Rachel Hodis

Musician Series: Ludwig van Beethoven

Musician Series: Ludwig van Beethoven. New Blog Post! Photo shows these words along with a staff of notes and a painting of Ludwig van Beethoven.

In addition to our summer artist series, we are also starting a musician series where we’ll explore some of the most influential musicians of all time. This week, we’re sharing about Ludwig van Beethoven!

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Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer born in December 1770. He is known as one of the greatest composers of all time.

Beethoven came from a family of musicians, and was a gifted pianist and violist.

His early career was spent playing as a court musician in Bonn, a western German city. After nine years he moved to Vienna where he studied under the Austrian composer Joseph Haydn.

Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven, a German composer who wrote music in the Classical and Romantic eras

 

The first period of Beethoven’s composition was from 1794-1800 and is characterized by 18th-century technique and style.

The second period of his composition was between 1801 and 1814. His most famous works came from the second period, including Symphony No. 5 in C Minor (1808) and Symphony No. 6 in F Major (1808).

The third and final period was from 1814-1827 and featured a variety of musical harmonies and sounds.

 

 

Beethoven began to lose his hearing in 1795 and by 1819 he was completely deaf.

However, his hearing loss didn’t stop him from composing music. In fact, he wrote many of his most renowned pieces while partially or totally deaf.

It’s believed that he never heard a single note of Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, considered by many to be Beethoven’s greatest work.

 

Beethoven’s work was considered quite innovative. He was the first composer to combine vocal and instrumental music into a symphony. His impact and work elevated instrumental music to become highly regarded.

Beethoven died on March 26, 1827 in Vienna, Austria. Today, his compositions are still played by orchestras, and his work is widely recognized and influential.

Sources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ludwig-van-Beethoven

Learn How to Play Beethoven’s Hits

Schedule a private music lesson with one of our expert music teachers!

 

Our musician series continues with Louis Armstrong.

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Rachel Hodis
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Summer Activities Around LA

Summer Break Is Here!

We hope everyone made it through their final exams and are now enjoying their summer break! While summer is certainly a time for relaxing and recharging, you can also find fun activities to keep you entertained, active, and even learning during your months off from school!

1. Visit Local Museums

Museums are a great way to spend a couple of hours learning and exploring while staying cool inside. Plus, most museums offer a discount if you present a valid student ID, so you don’t have to pay full price.

2. Attend a Live Music Event

There’s no shortage of live music and entertainment in Los Angeles, but you can’t go wrong with an evening at the Hollywood Bowl or a performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. If you’re looking for more affordable or even free options, check out events hosted by your local Parks and Recreation Department, like the South Pasadena Concerts in the Park series.

3. Learn a New Language

Whatever age you are, learning a new language can be a fun, rewarding experience. Whether you’re learning basic conversational skills before a trip abroad or you want to become fluent in a second language, Hodis Learning & Music educators can help make you achieve your goals. Check out what languages we offer here!

4. Experience a Movie Night

Many cities have movie nights in the park throughout the summer months. Pack up blankets, chairs, and some snacks and watch a movie under the stars! Check out your city’s website to see what upcoming events they are hosting.

5. Learn a New Instrument

Feeling inspired after a night of great music at the Hollywood Bowl? Hodis Learning & Music has educators that teach a wide range of instruments including drums, piano, guitar, trumpet, bass, trombone, violin and more! Educators can teach any skill level, so don’t worry about past experience and instead get ready to jam out this summer!

Check out more of our summer activity ideas suggestions.

Make Your Summer Break Memorable With Hodis Learning & Music

Contact us to set up customized, private education programs this summer.

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Drew M. Hodis
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Preparing for Music School: Advice From Experts (Part 3)

Hodis Learning & Music brass instructor, Alex, shares insights on the music school admissions. Alex earned his B.M. in Trumpet Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

What goes into preparing for music school auditions and applications?

Preparing for music school auditions is a unique experience. Learning the music for the audition is not enough. The student needs to constantly work to improve their overall musical skills so that their baseline level of performance is higher, rather than simply being good at playing the pieces asked of them.

I think a lot of students get caught up in trying to learn the music they are asked to perform extremely thoroughly, but forget that most of their performance will depend on their overall level of musicianship rather than just the audition preparation.

