engaging! Whether you are a returning camper, or trying our camp for the first time, try a week or two and see how much it gives you in return. Put our camp to the test as your kid or teen gets to experience:

• Being in a band! On the first day your son or daughter will be placed with other kids or teens their age. It will give them a whole new perspective on music! Students pick up vital communication and team-building skills from day one!
• Learn more about their favorite instruments! We help students avoid the pitfalls of thinking too much while improving their ability to play their favorite songs.
• Making new friends! Skills we can use for a lifetime are formed in our summer music camp. Students will fine-tune their ability to get along with others while also tapping into their personal growth and self-esteem in ways that are unmatched anywhere else!
• Staying sharp in the summer! As parents you want your kids to have new opportunities for keeping their brains sharp. Our camp will do just that as time-tested and proven methods of music instruction are mixed with brand new ways to shine on stage and in the studio. 

PLUS...

• Play on stage at the end of the week! That's right. A real concert at a real concert venue in Denver.
• Take private lessons! We offer one-on-one instruction in the camp. Or you can even sign up for pre-camp lessons!
• Go on a field trip! In the middle of the camp week, we'll take a break from the studio and have some fun in the sun with our staff and campers.
• Learn life skills. Our students go on to do some amazing things year after year using what they have learned.

Does this all sound too good to be true? Well it's not. But... 

space is limited! 

Attention Parents!

Here are the Top 3 Concerns you have for your child or teenager in the summer time.

Let’s face it, when your kids are out of school for the summer, there is a huge void of time that suddenly needs to be filled. Put more simply: kids need stuff to do. That may be fine and dandy. But that doesn’t mean that you (as parents) suddenly have the same amount of free time.  How do you keep your kid or teen involved in wholesome activities all of a sudden?

This is a constant question we hear our families face at our Littleton music school, year after year.

In this brief column, we will point out the Top 3 Concerns you may have as a parent. They represent the top feedback we have gotten over the last decade of research amongst the hundreds of families that have come through our school for Littleton music lessons and Denver music lessons. Read on and in upcoming exclusive articles on our site will share why putting your kid or teen in summer music lessons and our summer camp is guaranteed to address not one but ALL of these concerns.

How can we claim this? The parents of our students tell us so.

1.) You don’t want to just hire a babysitter.

You love your children.  You want them to enjoy their summer break.  That being said, you may need some hours of the day filled with high quality activity instead of them sitting on the couch or getting into mischief. Click here to learn more about our summer camp. It’s cool for parents and even cooler for kids and teenagers.

2) You want your kid’s mind to stay sharp.

Part of the reason you send your kids to school is to learn. Learning keeps their brains engaged as they mature into young adults. How many times in the summer have you felt that your kid could be doing something engaging for their brain that didn’t feel like homework? That is why many parents sign their kids up for private music lessons as well as the summer camp. Here is where you can learn more.

3) You want your child to have great influences.

Your lifestyle is the sum of your peers. When you are a kid you are highly influenced by those around you. As a parent, you understand this. You wish you could just “hand pick” friends sometimes, but that isn’t realistic or healthy. However, at our Denver summer camps, your kid is guaranteed to make new friends of similar interests in a safe, mentored environment. It’s a win-win for everyone!

This week I’m going to take a detour from some regular blog topics. Littleton School of Music has been gearing up for our 2017 Rock To Your Potential summer camp and I couldn’t be more excited! This is by far one of the coolest things we get to do all year!

So if you’re brand new to LSM, or you’ve been around for a while, you’ve probably heard us teachers say this summer camp can take you to the next level. And that’s true.  From beginners to experienced band musicians, summer camp is an experience unlike any other! On day one you’re fitted with a band of peers, and by day 6 you’re performing with them on stage. Let that sink in- in just 6 days, you’ve gone from no band…. To BEING ON STAGE! How cool is that!? So you’re sitting there thinking, “yeah I get it, but I’m already really good” or “I already have a band” maybe “but I can’t play a concert in under a week”. So how can summer camp take YOU the next level?

