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Meet the New Teacher: Eleni Volonakis
Tampa Bay Music Academy is pleased to welcome Eleni Volonakis to our piano faculty! Eleni is a native of Rhodes, Greece and has taught piano for 18 years, both privately and in a conservatory setting. At the age of 12, she began studying with Achilles Kolasis at the “Ecole Normale de Musique” in Luzerne, Switzerland. She went on to earn a degree in Piano from Corelli Conservatory as well as a degree in Music Theory and Harmony from the Music Academy Conservatory in Athens, Greece. In 2003, Eleni took her first job teaching piano and electric keyboard at Corelli Conservatory. In 2005, she transitioned to Rodion Pedia School in Rhodes, where she taught piano and music theory to elementary and high school students. It was during those early teaching years that Eleni discovered joy of sharing her passion for music with her students. “When I received my first music degree, I was confused about which direction I should follow,” said Eleni. “To a young lady, all of the glamour and spectacle...
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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...
VIDEO: John Tracy Interview Parts 3 & 4 – Business, Teaching, and Life Advice for Music Teachers
I really enjoyed my recent interview with Mimi West, the founder of "My Dream Teacher." She has posted a four-part video series from the interview session. In the final two videos I advise music teachers on how to strengthen their networks and sharpen their skills. Some of the topics discussed include: What networking with other musicians can do for your life and career How to network–it’s easier than you think! Ways to keep afloat of discouragement How to get involved in your community What...
VIDEO: John Tracy Interview Part 2 – What Most Music Students Overlook
This is the second video of four that was taped as part of an interview with Mimi West, the founder of "My Dream Teacher." You can check out the website by clicking here. I had a lot of fun answering a variety of questions about my music education in general, my personal music background, advice for parents of music students, and several other. Mimi is posting the interview videos in sections. You can watch the second video by clicking here. You can also see the first one by clicking...
How to Nail Your Performance Every Time
Your palms are clammy. Your heart is fluttering. Your mouth feels like cotton and a bead of sweat trickles down your back. No, you’re not heading out on your first date. You’re standing just off-stage in a concert hall, ready to walk out and dazzle the judges with your musical talent. Every musician knows the trepidation—and sometimes downright terror—of performance day. It’s that make-it-or-break-it, sink-or-swim,...
VIDEO: John Tracy Interview Part 1 – Parents Help Their Kids Succeed in Music
I recently had the privilege of being interviewed by Mimi West, the founder of "My Dream Teacher." You can check out the website by clicking here. I had a lot of fun answering a variety of questions about my music education in general, my personal music background, advice for parents of music students, and several other. Mimi is posting the interview videos in sections. The first video can be viewed by clicking here. As part of the interview, I respond to questions like: When should I...
Making Music Theory Worksheets more fun for students
For some, hearing the words "music theory" can be synonymous with "torture." It does not have to be that way! Studying theory can be a delightful experience that unlocks the secrets of how music functions. The better you grasp and understand music theory, the more proficient you will be as a performer, teacher, and composer. The article below is a guest post written by Kevin Tuck of The Fun Music Company. It is a helpful resource for any private music teacher. We hope you enjoy it! If...
Six Techniques for Perfect Practice
Remember the old saying “practice makes perfect”? Well, forget it. You can practice the same song for five hours, but if you’re practicing it incorrectly, all you’ll get for your trouble is a very strongly ingrained mistake. When I was a budding young pianist, I had a teacher who cemented this concept in my brain. I can still remember her leaning forward in her chair, eyes drilling into my soul saying “Practice makes permanent!” Mrs. Roschi, if you are reading this, I got it! Another way of...