How can you specifically help students prepare for music school auditions? Can you help with the application itself?

I can certainly help students applying to music schools, and could give advice on the application part. I can help students applying to music school by not only helping them break down each specific piece and tackling the challenges that come with them, but also by continually pushing them to improve their overall musicianship and craft.

What advice would you give those applying to music programs?

The best advice I can give students applying to music school is to understand that you will get out of it what you put into it. No school is going to guarantee success or failure with music, and most of your career will not be spent in music school. So, try to use the time there as an opportunity to learn and collaborate and soak up as much as you can because you will be using that information for a very long time.

I would also suggest not worrying too much about feeling that you are not good enough, or that others are better than you, but instead focus on what you think you need to improve on and create a long-term plan for getting there. It is much more important to trust the process and keep trying to be creative, rather than just trying to compete with others.

Are you planning on applying to music school? Schedule your first session with Alex today!

More about Alex:

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Rachel Hodis
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Educator Spotlight: Alex P.

New Blog post! Educator Spotlight on Hodis Learning & Music tuba, trombone, French horn, and trumpet teacher, Alex P.

What subject areas do you teach?

  • Music Lessons: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Voice
  • Academic Tutoring: Music Theory

What’s the most rewarding part of being a music teacher?

The most rewarding part of being an educator for me is watching a student make progress and seeing how it excites them to learn new things.

What are the most common areas you see your students struggling in? How do you help them in those areas?

The biggest struggle I see for students is simply a lack of motivation. Sometimes students aren’t interested from the beginning and with those students, it can be very challenging to get them interested. I like to help them explore their musical interests and other instruments to see if another area of music piques their interest.

What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching students?

I enjoy playing basketball outside of teaching, as well as making my own music.

What do you think makes Hodis Learning & Music a great service and company to work for?

I enjoy working for Hodis Learning & Music because of the culture of mutual respect and kindness.

More about Alex:

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Drew M. Hodis
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Preparing for Music School: Advice From Experts (Part 2)

Preparing for music school: advice from experts. Gain insights on applications and auditions. This part of our series gains insights from guitar teacher, Bruno B.

Hodis Learning & Music guitar instructor, Bruno, shares insights on the music school application and audition process. Bruno earned his B.M. from the Berklee College of Music in songwriting.

What goes into preparing for music school admissions?

The same that goes into becoming a professional musician. Making music an integral part of who you are. It has to be one of the most important aspects of your life, otherwise you’re probably not going to put in the amount of work that it takes not only to get into music school, but to make a living out of music.

It’s also important to become a well rounded and versatile musician. Being really good at your primary instrument isn’t enough. For example, students should also work on other areas of music such as aural skills, music theory, music production, and songwriting.

How can you specifically help students prepare for music school auditions? Can you help with the application itself?

I’m a graduate from Berklee College of Music. I can help not only with the preparation and application processes, but I also have many thoughts about good habits that will make your music school experience more rewarding, pitfalls to avoid, what to expect after you graduate, etc.

What advice would you give those applying to music school?

Understanding the school you are applying to is vital.

You want to research all of the facets of the school’s culture and educational environment such as who teaches there, what kind of musician usually goes there, and what their values are. The people, not the institution, will make or break your experience. Different colleges have different music scenes, and tend to favor certain styles, genres and even personalities.

Make sure the school you pick isn’t just great on paper, but is the best fit for you.


Are you planning on applying to music programs? Schedule your first session with Bruno today!

More about Bruno:

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Rachel Hodis
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Educator Spotlight: Bruno B.

New Blog post! Educator Spotlight on Hodis Learning & Music guitar teacher, Bruno B.

What subject areas do you teach?

  • Music Lessons: guitar, voice, piano, songwriting, and music production.
  • Academic Tutoring: music theory

What’s the most rewarding part of being a music/guitar teacher?

Teaching is learning twice. I get to make a living out of studying and exploring music along with my students. I love seeing their fresh perspective as they learn new musical concepts and use them in ways I wouldn’t have.


What are the most common areas you see your students struggling in? How do you help them in those areas?

