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Bach’s Coffee Cantata

Do you love coffee? Have you had your coffee this morning? Do you know, in 1734, Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a cantata about the temptation and power of coffee? You might know that Bach wrote a lot of sacred cantatas to be used in church services; his Leipzig years (1723-1750) were especially a prolific time for sacred cantatas. In Leipzig Bach was responsible for the musical training of the boys choir at Thomasschule and oversaw music at four main churches of Leipzig–the Thomaskirche, the Nikolaikirche, the Matthäeikirche (or Neukirche) and the Petrikirche. There he wrote five cycles of cantatas for … Read more

How Do Busy People Learn Music in Singapore?

Singapore is a global hub of technology, commerce, and culture. People from Asia and around the world find themselves living in and loving Singapore. There’s so much to do – you can never get bored! Did you know Liberty Park Music is based in Singapore? Even though our teachers reside on several different continents and our students tune into our lessons from all over the world, our headquarters are in Singapore. We love the mix of cultures and the wealth of cool experiences we can find in the bustling city. To navigate all the interesting things there are to do … Read more

Top 10 Pianos for the Cool (and Rich)

If you were a pianist with a few extra bucks to spare and a taste for the extraordinary, you’d want to purchase a piano that not only sounds good, but also makes a statement with its individuality. In this article, we introduce 10 super cool pianos, with out-of-this-world wacky designs, unparalleled elegance, and mind-blowing concepts. These are works of art that you might aspire to own one day. 1) Yoshiki’s Kawai CR-40A Crystal Piano It’s no exaggeration for Japanese piano manufacturer Kawai to claim that its transparent CR40-A grand pianos adorn every room with unsurpassed beauty and are deserving to … Read more

The Flow State to Optimize Performance and Reduce Anxiety

Many people in music, visual art, sport, and public speaking are familiar with performance anxiety. To overcome such anxiety and induce peak performance, we can try to achieve the flow state. With this state, instead of crumbling under the pressure, you will rise and surpass the occasion. Some of you may have the impression that the flow state has some mystical or new age implications, but keep reading and I’ll explain the hard science behind it. What is flow? The term “flow” was first coined by Hungarian psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. He and his team of psychologists began noticing this state … Read more

Acoustic vs Electric Drum Kits

Electric drum kits have burst onto the drum kit market in a massive way. Many beginners look for electric kits when buying their first drum kit, both for their reduced volume and often smaller size. There is also a large demand for electric drum kits for drummers who play predominantly electronic music. The wide array of digital sounds available, and the ease with which sounds can be changed makes electric drum kits suitable for styles of music which require more than just a traditional drum set configuration (bass drum, snare drum, tom toms and cymbals). This article will explore the … Read more

How to motivate your child to practice

Do you find yourself nagging your child to practice music all the time? Does your child seem to get distracted easily while practicing? Has your child’s interest in music seemingly waned over time? Most parents have shared similar experiences. It’s perfectly ordinary for children to be inconsistent with their practice and have their interest to fluctuate over time. We offer six plausible reasons why your child might be practicing less than he/she should be, and some tips to motivate your child to practice. Reason 1: Your child wants results too fast Learning music is a long and sometimes challenging journey. … Read more

Clear or Coated? Thick or Thin? A Guide to Buying Drum Heads.

Your choice of drum heads is equally important as your choice of drum kit. Good quality drum heads can completely transform the sound of your kit and you have a plethora of options when buying drum heads. This article will provide you with all the information you need to decide on a set of drum heads that suits your style of play. Brands Unlike the number of drum kit and cymbal manufacturers, that of highly respected drum head manufacturers is small. While there are a number of good quality local drum head manufacturers (such as Code in the U.K.), the … Read more

Using a pick, fingers or both?

At a glance… 1. Flatpicking vs fingerstyle 2. Technique 3. Tone 4. Using both styles A really common question that I get from beginners is, “Should I learn to play with a pick or my fingers?” Like many things in music, this is a matter of personal preference. One is not more difficult than the other; they’re just different styles of playing. In this article, I will explain the differences to help you make an informed decision. What is flatpicking and fingerstyle? Flatpicking requires the use of a plectrum, or more commonly known as a pick, which is a small … Read more

Fundamentals of Music Practice

Without a doubt, the most effective way to improve your abilities as a musician is to practice. It seems like common sense, but in today’s fast-paced world that favors activities that provide instant gratification, many people tend to forget the importance of practice. Although there is no shortcut around practice, there are ways to make your practice sessions more enjoyable and effective. In this article, we’ll talk about how often we should practice, how to mentally prepare ourselves for our practice time, the obstacles of practicing and how to overcome them, and how to establish good practice habits. How often … Read more

The Importance of Music Theory

If you’re starting to pick up a musical instrument, you may have been advised to learn music theory, the study of the grammar of music. Music theory examines the elements that construct a piece of music, including notation, key signatures, time signatures, and chord progressions. Many teachers will insist that music theory is a fundamental tenet of a balanced music education and may even include theory as part of their lessons. On the other hand, some believe that learning music theory does not make one a better player and hence find it unnecessary. In this article, we share the importance … Read more