1 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Apr 28, 2011
I am finding that a few of my students are becoming upset or frustrated with the difficulties and challenges that music presents to them. Whether it is the technical aspect of their instrument, or the shear difficulty of feeling music and making the...
Read More
2 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Apr 24, 2011
Doing something you know you love is easy. For me, practicing is part of my daily routine…I don’t feel right if my day has started without some time...
2 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Apr 20, 2011
It’s that wonderful time of year again, when sunshine beckons flowers and people alike to come revel in its warmth. The air is fresh, colors come...
2 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Apr 17, 2011
I don’t necessarily believe in going through mindless repetitions when practicing music (see my last blog, Stop Practicing, Start Playing!), but...
2 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Mar 25, 2011
Dynamics. We all know the markings: pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff. As young musicians we are taught that pp means to play at the softest level while ff means...
1 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Mar 23, 2011
Many beginning students of music may wonder what learning theory has anything to do with learning to play the piano, and still others wonder how it...
3 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Mar 20, 2011
So, you want to make Regions?
2 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Mar 7, 2011
I spend a lot of time awake late into the night, as my jobs as a drum teacher and professional musician usually don’t require me to wake up too early...
2 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Feb 27, 2011
“Frank Sinatra! Pavarotti! Lady Gaga! Kristin Chenoweth! Justin Beiber!” When I meet new students, I always make a point of asking who their favorite...
3 min read
Valentina Jotovic: Feb 23, 2011
What was I influenced by? I have no idea – sure, my father took violin lessons with John Krauss as a junior or senior in high school only because...