Music theory seems to be a very common one. I believe that a lot of the standard approaches to theory are a bit disconnected from the music the student loves.

Music theory is a lot more than just harmony, but these terms are used interchangeably by teachers quite a bit. Music theory encompasses melody writing, lyric writing, sound design, story structure and more. Harmony is one of the ways to create tension and release in a piece of music, but it’s definitely not the only one, and hasn’t been amongst the most used ones in popular styles of music for decades.

You can’t expect a student to care about harmony if it doesn’t explain the music they love. A theory teacher must be able to identify the driving elements in the music the student is interested in, and explain how those create tension and release.

For the students who are, in fact, interested in studying harmony, It only makes sense to do so in conjunction with ear training. Analyzing chords on paper has little use if you can’t hear the effect it has in the music.

I strive to get my students to the level where they don’t just know music theory, they hear and understand it.


What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching students? 

I love composing, producing tracks for artists and playing live.


What do you think makes Hodis Learning & Music a great service and company to work for?

Hodis Learning & Music pays well, treats their teachers well, and cares about how much their students are evolving, rather than strictly focusing on retaining students at any cost.

More about Bruno:

Schedule a session with our expert guitar teacher today!

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Drew M. Hodis
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Preparing for Music School: Advice From Experts (Part 1)

Preparing for music school: advice from experts. Gain insights on applications and auditions. This part of our series gains insights from bass teacher, Tim F.

Hodis Learning & Music bass teacher, Tim, shares insights on the music school admissions process. Tim earned his B.M. from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and M.M. from USC Thornton School of Music, both in jazz bass studies.

What goes into preparing for the performance aspect of music school applications?

Preparing for music school applications can be a very involved process. In addition to sending in an application and supplemental essays, students will often have to send in a portfolio. This involves preparing a lot of material that usually requires applicants to record themselves playing solo pieces or in an ensemble. If the committee likes what they see, then students may be invited to visit the school for an in-person audition.

How can you specifically help students prepare for music school auditions? Can you help with the application itself?

I’ve gone through the process twice myself, so I have a good understanding of general requirements and application timelines. I can help the student record their portfolio as well as help them prepare mentally for the in-person audition.

What advice would you give those applying to their dream program? 

I recommend trying to get a lesson with the professor that students are hoping to study under. Students will be spending four years studying with this professor, so they should make sure that the instructor is a good fit personally and in terms of their teaching style. It can also be helpful to take a private tour with someone in the specific school in which students plan to study. I learned as much from my peers as I did my teachers. Try spending the night on campus. Students should make sure they feel like they could fit in and grow with the community of the school.

Get started early and stay organized. It’s important that you allot enough time to understand individual school requirements and prepare the requested material. There are a lot of students who apply each year, so leaving out required material will likely disqualify you. Sending your application and portfolio in time can also be a good way of leaving a good first impression.

Are you planning on applying to music school? Schedule your first session with Tim today!

More about Tim:

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Rachel Hodis
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Educator Spotlight: Tim F.

New Blog post! Educator Spotlight on Hodis Learning & Music music teacher, Tim F.

What subject areas do you teach?

  • Music Lessons: upright/electric bass, guitar, piano, and ukulele
  • Academic Tutoring: music theory
  • Career Preparation: music school audition and application preparation

Where did you receive your education?

  • Oberlin Conservatory of Music, B.M. in Jazz Bass Studies
  • USC Thornton School of Music, M.M. in Jazz Bass Studies

What’s the most rewarding part of being a music teacher?

For me the most rewarding part of being an educator is seeing students excel on their instruments and have fun while doing it. Usually students make the most progress when they are having fun and are inspired. I make it a point to facilitate this kind of environment when teaching.

What are the most common areas you see your students struggling in? How do you help them in those areas?

I see students struggle the most with rhythm. To help this, I encourage students to count and clap rhythms at the same time. Doing this away from the instrument can help solidify what the rhythms should sound like in their ears and mind. I also like to help by counting along or using a metronome at a slow pace while students play. This helps them play the easy and challenging parts of the piece at the same pace. Once students develop this foundation, they can start to play the whole piece without stopping.

What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching students? 

