The Musical Muse
Blog dedicated to music education, practice tips, health & wellness, and geeking out.
My student M is back again with a website review of CMUSE’s History of Website page:
The name of the website is called Brief History of Music: An Introduction. The website is It is written by Dr. Justin Wildridge. He is a media composer and multi-instrumentalist based in the South-West of England where he works from his own studio.
Growing up, I didn’t like how we kept to ourselves at recitals and how there was little interaction between students. I yearned for music buddies and community, which I didn’t have until I attended university.
When I started to teach privately, establishing a friendly studio community was one of my priorities. Since most of us publish studio newsletters to connect with families, my focus here is on the activities I have instigated to build connections and foster a sense of community through the years. Colleagues, feel free to adapt these into your studio.
This month, my students and I are taking a musical trip to Malaysia. The music of Malaysia reflects a mix of cultural influences, from the Indonesian gamelan to Western music forms, and everything in between.
Around this time of year, things get really hectic. That final crunch before music festivals and exams means that my students and I are in performance mode for the rest of the year. Blogging, sadly, falls to the back burner.
But not forgotten! Here's last week's clip.
My students and I concluded our musical journey to India with some Bollywood fusion. Here's Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny) from the Oscar-winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire:
When I asked my students what makes this a fusion, some of them (accurately) cited instrumentation and rhythm.
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