Adults make up about 25% of my students at any given time. For the most part, adult music students are in one of two situations. They played sax or clarinet in middle school and/or high school and are ready to…
It has been six weeks today since I have seen a student in person at my studio. I am feeling the loss of connecting with my students and making music together. It’s also been six weeks since I’ve had a…
The meditation practice I do has three focuses: mindfulness of body, mindfulness of breath, and mindfulness of mind. As I practice meditation, I bring my attention to each of these ‘places’ – my mind, my breath, and my body. In…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 8-Week Summer Reading Music Challenge In the eight weeks between The Fourth of July and Labor Day, I offer you this Summer Music Challenge. I just visited my local library this afternoon and saw their Summer Reading Challenges; one…
Next month, the Spring SERI class begins! SERI, which stands for Small Ensemble Reading Intensive, is a small group class I’ve developed and made available for saxophonists and clarinetists. My class is a SERIous opportunity to become a better musician!…
“Plays Well With Others” applies to more than your behavior in Kindergarten. How about in a musical ensemble? Can you hear the other parts as well as your own? What is your volume level? Just because the music indicates fortissimo doesn’t…
I was nine, almost ten years old when I took up learning the saxophone. A college student taught group lessons in a cramped practice room at the local music store in my metro Philly town. How we learn in group…
The North American Saxophone Alliance, aka NASA, is coming to town next weekend. On March 10 and 11, NASA’s Region One Conference will be held at Portland State University in downtown Portland. This saxophone conference features two days of masterclasses,…
How to Give a Practice Performance and Stop Stage Fright It’s time again for the Spring recital performance. My students have been practicing their solos and ensemble pieces. They have been practicing scales and long tones; their foundational skills. And…
Today, I attended #PressPublish, a day-long WordPress blogging conference run by the folks at Automattic. My intention for attending was to get the spark back into my writing here @ MegGrace.com and be inspired to want to write again. Great…
Last week when 7th grader Zach arrived for his sax lesson, he found me watching a live feed performance of the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra. Juilliard is in New York City and I am in Portland, Oregon. Yay, Interwebs! I invited him…