Blog
Meet the New Teacher: Alex Ehredt
At Tampa Bay Music Academy, we always strive to partner with teachers who are passionate about both music and teaching, and who have demonstrated exceptional skill in their areas of expertise. That’s why we are so thrilled to introduce our students and their families to our newest woodwind and brass instructor: Alex Ehredt. Alex is a skilled saxophone performer and teacher with extensive experience teaching students at all levels, from beginners through university level. He has also published fifteen compositions for a variety of solo instruments and ensembles including solo saxophone, solo trombone, saxophone quartet, wind ensemble, and orchestra. Alex holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Tampa, a Master of Music in Composition from the University of Redlands in California and is currently working on his dissertation (a Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble) for a Doctor of Musical Arts from UW-Madison. He has also completed coursework in music theory pedagogy at...
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Become a Sight Reading Virtuoso
Most musicians understand the importance of sight reading. It’s a skill that will serve you well whether you’re accompanying a choir, playing in a band, or considering solo pieces. But how do you get from here to there? How do you develop the ability to read through a piece of music without practicing first? Let’s take a look at six tips to jumpstart your sight reading skills: Look over the piece before you start. Watch for key changes, accidentals, repeated sections, and musical notations....
Taking the Terror Out of Sight-Singing
When I was studying music in college, my most-feared class was sight-singing lab. Ten or twelve of us students would sit in a music lab with our professor and be graded on sight-singing a line of notes from a book. In solfege. You’ve never heard as many warbly notes and vocal slides (us) or seen as many disappointed head-shakes (the professor) as we did in that class. But the skills I began developing there have served me well over the years, and if you’re an aspiring singer, they’re an...
Five Reasons Piano Should Be Your First Instrument
Choosing an instrument can be a difficult task for a youngster. All those gleaming violins, guitars, and horns beckon, or maybe he has a friend who plays the cello or drums. Piano can seem boring. Everybody plays the piano. But the truth is that starting your child’s musical training with the piano can serve him well later on, no matter which instrument he ultimately wants to play. Learning the piano first helps your child: Learn to Read Music The piano is one of only a few instruments that...
Pictures from our performance at the Citrus Park Mall
"The students of Tampa Bay Music Academy did an outstanding job performing at the Citrus Park Mall on December 15, 2012!" From Christmas Recital at the Citrus Park Mall, posted by Tampa Bay Music Academy, LLC on 12/16/2012 (79 items) Bryce Tracy Bryce Tracy Mr. Tracy giving a pep talk to the performers. Sydnee Haney Mr. Tracy talking to the crowd. TBMA students anxiously awaiting their performance. Cole Haney Cole Haney Parents watching. The Willeke family. Boutilier sisters Madison Haney...
Come HEAR us at the MALL!
On Saturday, December 15, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Citrus Park Mall, you can enjoy the sound of holiday music from our very own Tampa Bay Music Academy students! Join us in Sears Court (in front of Sears Department Store) for some fabulous solo performances. The event is called "Sounds of the Season" and is sure to be one of the highlights of the year for our students! Special thanks to Piano Distributors for partnering with TBMA and providing the beautiful Yamaha grand piano for our mall...
Is It Too Late To Learn An Instrument?
As adults, we often look back with regret at the things we could’ve done, but didn’t. For many, music lessons top the list of those “should haves.” I have talked to many, many adults who lament the fact that they gave up music lessons as a child. These conversations usually take place after hearing an especially moving piece of music played by a talented musician. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late! You can still become a competent musician even if you didn’t pick up your...
Finding an Exceptional Music Teacher
Google “music teachers in Tampa” and you’ll get over 2 million results. It’s not hard to find a teacher. But it can be more challenging to find a great teacher. What separates the competent from the exceptional? Let’s take a look. Experience We’ll start with the obvious. A great music teacher needs to play well so that he or she can both recognize and demonstrate correct and incorrect technique as the student learns. But being able to tear up the piano clearly isn’t enough to make one a great...
Does Music Education Matter?
“Aw, Mom! All my friends are playing soccer! Do I really have to practice the piano?” Any parent whose child takes music lessons has dealt with questions like this—sometimes daily. Maybe you’re questioning your decision to enroll your child in music lessons in the first place. After all, he’s taken lessons for a year and he still sounds pretty awful. Maybe he just doesn’t have any musical talent. Should you make him keep practicing, even though he’d much rather have his afternoons free? Ask...