Tag Archive for: singing

What are music modes? And why should I use them?

What Are Music Modes? And Why Should I Learn Them?

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What Are Music Modes? And Why Should I Learn Them?

What are music modes? And why should I use them?

Music modes are a fundamental aspect of Western music, influencing the way musicians compose, perform, and discuss music. In essence, a mode is a scale, or a series of music notes arranged in a specific pattern, that gives a song a unique sound and character.

The Seven Music Modes

There are seven main modes in Western music: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian. Each mode is defined by a specific pattern of whole and half-steps, giving it a distinct sound and character. For example, the Ionian mode, also known as the Major scale, is based on a pattern of whole and half-steps that creates a bright and happy sound. On the other hand, the Aeolian mode, also known as the Natural Minor scale, has a sad and introspective sound.


Music Modes & Key Signatures

In terms of key signatures, modes are typically associated with either major or minor keys. For example, the Ionian mode is associated with major keys, while the Aeolian mode is associated with minor keys. However, it’s important to note that modes can be played in any key, allowing musicians to explore different soundscapes and emotions.


Why Understanding The Music Modes Matters

One of the most significant benefits of learning and understanding modes is that it expands your music vocabulary and gives you more options for composing and improvising. By incorporating different modes into your playing, you can create unique and compelling music that reflects your personal style and influences.


Getting Started

To get started with modes, it’s essential to practice playing them on an instrument or singing them. Start by playing the different modes ascending and descending, then try playing simple melodies using only the notes of each mode. You can also try playing chord progressions using different modes and experiment with different rhythms and dynamics. Consider hiring an expert music teacher to help you build your understanding of modes.


Summary

In conclusion, music modes are a rich and valuable aspect of Western music, offering musicians a wealth of opportunities for creative expression and exploration. Whether you’re a beginner just starting to learn about modes or an experienced musician looking to deepen your knowledge base, taking the time to learn and practice the different modes is an investment that will pay dividends in your music growth and development.


Learn Modes with an Expert Music Teacher

Studying with an expert music teacher in one-on-one lessons is one of the most efficient ways to learn music modes. Schedule a session today with one of our music teachers by calling or emailing us.

 

Music Mode Series

← The Locrian Mode (VII)  |  The Ionian Mode (I) →

The Benefits of Learning Music Theory

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The Benefits of Learning Music Theory

 

The benefits of learning music theory from a music teacher.

 

Learning music theory can be daunting and frustrating. But learning music theory expands nearly every facet of a musician’s abilities. Here are only 5 of many reasons learning music theory is so crucial:


Understand What You’re Playing

Students become literate musicians when they understand the ins and outs of music. Having a deep understanding of music theory allows musicians to analyze and break down pieces, which naturally leads to a greater appreciation of music.


Boost Music Performance

Understanding music theory allows musicians to recognize patterns and become fluent readers of music. Through this understanding of how music functions in structure and form, musicians can more easily access harmonic memory and reproduce large sections of music from memory.


Improve Improvisation Skills

Knowing how to play written notes is essential for a musician. Similarly, knowing how to improvise is a learned skill that theoretical knowledge and experience build on. Knowing musical forms, predicting chord progressions with your ear, and being aware of harmonic substitutions gives students a foundation on which to practice improvisation and create cohesive music.

 

Effectively Communicate with Other Musicians

Having a deep grasp of music theory allows musicians to speak, write, and read the language of music. Only if a musician understands and communicates music theory can they effectively collaborate with other musicians. Plus, understanding theory helps musicians put words to feelings and better understand an instrument and how to play it.

 

Boost Your Creativity

While some claim that music theory confines their ability to write creative music, the truth is that music theory provides the necessary tools to express creativity. Think of it this way: just as a creative writer needs a strong vocabulary, thorough understanding of grammar, and proper punctuation to write a coherent and creative story, a musician needs a comprehensive understanding of scales, chords, and harmonizations to write a creative masterpiece.

Consider beginning music lessons with one of our expert music teachers to strengthen your knowledge of music theory and improve your overall music abilities. Contact us for more information and to schedule your first session today.

Why You Should Learn a New Instrument in the New Year. Photo contains images of staff music and a guitar.

Why You Should Learn a New Instrument in the New Year

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Why You Should Learn an Instrument in the New Year

 

Why You Should Learn a New Instrument in the New Year. Photo contains images of staff music and a guitar.

