Hearing Protection – Musicians Listen Up!

We all agree certain things – like rock concerts, jack hammers and motorcycles – are loud and could damage our hearing, but we may not realize that listening to music or podcasts with our earbuds is causing any damage, but it’s very possible that repeated exposure to what we think isn’t very loud, is actually causing damage to our ears. The same is true when it comes to music lessons. Due to the negative connotation of “noise”, we don’t like to consider music as such; however, in the context of this article, that’s exactly what it is. This means that when…

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Our COVID Protocols and the Value of Mask Wearing

“Safety and security don’t just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.” – Nelson Mandela As we are all aware, our world is facing challenging times. COVID-19 has impacted our lives, and as a business, we must adapt and change! We are so grateful to our incredible staff, students and families, who have been so patient and understanding through this time. To this end, we have enacted a number of recommended protocols at Crescendo Music Studios, designed to…

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The Value of Technique

“Technique is the ability to translate your ideas into sound through your instrument.”– Bill Evans, Jazz Pianist  When students begin to learn an instrument, one of the most important elements a teacher will introduce is the value of proper technique. This will be different for each instrument; for example, a piano student will learn where and how to sit, how to hold their hands naturally, wrist posture, arm weighting, finger dexterity, etc — and all of these elements must be considered before we even play a single note! This provides new students with the most solid baseline possible, as they…

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Musicians Should Collaborate at Every Age

“We’re creatures of habit. We know what we know. With collaboration…and I’m not just talking about music, I’m talking about in life – if you’re a good listener and you have your ears open, and to be a good collaborator you have to be able to listen, you can learn something from somebody else.” – Dave Koz, American Jazz Saxophonist Think of your favourite song… we can almost guarantee that you are thinking of a song that was written, produced, performed, recorded, mastered, and released by a variety of people. That’s because music is a collaborative effort! Often people believe…

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Can Learning Music Change Your Brain?

It’s no secret that music has an effect on our brains. Whether you go to a symphony, or a live music show, or even just turn on your favourite song, it’s immediately obvious how music can affect our emotions and our engagement. Listening and experiencing music is a huge benefit to our brain development, especially in children. Music Lessons can have an even bigger impact! Studies have shown that music training can speed up growth in the areas of our brains that process language, sound, speech, and reading skills! Music has so many benefits that aren’t just reading and playing…

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