Music Education

By now most of you know that one of the icons of pop music, Whitney Houston, died a few days ago in Beverly Hills, California. Needless to say, her family, friends, peers and fans all over the world are still shocked by her death. Whitney's rise to fame serves as an inspiration to many; and even though her life and career may have been marred by some controversies, there is no denying that she was one of the golden voices of our generation. Learn more about the late singer and read what she has to say about her tremendous love for singing.

This Day in Music History: Francesco Cavalli was born in Venice, Italy. He was one of the most influential Italian opera composers during the 17th century.

The one emotional experience that has the potential to give us so much joy and also great pain is love. One of life's greatest joys is falling in love and knowing that the love is reciprocated. But it can also be a source of much heartache, especially when the relationship ends. There is a theory that suggests that "a person will fall in love approximately seven times before marriage." (52 Fascinating Facts About Love - Random Facts). So for those of you who may have loved and lost, take solace in the knowledge that perhaps the right person is yet to come. Find comfort in the fact that even the most popular music personalities have had their share of heartbreaks, because hey, we all fall in love.

This Day in Music History 1942 - Carole King was born in Brooklyn, New York. She is the artist behind hits like "So Far Away" and "It's Too Late" and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.

Dr. Seuss said, "We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." Just like so many of us, countless composers have fallen in love, had their hearts broken and found love again. Others, like Caccini and Rossini, had to deal with the death of a loved one. For some, the object of their affection became a source of inspiration for their music.

This Day in Music History: 1994 - Witold Lutoslawski died in Warsaw. Among his famous works are "The Symphonic Variations," "Variations on a Theme of Paganini" and "Funeral Music" which he dedicated to the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók.

Aside from the month of February being known as the "love month," there are also other special days and holidays remembered on this month. One such occasion is known as "The Day the Music Died" on February 3; a day to commemorate the tragic plane crash that ended the lives of three great performers. The line "the day the music died" was taken from the lyrics of a 1960's song by singer-songwriter Don McLean.

How time flies! February is almost here and it's time again to take a look at notable music-related events that happened on this month. Composer Gian Carlo Menotti passed away on the first day of February; Nat King Cole died on February 15th due to lung cancer; Handel was born in Germany on the 23rd and Rossini was born in Italy on the 29th. Find out what happened when by checking out On This Day in February 1 to 15 and 16 to 29 respectively.

This Day in Music History: 1797 - Composer Franz Schubert was born in Vienna. He is referred to as the "master of song" of which he wrote more than 200.

Having the desire to achieve a certain goal is half the battle, we should also have persistence, patience, and most of all, discipline. The same goes when you are learning to play a musical instrument; it's not enough that you have the desire to learn, it's also important that you are consistent. Here is a handy checklist of things to keep in mind as a beginning musician if you want to master your chosen instrument.

This Day in Music History: 1968 - Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her hits include "Angel" and "I Will Remember You."

For instrumentalists, their chosen musical instrument serves as their partner in becoming better musicians. Hence, they make sure that their musical instrument is of good quality and always in top condition. It's very important to take care of your instrument; know how to clean it properly, where to store it, when to have it checked, etc. Here are some tips on Taking Care of Your Piano, Taking Care of Your Violin and Taking Care of Your Flute.

This Day in Music History: 1575 - Queen Elizabeth 1 granted Thomas Tallis and William Byrd the right to print music and music paper. Cantiones sacrae, a collection of 34 motets, became their first publication which came out that same year.

Musicians face various types of injuries depending on the instrument they play. For example, string instrumentalists are prone to injuries on the back, shoulders and neck; wind instrumentalists are prone to ear, nose, throat, mouth, lips, neck, shoulder and arm injuries; percussionists often complain of back, shoulder, neck, hand, wrist, fingers and arm pain and tension. Find out the potential injuries a musician may face and how to avoid them.

This Day in Music History: 1676 - Francesco Cavalli died in Venice, Italy. He was one of the most influential Italian opera composers during the 17th century.

Music Education in the News: Gaylord Hotels has partnered with VH1 Save The Music Foundation through the Rooms for Good program. According to their press release, "Gaylord Hotels will donate 10 percent of proceeds raised through a special package rate available at all four Gaylord Hotels properties throughout January and February to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation." For more info visit the Rooms for Good page.

For older beginners, here are tips and advice on how to make practice time a regular part of your daily routine. Find out what to do before, during and after practice; how to make your practice area more comfortable; why it's okay to have fun and reward yourself, plus other practical advice.

This Day in Music History: 1899 - Francis Poulenc was born in Paris, France. He was one of the important French composers after World War 1 and member of "Les Six." His "Les biches" was commissioned by Diaghilev, the producer of the Ballet Rouse, under the recommendations of Stravinsky.

Another new year, another set of resolutions or goals. Do you have a child who has expressed interest in learning how to play an instrument? Do you want to know how you can help your child achieve this goal? Here are some practical tips on how to make practice time more productive, enjoyable and a part of your child's daily routine.

This Day in Music History: 1868 - The Black Crook, a musical comedy by playwright Charles M. Barras, closed after running a total of 475 performances.