The beginner’s guide

Let’s talk about level zero. Ground level. If you’re a beginner, you have so much to gain! A full day of music- it’s just amazing! You won’t be the only beginner. You’ll be with other students who are just starting out and who encourage and help you learn. Our coaches teach the essential techniques to get you playing tunes right out of the gate and accurately. In my years of teaching at our summer camps, it’s usually these bands that make the most progress and play some of the coolest music! And if you’re brand new to music, we’ve got you covered. Join us for pre camp lessons! We’ll give you a head start in private, one-on-one lessons with teachers that will coach you in summer camp.

I’m already in a band… but I definitely want to be on stage more!

Maybe you’re already in a band at Band Dynamics. That is cool. You are cool. Keep doing that cool thing.  Here’s your chance to get more! Take another opportunity to jump on stage. The more experience you have, the easier it gets! Jump on stage every chance you get- like this chance! Are you the guitar player in your band but love playing drums? This is the week to do that! Try a different instrument and take the week to explore new musical ideas. Learn a bit of piano and bring it back to your band!

But I really like my band…

I totally understand- I love my band too. So join summer camp with them! You may not know, but summer camp is a completely different type of band! Your weekly practice is just 90 minutes a week. And you know better than anyone, just how short an hour and a half can be.  This can be an intense week for existing bands. Take a whole week off regular life to focus on just music, just the band, your goals, dreams, and aspirations! Build your setlist up! We’ve seen bands go from 3 songs, to having a setlist of 10 songs after camp.

Never been in a band?

Being in a band can be a lot of time and dedication. Maybe you’ve always wanted to be in a band! But you’re so busy with AP classes, and soccer, and the musical is always so fun! But it leaves you with no time to get together with your friends and jam. Here’s your chance! Just like any band, it will take time and dedication- but all jam packed into one week. No school to get in the way. No obligations. Just music!

Any way you slice it, it’s an entire week of music. And a whole week of music will only improve you as a musician. This summer camp can take you to the next level. Are you ready for that? Do you want to play more? If so, we’ve got details about our summer camp here, and you can sign up here today! We can't wait to jam with you this summer!

It’s that time of year again. And when I say “that time”, I mean the beginning part of the year. The part that is filled with hope and limitless possibilities for what may come in the next 365 days. When we reflect on what we’ve accomplished in the past year, but more importantly, what we want to accomplish in the coming year. If you’re like me, You’ve got a lot of music you want to accomplish this year and to help you accomplish your new years resolutions, here are some tips!

Don’t overshoot

New years resolutions tend to bring on big changes you want to happen in your world. Learning a new instrument, getting a band up and going, getting your solo artist career going. Whatever it is, you’re probably looking at the big picture and end result. Try looking at smaller pieces of your puzzle!

If your goal is to eat healthier, you start one day at a time. Same with any musical goals. Do you want to get a band together? Find a drummer first, then bassist. Want to start playing gigs? How many songs do you have? Start with one performance ready song, then add another. Set smaller goals to work towards your big, “in one year from now” goal.

Gauge your progress

If you want to pick up a new instrument,  this is really simple!  Learn one song, then another, and if by the end of this year you’ve built up a repertoire, then by god you’ve done it! 

It’s not always easy to gauge your progress, but you have to find your starting point first. If you want to write more original music, figure out how many tunes you have right now. Maybe you’ve only got 3 original songs and now you can track if you’ve accomplished your goal and written more than 3 songs!

You’re not alone

Believe me, you’re not the only person making a new years resolution. Talk to your family and friends. Letting people know what your resolution is will help hold you accountable. But don’t let that intimidate you. Ask them what their goals are. Even if you’re not sharing the same goals (most likely you aren’t) you can motivate each other to keep at it!

Keep at it

Don’t get discouraged, and don’t stop. You’ve made an agreement with yourself and nobody else. If you want to fulfill your new years resolution, you’re going to have to work on it each and every day! Until you’ve accomplished your goal, you need to keep your goal in mind every day. 

Don’t get discouraged. 

