Category: videos

New musicality video:

Many people mistakenly think that musical ability is something you’re either born with or not. While we can agree your genetics may play a small role in determining your musicianship, your musical skill is something that can be trained and learned with practice like anything else. https://www.musical-u.com/learn/improve-musical-ability/

Even the greatest artists in the world have to go through a strenuous amount of practice, spending countless hours perfecting their craft.
Music is a universal language that helps us connect with others and communicate with our inner selves. Thus, there’s always a good reason to nurture your musical soul.

Whether you want to be the next YouTube sensation or just want to impress your significant other with a beautiful song, here are 3 simple non-music activities that can take your musical ability to the next level.

There are many ways to enhance your music ability, even in situations where you don’t have access to music.

We hope you’ve found these tips helpful. Remember to start small and stay patient.

If you have any non-music activities of your own that help nurture your musical soul, let us know in the comments below!

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/improve-musical-ability/

Let us know what you think! Email: hello@musicalitypodcast.com

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Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

3 Non-Music Activities That Improve Your Musical Ability

New musicality video:

Have you ever felt frustrated because you keep getting something wrong in the music you’re learning? Or worried that there is just too much to learn and you’re coming to music too late to ever master it all? http://musicalitypodcast.com/24

Today we have the pleasure of interviewing Lisa McCormick, a successful singer-songwriter and the creator of the “Note2Self” methodology of music learning, which can help with exactly those kinds of mindset barriers, especially among adult musicians.

After several years as a successful artist, Lisa turned her attention to teaching and now specialises in helping adult beginners get going with guitar and ukulele. We first met Lisa several years ago after discovering an excellent course she created to help guitarists start playing chords by ear. As well as in person classes 1-on-1 and in groups around Brattleboro, Vermont, she provides courses through her website LisaMcCormick.com and is a senior faculty member at GuitarTricks.com.

What we love about Lisa’s approach is that she really focuses on the joy of making music from day one and strips away the complexity that can often make learning music frustrating for adults.

In this conversation we talk about:

– The emotional baggage that can make it difficult for adults to begin learning a new instrument and how to get around that

– How she helps complete beginners play a song on ukulele in less than ten minutes – and play several songs by the end of the day

– How the Note2Self methodology can equip musicians – particularly those who are self-taught or trying to make use of internet resources to learn – to get away from the negative self-talk and confusion that can hold them back, and instead learn faster by having effective and healthy mental habits

Lisa also shares the simple 3-word mantra from Note2Self that you can start using immediately – and honestly this alone could be transformative for how much you enjoy your musical journey…

Listen to the episode:

http://musicalitypodcast.com/24

Links and Resources

LisaMcCormick.com: http://lisamccormick.com/

The Sexy Secret of “One, Four, Five”: https://www.musical-u.com/learn/guest-post-the-sexy-secret-of-one-four-five-lisa-mccormick/

Getting Started with Guitar: http://gettingstartedwithguitar.net/

Lisa’s Guitar Lessons, on GuitarTricks.com: https://www.guitartricks.com/instructor.php?input=311296

Let us know what you think! Email: hello@musicalitypodcast.com

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Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

Note2Self: “I Love This!” with Lisa McCormick

New musicality video:

You’ve been studying music for a while now, but you’re not sure how “good” you really are. Want to get some solid feedback? Start with these 4 ideas! https://www.musical-u.com/learn/4-ways-get-feedback-youre-teaching-music/

You want to ask family and friends, but they might tell you only what you want to hear rather than what you need to hear.

You want to upload a video of yourself performing on YouTube, but you’re not sure the comments there will be helpful, either.

Do any of these sound familiar? You may have heard about the importance of feedback and it’s true: receiving commentary is an important part of becoming successful at anything, including playing music. That being said, it can be difficult to know where the most helpful source for constructive criticism will be.

So what’s a budding musician to do?

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/4-ways-get-feedback-youre-teaching-music/

Let us know what you think! Email: hello@musicalitypodcast.com

===============================================

Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

4 Ways to Get Feedback When You’re Teaching Yourself Music

New musicality video:

We discuss the truths and myths surrounding the 10,000 Hour Rule, and how to best allocate those hours to become a master musician. http://musicalitypodcast.com/23

“It takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert,” states the 10,000 Hour Rule. Undoubtedly, working passionately and diligently towards your musical goals is a great formula for success, but what if musicians could get the results they want before hitting this numerical milestone?

http://musicalitypodcast.com/23

Links and Resources:

Interview with Ged Brockie http://musicalitypodcast.com/22

How Musicians Should Spend Their 10,000 Hours https://www.musical-u.com/learn/how-musicians-should-spend-their-10000-hours/

How to Get More out of Every Practice Session https://www.musical-u.com/learn/practice-session-tips/

Let us know what you think! Email: hello@musicalitypodcast.com

===============================================

Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

About the 10,000 Hour Rule: The Musicality Podcast

New musicality video:

In this episode of The Musicality Podcast, we talk about a man smashing a bus stop. And some music as well with Ged Brockie from Guitar and Music Institute. http://musicalitypodcast.com/22

Today on The Musicality Podcast, we’re joined by Ged Brockie, founder of the Guitar and Music Institute, a website which provides original and curated content to help guitarists develop their skills – and, as you’ll learn in this conversation, also provides insights and education useful to any musician.

