CSoM NEWSLETTER … September 2023

Welcome to the Colorado School of Music! If you are looking for music lessons near by please consider the Colorado School of Music for private music instruction. Now in our 17th year of business, we’re proud to offer both in-person and online private music lessons for all ages and levels including piano lessons, guitar lessons, Ukulele lessons, violin lessons, drums lessons, voice lessons and band lessons and orchestra instruments. Located in the heart of downtown Golden, our current roster is comprised of musicians from all over the Denver Metro area and includes students from Golden, Denver, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Littleton and Boulder! 

Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned pro or just learning for fun, private music lessons with our experienced instructors will take your playing to the next level!

Welcome Back to school!

We hope everyone had a great summer. Lesson times are filling up fast so please contact us to get back on schedule. Please contact us via email: info@coloradoschoolofmusic.com or call 303-526-9865 today! 

Please Leave a Message-

During the course of a week we field many phone calls from students and parents regarding lessons, scheduling and cancellations. During the afternoon, we often let the answering machine retrieve our messages so as not to disrupt class sessions. Please know that we are very conscientious about retrieving our missed calls and we always listen to our messages. We do not, however, make return calls for lesson cancellations unless requested. If you need to cancel for the week, please call 303-526-9865 and leave a message. Thank you! 

Never Too Old…music lessons for adults!

Music lessons are for the young at heart, not just the young. If you’ve been thinking of renewing your piano lessons or taking your guitar playing to the next level, try a private lesson with us! At the Colorado School of Music we are proud to have many adult students on our roster, studying all different disciplines. Our instructors are experienced with students of all ages, and will be happy to work with you to be sure that your lessons meet your individual needs. 

Adult music lessons are available for all instruments, including guitar lessons, piano lessons, drums, violin, and more.

Too Young For Music?

We often receive questions from parents regarding the appropriate/best age to start young children in formal music lessons. Of course, all children are different and there are always exceptions, but here are the general guidelines we use:

First, consider the instrument in relation to the age of the student. Piano lessons are a great choice for young children, as piano lesson books have excellent curriculum geared for young beginners. Piano, in particular, provides a general overview of music theory and makes it easy to pick up other instruments as the student gets older. Some instruments can be difficult for beginners and aren’t as good for young children based on size, complexity, etc..       

Four years old is generally too young for formal lessons. Progress is very slow and it can be difficult to maintain the focus required for practicing. Four year old hands are also often too small.

We feel that six years old is generally the best age for young children to begin formal lessons. Many lesson books and methods are geared toward this age for beginners, and the progress made at this age is both faster than younger students and better learned, as lessons and concepts seem to ‘stick.’

Five year olds are in the middle – at this age, it seems to depend on the child. If motivated and interested, the progress with a five year old will be a bit slower, but nonetheless valuable. We’re always willing to try lessons with five year olds – please ask if you have more questions about beginners or you’d like to take an introductory lesson with your young musician. Parents/Guardians are welcome in all lessons!      

Need to Move?

Did your soccer coach just re-structure practice times and throw your schedule into chaos? You’re probably not alone.  We understand the rigors of fall scheduling…so if you find that your music lesson time slot doesn’t fit, call us at 303-526-9865 and leave your name, current time slot and any days and times that work for your schedule and we’ll do our best to re-locate you!

See you next month!

Guitar Technique and Tips

Welcome to the Colorado School of Music! If you are looking for music lessons near by please consider the Colorado School of Music for private music instruction. The Colorado School of Music provides private music instruction offering lessons for all ages and levels in piano lessons, guitar lessons, Ukulele lessons, violin lessons, drums lessons, voice lessons and band lessons and orchestra lessons. Located in the heart of downtown Golden, our current roster is comprised of musicians from all over the Denver Metro area and includes students from Golden, Denver, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Littleton and Boulder! 

