When think about transcribing a music track, you probably…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/transcribe-music-like-pro-lead-instrument-melody/
When think about transcribing a music track, you probably think first about the melody played by the lead instrument.

This is the part we think of as “the tune” and remember most easily from music we’ve heard.

In this series we put in place all the structures and frameworks required to make the melody as easy to transcribe as it is to remember.

Piano is probably the most versatile of instruments in th…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/how-to-improvise-on-piano/
Piano is probably the most versatile of instruments in the variety of arrangements, styles and complexity of music it can produce –

making it both one of the most powerful and most intimidating instruments for learning to improvise.

Here are some simple steps you can take to gradually become an expert piano improviser.

What is the role and importance of time signatures in mus…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/how-to-hear-and-create-time-signatures/
What is the role and importance of time signatures in music?

The time signature is one of the most important regulations of a piece of music. It basically describes how the pulse of music works. It regulates the tempo at which the music is played.

In music, time signatures are usually notated as two numbers, one on top of the other and are written to the left of the clef and key signature.

If you’ve ever wondered how time signatures work, how to figure them out, and how to choose your own when writing songs, this article is going to help you.

Playing guitar by ear is a common goal for guitarists whe…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/how-can-i-learn-to-play-guitar-by-ear/
Playing guitar by ear is a common goal for guitarists when they start ear training.

You can train your ears to give you the skills needed to easily play songs by ear.

Exactly how you should train your ears for playing guitar by ear will depend on quite how you want to play. The ear training needed if you want to play pop and rock chords by ear will be different from the ear training suitable for a lead metal guitarist, for example.

Today we share some starting points in learning to play guitar by ear using ear training exercises.

Over a hundred years ago, Maria Montessori founded a meth…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/toccata-blocks-better-way-learn-teach-rhythm
Over a hundred years ago, Maria Montessori founded a method where play, curiosity, and exploration are the primary methods in which the student learns, known as the Montessori Method of Education.

Sounds perfect for music, no?

Learn how Catherine Schane-Lydon applied this method rhythm & meter and came up with an extraordinary teaching tool, Toccata Blocks!

w/Toccata Blocks

The idea that musicians are born naturally is a myth. T…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/how-to-play-guitar/
The idea that musicians are born naturally is a myth.

This is certainly true of guitar players. Anyone with desire and the dedication to get to know and practice the instrument consistently can develop rocking guitar skills.

The key to growing your skill set and knowledge of playing the guitar is to first study the fundamentals of the instrument.

Then, turn your practice into a habit you will come to enjoy. Similar to the goal of getting in shape, building guitar expertise requires some initial learning, forming a healthy routine, and some basic maintenance.

Learn how to do to build your own practice routine in this article.

Getting better at your craft takes time and effort, and w…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/learning-by-repetition-how-musicians-can-improve-with-looping/
Getting better at your craft takes time and effort, and we all get stuck in a rut with musicianship at some point.

It’s all too easy to get derailed or discouraged by monotony in practice and a lack of inspiration.

A phenomenal way out of this is looping – it will shake things up and put some fun back into your practice routine.

What is looping?

Find out in this article, and learn how to use it to improve your practice.

It may sound like a contradiction, but if you want to cre…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/want-to-play-it-hear-it-first-2/
It may sound like a contradiction, but if you want to create music when you play you must be able to hear the music first – in your head.

This goes doubly if you want to improvise, compose or play by ear!

Hearing what you’ll play consists of two parts:

1.Hear internally what you want to play
2.Know how to bring those sounds out into the world

Let’s look at those two in more detail.

Want your new song to be a classic? Writing a memorable…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/four-ways-write-better-melodies/
Want your new song to be a classic?

Writing a memorable melody is perhaps the single most important thing when it comes to writing music that will connect with the listener.

So how do you improve your melody writing skills?

In this post we’ll look at four techniques which you can use to improve every melody you write.

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s just like riding a bike…

https://www.musical-u.com/learn/turn-technique-into-muscle-memory-with-these-3-habits/
We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s just like riding a bike.” It’s a cliché for a reason.

It points to a fundamental aspect of how we learn and to the amazing brain trick known as muscle memory.

When we do something based on muscle memory, like dribble a basketball or type without looking at the keyboard, we don’t mull over each movement or decision – we operate unconsciously, instinctively.

The same can happen as we build music skills, allowing us to advance from one technique to the next without having to stop and think about what we’re doing.

Learn 3 habits that will build muscle memory most efficiently and fast-track your technique with ease.