 

It’s almost January 1, and we all know what that means: New Year’s Resolutions are here. With 2023 around the corner, the possibilities are endless. Consider learning a new instrument, and we’ll tell you why music lessons are a great resolution.


Bring Your Passion for Music to the Next Level

If you’re reading this article, then the chances are that you’re a music fan. Learning a new instrument gives you the opportunity to be a part of the music rather than just listening to the music. Whether you learn a Jimi Hendrix guitar solo, a Chopin piano classic, or an Adele vocal part, immersing yourself in the music is one of the greatest feelings.


Learn a New Lifelong Skill

Learning an instrument and the music theory behind it is an invaluable skill that will stick with you for the rest of your life. Once you’ve gotten the hang of the instrument and understand enough of the theory, you’re set to keep learning new pieces on your own for the rest of your life. You may even consider writing your own music! Whether you’re 6 or 60, 2023 is the perfect time to begin developing this new musical skill set.


Reap Cognitive and Emotional Benefits

Research shows that learning a new instrument builds connections in the brain, enhances memory, and strengthens executive skills. Playing an instrument is also meditative, where 100% of your focus is on the music. Research shows that music’s emphasis on the here-and-now provides stress relief and boosts emotional wellbeing.


Book Your Music Lessons for the New Year

Hodis Learning & Music’s expert music teachers have years of experience helping students learn new instruments and gain a deeper understanding of elemental music skills. Call us or email us today to get more information and schedule your first session.

4 Reasons You Should Give the Gift of Music Lessons This Holiday Season

4 Reasons You Should Give the Gift of Music Lessons This Holiday Season

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4 Reasons You Should Give the Gift of Music Lessons This Holiday Season

 

4 Reasons You Should Give the Gift of Music Lessons This Holiday Season

 

The holiday season is here, and parents are scrambling to find the right gifts for their children. If your child loves music, then music lessons are the perfect present. Music lessons will help your child build lifelong skills and lasting memories. Below are just four of many reasons you should give the gift of music lessons this holiday season.


1. Enhance Your Child’s Brain Development

Research shows that playing an instrument increases connectivity between different areas of the brain, resulting in better verbal memory, stronger reading ability, and stronger executive functioning skills. Adults who received music lessons as kids were even shown to have higher IQs, on average, compared to those who never played an instrument.


2. Engage in a New Hobby (That Isn’t Video Games)

Cultivating new hobbies is extremely important for your child’s development. With music lessons under their belt, your child will have access to choirs, bands, and even music-related clubs at school where they can meet and make new friends. And playing an instrument or singing requires your child to be unplugged from their video games!


3. Music Lessons & Playing an Instrument Are Fun

There’s something so uniquely exciting about playing your favorite song on the piano or being able to rock out with a friend. With the help of expert music lessons, your child is sure to experience the joy in music.


4. Promote Time-Management, Discipline, and Commitment with Music Lessons

Music lessons require students to practice outside of sessions, which demands a certain degree of time-management skills as well as discipline and commitment.

Learning how to sing or play an instrument with expert music teachers at Hodis Learning & Music will set your child up for a lifetime of jamming with friends, discipline and commitment, and better cognitive functioning. Call us at 626-227-1149 or submit a message on our website to get more information and start lessons today.

Get Your Child Excited About Music. Read now! Image shows young students playing musical instruments in a music class.

Get Your Child Excited About Music

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Get Your Child Excited About Music

 

Get Your Child Excited About Music. Read now! Image shows young students playing musical instruments in a music class.

 

Allow them to choose their instrument

It’s important for children to develop their own interests and discover their likes and dislikes. Also, your student might be more resistant to the idea of learning an instrument if they feel they are forced to play something that they don’t get a say in. We have expert music educators that can teach almost any instrument, so take a look and discuss options with your child.


Celebrate victories, big and small

Learning an instrument will take time, so make sure you’re encouraging your student throughout the process. Additionally, it won’t always be easy. There might be times when your student gets frustrated or discouraged. Encourage them to keep working hard and acknowledge the progress they have made. Consider tracking progress visually or reward your child after reaching a goal with a fun activity or treat.


Encourage and attend performances

Performances serve as an opportunity for students to set a goal, rehearse, and share their progress in front of peers, family, and teachers. It can also be a wonderful way for them to gain confidence because it can be quite intimidating to perform in front of other people. Your encouragement and presence at their performance will help them see how important it is and how exciting performances can be.


