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Benefits of learning a musical instrument

Benefits of learning a musical instrument

Posted on by jason riley

“Hey, you sure look like you are having a good time playing that guitar!”

Actually, I’m having a great time. Playing music is some of the most fun I have. It’s been a real blessing to be able to make music myself and to share it with others. It’s something that I’m truly grateful for.

Music-making is a wonderful pastime for anyone and everyone, from young to old and extremely serious endeavor to hobbyist. We believe that everyone should play. At least a little something.

Unlike sports, music training is something that will last a whole lifetime. There is no season to making music, it’s low impact and high reward.

Fun – Playing music is just plain fun. Get together with your friends and family and have an ol’ time hootenanny, jam the blues or just sing some songs. It’s also a great way to spend some time by yourself. You are never truly alone when you have your instrument with you. Mine is a trusted friend and part-time psychiatrist.

Applause – People like music. And it’s in nearly everyone’s audience training manual that you are expected to applaud after a performance. People want to show their appreciation for the gift of music that you have given them. They want to acknowledge your talent or at the very least, you hard work. So they clap! It’s a nice feeling to get the praise of even one other human being. Imagine a whole room full of happy audience all applauding for you!

Feeling of Accomplishment – Playing music isn’t easy. If it were I suppose everyone would be doing it. It does take time, focus and plain practice to do it. It’s really a case of getting out of it what you put into it. But it’s an amazing thing to be able to produce real music on an instrument. The sense of pride and accomplishment that goes along with even being able to play a simple piece is a very real thing. We all want to feel accomplished. We all want to be liked and even applauded. When you are doing something in music you are really doing something special. The feelings that a sense of accomplishment bring after a completed task will inspire and propel you to new heights.

Friends – Music has given me friendship. Now, I’m pretty serious about music, it’s my career and a major part of my life. Most of my friends play. Almost all of the people I work with play. I teach music so my students obviously play. Growing up, the memories that we made by making music together bound us together. The experiences you have playing music with and for others create lifelong friendships and memories you’ve had together. Music has forged some of my very best relationships. I wouldn’t have met my wife if it weren’t for music. Music brings people together.

Join a Gang – I’ve got to admit, one of the biggest reasons I initially wanted to learn to play was that so I could be part of a gang. A crew. I wanted to belong to an elite squad of highly trained specialists. Mostly, I just wanted to belong. Being a part of an orchestra, choir, marching band, string quartet or jazz big band makes you part of something larger than yourself. You are theirs and they are part of your team. And with team work anything is possible.

Travel – Music has taken me everywhere. Starting from my earliest days traveling with the school band to different towns to march in parades or be in competitions, music puts you on the road. It’s exciting to see new places and meet new people, play for new audiences. People treat you exceptionally well when you are a visiting musician to their hometown. For the most part, they are on their best behavior and they treat you like a real VIP, a real star. Being on the road with bands at home and overseas is hard work, it’s exhausting but it’s also a lot of fun. It’s extra time to be with the musicians. We have a lot of laughs and eat a lot of new foods (good and bad for you). The miles on the road require safety first but there is a big world out there. Music can take you anywhere.

Dress Up – Most musical performances will require a few “glad rags”, appropriate attire for your style of music. This might mean a tuxedo but at the very least we should look clean, professional and generally well kept. Some great advice I got a long time ago was that “you should always be better dressed than your audience”. Music performance offers us and opportunity to spruce up a little bit. Show the people that we are serious enough to put on a clean shirt, some new shoes and do our best on every level. It’s fun to play Dress up too. And it’s just fun to play.

Jason Riley

I’m a hustling musician and family man. I love to learn, play, share and encourage others in music. We’ve got some cool bands (including Soca Jukebox) and I am the director of the St. Joseph Arts Academy. This is my Blog!
www.jasonriley.com
www.stjosephartsacademy.com

Do Dogs Have a Favorite Kind of Music

Posted on by jason riley

WASHINGTON – Do dogs have a favorite kind of music? A new study suggests they do.

Researchers from the Scottish SPCA and the University of Glasgow played a variety of genres of music — soft rock, Motown, pop, reggae and classical — for dogs at a shelter in Dumbarton, Scotland, and tracked their heart rates and behavior, the BBC reports.

Overall, the dogs’ two favorite genres were reggae and soft rock — perhaps it’s good advice to leave a little Soca Jukebox music on when leaving your four-footed friends alone at home.

http://www.jasonriley.com
https://stjosephartsacademy.com
http://www.socajukebox.com

Monster Concert

Posted on by jason riley

Last weekend Academy guitarists participated in the annual MSWU and SJAMTA Scholarship Benefit Young Monster Concert.