If you play guitar you already know there is a lot of technique involved in playing and learning the guitar. Today I will be giving to tips on practicing some fun tricks and techniques. First I am going to address playing chords on the guitar. You can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of chord shapes there are. I do recommend learning and memorizing all the open chord shapes that you can on the guitar. Once you have them memorized the next step in repetition. Practice going from one shape to the next as many times as you can handle. If you find for example going from a C chord to D chord make sure you practice these two chords back and forth over and over. Always use the same fingers every time you play a specific chord. C to D, C to D then D to C, D to C ect… There is no substitute for repetition. After you have memorized all the open chord shapes and have the ability to switch to one chord to the next in time you are now ready to move on to the next level of chords. Bar chords are consider by many very difficult. I agree they are hard to get them to sound good but just like the open chords when you first tried them they seem very hard. All the bar chord shapes come from the open chord shapes. For example the major bar chord with the root on the low E string come from the E major open chord shape. This is why getting your open chords shapes memorized first is important. The same process of repetition on the open chords applies to your bar chords. Practice going from one bar chord to the next taking note of the bar chords that you have difficulty with and make sure you practice your repetition with each set of chord that challenge you. Again always using the same fingering every time you play a particular chord.

Now on to some tips for playing single string notes and scales. When you’r learning your scales using the correct fingers in paramount. Always use the same fingering forwards and back wards on your scales. Keep your fingers square and your wrist dropped. With your picking hand make sure your using alternate picking. (Down up picking) Alternate pick will help improve your technique. After practicing your scales with each note being picked you can now try to hammer on and pull of the notes in your scales. Try picking the first note on each string followed by hammering on the next notes on that same string. On the way back down the scale you can try puling off each note after the first picked note on that string. To take your single string technique to the next level incorporate a metronome. You can track your progress with the metronome. Let say you are comfortable playing your major scale with the metronome at 70 beats per minute. Make a log and each week see if you can increase the tempo of your metronome. This gives you a real way to track your progress and see the improvement. Never set the metronome at a speed that is to fast as this will not help you improve. It’s almost better to set the metronome a bit slower and make sure each note you play is very cleaner. I hope some of these tips will help you improve your guitar skills!

Thank you for visiting our blog page. Please contact us to come in for your $10 introductory music lesson from one of our great instructors or myself. We offer guitar lessons, piano lessons, drum lessons, violin lesson, Ukulele lessons, vocal lessons as well as some orchestral instruments and more. 

By Emma Grace Brown

Standing out in the world of music is no small task. As a musician, your skill, passion, and creativity are fundamental. However, it is just as critical to know how to promote your work effectively and catch the eye of the right people. In an era where the digital space has opened a world of opportunities for self-promotion and discovery, there are several strategies to help you amplify your reach and cultivate a vibrant musical career. This guide shared by the Colorado School of Music can point you in the right direction.

Work on Building Your Online Presence

With the internet breaking down geographical barriers, establishing a online presence is crucial. Create a professional website to serve as a virtual home for your music, where listeners can find your discography, tour dates, contact information, and backstory. Meanwhile, social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok offer opportunities to connect with your fans on a personal level and keep them updated about your projects. Platforms like Soundcloud and Bandcamp also allow independent musicians to share their music directly with fans.

Head to Industry Events to Network

Networking is a valuable tool in the music industry. Conferences, festivals, and showcases offer a platform to meet industry professionals, potential collaborators, and audiences who could become your fans. Relationships formed at these events can open doors to opportunities like gigs, collaborations, or record deals.

Get Involved in Competitions

Music competitions provide a platform to showcase your talent and get noticed by a wider audience, including industry experts. Winning or even being shortlisted can boost your credibility and give your music the exposure it needs.

Collab with Other Musicians or Creators

Teaming up with other musicians or creators for projects can be mutually beneficial. Collaboration exposes you to their fan base, and vice versa, widening your audience reach. Collaborative projects also bring fresh perspectives and a unique fusion of styles, making your music more appealing to diverse audiences.

Perform Live at Local Events

Local gigs, open mics, and pop-up events are excellent ways to create a local fan base. Live performances not only get your music heard but also create an emotional connection with the audience. Distribute promotional materials such as CDs, stickers, or business cards to ensure your music keeps playing long after the performance ends. If you have any merchandise, you can also use live shows to sell these items to fans.

