Music Blogs for Musicians, Music Students and Music Teachers

The number music-related blogs has exploded since 2008. When Dolphin Music published its list of the "Top Ten Music Related Blogs", music blogs did not make many top ten lists. In 2010, a Google search on "music blogs" yields over 250,000,000 results and nearly 100,000,000 results for "top music blog sites" and subdivided by genre, instrument and musician level.

The following is a compilation of some music related blogs in the blogsphere:

Music Teacher Blogs

There are countless more blogs written by musicians and music teachers which share everything from dealing with teacher burnout to tips on writing studio policies. Two blogs that share a wide mix of information and resources for music teachers are the Music Matters Blog and Layton Music – Games & Resources.

The Music Matters Blog was developed by Kansas-based piano teacher Natalie Wickham. She launched Music Matters in September 2005 and offers "creative, practical and up-to-date resources for the independent music teacher." Entry categories include: group class ideas, ideas for parents, music history, recital ideas, resource reviews, compositions and computer help, and on-line resources. Wickham even welcomes guest posts.

Layton Music – Games & Resources – Where Music Teachers Come to Play was developed by Arizona-based piano teacher D’Net Layton. Her blog includes reviews of music teaching resources, articles about composers, group lesson ideas, student incentive programs and games.

Helpful Blogs for Music Studentsand Their Parents

Many music blogs available are written by music teachers to help music students and their parents with their at-home practice routine. Common blog themes include: quality versus quantity practice, how parents can help their child practice and practice requirements. Two such blogs are Learn Theory of Music Blog and Music Noodle.

Learn Theory of Music Blog was developed by British musician Julian Partridge. To him, "Music education is an emotive subject and this country has seen it's fair share of neglect over the years." Some of his recent posts include: "What Is Stage Fright?", "The ABSOLUTE Beginners Music Dictionary" and "The Best Music Recording Programs". Partridge, a bassoonist for the Ulster Orchestra, launched his blog in 2007.

Music Noodle offers music practice advice to parents of young musicians. It offers a discussion forum where teachers and parents can discuss practicing, motivational challenges and how parents can set their children up for musical success. Some recent posts include "Create a Good Music Practice Environment", "Is Music Practice Supposed to Be Fun?", "No More Music Practice Disasters" and "Bagged! Are You a Pushy Music Parent?"

Useful Blogs for All Musicians: Performers, Students and Teachers

Another growing category are the musician blogs, where they can discuss industry challenges, career paths, practice strategies and more. Two helpful music blogs in this category are The Collaborative Piano Blog and The Practice Blog.

The Collaborative Piano Blog looks at the art of the piano in ensemble, various piano-related resources and events, classical music, music education, technology. Launched in 2005 by Ontario-based pianist, teacher and vocal coach. Some of his popular posts are "How to Get Work as a Freelance Collaborative Pianist", "31 Days to Better Practicing" and "15 Ways To Add 10-minute Practice Blocks To Your Routine."

Foley regularly posts news about upcoming performances, online resources and some humorous posts for stress relief.

The Practice Blog is an ongoing music practice resource for students, teachers, parents and performers. Some popular posts include: "Music Practice Books", "Digital Audio Recorder", "Zoom H4n Review", "Lesson Notes and Practice Targets" and "Essential music practice techniques for all instruments".

This list is just a sampling of music blogs available. There are countless more blogs, from jazz music blogs to classical music blogs and from guitar blogs to rock music blogs. The blogs listed above contain a wealth of information for all musicians, from resources and pedagogy tips for music teachers to practicing ideas and advice for music students and their parents. All musicians, regardless of playing level can learn something new from the music practice and performance-related blogs.

This article was originally published on Suite101.com on May 29, 2010. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra Plays Mingus and Peterson Concert Review

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra opened its 2010-11 season on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at Calgary's River Park Church. The concert featured big band jazz arrangements of music by Oscar Peterson and Charles Mingus.

An impromptu survey conducted by CJO director Johnny Summers at the beginning of the programme revealed that few people in the audience had heard of Charles Mingus. The group hoped that pairing Mingus with Peterson would attract more interest in Mingus' music.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra Performed The Music of Charles Mingus

The first half of the programme featured the jazz music of Charles Mingus. He was an American bassist, pianist, bandleader and composer who lived from 1922 – 1979. The set list reflected the stark contrasts and moodiness indicative of Mingus' musical style.

The band opened with "Boogie Stop Shuffle", from the Mingus Ah Um album released in 1959. It's a lively boogie that featured breathtaking solos. Each soloist seemed determined to outperform each other by playing faster, higher and funkier. Drummer Greg Baker drew out cries of astonishment and awe with his lightning fast solo.

