Jam Session!

Here I find myself in a familiar situation. Writing out chord charts for our upcoming Jam Session on Friday, February 7th! I always forget that it can be a lot of work to get everyone prepared (including instructors) for something that takes focused coordination. If you're unfamiliar with what I am talking about, we at Matt Burk Music Studio have many performance opportunities for our students. Jam Sessions are a relaxed way to develop what I call "ensemble awareness". It is the idea that it is helpful to play in a group for many reasons. A player must listen when performing with others to keep "in the song". A performer can truly experience the fluctuations that can occur in a group as well. Also, it helps our students meet each other and develop a music community within the studio! While I like to complain about the difficulties of making chord charts (the revisions alone can take days to catch!), truthfully, I enjoy it. I like seeing the students start the songs and hearing what they sound like on the night of the performance. I know they work hard all year but these are my times to literally see the progress! I often end up playing in the groups as a bass player; we have a couple but there's always a bass-shaped hole to fill.  I am impressed by their musicality. I think that everyone, even those with no wish to perform in front of a crowd, should witness the performance at least once to see how Matt Burk Music Studio helps students reach their musical goals!

If you or someone you know is interested in private music lessons custom-tailored to their interests, please check out the rest of our site or stop by one of our convenient North Texas locations in Allen and Frisco! Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Set Your Tempo!

The dreaded click. My students love when I turn it on. That was sarcasm, if you were unsure. It seems like no one "enjoys" practicing with a metronome. Still, I do like to press the use of it during at-home practice because it helps eliminate rhythmic hiccups and ingrains a more strict sense or "feel" of rhythms when it is not present. So how do you incorporate the metronome into your daily practice?  Turn it on! I know it seems silly, but many of my students simply forget to turn the metronome on when practicing, even when it is sitting right next to their practice area. Some students have expressed a "fear" or dislike of using the metronome because it doesn't seem to help right away. Not being perfectly on with the click can be frustrating for perfectionists but we must remember:  it will take some time getting used to playing alongside a metronome. The more that we use it, the easier it becomes to stay on point.

So now that you're using the metronome whenever you practice, let us talk about setting the correct tempo for practice maximization! Usually your instructor will help with this, either showing you a range in which you can keep the metronome from become a hindrance or giving you exact metronome or tempo markings for the exercise or piece. You want to have it set where you can both play what you need to without mistakes and at a pace where doing so is still a challenge. It is a fine line to walk but it can be achieved through constant use! Set your tempo: use that metronome!

This is just a small example of the many useful musical tools you can learn here at Matt Burk Music Studio. We offer private music lessons for piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, and songwriting! We encourage you to check out the rest of our website. If you are in the North Dallas area, stop into one of our two convenient locations in Frisco and Allen. Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Acoustic Versus Electric: Guitar

Last week we discussed the differences in acoustic and electric drums and what those differences mean when you're looking for the right instrument for you. This week we'll talk a little about guitars. While fundamentally the same, acoustic and electric guitars differ in a few major ways. Of course, the first difference is how they amplify the strings when plucked. Acoustic guitars use a sound box (the body) with a portal beneath the strings to reverberate and "push" the sound. Because of this, the maximum volume of an acoustic guitar can be considered quiet when compared to that of an amplified electric. Many musicians that play "heavier" music such as metal or rock . . . (well any genre outside of electronic music) have utilized the acoustic guitar for this dynamic property (a prime example would be Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" or CCR's "Who'll Stop The Rain". Acoustic guitars can vary in price but always remember, you always get what you pay for with musical instruments! Go in to your local music store and try out a few to see what body styles and neck styles suit your needs! Which brings us to the electric guitar. With the same 6 strings that we find on the acoustic but the amplification of said strings is where the two really differ. Without going into too much description, the way an electric guitar works is through the magnetic pickups that "transfer" the vibrations into a signal that is then amplified by the, well, amplifier! Electric guitars usually have more "shallow" or thinner necks in general than their acoustic counterparts. This, coupled with "lighter" or thinner gauge strings lends for quick mobility on the fretboard, which some may believe makes electric guitar a bit easier to play. Because electric guitars need amplification to be heard, they are not ideal for travel, but in the right atmosphere (perhaps a rock show?) they are just what the doctor ordered. My doctor recommends high doses of distortion.

Once again I would like to reiterate that both have their advantages and disadvantages depending on what type of music and tone you're looking to produce. Always do your research on brands and styles before buying! You will easily solve the debate for yourself: Acoustic versus Electric, it is up to you!