Listen to music with them that you know they like

Keep interest in music up outside of your student’s lessons and performances. Listen to music they like in the car and at home. Ask them questions about why they like this particular music or simply share that you enjoy aspects of it as well.

 

Book Private, 1-on-1 Music Lessons With Hodis Learning & Music!

Schedule private music lessons today by calling (626) 227-1149 or emailing us. Our expert music teachers studied their instrument at the university-level and have been teaching music to students of all ages for many years.

Learning an Instrument for Busy Adults: How to Reach Your Goals. Hodis Learning & Music.

Learning an Instrument for Busy Adults – How to Reach Your Goals

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Learning an Instrument for Busy Adults

 

Learning an Instrument for Busy Adults: How to Reach Your Goals. Hodis Learning & Music.

 

Let’s face it – it’s 2022 and we are all very busy. Learning a new instrument is challenging amid our chaotic schedules. But it isn’t impossible! If you are serious about learning a new instrument and you are willing to budget some time for learning, then it’s just a matter of managing time and expectations. Follow the tips below to make your music education rewarding and fruitful.


(1) Be Realistic and Manage Expectations

How much time and energy will you have to practice? If you’re serious about learning a new instrument, you will need to practice. I usually recommend that busy students budget three 30-minute blocks of time each week to practice. Don’t have that much time to dedicate to practicing? Then you will need to manage your expectations on your progress as the process will be slow.


(2) Dedicate a Space for Practicing

If you dedicate a space for your practice, then you won’t have to fuss with setting up your instrument each time you practice. Make it a distraction-free space in your home. If your instrument is smaller, like a guitar or ukulele, and you have a personal office at work, consider keeping your instrument in your office so that you can practice during your breaks. If you practice during two 15-minute breaks in one day, then you’ve already completed 30 out of 90 minutes for the week! If your instrument is loud like a trumpet, consider investing in a practice mute.


(3) Set Defined Goals

What is it that you want to accomplish with learning a new instrument? If you know what your goals are, it will be easier to manage your expectations. Do you just want to learn a simple 4-chord song? Do you want to learn how to write songs? No matter where you begin, you’re going to start in the same place as everyone else- at the very beginning. Once you’ve learned the basics of your instrument however, your goals will drastically change where you go from there.


(4) Block Out Times in Your Calendar

It isn’t enough to say that you will practice three times a week for 30 minutes at a time. Build the practice into your schedule and you will be more likely to achieve this goal.


(5) Hold Yourself Accountable

In the end, your progress depends solely on your discipline and motivation. Build that muscle of accountability to ensure that you’re making strides to reach your goals. This might require sacrifices, but remember your reasons for wanting to learn an instrument in the first place.


(6) Don’t Beat Yourself Up When You Don’t Practice

You’re a busy adult! There will be times when you just don’t have time to practice. Give yourself some grace when life gets in the way.


(7) Make Sure You’re Having Fun

If you’re not having fun, then you’re not going to get the most out of your learning experience. Ask yourself what is getting in the way of enjoying your practice and change the situation if you can.


(8) Celebrate Your Progress

It can be so easy to get caught up in what you haven’t accomplished in your practice. Try to stay focused on what you have accomplished and celebrate your little victories!


(9) Learn Alongside Your Child

Learning with your child can be a fun way to explore a new area together and keep each other accountable. Plus, learning an instrument is a great way to promote your child’s development. 


(10) Learn from an Expert, Patient Music Teacher

Hodis Learning & Music offers expert music education from experienced and patient educators. On top of teaching students the knowledge necessary to reach their goals, our music teachers can also help students manage expectations and create practice schedules that work in their busy lives. Having an excellent teacher can truly make all the difference. Schedule your first session or get more information with a simple phone call or email!

Non-Musical Benefits to Learning a New Instrument

Non-Musical Benefits to Learning a New Instrument

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Non-Musical Benefits to Learning a New Instrument

Non-Musical Benefits to Learning a New Instrument

If you’re wondering whether learning a new instrument is the right hobby for your child (or even for yourself), there’s a lot to consider. What are the benefits of their chosen instrument? What style of music will they learn? What musical concepts will they be studying? These are all great questions that I hear often from new music students.