One of the most common, and worst made new years resolutions is the “I want to go to the gym 5 times a week”. This is a terrible resolution! You’re setting yourself up for failure. You cannot commit to plans 13 weeks from now- or at least 5 separate plans. And what happens that first week you don’t make the cut? You get discouraged!

Now this holds true from the gym. You probably are thinking of somebody right now who’s already given up on that resolution. Well this is the same for musicians that make the following resolutions:

• I’m going to practice every day
• I’m going to learn a new song every week
• I’m going to write a new song every week 
• We’re going to play 2 gigs each month

Now I’m not saying you can’t accomplish this. Kudos if you do! But! I’d like you to revise your resolution, if that is your resolution,  and add one caveat, one escape hatch. “I’m going to practice every day this year….That I can” If you miss a day of practice because you’re in bed with the flu- you didn’t fail your resolution. You just physically couldn’t do it! If you’ve practiced 28 days this month but go on vacation for 3 days and can’t bring a drum kit, well I’d say 28 days is pretty good! Don’t be discouraged by missing a day or two, or not having time to work towards your goal the week of finals. Celebrate the wins and get back to it!

Best of luck with all your new years resolutions, whether they be musical, or not. If they are musical, We can help! Mention this blog in the month of January, and you’ll get a special gift when you sign up for lessons! If your new years resolution is to be a better musician this year, pick up a new instrument, or just add more music to your life, call us!

 
Happy new year

So it’s the big gig day! You’re just moments away from taking the spotlight and the crowds revved up from the act before you. You’ve been rehearsing every waking moment.  You walk onto the stage, amps fired up, the venue music fades and the crowd quiets. Wait- were you supposed to introduce the band?? Or maybe your bass player was? Do you just jump into the tune?  You’re realizing this might have been something to consider before jumping on stage!

Ok, so that’s happened to me once or twice. My band was so focused on perfecting the music, that we forgot a crucial part of our stage presence- talking to the audience. Now you don’t have to have a script exactly but here are the top 5 things to say on stage that’ll give you a good road map.

What’s your band’s name?

Never forget to introduce your band. But don’t think you have to do it immediately. You might not capture the audience’s attention until after the first song or two because they want to hear your music first. Once you’ve got their attention, remind them who’s on stage rocking. And don't think your band logo will give it away. Sometimes that artistic expression isn't very informative. You have to be the one to tell your audience what your name is. Don’t leave your audience saying, “That band was cool! What was their name again?”

Who’s line is it anyways?

Your singer doesn’t need to be the only person getting the crowd excited. Maybe there’s a particular song your drummer really wants to introduce. Maybe your bass player isn’t in charge of “crowd control”. As an entire band it’s important to map out who’s going to say what, and when. If there's a Top 5 things to say on stage, make sure you know who's saying them.

Technical difficulties

So it’s always our hope that every show goes smoothly and nothing goes wrong. But one golden principle to bring to the stage is “prepare for the worst and hope for the best”. Time-consuming accidents happen such as breaking a string, switching instruments, picking up the fallen floor tom. You need to be on stage entertaining the crowd. This isn’t time for improvisation or jokes- you’re at a rock show! In these times you can always take a moment to introduce your band members, Thank the audience for being a great crowd or get them psyched for the next tune. Maybe your band has a short goofy story about rehearsing for this gig! Keep it short, and entertaining, and be ready for the show to go on.

Don’t forget your manners

It’s important to always thank the venue, sound guy, other bands, and don’t forget the audience! Ok so it may sound like a lot of people to thank but it’s not and it’s essential to being a good band. You can make this short and sweet all in one, or space out a few thank you’s throughout your set. But these are the people making it happen so don’t forget to let them know how much you appreciate it.

Encourage and inform

You’ve got the crowd rocking and dancing to your tunes. Now it’s time to encourage them to hang out with your band again! You could think of this as time to promote your band. I like to think of it this way. Encourage your fans to see you at your next gig, follow you on Facebook, or check out your new demo. They’re excited and want to know more about your awesome band so now’s when you want to let them know how to get more awesome music! Inform your new fans about all the awesome things you’re doing and how they could check you out again.

