Oregon Music Academy Blog

When I meet someone new and they find out I’ve been a musician for almost 35 years. And I’ve been teaching music for over 25, the conversation eventually turns to their own experience with music. And I’ve found that when it comes to music, there are basically two types of people: People that say they’re

When it comes to music, what determines success? It’s not talent. It’s not musical parents. It’s not friends that are musical. It’s not even the right method. or an expert teacher. So what is it? In this article I’m going to show you the secret formula for helping your kid learn, love, and succeed with

Practicing a musical instrument can be an overwhelming thing for kids and parents. One of the biggest questions/concerns from parents of kids getting started with music classes or private lessons is: Will my kid practice? And what should I do if I encounter resistance from my kid to practicing? These are legitimate concerns. After all,

Riding a bike is like… well… riding a bike. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a skill you have for your entire life. This simple truth applies to riding a bicycle as well as learning to play a musical instrument. But learning music is like riding a bike in more ways than one.

Parents of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder face enormous challenges.  How do you educate a child who can’t seem to pay attention, has difficulty following directions, who daydreams in the classroom, who is disorganized and seems to be in constant motion?  How can you teach them to get along with their peers when they

Do you wish that your child only made beautiful sounds while practicing?  Most people want their children to learn excellent practicing habits.  For some parents, that means moving through the order of scales and pieces with efficiency and focus, always improving, correcting, and honing.  When our children practice the “right way,” we are proud of

Your daughter is seven years old, and singing is her life.  She sings in the bathroom, she sings on the way to school, at the dinner table, and while falling asleep.  She listens to music constantly and sings along with her favorite artists.  Everything in her life is a song.   She asks you for

Think of all the things we do in life which are habits: brushing  teeth, locking the door, making the bed, feeding pets or folding laundry.  Most of us accomplish these tasks without a thought, to the point that we may forget that we have even done them! Habits can be useful tools;  they enable us

Wow! What an awesome recital weekend! It’s such a thrill to hear so much music in one day and to see the progress our students are making over the long term. You have so much to be proud of. We’ll be sharing more recital photos on the Oregon Music Academy Facebook page soon. If you

Summer is a magical time for children. School and homework are tossed out the window, and sunny days of biking, swimming and relaxing stretch endlessly ahead.  Summer is the time to kick back in the grass and do nothing for three months!   What about music lessons?  Do those go “out the window” as well?

How does your child feel about performing?  Is she a “natural” on stage,  loving the limelight and attention?  Or is she quiet and more reserved?  I remember my first recital: I was one of those quiet children, and I remember feeling  anxious at the prospect of performing.  Over time–and with experience–I learned to cope with

One of the most powerful concepts we can teach our kids is that they have influence over the events of their life. This isn’t so say that everything will always go the way they want. After all, “influence” is different than “control”. We can’t control our lives and the world around us. But we can

Your child is showing interest in the piano. You might be wondering, “Is my child ready for lessons?” It is never too soon to expose your child to music. Love of music is a universal trait among young children, and most of them respond to the joy of singing and to the melody and rhythm