Ok, so when I saw this, I was basically like “Well that’s neat, Zoom came out with another portable digital recorder.”  Then I started reading the description, I realized that this was more than your average recorder.  Not only does it come with two incredible built-in compressor mics for recording, but it can record FOUR inputs SIMULTANEOUSLY!  It has built in phantom power, so it will allow to you plug two additional mics into it for live recording (think stereo mix).  You can also plug your guitar or bass into it direct and it has built in practice tools and amp / effects!  It also connects directly to your computer via USB for recording or transferring files.  I am totally going to buy one of these and hook it up to my laptop for some excellent on the road recording.  You should too!

Buy it today by clicking here and support ilearnmusic.com with your purchase!

This is absolutely the coolest digital/hybrid grand piano I’ve ever seen.  How many of you would want one of these?  I don’t have $20,000 sitting around, but if there are any anonymous millionaires out there who want to do a poor musician a favor, send me an e-mail.

YouTube – Yamaha AvantGrand Piano Gets A Little Too Real At Winter NAMM Show.

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Just more proof in case you really need any that music lessons improve overall quality of life and therefore where the rubber meets the road – test scores. The thing that intrigued me about this article is how they focused on teaching free lessons to those who qualified for free lunch.  Anyone else know of other organizations doing that?  

Giovanni Watson is a very energetic 5-year-old who meets no strangers and is strong enough to pick up an 8-year-old.

It didnt take me very long to learn all that.

 

But what I didnt know is what his mother fully appreciates: Giovanni is much calmer now because of the opportunity he has been afforded to learn to play the violin.

He has received free private lessons at Central Music Academy in downtown Lexington since he was 2 years old.

While not the only youth music program in Fayette County, CMA is the only one with the sole focus on teaching music to children who qualify for free or reduced lunch in school.

“We want to focus our energies on kids who are really in need,” said Josh E. Santana, CMA board chairman.

Read more via Lexington News – Kentucky News | Lexington Herald-Leader.

Here is a hilarious parody of music class with Carol Burnett and the Jackson 5. I found this randomly on Youtube and thought that many of you would enjoy it!

Here’s a useful website for yourself, or for your music classroom. Radiotime.com allows you to listen to radio stations nationwide free over the internet – so you can find any style of music at anytime and also many times talk radio shows being replayed at different times. Hear NPR from Boston, while you are teaching in Hawaii or so on and so forth. I found this site by accident, and found it to be quite useful. Click the logo below to check out this site – Enjoy!

Having trouble getting your administrator or school board to understand the value of music. For this Friday, here are some great quotes by important people about the value of music education:

Music Advocacy’s Top Ten Quotes

1. “During the Gulf War, the few opportunities I had for relaxation I always listened to music, and it brought me great peace of mind. I have shared my love of music with people throughout this world, while listening to the drums and special instruments of the Far East, Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Far North, and all of this started with the music appreciation course that I was taught in a third-grade elementary class in Princeton, New Jersey. What a tragedy it would be if we lived in a world where music was not taught to children.”
- General H. Norman Schwarzkopf — United States Army

2. “Music is exciting. It is thrilling to be sitting in a group of musicians playing (more or less) the same piece of music. You are part of a great, powerful, vibrant entity. And nothing beats the feeling you get when you’ve practiced a difficult section over and over and finally get it right. (yes, even on the wood block.) Music is important. It says things you heart can’t say any other way, and in a language everyone speaks. Music crosses borders, turns smiles into frowns, and vice versa. These observations are shared with a hope: that, when schools cut back on music classes, they really think about what they’re doing – and don’t take music for granted.”
- Dan Rather — CBS News

3. “In every successful business…there is one budget line that never gets cut. It’s called ‘Product Development’ – and it’s the key to any company’s future growth. Music education is critical to the product development of this nation’s most important resource – our children.”
- John Sykes — President, VH1

4. “The things I learned from my experience in music in school are discipline, perseverance, dependability, composure, courage and pride in results. . . Not a bad preparation for the workforce!”
- Gregory Anrig – President, Educational Testing Service

5. “Music is an essential part of everything we do. Like puppetry, music has an abstract quality which speaks to a worldwide audience in a wonderful way that nourishes the soul.”
- Jim Henson – television producer and puppeteer

6. “Should we not be putting all our emphasis on reading, writing and math? The ‘back-tobasics curricula,’ while it has merit, ignores the most urgent void in our present system – absence of self-discipline. The arts, inspiring – indeed requiring – self-discipline, may be more ‘basic’ to our nation survival than traditional credit courses. Presently, we are spending 29 times more on science than on the arts, and the result so far is worldwide intellectual embarrassment.”
- Paul Harvey – syndicated radio show host

7. “It’s [music education] terribly important, extremely important — because when you are a child, you are in a receptive age … In high schools, public schools — that’s where they must have the best influence, the first influence, which will go through their whole life.”
- Eugene Ormandy – conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra

8. “It is our job, as parents, educators, and friends, to see that our young people have the opportunity to attain the thorough education that will prepare them for the future. Much of that education takes place in the classroom. We must encourage our youngsters in such pursuits as music education. In addition to learning the valuable lesson that it takes hard work to achieve success, no matter what the arena, music education can provide students with a strong sense of determination, improved communication skills, and a host of other qualities essential for successful living.”
- Edward H. Rensi – President and Chief Operation Officer, U.S.A. McDonald’s Corporation

9. “A grounding in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter to also grow wiser.”
- Robert E. Allen – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Corporation

10. “Some people think music education is a privilege, but I think it’s essential to being human.”
- Jewel – singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist

J.W. Pepper = good company – I made a list of music to order for my students for next fall and found some great pieces at J.W. Pepper’s website. How many of you use Pepper and what are some of your favorite pieces? I have lately been into Gustav Holst for band and Rene Clausen for choral works. My wife and I watched this telling DVD about the evils of Walmart and I realized how they basically are modern practioners of slave-labor. I mean it’s nice to go to a Walmart and find anything you need, but how many of you realize that hundreds of thousands of Bangledeshi girls are working 80 hour weeks in terrible conditions so you don’t pay a few dollars more. Let’s have this things made in America, and bought in America – I’m willing to pay a few extra bucks – how about you? Check out these websites if this stirs a fire in you:

Sprawlbusters
Wake up Walmart!

I found a great list of summer music camps – at this website from the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras. Many of them only continue through 12th grade, however some of the big name festivals on here are also pre-professional and college level camps. One left off the list that you should also definately check out for yourself or students is the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine. I have worked at that one – and it is very competitive and a blast! Also, check out Banff and Tanglewood – not on this list either, but also great camps. Summer music camps are a great way to keep your student’s musical interests stimulated and really challenge them. I highly recommend it!