by West Music Company | Jun 2, 2018 | Band & Orchestra, Drums & Percussion
As beginning musicians quickly learn, playing percussion instruments is a lot more challenging than it looks. Learning proper technique will ensure that you sound better and avoid injuries to your hands or wrists. General Principles for Holding Drumsticks or Mallets...
by West Music Company | May 25, 2018 | Band & Orchestra, Music Advocacy
No matter the age of your kid, by being engaged in your child’s school music program they are more likely to be engaged themselves. Plus, being involved is usually a lot of fun! For over 75 years, West Music has worked with local communities to bring band and...
by Katie Senn | Apr 19, 2018 | Band & Orchestra
Now that your student has learned the basics of rhythm, it’s time to talk about the next big idea in creating music: MELODY! What is Melody? Merriam-Webster defines melody as “a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds; a rhythmic succession of...
by Alex Beamer | Mar 7, 2018 | Band & Orchestra
You might have heard that with rhythm, you either have it or you don’t. Not only is that not true, rhythm is fundamental for beginner musicians to learn so that they can progress with their music. In this article, we cover the basics of rhythm and the best ways...
by Chris Eck | Nov 11, 2017 | Band & Orchestra, Conservatory, Music Education
Every day we are surrounded by facts about the amazing life benefits of music education. A multitude of studies confirm that children experience extremely positive academic, emotional, and developmental boosts from engaging in musical activities. We embrace the fact...
by West Music Company | Oct 9, 2017 | Band & Orchestra, Music Education
Everybody knows that musicians improve by practicing. But the question of how much time your kids should spend practicing isn’t as simple as “the more, the better.” Finding the Sweet Spot The right practice routine is one that ensures enough progress to keep kids...