Debut CD from Matt Brenna

by David McCormick on December 11, 2011

It started with a $4 microphone, the beginning of what was to become a new digital recording studio. Two years later, teacher Matt Brenna and his band have finished their first CD. It’s self-titled, Big Fat Buddha, and includes 12 songs written by Matt. It’s available on iTunes, or at bigfatbuddhaband.com Congratulations Matt!

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Starbucks to Host Irish Music & Dance

by David McCormick on May 13, 2011

The Tuesday night Irish session and dance held for many years at Snow City and the Middle Way has found a new home. It will reconvene beginning May 17 at the Starbucks on Dimond at Old Seward. This is a very family-friendly event that begins every Tuesday at 7 and offers a great way to [...]

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Irish Music at McGinley’s

by David McCormickMay 1, 2011

The Irish Club of Alaska and McGinley’s Pub are putting on another afternoon of free, family-friendly Irish music and dance on Sunday May 8 from 4-7 p.m. Bring mom downtown and join the fun. Special musical guest is Rose Conway Flanagan from New York, a great fiddle player.

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6th Annual Bluegrass Jamboree

by David McCormickApril 25, 2011

Three local bluegrass bands will be performing Friday evening, April 29th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 2111 Muldoon Road. Music on stage runs from 7:00 to 9:30, featuring Bootleg Brown, Diamond Willow and Slapdash. Afterward is an open jam session, so bring your instrument(s). Admission is free, and food and beverages will be available for [...]

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Free Irish music and dance event

by David McCormickApril 6, 2011

The Irish Club of Alaska and McGinley’s Pub have organized a monthly Irish music session and dance that’s aimed at families with children. The next one will be Sunday, April 17, from 4-7 p.m. at McGinley’s. Tim Feller will be calling the dances and some of our former students will be in the band.

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Go Out and Play!

by Nate FoersterMarch 15, 2011

For many, learning an instrument can be therapeutic. I’ve used music as a way of expressing, venting and relaxing for most of my life and I value the personal time that I spend with my instruments. However, when I look back on my musical life, my experiences in group and public performance have had the [...]

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A First Guitar – Electric or Acoustic?

by David McCormickJanuary 2, 2011

A frequent question from parents is whether to start children on electric guitars or acoustic guitars. Most kids interested in playing rock will obviously want an electric guitar, but there is a widespread idea that it is somehow better for them to start with a “regular” guitar. I have no idea where this idea started. [...]

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Pianos vs. Keyboards

by David McCormickJanuary 1, 2011

Parents and adult beginners often ask whether it’s necessary to invest in an acoustic piano before starting lessons. In our experience, the answer is definitely not. True, nothing beats the sound quality and expressiveness of a good baby grand piano. I know – I used to own one. But I got tired of having to [...]

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Music Theory: Your Friend!

by David McCormickSeptember 26, 2010

I’ve been teaching music for 16 years and I hear the same questions every day: How are you able to hear a song for the first time and immediately know how to play it? How do you keep so many songs in your head and never look at sheet music? How do you start to [...]

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Welcome! And please join in…

by David McCormickFebruary 14, 2010

We have a lot of thoughts we’d like to share about music, and we’d like for you to share your own ideas and questions too. So we’re collecting them all here. Have an opinion to offer or a question to ask?  Just click on “comments” below and send it along.

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