Why Play Piano?  The piano is a very versatile instrument.  It allows an individual to shine on their own in a solo performance and it just beautiful accompanying other instruments.  It is also a great way to bring together a group of people for a sing a long.  Piano playing is a sure fire party starter.

Anyone desiring to be an orchestral or choral conductor is required to study the piano. Learning the piano trains the pianist to understand and hear the interplay of the various harmonic lines in each piece of music. This is a vital skill for a conductor who must hear and guide all the instruments in the  orchestra and voices in the choir.  It is also easier for trained piano players to pick up other instruments once they have played the piano.  With piano one has to learn both bass and treble clef for the left and right hands respectively.  While daunting in the beginning it does become second nature.

And as with all musical instruments piano allows for a wonderful self expression.  Your piano is there for you.  If you are feeling feisty bang out (not too hard and loud) a rousing piece of music and all your cares will melt away allowing you to step into a more cheerful piece.  And there is nothing more romantic than a lovely ballad especially accompanied by your lovely voice.  Go ahead in the zen sense, become one with your piano.

For more information lessons and classes at Vibe Performing Arts Studios call 661-255-7464 or www.vpasonline.com.

Playing the violin entails holding the instrument under the chin, supported by the left shoulder.  The strings are sounded either by drawing the bow across them or sometimes by plucking them.  The left hand regulates the sounding length of the strings by stopping them against the fingerboard with the fingers, producing different notes.  The violin is a difficult instrument to play.  It is important to learn what sound is going to be produced by the way the bow is drawn across the strings.  If done correctly the sound is melodious.  If done incorrectly it is easy to produce a more “screeching” type sound.  It is important to understand and control the bow with the correct pressure and the amount of time spent on the strings.

Two students at VIBE are on their way to mastering the proper technique.  On May 2^nd, students Cami Todd and Tristen Quesada took part at the Certificate of Merit program and they both did great! 

VIBE instructor Agnes Schwartz recently won the CSUN (Northridge) Concerto Competition with the Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2.  She will perform it with the CSUN Philharmonic in the next season.  Ms Agnes is completing a MM in Violin Performance, (she already has a Viola Masters from Hungary).

Congratulations to all. We hope to see more in the future.

For more information lessons and classes at Vibe Performing Arts Studios call 661-255-7464 or www.vpasonline.com.

Guitarists tend to be a unique group. Many of them are self taught unlike other instrumentalists. While there is nothing wrong with this informal learning approach it can pose difficulties when faced with sight reading and proper technique. To really succeed in the music industry, it is necessary to learn skills including reading music. Some guitarists rely on a way to read music called guitar tabulature. This should not be confused with reading proper music.  With guitar tablature, the  guitar tab staff has six lines representing the strings on a guitar.  Each line in the staff is given a number.  That number tells the guitarist whether a particular string should be played or not and on what fret.  The major difficulty of guitar tabulature sight reading is that it is does not address rhythm.  The other problem is that it is only understood by guitarists making communication with other members of a band somewhat difficult. To take their playing to the “next level”, the serious guitar player should learn to read proper music in order to more easily communicate with other musicians, music producers, etc. Even with the challenges posed by guitarists reading music in “a different language” than their fellow band members the guitar remains the mainstay of the band and successful groups have certainly worked through any difficulties.

For more information on guitar lessons and classes at Vibe Performing Arts Studios call 661-255-7464 or www.vpasonline.com.

Ballroom Dancing is a couple performing any social dance that follows a specific pattern of  steps.  Some of these dances are the tango, waltz, fox trot and quick step.

Ballroom dancing originated in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  Dances, such as the waltz, were performed by the upper  crust at balls and parties.  During the late 19th to the early 20th centuries, ballroom reached the masses in public dance halls.  Due to the popularity of ballroom daning in the early 1920s an organization was formed called the Ballroom Branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. The objective of this organization was to standardize and formalize ballroom dancing techniques and steps as well as the music that was danced to.

In legitimate Dance Sport competitions there are five standard dances. These are the Modern and the Viennese Waltz, the Tango, the Slow Foxtrot and the Quickstep.   These dances are carefully scripted and dancers are evaluated based upon explicit criteria.  Not only are these dances performed in competition but they are very popular at social events.  There is nothing more lovely to watch than a couple performing a dance in sync with each other.

Ballroom Dancing is not only a great artistic expression but a fun way to exercise.

For more information on Vibe Performing Arts Studios call 661-255-7464 or www.vpasonline.com.

Music inherently seems to be part of a toddler’s life. They immediately respond to music by shaking bobbing their heads, shaking their bodies and the ever popular spinning around in circles. When alone you can often find your little kiddo singing their original composition to a doll or a stuffed animal. Not only is music just plain for kids but experts have determined that exposure to a variety of tastes, smells, sounds positively effect the development of neural pathways in the brain. This development aids in the learning process of reading, writing and math as they get older and begin school. What more fun way to give kids a headstart in life in such a fun way. Let’s get moving to the music!

For more information on Vibe Performing Arts Studios call 661-255-7464 or www.vpasonline.com.

Often I am asked what might be better for singers- private lessons or a group class? My answer might vary depending on what a student needs to work on. But nearly every time, I like to recommend a group class- even if a student is advanced. Group classes are beneficial for singers because half of the battle of learning to sing is conquering the fear of singing in front of others- especially other singers! In addition, a student may need to work on a particular area that another student is working on. Watching another work through a similar issue only reinforces it for another student.

Enroll in a group singing class!  Not only do you get great tips personally but you learn from the instruction others receive in the class as well.  The really great part is that you get to take the knowledge and actually perform.  There is no safer environment than a group class with like-minded individuals.  Everyone is supportive and truly wishes you success.  You get to practice in front of a small group- who knows where that might lead you?  Classes are available with age groups from 3 to …well… there is no age limit!  Then if you really find you want extra attention, try private lessons in addition to a class.  As long as the desire is there, you can learn to sing.  Give a try and you just might be surprised at what happens.