If you or someone you know is interested in learning to play an instrument, I recommend you check out the rest of our website. We have two convenient locations in Frisco and Allen, Texas too, so please stop by and take a tour! We offer private music lessons for piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, and songwriting! Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Busy Schedule Blues

Now is the time when the weather gets colder and the busy Fall schedules steal away any free time we had during the summer. I have many parents coming to me, telling me that their child has so much going on that they find themselves at the end of the day without time for practice. I totally understand; it is the "Busy Schedule Blues". I grew up in this area and I know how demanding academics, extra-curricular activities, and family time/hobbies can be. What I always tell them is that daily practice is ideal. However, sitting down with the instrument and having fun with it can still be beneficial. Even when doing other things, like watching television, I have a guitar in hand, strumming through chords! This is just a gentle suggestion. Of course, practice is still very important and we still want to be as diligent as possible when it comes to exercises and warm ups. Every once in a while, just have FUN! If you or someone you know is looking to learn an instrument, Matt Burk Music Studio offers private music lessons for piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, and songwriting. Feel free to check out the rest of the website or stop in either our Frisco or Allen, Texas locations to find out more information. Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

The Perfect Fit

Once again the students here at Matt Burk Music Studio are in the very early stages of picking the pieces that they'll be performing at our semi-annual showcase and recital.  It is always a tricky thing, choosing the right song for a performance.  Students want to keep a few things in mind when picking their song! Does the piece challenge but not outright frustrate? That is a good sign. We want something that keeps us interested but not so difficult that it discourages practice! For singers, always know the necessary key for your song. Sometime the backing track is in a key that may prove difficult and must be adjusted! Guitar players; does the song require a capo? If so, be sure that you have one handy. I keep one in my acoustic case at all times. I suggest also having a tuner packed as well to be in tune and ready when it is time to perform.  Piano students: is your piece a solo or duet?  These are all small but helpful suggestions for choosing the right piece. Keep in mind that we want you to have fun and perform something that inspires YOU! That is the perfect fit! I am also very excited about the recital/showcase as it will be the first one for our teachers at the new location in Frisco! I am very excited to see what they have in store for us.

If you are interested in learning an instrument, please stop by either our Allen or Frisco, Texas locations or sign up through our website! We offer private music lessons for piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, and songwriting. Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Get In the Session!

Once again we're gearing up for another great Jam Session for the studio! As per usual, it will be held at the Jam Station in Plano, Friday, August 16th, starting at 7:30 pm! We're doing two songs, one new, one old: "Since U Been Gone" and "Walk Away Renee." This will be our first Jam Session with students from both our Allen location and our new Frisco location performing! The other instructors and I have been working out the parts, including guitar/piano lead sheet and drum notation written out from scratch! Now I know I've posted about this before but I cannot stress how much of a positive impact it can have to work with others when composing, arranging, choreographing, and writing lyrics. Take, for example, the older song "Walk Away Renee", which is in the key of A for both recordings we've referenced for the lead sheets. Our version will be in G to be more accessible to both male and female singers. At first we had a very simple four-bar intro all prolonging the G major chord. This was fine for at-home performance but I figured it would be a bit more interesting to the players and the listeners to transpose another harmonically engaging part into the intro. Now, I know for some of you this is a bit too much music jargon but the end result will be that the song sounds good and is fun to play! Since we're doing drums from scratch, I wanted to give the performers a lot of leeway in regards to the beats, fills, and cymbal accents. I have begun creating a "skeleton key" of sorts that shows important areas where the ensemble moves together rhythmically or when an accent or fill is absolutely needed. The rest will really be up to the players taste, which I believe helps with improvisation and listening in the group atmosphere. The players must be more aware of what is happening in order to not become lost in the song. Guitar has been smooth sailing with the help of one of our piano/guitar instructors. We've even been able to revise each other's work to keep mistakes at a minimum (and save some ink and paper to boot!) which makes it that much easier to concentrate on the students' performance and fun!

If you are a current student and have been on the fence about performing in the Jam Sessions, I strongly encourage you to sign up! They are very laid back, with no pressure or expectations. We're just there to have a good time and enjoy playing music together. Still not sure? Then just come by and see what it is all about! Not a current student but you're interested in what we do? Matt Burk Music Studio offers private music lessons tailored to the student! We find out what engages YOU and go from there! We offer lessons in piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, songwriting, and audio production. Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Time Management

When we are young it seems like we have all the time in the world. Wait, maybe not. I find that even my youngest students have a rich extra-curricular activity schedule and that means time management is essential! When have somewhere to be every night it can be difficult to find time to practice. Still, I have found that if you create a spot on your weekly calendar for practice and only practice, without outside distraction, you can achieve successful progress that can be marked. Let your family know that during your practice time that you're not to be disturbed (except for emergencies, of course) and make that plan stick! Need help getting to a comfortable level of practice to work on your own? Matt Burk Music Studio can show you how to practice in a manner that helps you move forward! We offer private music lessons in piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, songwriting, and audio production. Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Under Watchful Eyes

I seem to always get nervous when I practice with someone else in the room. The feeling isn't the same as when I am alone and I find myself looking for distractions. For day-to-day practice it is best if I am alone in a quiet place where time is allotted to ensure proper rehearsal. However, it can be very beneficial to the player to be observed and critiqued in a positively reinforced atmosphere. Notes that benefit future performance strategies are well received, especially after seeing them implemented on stage or in the pit. As of late the new guitar instructor has been sitting in on my lessons.  Even though it makes me nervous, I find that it helps me focus on the most important part of teaching:  connecting with the students! I felt that I was less worried about missed notes  and rushed tempos than normal and, in turn, it allowed for my students to play more freely and have a better time all around.

