Philosophy
Many can easily think of music as some commodity, as mainly just an end product or outcome. But music is mostly an experience. Just as the audience experiences music in a concert, recording, live venue, etc, the musician experiences a much greater journey. A great musician is always trying to improve him/herself, and the journey never ends. You always learn something new, and this causes you to learn more about yourself.
We believe in well-rounded musicianship, that is, not just focusing on the technical side of playing an instrument. We like to honor the student's interests, and customize the lessons, that is, no two students get the same lesson. We also believe that it's important that students develop their skills and have fun by playing with others, through community or local events. We're setting up a program so that student groups can play at InsaniTea on select nights or weekend afternoons.
Lessons may include the following, depending on interests:
Musical Theory- Understand the "why" and "how" of music, similar to learning the science behind astrology or chemistry.
Ear Training- Expressing what the student hears in his/her head through the instrument or manuscript paper.
Composition/Songwriting- Creating music along the lines of greats like Bach, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Duke Ellington, or the Beatles.
Jazz and Improvisation- "Speaking" through music, much like everyday conversation, but through a universal language.
Conducting- Taking responsibility and leading a musical experience for others.
For example, if you were learning a simple Bach piece, in our lessons you may learn to:
Conduct the meter while possibly singing the melody (only if the student is comfortable).
Compose a variation of all or part of the melody.
Figure out the harmony/chords.