Participate in Industry-Specific Workshops or Courses

Continuous learning is essential in an evolving industry like music. Workshops and courses can help you learn new skills, keep up with industry trends, and understand the business aspects of music.

Write a Comprehensive Business Plan

Having a business plan gives direction to your music career. It should outline your goals, target audience, marketing strategies, financial plans, and more. A well-prepared business plan can also be a powerful tool when seeking investors or collaborators.

Use Sign and Fill PDFs for Contracts

In your journey as a musician, it’s crucial not to neglect the legal facets. Here’s an option: consider utilizing sign and fill PDFs to create contracts that are legally enforceable when you’re collaborating with clients, partners, or service providers. These agreements should lucidly outline the obligations, payment conditions, and rights of all involved parties. This way, everyone is protected and understands their responsibilities within the agreement.

The journey to getting discovered as a musician involves much more than making great music. It’s about smart networking, leveraging digital platforms, continuous learning, and business savviness. By implementing these strategies, you increase your visibility, and with perseverance, your music will resonate with the audience and industry professionals alike, opening doors to countless opportunities.

Welcome to the Colorado School of Music! If you are looking for music lessons near by please consider the Colorado School of Music for private music instruction. The Colorado School of Music provides private music instruction offering lessons for all ages and levels in piano lessons, guitar lessons, Ukulele lessons, violin lessons, drums lessons, voice lessons and band lessons and orchestra lessons. Located in the heart of downtown Golden, our current roster is comprised of musicians from all over the Denver Metro area and includes students from Golden, Denver, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Littleton and Boulder! 

Closed on Labor Day –

The school will be closed on Monday, September 4th for the Labor Day Holiday. All MONDAY classes will resume on September 11^th. Happy Labor Day!

Back to School Band! 

Fall is here, and school is back in full swing!  Although we’re located in Golden, our students come from all over the Metro Area including Arvada, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Littleton–even as far as Boulder and Denver! Our students ages range from Kindergarten to Graduate school!

Are you part of a school band or orchestra this fall? The Colorado School of Music offers private instruction for all band and orchestra instruments including brass instruments, woodwinds, violin lessons and drum lessons!   

Need to Move?

Did your soccer coach just re-structure practice times and throw your piano schedule into chaos? You’re probably not alone.  We understand the rigors of fall scheduling…so if you find that your music lesson time slot doesn’t fit, call us at 303-526-9865 and leave your name, current time slot and any days and times that work for your schedule and we’ll do our best to re-locate you!

Please Leave a Message-

During the course of a week we field many phone calls from students and parents regarding lessons, scheduling and cancellations. During the afternoon, we often let the answering machine retrieve our messages so as not to disrupt class sessions. Please know that we are very conscientious about retrieving our missed calls and we always listen to our messages. We do not, however, make return calls for lesson cancellations unless requested. If you need to cancel for the week, please call 303-526-9865 and leave a message. Thank you!

Come See Our Instructors Perform!

In addition to being dedicated teachers, many of our instructors are professional musicians and perform regularly in Golden and the Denver area.

Odd Instrument?  – They’re not really odd, just interesting! The Colorado School of Music has talented instructors who specialize in many instruments. Do you play the trombone or the glockenspiel? Is it difficult finding a djembe teacher? If you play an unconventional instrument and are looking for direction, send us an email at info@coloradoschoolofmusic.com and let us know what you’re looking for – chances are, we have an instructor that can help you!

 Never Too Old…music lessons for adults!

Music lessons are for the young at heart, not just the young. If you’ve been thinking of renewing your love of piano or taking your guitar playing to the next level, try a private lesson with us! At the Colorado School of Music we are proud to have many adult students on our roster, studying all different disciplines. Our instructors are experienced with students of all ages, and will be happy to work with you to be sure that your lessons meet your individual needs. 

Adult music lessons are available for all instruments, including guitar lessons, piano lessons, singing lessons, drums, violin, and more.

New payment option

We now accept Google Pay with the app. We also still accept cash, check and electronic checks from your financial institution.

Keep practicing!