How to Choose The Right Music Teacher

While there are many paths to music stardom, most involve some combo of practice, music lessons, and a supportive and caring music teacher to guide your learning. In fact, a good music teacher is absolutely critical and can make all the difference! But, just like no two instruments are alike, neither are music teachers. To […]
An Intro To Reading Music

Although many people long to play an instrument, they are often reluctant to learn because they don’t know how to read music. But contrary to popular belief, learning to read music isn’t as hard as it seems! If you’re interested in learning to play an instrument, don’t let your lack of music knowledge stop you. […]
Differences Between Acoustic vs Electric Guitars

One of the biggest decisions new guitar players must make is whether to learn to play an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar first. While similar in many ways, the two types of guitars have some big differences. If you’re still considering which type of guitar to learn first, read on below to discover the […]
Why Music Lessons Are the Perfect Summer Activity

It’s getting a little hotter every day here in Phoenix, which can only mean one thing: summer is almost upon us! For most kids, summer is synonymous with no school and loads of uninterrupted free time. For most parents, this means finding fun summer activities to fill the time and keep kids out of trouble […]
Must-Have Accessories For Singers

In addition to singing lessons and regular practice, there are several gadgets and accessories that can help enhance a singer’s sound. From the perfect microphone to wireless systems and effects pedals, a singer’s potential toolkit is endless. But for those singers who are just starting out, it can be hard to determine what singing accessories […]
A Musician’s Guide To Booking Gigs

If you’ve been taking music lessons for a significant amount of time and finally feel confident in your music abilities, the next logical step is to get out there and show off your skills! For most musicians, this means booking gigs and playing live shows. But finding and securing music gigs can be tough, especially […]
4 Ways To Spice Up Your Practice Routine

Let’s face it: routines can get boring, especially when it comes to practicing your instrument. While practicing is absolutely vital to becoming a talented, badass musician, it can get dull after a while, particularly when you do the same thing over and over. But before you burn yourself out and ditch practicing altogether, why not […]
How Music Lessons Can Help Reduce Screen Time

While devices like cell phones, laptops, tablets, and TVs are extremely useful and can be wonderful forms of entertainment, some may argue it’s too much of a good thing—and for good reason. If you’re like most kids (and even adults these days), chances are you’re spending most of your time in front of a screen […]
SMA Spotlight: Grady Byrne

Good news comes to those who practice! One of our Scottsdale Music Academy guitar and band coaching students is Grady Byrne, and he’s received great news recently in his quest to further his academic studies and his musical career. Grady has accepted an academic scholarship to study for a music major at Belmont University in […]
The Dos and Dont’s of Drum Care

Believe it or not, drums require care and maintenance just like a car or pool. The fact is drums can be expensive; that’s why you’ll want to make them last as long as possible and keep them in good working condition. Read our tips below for ideal drum maintenance to learn how to properly care […]