Get on stage, and get to sharing your awesome music! And keep a checklist of the top 5 things to say on stage at every one of your shows. If you want more professional band tips, check us out here at Littleton School of Music.

We’ve all heard the age-old question, “If a tree falls in the forest with no ears to hear it, does it make a sound?” You are a great musician but do you feel like your shows might resemble this tree? Don’t be discouraged! Your fan base is larger than you know. The reason they’re not at your show may just be that they didn’t know about it. Here are some top tips on promoting your next show to ensure your music doesn’t fall on deaf ears.

Start promoting from day one

It’s nearly impossible for your fans to drop everything they’re doing to go to your show. Promoting the day of will never work. Give your audience plenty of notice. Tell them about your show a month or more in advance so they can pen you into their schedule. Say something like “Hey! My band just booked a gig at Herman’s Hideaway in December! You should come check it out!”

Invite everybody

All too often I hear students say, “Well I didn’t want to invite them because they don’t listen to my type of music”. That’s not true! Invite everybody you know. Your show is about so much more than music. A live performance is exciting to anybody and you never know who will show up and enjoy watching you rock on stage.

Use social media

Your friends list on Facebook is probably longer than your contacts list in your phone. This is a great way to reach over 100 people instantly and tell them about your rocking event. Make an exciting post that gives all the details of your show.

Personal invites

Don’t just rely on the Internet to invite everybody. Take some time to personally invite people over the phone or with a personal message. Maybe your band is going to play one of their favorite songs. The only way they’ll know that is if you tell them and invite them!

Be excited

The cool thing about being in a band- is that you’re in a band! You’re excited to jump on stage and rock out. When promoting your show don’t hide that! Your genuine excitement about the show will show people how much fun they’ll have if they go.

Your show is only going to be more awesome as you invite more people. And if you want to stage dive, you better make sure you’ve brought enough fans to catch you. Don’t be a tree falling in the forest. Be loud and make sure everybody you know hears you!

-Dillon J.

We’ve once again reached that magical, spooky time of the year- All Hallow’s Eve! It may not be a huge secret, but this is my personal favorite holiday! Costumes, candy, scary movies, haunted houses, jack-o-lanterns. And what’s Halloween without candy corn or pumpkin spice lattes? Just kidding! If you’re looking for some festive music, look no further. Whether you’re trick or treating, or hanging out at a costume party, here are the top 5 halloween songs for any eerie engagements you may have this year.

5. Dead Man’s party- Oingo Boingo
I mean, It’s kind of in the title. It’s a party. Full of dead people. But it’s a really fun party! If you’re not dancing around to this tune you might be kind of dead.

​4. Halloween (theme song)- Buckethead (originally John Carpenter)
Originally scored by John Carpenter, this tune is truly an eerie song that might just give you goosebumps from hearing it. Did you know this theme has a time signature of 5/4? And who better to play this and make it more ghastly than Buckethead.

3. This is Halloween- Danny Elfman
Can we have official theme songs for holidays?

2. Thriller- Michael Jackson
If you went to a Halloween party, and this song wasn’t on the playlist, sorry to tell you- but you didn’t go to a Halloween party. You can’t have Halloween without Thriller!

1. Monster Mash- Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers
A crazed scientist, the Frankenstein monster (pronounced Frahnk-en-stEEn), vampires, ghouls, zombies, wolf-man, Dracula and his son, Igor, and more. There’s no party or bash greater than the monster mash.

Don’t fear! Here are some hideously horrible tunes that didn’t make this list in case you’re dying for more.

• The Time Warp- Richard O’Brien
• Werewolf of Westeria- John 5
• Any song by Rob Zombie
• Ghostbusters (theme song)- Ray Parker Jr.
• A Gorey Demise- Creature Feature
• Carousel- Melanie Martinez
• Dead!- My Chemical Romance
• Monsters- Matchbook Romance

I hope you have a frightfully fun time this year. Be safe ghouls and goblins.Happy Halloween!

-Dillon J.