Playing multiple instruments can both broaden and deepen your understanding of music, and is one of the best things you can do for your musicality. In that spirit, even if you’re not a guitarist yourself you’ll want to stay tuned, as Ged’s story and perspective on learning music is still going to be very interesting and relevant for you.

Ged has been a professional musician for over thirty years, performing throughout the UK and Europe. He’s helped develop courses for higher education, launched a summer school and a music festival, and composed original music for television, theatre, and film.

Somehow, amongst all of that he’s also found the time to:

– Publish the “Fastline” series of guitar tutor books teaching jazz, blues, rock and more
– Write a book with accompanying tutorial videos called Drop Two Voicings Uncovered
– Create a huge website at GuitarAndMusicInstitute.com
– Launch the GMI podcast earlier this year

Ged is a great storyteller, and in this conversation we talked a bit about his early beginnings in music, what it was like growing up as a musician in Scotland in the 80s, how things have changed in terms of learning music and performing, and his perspective on what’s good and bad about the current status quo in music education.

He shared his opinion on whether there’s such a thing as musical “talent” (and if so, how important it is), the most important thing you can do while studying music to turn you into a real musician, how learning music is like learning a language, and the connection between theory, technique and musicality.

We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging and illuminating conversation with Ged!

http://musicalitypodcast.com/22

Links and Resources

GMI: Guitar and Music Institute https://www.guitarandmusicinstitute.com/

The GMI Podcast https://www.guitarandmusicinstitute.com/category/podcasts/

Interview with Christopher Sutton https://www.guitarandmusicinstitute.com/episode-19-interview-with-christopher-sutton-ceo-of-musical-u/

Drop Two Voicings Uncovered https://www.amazon.com/Drop-Two-Voicing-Uncovered-Vol/dp/0995508801/

Fastlines Blues Guitar Method https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fastlines-Blues-Guitar-Primer-combined-ebook/dp/B01N8Y82VD/

Jazz Guitar Method https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fastlines-Jazz-Guitar-Method-Primer-ebook/dp/B01J8VE2PA/

Let us know what you think! Email: hello@musicalitypodcast.com

===============================================

Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

Beyond the “Quick Fix” with Ged Brockie: The Musicality Podcast

New musicality video:

Learning and understanding chord tones will help you create memorable melodies with tension and release and solo over existing progressions. http://musicalitypodcast.com/21

This in turn will help you play by ear, improvise, and write songs – enabling you to choose the notes that sound the best, rather than using trial-and-error to form your chords and melodies.

In this episode we’re going to be talking about chord tones, something which came up in my recent interview with Meghan Nixon of HowToSingSmarter.com.

Depending on the instrument you play and the way you play it, you might be very used to thinking about chord tones – but most likely you aren’t, and you may be missing out… As Meghan explained, chord tones can provide us with a helpful framework for playing by ear and improvisation, letting us choose notes that are musically meaningful in the harmonic context. Whether you play piano, guitar, saxophone or sing, whether you want to play by ear, improvise or write music, this is a really powerful concept to get your head around.

I’m going to talk a bit about chords and chord tones, then demonstrate why this concept of chord tones is useful, and then talk about how you can get started using this yourself.

Listen to the episode:

http://musicalitypodcast.com/21

Links and Resources

Interview with Meghan Nixon: http://musicalitypodcast.com/20

Playing By Ear with Brad Mavin: https://www.musical-u.com/learn/learn-to-play-by-ear-using-chord-tones-part-one/

Chord Ear Training How-To: https://www.musical-u.com/learn/chord-ear-training-how-to-chord-types/

Practice I-IV-V Progressions: https://www.musical-u.com/modules/chord-progressions/progression-practice-i-iv-v/

Let us know what you think! Email: hello@musicalitypodcast.com

===============================================

Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

Chord Tones: The Musicality Podcast

New musicality video:

You probably already know how important regular practice is for improving your skills as a musician. https://www.musical-u.com/learn/instrument-practice-techniques/

However, we’ve come across many aspiring musicians who are frustrated because they feel that regardless of how much time they spend on “practising”, nothing has really changed.

The root of this common problem is our understanding about what practising really is – many musicians mistake playing for practising. While playing is purely for fun, practising requires discipline, repetition, systematic performance, and perseverance, all combined with the goal of reaching the next level of competency and mastering an instrument. Practice isn’t always pleasant. It’s real, hard work.

How can you make the most of your practice time and take your musical skills to the next level? Try out these 4 practice techniques.

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/instrument-practice-techniques/

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Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

4 Practice Enhancing Techniques to Try Today

New musicality video:

You may be confused by the title: singers want to sing louder, higher, stronger, more confidently – but “smarter”?http://musicalitypodcast.com/20

Today we’re joined by Meghan Nixon, of HowToSingSmarter.com. You may be confused by the title: singers want to sing louder, higher, stronger, more confidently – but “smarter”?

