Happy Birthday to American musician David Lee Roth, b. 1955, also known as Diamond Dave, best known as singer for the rock band Van Halen. He and the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Roth is blessed with a four octave vocal range.
Celebrate his birthday with Van Halen’s first single from their first album, Van Halen, released in 1978:
Today in music history, 1965, The Beatles started a four week run at number one on the US singles chart with the Paul McCartney ballad “Yesterday.” This gave the group their tenth US number one. The track was issued as a single in the UK eleven years later.
Happy Birthday to English musician Thom Yorke, b. 1968, best known as the lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and lyricist for the band Radiohead. He has released a studio album and currently leads the band Atoms for Peace.
Celebrate his birthday with a song from Radiohead’s second studio album, The Bends:
Happy Birthday to American musician Gwen Stefani, b. 1969, best known as the lead singer for the ska band No Doubt. She has recorded two albums as a solo artist and has won three Grammy awards.
Celebrate her birthday with the first single from No Doubt’s third studio album, Tragic Kingdom:
Happy Birthday to English musician Sting, b. 1951, best known as lead singer for the band The Police. He has also recorded and toured as a solo artist, has won 16 Grammy awards, and was inducted (with The Police) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
Celebrate his birthday with a video in which he does not sing but plays a Baroque piece on guitar in the classical style.
Recently, on a social media platfrom, we had a discussion about subtitute teaching. Most students (and parents) equate “having a sub” as having the day off. While this may be propable in modern classroom settings, private music students do not have the luxury because the lesson is so involved with the student’s actions.
In a studio or music school, a substitute teacher may be called in advance or in an emergency. Because every teacher does things differently, the substitute may not know where the student usually starts. “Do you know scales? Do you have a technical drills book?” Some teachers review only the homework material while other teachers insist on reviewing all the repertoire. Some teachers allow the student to learn the piece with hands seperately, then together, while other teachers allow the student to play the entire piece from the beginning and very slowly. These things must be communicated to the substitute before the lesson if possible so that the student is not the one taking charge of the lesson.
Having a substitute once in a while is not a bad thing. On the contrary, it can be a good reminder of appreciation for the student and family that the work that their regular teacher does. The student continues to learn his material while observing the methods of another teacher. The teacher learns to better handle the awkwardness of being the one in charge while not really knowing what’s going on. Trust me; I have substituted in my early years of teaching!
In a home setting, a regular teacher may send a substitute for make up lessons. While it is very rare, as most teachers have some flexibility in their schedules, it is possible. Most families might cringe at the thought because they are so accustomed to their teacher, the same lady or gentleman who has been showing up the same time on the same weeknight for years.
Welcome your substitute. She probably knows what the procedure for the lesson is if the regular teacher wrote it for her. Remember that she is feeling as awkward as you!
Happy Birthday to American musician Matt Fallon, best known as Skid Row‘s first lead singer. He also sang lead for Anthrax for some months in late 1984.
Happy Birthday to American musician Meat Loaf, b. 1947, best known for his Bat Out of Hell trilogy. He won a Grammy award for the single “I’d Do Anything for Love, (But I Won’t Do That).” Meat Loaf has also appeared in movies and television shows, such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World.
Celebrate his birthday with a song that he recorded in 2006:
Happy Birthday to English-born Australian musician Olivia Newton-John, b. 1948, best known as Sandy Olsson in the film production of the Broadway musical Grease. She has won four Grammy awards and has recorded five number one singles and two number one albums on the Billboard charts.
Celebrate her birthday with her first Number One single, “If Not For You,” from her first solo album of the same title, released in 1971:
Are you supposed to learn rhythm first? Or the melody? Or are you supposed to use correct fingers and keep good posture? What is the priority?
In twelve years of teaching, I have had students approach a new piece of music in the way that they feel most comfortable. A student with a developed sense of rhythm will like to play a piece directly and quickly, the way he hears it (if he has heard it before). This causes some problems because most young musicians do not sight read quickly, and the piece becomes frustrating.
I prefer to have students play the correct notes only, even if it very slowly. I correct their fingers, make sure that they keep good wrist position, backs straight, and both feet on the floor. Rhythm is not yet a priority. Young children, about age ten and younger, do not really understand rhythm, but they do understand to hold a whole note for four beats, a half note for two, &c.
Because I am not with the student during the week for practice, I have to make sure that, before the lesson is over, he is able to play the piece and correct mistakes on his own. Again, I look at fingering and other muscle control.
The priority is muscle memory if the question is “What are you supposed to learn first?” The written music is to be a guide, an instructional manual. If the student has practiced correctly, he will be ready to correct the overlooked mistakes and pick up the tempo. Remember that correct practice does not only mean playing the correct notes but also keeping down those whole notes, resting when required, keeping the wrists off of the piano, and the shoulders back for good posture. All this aids in learning the rhythm correctly.
Rhythm is the backbone of music, which is definitely a priority.