I was happy to have such positive results from something that made me so very nerve-wracked. Sometimes it takes a little bit of nervousness that gives us the push to apply ourselves to our full potential. At Matt Burk Music Studio, we believe that with a plan and a path lined with positivity, we can help you reach your musical goals. We offer private music lessons for a myriad of instruments including piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, songwriting, and audio production. We couple that with solid theory, popular music that holds the student's interest, and multiple performance opportunities throughout the year. Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Take it Slow!

I find it to be funny when students come in and see one of the instructors play through a piece they've been working on as though it was an afterthought. Their eyes get big and often they'll make some type of facial expression that looks like a cross between fear and awe. What they often don't know is that the instructor didn't just pick up the guitar, bass, drum sticks, etc. and start playing the song. Usually we work a bit on pieces that we know our students want to play. Also, we were literally trained to do this and have years of experience over the student. It is important to keep this in mind when learning an instrument too, because we often feel frustrated about not getting it perfect the first read-through! Give yourself a bit more of a break; diligent practice will prove your ability to perform it as you wish, it just takes time. Most importantly, play through your first reads SLOWLY. I cannot stress this enough. It helps with rhythms, tonal precision, and instrument-specific technique (strumming patterns for guitar and the like). After a few times through correct, then you may begin increasing the tempo! There you will find how easy it can be to play complicated works if you take the time to first do them slowly! It may seem difficult to do, so why not let us help you! We offer private music lessons for piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, songwriting, and audio production!

Wanted: Bass Player!

 

Although I don't teach it primarily, I have played the bass for a few bands in Chicago and Dallas. There is a certain stigma that comes with the instrument and some feel that it is secondary to guitars and drums. . . This couldn't be further from the truth! Low end is a necessity in all popular forms of contemporary music!If the drums are the backbone, the bass is the thumping heart. It creates a liaison between the keyboards, guitar, and drums that rounds out the rhythm section. While there are many popular acts that don't use a bass player, I can't imagine a Led Zeppelin without John Paul Jones or the Beatles without Paul. Where would the jazz world be today without Charlie Mingus? Would the Red Hot Chili Peppers made it without Flea? What I'm getting at is that the musical world always needs bass players. Good players are high in demand and great players can be seen on tour or in the studio being paid for session work. At Matt Burk Music Studio, we offer private bass lessons that will demonstrate the art form and fun that playing the bass can bring about, whether you're young, old, experienced or novice. We tailor our lessons to the student and set reachable goals that can be measured.  Perhaps you agree with me  but the bass just isn't your instrument? We also offer private piano, guitar, drum, voice, songwriting, and audio production lessons! Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Don't Drop In Cold!

Every once in a while I catch one of the numerous "singing competition" shows on television. Performances on these shows are always backed by a full band and backing singers. The contestants usually sound radio-ready, even when performing live. Why is that? Did they wake up, get to the studio, and immediately jump into the song? The answer is, probably not. To hit those astronomical notes, any good singer will tell you, "WARM UP!". Singing arpeggiated chords of the major scale  works wonders before belting out the show stoppers. Not sure how they're supposed to work? Let us help you get your voice to its performance peak! We offer private voice lessons with extensive know-how from teachers who work in the industry! If vocalizing isn't your thing, perhaps you'd like to learn an instrument to accompany your favorite singer? We also offer private piano, guitar, drum, bass, audio production, and songwriting lessons! Whatever your instrument, we can prepare you to perform not just in the shower, but on stage in front of an audience! Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!

Why Doesn't Mine Sound Like That?

 

I'll never forget the first time I stepped into a recording studio. I was 15 and my fellow bandmates and I had saved up enough cash to record our first demo! The day arrived and we loaded into the sound-proof rooms, mic'd up everything and got started. Within a few hours we had ourselves a few songs recorded. However, when the sound engineer played back the recordings, they sounded thin and nothing like what I heard on the radio. Of course I was naive to think that it would sound radio-ready when listening to the raw tracks but that experience opened my eyes to the necessity of audio production. When we hear Beyonce's latest single or the new Mumford and Sons album, and they sound great, the reason isn't just that they're talented musicians. The people behind the board deserve just as much credit as those behind the glass! It takes know-how and extreme patience to be a good music producer. You have to have a great ear and be able to find the sound and style that the client is looking to create. Here at Matt Burk Music Studio, we have the resources to help your music sound like what you hear on the radio! Full private audio production lessons if you're looking to make your own music or songwriting lessons if you need help putting your hit together! Looking to brush up on your licks before heading in to track a hit? We also offer private piano, guitar, drums, bass, and voice lessons! Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!