Members of the jazz band exhibited a fight for virtuosic supremacy in "Haitian Fight Song" from the 1957 album The Clown. It began simply enough but quickly revealed an edgy, punchy groove as members clashed repeatedly for the duration of the number.

During "Moanin'", Sarah Matheson proved on her baritone sax that she can hold her own amidst this male-dominated jazz band. Her solos were fiery and gritty, which matched the angst of this piece from Mingus' 1959 album Blues & Roots.

Two slower pieces rounded out the first half of the concert programme. "My Jelly Roll Soul", an homage to Jelly Roll Morton and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", which is a tribute to Lester Young.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra Performed The Music of Oscar Peterson

The second set was dedicated to Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson (1925-2007). He is considered one of the greatest jazz pianists in the 20th and 21st centuries. The programme featured a premiere performance of Johnny Summers and Greg Baker's arrangement of Peterson's Canadiana Suite.

The eight pieces in Canadiana Suite represent various cities and regions throughout Canada, spanning east to west. In "Peterson, Oscar" in The Canadian Encyclopedia by Betty Nygaard King, Canadiana is Peterson's best-known work. The Canadiana Suite album was recorded in 1964.

Bob Erlendson opened "Ballad to the East" with a sensitive and lyrical jazz piano solo. Johnny Summers on trumpet, Rubim de Toledo on bass and Greg Baker on drums also performed solos.

"Place St. Henri" is a catchy number that captures the hustle and bustle of Montreal, where Peterson grew up. Dr. Jeremy Brown (saxophone) and Johnny Summers (trumpet) delivered rapid-fire solos that spanned the entire range of their respective instruments. Once again, Greg Baker matched their virtuosic velocity on drums.

"March Past", an upbeat number brought Canadiana to an end. This featured lightning fast solos on piano, bass, sax and trumpet. Other numbers in Canadiana Suite that were performed were "Laurentide Waltz", "Hogtown Blues", "Wheatland" and "Land of the Misty Giants".

At the end of the programme, Greg Baker called out the encore. "Can the drummer do that?" asked Johnny Summers. The audience shuffled back to hear a relaxing rendition of "Easy Does It" from the Oscar Peterson Trio's album Night Train.

The audience responded with cheers, applause and gasps of amazement throughout the concert. At the conclusion of the evening, the audience rose quickly to give the CJO a standing ovation.

About the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra is a sixteen-member jazz band that was founded in 2004. Gerry Hebert, Rich Harding, Dr. Jeremy Brown, Shane Statz and Sarah Matheson make up the saxophone section. Johnny Summers, Kim Beachum, Gordon Wilhelm and Al Muirhead play trumpet. Jim Scott, Carsten Rubeling, Mike Thomas and Dave Reid form the trombone section. The rhythm section is comprised of Bob Erlendson on piano, Rubim de Toledo on bass and Greg Baker on drums.

The band arrangements for this programme were by Johnny Summers and Greg Baker. The CJO is directed by Johnny Summers.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra got the 2010-11 season off to a rousing start with The Music of Charles Mingus and Oscar Peterson on Sunday, September 26, 2010. The performance was filled with rapid-fire solos and "crunchy" harmonies.

This concert review was originally published on Suite101.com . All rights are reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Piano Teacher's Resource Kit

I picked up the Piano Teacher's Resource Kit a few months ago. For years, I've been using  some of Alfred Music's reproducible sheets, but needed some new teaching materials. When my music students go away on vacation, I usually give them "airplane homework" to do while they are away. I am always on the look out for music crossword puzzles, word searches, music sudoku and composer reading and comprehension. The Piano Teacher's Resource Kit is handy for these situations (along for those who need remedial work in a particular area, such as rhythm).

It contains 88 pages of reproducible worksheets, cheat sheets and music games. There are five levels of difficulty.

For us music teachers, there is a handy answer key in the back. I love how the pages are perforated so we can take them out and photocopy them in batches. However, that creates another challenge - how to store theme without getting them mixed up, but that's a challenge for another day.

The Keynote Writer has been a handy cheat sheet for my students struggling with keyboard geography.

It's available at your local music store as well as Sheet Music Plus (below):

look inside

Piano Teacher's Resource Kit Reproducible Worksheets, Games, Puzzles, and More!. Educational Piano Library. Teacher Resource. Softcover. 88 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.296802).

and Amazon: Piano Teacher's Resource Kit.

Calgary Wind Symphony Presents Music of Mysteries, Legends & Ritual

Mystery, legends and rituals are on tap when the Calgary Wind Symphony  performs on Sunday March 3 at 2:30 PM. 

"Music of Mysteries, Legends and Ritual" will showcase the Canadian première of Concerto for Saxophone composed by Kenneth Fuchs. Featured soloists for this concert include Dr. Jeremy Brown (saxophone) and Terri Shouldice (flute). Wendy Freeman will take to the podium as the guest conductor. The programme will also feature La Fiesta Mexicanais and Poem by Charles Griffes.