Outside of teaching I enjoy playing bass professionally in many different contexts. I also enjoy running. Last year I worked up to running a half marathon.

What do you think makes Hodis Learning & Music a great service and company to work for?

Hodis Learning & Music is a great company to work for because Drew is a kind and compassionate owner and he is continually improving upon the already great opportunities for students and educators. Being from South Pasadena, he also has a lot of professional and personal connections in the community.

More about Tim:

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Rachel Hodis
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What You Need to Know About Music School Auditions

What you need to know about music school auditions.

Music school auditions involve many steps and lots of preparation. Below you’ll find a general overview of the music school application and audition processes.

We also spoke to our music educators who attended music schools and are familiar with auditions, so keep an eye out for more blog posts where they’ll share their insights and personal experience!


What to Expect

Most music schools require you to complete and submit general school applications, which may include the common application. You’ll also submit a portfolio showcasing your areas of interest and artistic strengths. In your portfolio, you might also be asked to submit supplementary materials, like a personal statement, essays, transcripts, and a résumé.

Depending on the school and their application process, you might have to wait to pass a “pre-screen” where they review your portfolio and application before you are invited to audition. Other schools will have you schedule your audition when you submit your application, or shortly after. Some schools may also require an in-person interview.


The Music School Audition

Auditions may differ from school to school, so pay attention to specific repertoire requirements like:

  • Minimum performance length
  • Number of works that must be performed
  • If you must include different styles and what those are
  • The mode of the audition: in-person or virtual
  • Whether the audition requires an improvisation component
  • If you will be tested on sightreading
  • If you will be tested on music theory


Advice From Our Educators on Nailing Your Music School Audition

  • Becoming a well-rounded and versatile musician is key for gaining admission to music school
  • Make sure the school is a good fit for you, not just that it’s good on paper
  • Get started early and stay organized with your applications
  • Understand that you will get out of music school what you put into it

 

Hodis Learning and Music educators attended music schools such as USC Thornton School of Music, Berklee College of Music, and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Keep an eye out for upcoming blog posts where they’ll share their experience and advice for music school auditions! And if you’re interested in booking a session to prepare for your audition, you can do so here.

by
Rachel Hodis

Why You Should Take Music Lessons

Why you should take music lessons. Photo of student playing piano.

Music is an integral part of our business practice at HLM– after all, we are Hodis Learning & Music. If you think music lessons seem out of reach or unrelated to you, you might want to reconsider. Music lessons aren’t just for kids, they aren’t just for people who are already musically talented, and learning to play an instrument can provide lots of benefits that you might not think of. Read on to discover why you should take music lessons!


Music Lessons Offer Valuable Time Away from Your Screens

We all know that with virtual classes and work, we’re spending more time than ever looking at a computer, tablet or phone screen. It doesn’t help that our leisure time is often spent staring at those same screens to binge episodes of a show or scroll through social media. Learning a musical instrument gives our eyes and head a break from the screen staring.


They Challenge You to Learn in a New Way

Along those same lines, we spend so much of our time learning and gaining information passively through listening, watching, reading (often through a screen). Learning kinesthetically through touching, moving, strumming challenges our brain for the better.


They Can Be a Source of Confidence

Learning how to play an instrument or improving your skills on an instrument can be a tremendous source of confidence. Think about it: you’re committing to regularly practicing, challenging yourself, paying with your money and your time, to learn a new skill. When you look at where you are after a month, three months, or a year of practicing, you’ll be at a completely different level than when you started, which is an exciting and satisfying feeling! That feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment can carry into other areas of your life and help you feel more confident all around.


Music Can Be a Way to Connect Socially:

Even if it’s just through the one-on-one interaction you have with your music educator, music lessons can lead to great social opportunities. You might find yourself interested in discovering new genres, which might lead to new friends or attending new concerts. Maybe you join a music group or you just find friends who you can jam with at home. Music is sure to bring people together in a fun way!

Whatever your reason is for considering music lessons, we want you to have the best education possible. That’s why we have expert music teachers on staff who can teach students of all ages and skill levels! Seriously, check out our awesome guitar, bass, drum, and voice instructors and you’ll see the talent on our staff! And sign up for your first music lesson at Hodis Learning & Music here!

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