Did you ever get so nervous that your hands would shake and you feel like running off the stage. That has got to be the worst feeling. There are ways to combat “stage fright”. Here are just a few:

1. Practice the basics every day. Consider taking private lessons in your choice of instrument so you learn the most you can.

2. Use visualization. See yourself as the confident person you want to be and gliding through the performance with ease. Be realistic- most audiences will leap to their feet in a standing ovation, but revel in the clapping and bravos you might hear. You are setting yourself up to succeed.

3. Recognize your mistakes, but let them go. Don’t agonize about mistakes. Most times no one but you will know a mistake has been made. No one, not even the pros, ever have a flawless performance. Remember- It’s not how many mistakes you make, it’s how you RECOVER from those mistakes.

4. Remember that you are sharing something wonderful with your audience. You are giving them the gift of music and know they will love it.

For more information on Vibe Performing Arts Studios call 661-255-7464 or www.vpasonline.com.

VIBE student spotlight – Jessica Stone

Jessica Stone is a long time VIBE student. She started voice lessons at the ripe age of 4, and has also studied acting, musical theatre, piano, and dance. Perhaps one of the hardest working students; she can be heard as the voice of Disney’s Stanley, Marcie in A Charlie Brown Valentine, had a recurring role as Dr Geiger’s daughter (Mandy Patankin) on Chicago Hope, has appeared on the TV series Hannah Montana, 7th Heaven, Six Feet Under, Star Trek: Enterprise, Knotts Landing; and has also appeared in 22 different theatre and stage productions!

Recently, she auditioned for the final episode of the series ER and was cast as a teenager in a coma. Because it was the series finale, many actors who have worked in the series over the years returned for this final two hour episode, such as George Clooney and Anthony Edwards. Too bad she had to be in a coma with the likes of George Clooney and John Stamos around!!

Jessica is a great example of how doing all the work really pays off. It is great to see her able to enjoy the fruits of her (and her Mom’s!) labor. Kudos, to you, Jessica! Call 661-255-7464 or click www.vpasonline.com for more information on Vibe Performing Arts Studios. 

Playing the saxophone can be a rewarding and fun . It is very challenging, especially for beginner students and there are several things to remember. Once the student has a good understanding of the instrument, he or she can focus on playing rather than memorizing and can have a lot more fun. Here are a few tricks for the beginning saxophonist:

1. Memorize the musical alphabet forward and backwards. This may seem like a simple concept, but it is one many struggle with. The musical alphabet is a 7-letter version of the English alphabet. The main difference with the musical alphabet is that it is endless. When it reaches the end, it starts over again. A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A-B…etc.

The main concept is to grasp what happens before “A” and after “G”. If you ask a student what comes after G, most will respond, “H.” Since there is no H in music, this cannot be correct. Slightly more complicated is what comes before “A.” Most students will respond “nothing” since A has been conditioned to be the first. In music, “G” comes before A.

2. Create a system to remember fingerings. For me, I just remembered that if I put a finger down, every finger above that finger must also be pressed down. As any beginning student can tell you, this is not always the case, but it makes learning a little easier. Once I remembered that, it was just a pattern to remember.
a. 1 finger – B
b. 2 fingers – A
c. 3 fingers – G
d. 4 fingers – F
e. 5 fingers – E
f. 6 fingers – D
g. 7 fingers – C
h. 8 fingers –B

3. Play a song that you can recognize that you enjoy playing. No matter what your ability, this is possible. My first song ever was Mary had a Little Lamb. B-A-G-A-B-B-B, A-A-A, B-B-B, B-A-G-A-B-B-B-B-A-A-B-A-G. Using the fingering chart above, you can see, this can be done using 3 fingers. As the student gets more progressed, it might get more complicated. My second “tune” was Tequila. Which is fun to play on saxophone and very recognizable. The point is it should be fun, and it encourages you to take the horn out of the case. This should be the first thing you play, and the last thing you play so you have something you look forward to and know you play well starting and ending every practice session.

If you follow these tips and take private lessons to learn more, you’ll be well on your way to your musical goals, whether they be 1st chair in the honor band or jamming on stage with a band.

For more information on Vibe Performing Arts Studios call 661-255-7464 or www.vpasonline.com.

By Andrea Vibe

A singer’s success often depends on the condition of their vocal cords. When fatigue or sickness affects the vocal cords, here are some tips to help get you back on track!

• Force Fluids
  Avoid Ice. The extreme temperature is not good. Drink at least 10-12 glasses of water a day.
• Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine
  These are diuretics or drying agents, and can ultimately cause vocal cords to swell.
• Steam Inhalation
  This helps to reduce edema or the swelling of vocal cords. Vibe carries small vaporizers designed for singers to carry with them.
• Lozenges
  No mint or menthol, (drying agents). Vibe carries Grethers and Thayers Pastilles, which help promote saliva, and ultimately keep your vocal cords hydrated.
• Voice Rest
  Try to avoid speaking as much as you can. Also try and get at least 8 hours of sleep.
• No Whispering
  Whispering can dry out the vocal cords, contributing to edema.
• No Throat Clearing or Gargling
  This can cause too much pressure on the vocal cords!
• No Smoking – Avoid all smoke
  Smoke dries out the vocal cords, leading to chronic edema.
• No Drying Medications
  If getting a prescription, inform your doctor you are a singer, and need to stay hydrated.

For more information on Vibe Performing Arts Studios, call 661-255-7464 or visit www.vpasonline.com