Please note: The Music Store and Teaching Studios will be closed Monday, September 6th in observance of Labor Day. We wish you all a happy and safe holiday!
Every Monday night from 7pm to 10pm, the Fiesta Chorus of Tempe rehearses at Resurrection Catholic Church (McCarthy Hall) - 3201 South Evergreen Street in Tempe. Rehearsals are open to the public.
Saturday, September 11th from 10am to 2pm, join the Scottsdale Children's Choir and Scottsdale Youth Orchestra for their Open House at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church - 6300 East Bell Road in Scottsdale. Any singer from the first grade up to eighth grade who has an interest in choral singing or just loves to sing is welcome to come! Any string or wind player from grade six to twelve who has had at least two years on his/her instrument is welcome to come! This is a great opportunity prior to auditions for parents and girls to experience the choir firsthand and discover if Scottsdale Children's Choir and Scottsdale Youth Orchestra Girls might be of interest to them, and a good time to see the rehearsal location, meet the staff, ask questions and sign up for open enrollment. The $30 enrollment fee will be waived for those who attend the open house and sign up for auditions. For more information, visit www.scottsdalemusic.org or call 480.720.3398.
Saturday, September 11th at 1pm, the Fiesta Chorus presents "Honoring Heroes" at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee - 11002 South 48th Street in Phoenix (just south of Elliot). This show is open to the public. The Fiesta Chorus will be honoring victims, firefighters, rescue workers and the U.S. Military with a musical and visual tribute. There will be videos and a special guest appearance by The Mix...a dynamic, local a cappella quartet. The Fiesta Chorus looks forward to presenting vocal renditions of many patriotic and inspirational songs. Tickets are only $12.00 (available at the door). Call Donna for more information: 480-820-3230. There will be complimentary beverages as well as a wonderful array of yummy desserts for purchase and enjoyment during the show.
Monday, September 13th and Monday, September 20th, Cantemus will be holding auditions at Trinity Cathedral - 100 W. Roosevelt Street in Phoenix. Cantemus is looking for singers interested in performing the works of the great masters. Simple auditions will be held immediately following rehearsal. No preparation is necessary. All voices are needed, but especially male voices. Regular rehearsals are Monday nights from 7-9pm in Trinity Cathedral.
Friday, September 24th from 7:30pm to 9pm, the KOG Concert Series presents Paradisa! at King of Glory Lutheran Church - 2085 East Southern Avenue in Tempe. The KOG Concert Series will open the fall season with Paradisa!, three accomplished artists playing flute, cello, and piano. They will perform a blend of classical standards with sassy, swinging jazz influenced works. A free will offering will be taken. For more information, contact Cyndee Chaffee at 480-838-0477 or cyndeec@kogaz.org.
Friday, September 24th at 8pm, the Lakeshore Jazz Series presents the Benny Green Trio at Tempe Center for the Arts - 700 West Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. For more information, call 480-350-2822 or visit www.tempe.gov/TCA.
Friday, October 1st from 7:30pm to 9pm, the KOG Concert Series presents Jeremy Peterman and Friends at King of Glory Lutheran Church - 2085 East Southern Avenue in Tempe. Jeremy Peterman & Friends will perform songs, arias, and duets from the classical vocal repertoire that will surely move and entertain you. Many songs will be performed in a foreign language, aided by super titles and images above the stage. Special guest artist will be Cyndee Chaffee on the clarinet. A free will offering will be taken. For further information, contact Cyndee Chaffee at 480-838-0477 or cyndeec@kogaz.org.
Saturday, October 9th at 7:30pm and Sunday, October 10th at 3pm, the Sonoran Desert Chorale presents "In Search of Light" at First United Methodist Church - 15 East First Avenue in Mesa. James Whitbourn’s highly acclaimed Luminosity centers the Chorale’s exploration of the words of St. John the Apostle, the Buddhist nun, Ryonen, St. Isaac of Ninevah, St. Theresa of Avila, Mother Theresa, Desmond Tutu and others – enlightened men and women who followed their Faith in search of the Spirit. In the words of Archbishop Tutu, “…light is stronger than darkness.” Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, children, students, and groups of 10+. For tickets, call 480.305.4538 or visit www.sonorandesertchorale.org.
