Have you ever wondered why certain chords just seem to flow naturally from one to another? Or why some keys feel more “at home” together than others? It’s not magic—it’s the circle of fifths! As a music teacher, I’ve often seen students struggle with understanding key relationships, chord progressions, and the theory behind how music […]
Continue reading →
As musicians, whether we’re songwriters, producers, teachers, or students, music theory is our foundation. Understanding the building blocks of music theory—like scales—is crucial for everything from composing to teaching. In today’s post, I’m diving into a concept that often confuses musicians: scale spelling. We’ll break down what it is, why it’s important, and how to […]
Continue reading →
One of the most fascinating aspects of music theory is how it allows musicians to create unique and interesting progressions by breaking (or bending) traditional rules. Let’s take a closer look at Nirvana’s song “About a Girl,” a track that blends simple and complex elements to create something distinctive yet universally appealing. Specifically, we’ll explore […]
Continue reading →
As a music teacher and piano player who hasn’t had formal lessons in many years, I recently found myself in an interesting situation: trying to help my son with his French horn. The more I looked into it, the more I realized that understanding how different instruments interpret the same note differently is a bit […]
Continue reading →
As a music teacher and lifelong learner, I’ve always been fascinated by the intricate relationship between music and human culture. Recently, I came across a study that shed light on the hidden patterns in folk songs and how they reveal the evolution of music across different cultures. This got me thinking about the universal nature […]
Continue reading →As musicians, songwriters, or producers, we are always seeking new ways to enhance our compositions. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned composer, understanding the relationship between chords and scales is essential for adding depth and richness to your music. This is where exploring compatible chords and scales becomes a game-changer. In this guide, we’ll […]
Continue reading →Music is built on patterns and resolutions, and cadences are at the heart of these resolutions. Whether you’re a budding songwriter or an established producer, understanding cadences is essential to making your compositions flow naturally and creating emotional impact. In this post, we’ll dive deep into the most common cadences every producer should know, how […]
Continue reading →As a piano teacher, finding the right tools to supplement your lessons can be challenging. While traditional methods of teaching music theory and piano practice are invaluable, using technology can enhance the learning experience for your students. One such tool that I’ve found incredibly effective is Piano Companion, a flexible and powerful music theory app […]
Continue reading →The circle of fifths is a visual tool that demonstrates the geometric relationships between the twelve distinct pitches used in western music culture. These pitches can also be classified as members of the chromatic scale. A circle is an amazing tool to teach and to conceptualize musical ideas that would otherwise be terribly complicated. Before […]
Continue reading →A piano chord is one of the main building-blocks of music in western culture. Along with scales and intervals, piano chords are responsible for the creation of cohesion and structure in essentially every song and piece of music. A piano chord can also be defined as a collection of notes in a predetermined type of […]
Continue reading →