As you’re going to discover in this conversation, singing smarter is perhaps the most important thing you can do to improve your experience and results as a singer.

During the course of her career in music, Meghan has helped hundreds of people become better singers and musicians. She works with voice and piano students of all ages, levels and genres in her busy private studio in Arvada, Colorado. She is a classically-trained vocalist with a degree in Jazz Performance from Michigan State University and has performed in Jazz, Rock, Funk, R&B, Bluegrass and Folk bands. She’s been teaching voice for 15 years and focuses on healthy singing technique, ear training and musicianship.

In this episode Meghan shares with us:

– The framework she puts in place with all her students that helps them approach new songs, sing the right notes, and even sight-sing music they’ve never seen before.

– The truth about “tone deafness” and how she helps first-time singers to quickly get the hang of singing in tune, and

– How she went from being too scared to even try improvising as a singer, to knowing clearly and confidently how to assemble the right notes at the right time.

We loved chatting with Meghan about what it means to “sing smarter” and how it can help all those of us who aren’t necessarily “natural singers” to feel just as confident and capable as those who are.

Listen to the episode: http://musicalitypodcast.com/20

Links and Resources

http://howtosingsmarter.com/

The Tone Deaf Test: http://tonedeaftest.com/

Beginner Solfa Sight-Singing Practice Exercises: https://www.musical-u.com/learn/beginner-solfa-sight-singing-practice-exercises/

Improvisation in Singing: https://www.musical-u.com/learn/can-musical-improvisation-singing-really-be-fun/

Let us know what you think! Email: hello@musicalitypodcast.com

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Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

How to Sing Smarter with Meghan Nixon: The Musicality Podcast

New musicality video:

On this episode, we are joined by Melody Payne, a.k.a. “The Plucky Pianista”. Melody has been writing online since 2012, sharing innovative and forward-thinking ideas for teaching music more effectively. http://musicalitypodcast.com/18

In this conversation, we talk a lot about getting “off book” – meaning being able to play even without the note-by-note sheet music in front of you.

Melody shares an impactful early experience with a performance that went wrong and how she eventually learned to handle musical mistakes with grace.

She found a great way to get started playing by ear and improvising with a friend, and that led on to wanting to equip her students with the tools needed to feel that freedom.

Melody teaches two particular skills and uses a special app to help her young students quickly start playing the songs they love in their own way without needing to learn them note-by-note.

One thing a lot of musicians struggle with is how to make their performances actually sound good – not just hitting the right notes at the right time, but actually moving the listener. Melody shares insights on her “Three Rules for a Magical, Musical, Moving, Performance”.

If you’ve ever felt limited to playing just the notes that are put in front of you, you’re going to love this episode. Melody shares so openly and has real insights on getting “off book”.

http://musicalitypodcast.com/18

MelodyPayne.com: https://melodypayne.com/

iReal Pro app: https://irealpro.com/

3 Rules for a Magical, Musical, Moving Performance: https://melodypayne.com/3-rules-for-a-magical-musical-moving-performance/

Accompanying 101: 10 Tips for Beginning Accompanists https://melodypayne.com/accompanying-101-10-tips-for-beginning-accompanists/

Let us know what you think! Email: hello@musicalitypodcast.com

===============================================

Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
https://www.musical-u.com/podcast-insiders/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

Getting Off Book with Melody Payne: The Musicality Podcast

New musicality video:

Here are 5 rules which the Musical U team has compiled to help you study music effectively. https://www.musical-u.com/learn/5-rules-studying-music-effectively/

Studying music is exciting, but can also seem daunting. There’s so much to learn and master, and sometimes it may feel like you’re not making any progress. It can be easy to get frustrated and lose sight of your goal. Instead of getting discouraged, consider following a few rules to get the most out of your practicing. These will help you keep your goals in the front of your mind and see where you can make changes.

Don’t have a clear musical goal yet? Rules will definitely help you, but you have to know where you’re going before you can make true progress. You can read more about setting goals and creating a practice strategy here.

Now that you know what you want to work toward, here’s a list of 5 rules which the Musical U team has compiled to help you study music effectively:

Another way to get external accountability is to join a community. Find a musical community where musicians support each other by sharing their struggles, achievements, and ideas. Not sure where to find such a group? Consider joining Musical U!

So get out there and study effectively. Practice consistently, even when you don’t feel like it. Improve by playing music that challenges you. Put yourself in realistic musical situations. Get yourself some accountability. Follow these 5 simple rules and you’ll be surprised how much quicker you get results from your music studies. Try it!

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/5-rules-studying-music-effectively/

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Learn more about Musical U!

Website:
https://www.musical-u.com/

Podcast:
http://musicalitypodcast.com/

Tone Deaf Test:
http://tonedeaftest.com/

Musicality Checklist:
https://www.musical-u.com/mcl-musicality-checklist

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MusicalU

Twitter:
Tweets by MusicalU

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MusicalU

Subscribe for more videos from Musical U!

5 Rules For Studying Music Effectively