Sunday, October 10th at 3pm, the KOG Concert Series presents Campanillas del Sol Handbell Ensemble at King of Glory Lutheran Church - 2085 East Southern Avenue in Tempe. The KOG Concert Series presents Campanillas del Sol, an auditioned community handbell ensemble formed for the purpose of giving experienced handbell ringers the opportunity to play. The Ensemble plays English Handbells in a repertoire spanning 13th Century music to Cole Porter and more. A free will offering will be taken. To learn more, contact Cyndee Chaffee at 480-838-0477 or cyndeec@kogaz.org.
China has the world’s largest stores of rare metals used in electronic equipment, cell phones, televisions, lithium batteries and the like. Just this week, China announced that it will reduce its exports of these rare metals by one-half.
This revelation has sent companies who do not produce their products in China scrambling to obtain metals from the few other countries who export them. This could mean uncertain times for musical electronic equipment, including electric guitars, amplifiers, metronomes, tuners and other accessories. Only time will tell whether substitutes can be obtained in time to prevent shortages in music market distributions.
Scales & Modes is an interactive visual and audio reference for the diatonic scales and modes that are fundamental to music theory. With this app, you can view all the modes of the major, natural minor, and harmonic minor scales on the musical staff, see fingerings for both keyboard and guitar, and listen to the scales note by note in any key. The app also provides background information on each mode, such as how to construct it by using half and whole steps or by modifying the major scale with the same root note, as well as giving examples of songs written in that mode. This handy mobile reference guide will allow you to study on the go - like on the bus, in between appointments, or on your lunch break - and help you make the most out of your valuable practice sessions.
To use this app, select a root note and a scale to display the notes of the scale on the musical staff, and click “Play Scale” to listen. Select the Keyboard or Guitar tabs to view fingering diagrams for the scale on those instruments, and press the info button to see more detail about constructing the scale.
Scales & Modes is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and is available from the iTunes App Store for $1.99. For more information on this app, view iTunes Preview.
This video rocks and has inspired us to give 20% off all slides when you bring in the coupon. When ordering online, use Discount Coupon code "20SLIDE". (Can't see the video? View it in a browser.)
Guitar, Meet iPhone. iPhone, Guitar.
Last month, we featured Peavey's AmpKit in our "There's An App for That" section. This month, we're proud to stock the awesome interface that introduces your guitar to your iPhone - the AmpKit LiNK!
Normally retailing at $39.99, right now, we're offering the AmpKit LiNK for just $29.95. For more information or to get yours today, view it on our online store.
As we move from the lazy days of summer and through the hectic "Back to School" rush, it may feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to practice. If you're short on time, practice "smarter" instead of harder by trying a few of these techniques.
1. Slow Down. While we may be able to get through a piece of music at performance speed, we might not even be aware that we're making errors. Try playing it much slower and see if your intonation and timing really are correct, and work out any problems that arise. Then, work it up to speed a little at a time, ensuring that the errors are not creeping back in.
2. Shape and Chain. It's common to feel more accomplished when playing a piece from beginning to end without stopping (mistakes and all), but all this does is to reinforce the mistakes. Instead, break the piece up into smaller bits and practice these bits repeatedly until you can play each one five times in a row without mistakes. Then, connect the smaller bits together into larger chunks and then, finally, into the complete piece. Remember, practice does not make perfect - practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect.
3. Keep a Record. The best way to evaluate the progress you're making is to track how much time you're spending practicing, and on what. We may not realize it, but sometimes we avoid pieces or passages that are more difficult or that we like less well, and then wonder why we're not getting better. You can purchase a practice record for as little as 99 cents plus tax.
This month, we're giving E-Club members 20% off all practice records when you bring in the coupon to help you turn over that new leaf. When ordering online, use Discount Coupon code "20PRACTICE".
At The Music Store, Tess is one of our most versatile employees. With an education in piano and voice during her early years, and having been involved in musical theatre through high school, Tess is working towards a Film and Media degree at Arizona State University. She plans to use her music background to write songs for student films and choose music for TV shows. Her primary instrument is guitar and she has studied with our own Tracy Kimbrell for the last year. Originally hired as a staff member in our Sheet Music department, Tess helps maintain the inventory on our online store and can be found at the checkout counter as well as helping out in our Guitar department during weekday mornings.
