Boo!

There will be no lessons or classes on Monday, October 31.

Only the Sing-Along will run as usual. Happy Trick-or-Treating, and be safe!

I don't know what to call it, but you'll like it

October 22, 2011Would you or your child like to learn:

• how to find the handful of notes that will sound good in the song you're playing no matter what?
• the three chords that you're most likely to find in any song?
• how to come up with a simple bass line in a moment?
• the simple trick that makes every ensemble instantly sound more polished and sophisticated?
• how to fake your way through a song you've never played before?
• how to balance the instruments of an ensemble so that each one can be heard clearly?
• a few clever ways to jump-start improvisation and experimentation without self-consciousness?
• the secret that makes practicing a joy instead of a chore?

Click to read more ...

Director Casey McCann is taking new students!

Casey McCann, founder/director of Eclectic Music, will be taking new students for November and December only. Find out more...

Our Fourth Annual Beatles Night - October 22, 2011

2009Beatles Night has taken place at the home of Michael Rachap (as of 2010, the home of Michael Rachap and Casey McCann) since 2008. Part party, part concert, it is a celebration not just of the Beatles music but of the students who play it. You'll see parents and kids playing together, teachers and students playing together, and musicians who have never met each other collaborating in the moment.

The party starts at 7 PM in Ansley Park. Audience members are welcome, as are musicians. There is no set program and no set end time. Wanna come? Although we can't accommodate every Beatles fan in Atlanta, we can probably accommodate you. Send your request to us via email and we'll give you the details.

If you can't make it this time, let's try for next October! You may want to subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to find out about the next one.

Great resources for strumming

If you're a beginning guitarist who can't seem to get the hang of strumming, here's a great resource for you: Rob Hampton's Strumming 101 tutorial. He covers all the details of good strumming, and also includes a list of 155 songs and their stumming patterns, with chord charts, too. Rob is a Seattle guitar teacher who really knows what he's doing. Have fun!

A little closer to home, I've posted The Secrets of Good Strumming on my new music instruction blog. This will give you some tips on figuring out the strumming pattern of a song on your own!

Enjoy, and let me know if you'd like to recommend a topic for an upcoming blog post.