Articles

Miscellaneous Music Education

The Metronome: A Musician’s Friend for Rhythmic Precision
There are many benefits of using a metronome and why using a metronome can improve your rhythm, timing, and accuracy.
The Remarkable Cognitive Benefits of Learning Music as an Adult
Learning a musical instrument as an adult boosts memory, focus, multitasking skills and emotional intelligence. Unlock the mental benefits and strengthen your brain.
4four.io - Free Rhythm Training
4Four.io is a site for learning rhythm concepts. It offers tools like Rhythm Bingo and Rhythm Dice to help music teachers engage younger students through interactive rhythm practice.
Making Music Learning Fun: Creative Games for Children’s Music Lessons
Using fun musical games can keep kids engaged during music lessons while developing rhythm, pitch, and listening skills.
Effortless Music Sheet Scanning: A Quick Tip for iPhone Users
Long press Notes app icon to scan sheet music quickly. Camera detects page area & saves as editable PDF to share easily.
Free Printable Blank Sheet Music and Guitar, Bass and Ukulele TAB
Download free printable blank guitar tab, bass tab, ukulele tab, and music stave sheets to save and print at home.
Practice Tip: Record Yourself!
Recording yourself when practicing music can help identify weaknesses, track subtle improvements over time and isolate problem areas.
Duke of Edinburgh Skills Music Ideas in Ilkley
Choose your Duke of Edinburgh skills in Ilkley - learn an instrument, compose or record a song, learn music theory.
EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) Music Ideas in Ilkley
Ideas for music EPQ projects in Ilkley, composing or recording your own song.
Strategies for Effective Instrumental Practice
Mastering a musical instrument takes dedication and discipline. Setting goals, structuring practice time, starting slow, focusing on weaknesses, and using a metronome can make your practice sessions more effective.
Why Children Should Learn An Instrument
Learning a musical instrument benefits child development through building discipline, concentration, creativity, teamwork, motor skills and reinforcing academic concepts.
The Benefits of Playing Music in a Group
Playing in a group with friends improves musicianship by sharpening listening skills, sparking new ideas, providing accountability, developing adaptability, and forming lasting friendships.
Tips for Helping Your Child Balance Schoolwork and Music Practice
Discover practical tips to help your child effectively balance their schoolwork and music practice. Learn how to set realistic practice goals, use practice time efficiently, limit distractions, communicate with teachers and find quick practice opportunities.
Exploring the Connection Between Music, Maths and Bach
Explore the fascinating relationship between music and mathematics, from the physics of sound waves to the mathematical ratios underlying musical scales and tuning systems like equal temperament.
ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Lessons in Ilkley and Online
Need help with ABRSM Grade 5 Theory? Get prepped with personalised lessons breaking down notation, harmony, and musical construction.
GCSE Music Composition Help and Guidance In Ikley and Online
Music composition tutoring for GCSE students. Expert guidance on developing themes, choosing genres, recording with notation software/DAWs, effectively utilizing musical elements and documenting your process. In-person in Ilkley or online sessions available.
Elevate Your Podcast with Professional Audio Editing Services in Ilkley
Need help recording & editing podcasts or audiobooks in Ilkley? Hire an experienced audio professional for optimal sound quality, seamless edits, enhanced narrative flow and overall polish. Save time on editing - focus on content while they handle post-production.
Recording and Mixing in Ilkley
Hire an experienced producer to take your home recordings to a professional level. Save time - focus on performing while they handle the mixing.
Songwriting and Composition Lessons in Ilkley and Online
Discover the process, benefits, and joy of songwriting and composition in the latest blog by music teacher Ben Siddall.
Music Production Lessons in Ilkley and Online
Experienced Ilkley music teacher provides music production lessons. Learn to record, edit, arrange & mix using affordable DAW software like Logic & Ableton. Build a home studio.
Bass Lessons in Ilkley and Online
Experienced Ilkley music teacher provides bass guitar lessons. Great for rock & pop. Huge choice of recognisable bass lines to learn. Individualistic instrument and always in demand. No need to read notation. Relaxed or graded approach.
Piano and Keys Lessons in Ilkley and Online
Experienced Ilkley music teacher provides piano & keyboard lessons. Learn to read notation, classical pieces, pop/jazz styles. Develop coordination & memory. Relaxed approach or exam prep available.
Music Theory Lessons in Ilkley and Online
Delving into Music Theory | Ben Siddall Music
Ukulele Lessons in Ilkley and Online
Experienced Ilkley music teacher provides ukulele lessons. Beginner-friendly instrument great for children & adults. Pop, rock, jazz, blues & classical music. Relaxed, gentle & fun approach.
Guitar Lessons in Ilkley and Online
Guitar lessons with an experienced and skilled teacher in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Gentle and relaxed or exam focused lessons available.