The Calgary concert will be held at  Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall, Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary. Tickets are $15/adult and $/students & senior. You can buy concert tickets on the Calgary Wind Symphony's website and Eventbrite.

The Calgary Wind Symphony is a 60-member ensemble, directed by Dr. Jeremy Brown of the University of Calgary. Formerly known as the Calgary Concert Band, the ensemble has been active in Calgary’s musical community since 1947. The band went on a European tour in 2011, performing to enthusiastic audiences in Italy and Austria.

In the summer of 2012, the CCC changed its name to the “Calgary Wind Symphony”. The CWS operates under the Calgary Concert Band Society.

Earlier this season, the Calgary Wind Symphony presented "Hilarious Holidays". This was a highly entertaining and festive concert. Click here for my concert review.

Cleaning with Nature's Miracle Pet Stain & Odor Remover

Nature's Miracle

Anyone with a dog or a cat knows that accidents happen. Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Remover is one product that can help safely clean pet urine, pet feces and more.

If you have a pet, chances are, you've had to clean up an accident or two. Maestro doesn't get sick too often, but when he does, Nature's Miracle is a what I root through my cabinets for to clean up dog urine, feces or vomit.

A Look at the Products & Features of Nature's Miracle

Eight in One Pet Products claims that Nature's Miracle is a non-toxic spot and stain remover. The bottle also reads "non-flammable, non-acidic, safe on colours and on all water-safe surfaces."

The ingredient list is fairly short, comprising of only four easy-to-pronounce ingredients. There's water, nature's enzymes, isopropyl alcohol and natural citrus scent. Hmm, if there is anything "citrus" in the formula, then there's citric acid. At any rate, that's kid and pet friendly. "Nature's enzymes" sounds a little mysterious, but then, other products say variants on the same thing.

There's a light odor when you open the bottle. It's just the alcohol and the citrus scent.

Using Nature's Miracle

To remove odors and stains, first clean up the excess mess. One of my clients recommended using two table knives to scoop up pet vomit or feces, which works extremely well.

Then, soak the affected area thoroughly with undiluted solution. Let it sit for at least five minutes, then either wipe away the stain with a clean cloth or a brush.

Mainly, I use the brush to help the solution penetrate all the way to to the carpet pad and help remove the remaining mess. Generally, I place a paper towel on top of the stain to help absorb the excess and then allow the spot to air dry.

As with any stain remover, the tougher the stain, the longer the solution has to sit. Repeat the steps for really tough stains.

Pros and Cons of Nature's Miracle

A major benefit of Nature's Miracle is that it works on all organic stains. I've also used it to remove dirt, grass, food and blood stains (my cuts, not Maestro's). The manufacturers also claim that it works on grease, smoke and perspiration.

In my experience, this product successfully eliminates pet odors and stains on a variety of surfaces. I've used it to remove stains on carpets, upholstery and clothing.

As far as drawbacks or cons go, I have three. On some stains - the tough ones - the carpet feels a little crusty upon drying.

You do have to use quite a bit of solution when removing carpet stains. This can be pricey if you have to clean up messes often.

I wish retailers would regularly stock a wider selection of the sizes. However, that's not a product complaint but a retailer one.

There are other pet stain and odor removers out on the market. Four alternative products that are quite popular are: Woolite Pet Stain & Odor Remover, Pawsitively Clean by Bissels Eww Spring Morning Scented Dog Enzyme Stain & Odor Remover, Shout Pets Enzymatic Hard Surface Stain & Odor Remover Spray and Top Paw Linen Breeze Max Power Stain & Odor Remover.

Another non-toxic all-purpose cleaner is Norwex Carpet Stain Remover.One of music teacher colleagues told me, "We have two dogs and it does wonders."

Where to Buy Nature's Miracle

Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Remover is available on Amazon in a variety of sizes, from quart-sized to gallon-sized. It ranges in price from $5.65 to $21.30 USD. In Canada, it retails between $11 to $36 CAD. My 947 ml bottle cost me $11.99 at Pet Planet.

Most local pet stores carry Nature's Miracle, although they tend to carry the larger sizes. Pet Valu, Pet Planet, PetSmart and Wal-Mart are some of the stores in Canada that sell Nature's Miracle.

Nature's Miracle - The Verdict

I've used Nature's Miracle since Maestro was a puppy. He's now a middle-aged dog. I have tried other stain removers, however, since the scent is light and there are no complicated chemicals, Nature's Miracle doesn't irritate my respiratory system like other pet stain and odor removers do.

It works on everything that I've used it on. However, don't just take my word for it. Nature's Miracle consistently appears on Amazon Best Sellers Pet Supplies, having spent 475 days in the Top 100. It's currently sitting in the Top 25.