Have you ever felt pain as a result of playing your instrument? I did. For years. During the early part of my study and career, no pain, no gain was the common belief. We were meant to tough it out and play through the pain. Discomfort was worn like a badge of honor, almost proof […]
If you play an instrument and you aren’t actively protecting your hearing, the day may come when you simply can’t hear the music anymore. For musicians, our ears are our most valuable equipment. They are more important than a Stradivarius, a vintage Les Paul, or a hand-crafted flute. Yet, while we spend thousands of dollars […]
If you have been following PTM for any length of time, you know that I tend to be very cautious about recommending instruments for young beginners-especially wind instruments. As a lifelong music educator, I’ve learned that parents are often searching for honest, experience-based answers to questions like “Is this instrument actually good for my child?” […]
Whether you are a beginner sitting down at the bench for the first time or an advanced student tackling the complexities of Rachmaninoff, the time you spend with your instructor is a precious commodity. As musicians, we often view the weekly lesson as the main event, but the reality is that the lesson is simply […]
What If Your Musical Instrument Does Not Fit Your Body? In the world of professional music, there is a quiet, persistent myth: if you can’t reach the notes, you simply aren’t practicing hard enough. We are taught to stretch, to strain, and to “adapt” our physiology to the instrument. But as someone who has navigated […]