Music Technology and Production

Making MIDI Drums Sound Real
Learn tips for natural and realistic programmed MIDI drums by humanizing timing, using velocity and articulations, and applying professional mixing techniques.
Music Teaching with AI
Learn about using AI tools Moises & Vocal Remover to isolate vocals, instruments, and drums from songs, providing many benefits in modern music education.
Learning Music With Ableton
Learn music production basics for free with Ableton’s Learning Music site. Interactive lessons teach you beats, notes, melodies, chords, basslines, and song structure.
Exploring Notation Software: Free and Affordable Options for Music Composition
Notation software like MuseScore, Flat.io, Noteflight Learn, Notion, Sibelius First, and Dorico SE allow composers, musicians, and students to write and edit musical scores and lead sheets on computers, smartphones and tablets.
Transpose - Chrome Extension
This free Google Chrome extension allows you to slow down or change the key of any website audio.
Free Easy Online Audio Editor
Sodaphonic is a free online audio editor that makes recording, editing and sharing audio simple. Quickly convert, edit or trim audio files right in your browser.
The Best Free Stem Separation Software
Free stem separation software Ultimate Vocal Remover helps me analyse arrangements, transcribe by ear by doing an excellent job of extracting clear vocal and instrumental stems.

Music Theory

How to Recognise Intervals in Music
Learning to identify musical intervals by ear is a key skill. Use songs like Jaws, Happy Birthday and The Simpsons Theme to help recognize intervals.
Key Signatures Made Simple
Learn the mnemonics for the order of sharps (FCGDAEB) and flats (BEADGCF). Understand how to determine the major key based on the key signature, and how to find the relative minor.
Explore the Musical DNA of Pop Songs with this Chord Progression Tool
Hooktheory’s free tool lets you browse songs with matching chord progressions and likely next chords in a sequence. See statistical data on chord choices in songs across multiple keys and genres.

Guitar

Crafting Your Own Guitar Solo
Learn how to write impressive guitar solos by developing strong musical ideas. Use techniques like repetition, transposition, phrasing, and using rhythm to make your own powerful guitar parts accessible to all levels.
Quick Guide To Guitar Pickups
Electric guitar pickups use magnets to convert string vibrations into electrical signals. Types include single coil, P90, and humbuckers. Pickup type affects guitar tone.
Exploring TuxGuitar: A Free Alternative for Guitar Tab Editing and Playback
TuxGuitar is a free, open source guitar tablature editor that can open, play, and edit Guitar Pro, Power Tab, and TablEdit files.
Choosing the Right Guitar String Gauge for Your Sound
Find your desired guitar tone by choosing the right string gauge. Explore how string thickness impacts playability, from finger strength for techniques to handling alternate tunings. Discover the ideal gauges for different genres like blues, metal, and acoustic styles.
Why Does My Guitar Sound Out of Tune When Using a Capo?
Struggling with your guitar sounding out of tune when using a capo? Explore the common causes, from poor intonation to capo quality and placement issues.

Piano

Acoustic or Digital: Which Piano is Best for Beginners?
Trying to decide between an acoustic or digital piano as a beginner? Compare the rich, nuanced sound quality of acoustics vs digitals. Cost, maintenance, and features to determine the best choice for your budget and learning needs.
Strengthening Fourth and Fifth Fingers: Tips for Pianists
Simple exercises to strengthen piano playing by improving 4th and 5th finger independence. Focused techniques like scale accents develop control and enhance weaker finger dexterity.
10 Essential Tips for Approaching Piano Sight-Reading
Learn 10 tips for improving your piano sight-reading skills. Practice rhythms, hand positions, reading ahead, and exploring different styles to boost sight-reading proficiency.
How To Prepare A Piano Exam Piece: 5 Key Tips
Tips for effectively preparing for your next piano exam. Practical advice to help build confidence and enjoyment.

Songwriting and Composition

Crafting Poetic Lyrics: The Art of Rhyme and Rhythm in Songwriting
The art of songwriting involves finding the perfect blend of music and lyrics. Songwriters use rhyme, rhythm and phrasing to craft lyrics that resonate emotionally and are memorable.
Crafting Vivid Lyrics with Object Writing
Object writing uses detailed sensory descriptions of physical objects to inspire unique, vivid lyrics that tell stories and convey emotion in songwriting.
The Art of Writing Catchy Melodies: Getting Started
Crafting catchy pop melodies involves establishing a musical key, improvising with scale tones over chords, combining steps and leaps, and introducing rhythmic variety. Let musical instincts guide you to capture raw melodic ideas first before refining into infectious earworms.
Defeating Writer’s Block with Chance and Randomness
Chance and randomness can help spark creativity. Use techniques like random words, shuffled lyrics, AI chatbots, and Oblique Strategies to take the pressure off and unlock new creative directions for your songs.