However, music lessons offer so much more than a strict music education. And oftentimes, having the right music teacher makes all the difference. Students can gain invaluable life skills from learning a new instrument, some of which are covered in the following list:


Connecting Both Sides of the Brain

Research shows that learning a new instrument that involves both hands (or even three or four limbs) creates connections between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. These connections allow both sides of the brain to communicate. This increased communication affords students greater motor coordination and increased ability to focus. It also helps students learn new languages and even read more easily. Essentially, learning a new instrument expands a student’s brain power.


Perseverance and Patience

At some point in their musical education, every student will inevitably struggle with a concept, piece, or technique. Students can use these experiences to build resilience in challenging situations. The same experiences can also help students cultivate a greater capacity for patience.


Managing Disappointment and Failure

As with any learning experience, learning a new instrument offers ample opportunities for disappointment and failure. Some students naturally practice and study harder to overcome their failure, while others learn this skill from their teacher. With motivation and encouragement from a trustworthy music teacher, students also learn to reframe their failures as learning opportunities.


Commitment

Sometimes students come home from school feeling too tired to attend their lesson. Learning the skill of showing up to obligations and thereby demonstrating their commitment is invaluable. (Just make sure your student demonstrates self-care by resting after their session.)


Working with Others

Learning an instrument teaches students how to work with others. If your student joins a choir or ensemble, then they will have opportunities to learn how to work with peers, as well.


Set and Accomplish Goals

With guidance from an expert music teacher, students will learn to make actionable and attainable goals in their studies. Accomplishing their goals reinforces their goal-setting skills.


Humility

Students quickly learn that mastering an instrument does not happen overnight. In fact, mastering an instrument takes many years of intense practice. The journey of learning an instrument is a humbling experience.


Lifelong Friendships

Throughout a student’s time learning a new instrument, they are bound to make friendships through music. Whether they make new friends in band, choir, or music class, some of these friends may stick around for life.

Choosing the right music teacher is crucial to a student’s education. Hodis Learning & Music employs expert music educators who are experienced in helping students break down complex concepts and skills so that they may grow in their musical abilities. Our music teachers are also skilled motivators who encourage their students to improve musically and non-musically. Check out our music teachers and their offered instruments here.

Educator spotlight: music teacher, voice and piano teacher, Aidan M.

Educator Spotlight: Aidan M.

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Educator Spotlight: Aidan M.

Educator spotlight: music teacher, voice and piano teacher, Aidan M.

What Subject Areas Do You Teach?

  • Music Lessons: Voice, Piano
  • Academic Tutoring: Beginning Italian, Algebra

 
Where did you receive your education?

  • University of Southern California, B.M. in Classical Voice/Opera
  • Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, concentration in Classical Voice/Opera

What’s the most rewarding part of being an educator?

Teaching allows me to share my love for music with others. Singing is often portrayed as a skill that you are born with, when in reality everyone can be taught.

It’s part of human nature to bring our voices together in song, and there isn’t a single culture around the world that doesn’t sing. 

Unfortunately, many people are told either implicitly or explicitly that “they don’t have it.” My mission as a teacher is to break that misconception and welcome as many people into music as I possibly can.


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

Students tend to judge their voice by how they hear themselves, but the voice we hear when we talk or sing is not what it sounds like to others. Over time, the best singers learn to hone in on the bodily sensation of singing. 

But, focusing on small adjustments, like in the tongue or jaw, and excess tension in the body is hard and requires practice and hard work. 

Sometimes the work gets ugly and you crack or run out of air or go flat, but these things are part of learning your own voice and acquainting yourself with those minute bodily stimuli.

I try to give my students this advice: be confident in your sound; be confident in your artistry; in time, singing will be as effortless as breathing.


What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching students?

When I’m not teaching, I’m practicing or studying music for my next performance. I’m also an avid rock-climber and I love it more than any form of exercise.


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

The founder, Drew Hodis, always struck me as an eminently kind person, and I have come to know that he attracts some of the most positive and understanding people. It’s flattering to be included in that group. 

Naturally, HLM has high standards for educators not just in their technical skill, but in their pedagogical approach. Being a student is hard. Our founder understands how vulnerable it can be, and that students who feel safe are in the best position to grow themselves. 

I’m passionate about that, and as a student myself I know how a teacher’s approach can mean the difference between a life long love for the art and long lasting self-esteem issues. 

I’m proud that HLM understands and trusts me with that responsibility, and HLM’s approach to teaching will spread love and excitement for learning far and wide.

Read more about Aidan.

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

Why You Should Take Music Lessons

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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!