The concert has been running for almost 50 years but 2017 was a first for the guitarists to be invited to participate.

It was an honor. And it was a great concert with wonderful performances by young musicians, their accompanists and teachers.

Students and parents had a wonderful afternoon together, playing and listening to music from students aged 6-18 on piano and guitar.

Participating Academy students included Mary M., Georgia R. Carson S., Sofie S., Molly R., Jaden G., Brekken J., Alex P., Alevia B. and director, Jason Riley.

Great Job, Guitarists! Thanks to the parents and families for supporting and encouraging these young musicians. Thanks also to Martha Chesney, Michelle Rautman-May and all the fine teachers at SJAMTA.

http://www.jasonriley.com
http://www.stjosephartsacademy
http://www.socajukebox.com

How to make audiences happy.

How to make audiences happy.

Posted on by jason riley

We entertain people. They have fun. Music lifts people up. We all kind get a little down sometimes. Those cloudy and cold, January, Missouri days can be brutal. That’s when we’ve got to get together and “feel alright”.

Audiences of all kinds… our friends, our family, your guests, your clients, festival go-ers, entertainment seekers and just plain music-lovers seek the benefits of music and music lessons.

If you are hosting an event for the family, organizing a community celebration, corporate entertainment, getting the gang together or maybe just need an inspiring night out…

Soca Jukebox is one of the best entertainment acts or bands we’ve ever had the enjoyment of hiring at the Blish-Mize Market. They are easy to work with, talented, professional and best of all, our customers LOVED THEIR MUSIC! I think we just pleased EVERYONE! I would hire them again in a heartbeat.
-Blish Mize, Blish Mize Connor

“When the Imagine Eleven needed the right ending to its summer music series that uses music to encourage the community to support and care for one another, Soca Jukebox is the only one we trust. There excellence in musical entertainment combined with the ability to lift the human spirit is a rare gift that they are able to deliver each year. Their music and heart bring the best island party to everyone!”  
-Imagine Eleven Concert Series, Roger Lenander

“Soca Jukebox is like experiencing an island vacation. Even though you are in Missouri, the sounds of the band make you feel like you are somewhere special. That’s what makes them a crowd favorite! From a professional aspect…they are just a great group of guys to work with!”
-St. Joseph Downtown Partnership, Rhabecca Boerkircher, Executive Director

“Soca Jukebox played a festival here in Kansas for us, were a huge hit! They mix recognizable songs with a unique sound and were so fun and upbeat. The crowd loved them, their humor, and the atmosphere they created. Definitely a group we’d love to see again, a crowd pleaser for such a diverse age group is hard to find, and we look forward to having this talent here again!”
-Wathena Fall Festival, Heather Cluck, president

It seems like KC has a beer festival every weekend, but Soca Jukebox really set the High Plains BrewHoff apart from the rest. Not only did they put on a fantastic stage show, they were incredibly easy to work with.  They were, in a word, professionals, from first contact, to the last note played.  Two years later, our customers still rave about Soca Jukebox‘s show.
-Brew Lab, Justin Waters

“Soca Who Box? Never heard of her..”
– Clay Johnston

Soca Jukebox was a crowd favorite for our summer community concert series! From the first note to the last, Jason and the band delivered an outstanding performance that entertained and engaged the crowd. Not only are they talented musicians and great entertainers, they are the fun loving type of guys everybody would want to party with! Soca Jukebox is more than a band, it’s a complete island experience. 
– McCook National Bank, Shelby Siegfried, VP & Marketing Manager

Early in the Fall of 2016, Mosaic Life Care hosted our employee recognition event, The End of Summer Block Party at Coleman Hawkins Square.  Soca Jukebox came highly recommended by the Downtown Association for their venue, Sounds of Summer.  While working with bands for bids, Jason Riley and those of Soca Jukebox were extremely professional.  It’s a breath of fresh air working with any business that has great customer service.  Not only were they responsive and timely, they were respectful and were accommodating to some of our requests to the playlist.  I highly recommend this band as they have an expansive genre to fit the tastes of every person and age.  Great for dancing or just listening.  
-MOSAIC Life Care, Shay Homeyer. 

“I have invited Soca Jukebox to play Amelia Earhart Festival more times than any other band because they have the talent to entertain 30,000 people! They truly are a perfect example of getting what you pay for!”
 
“This band is so smooth on and off the stage, they are so incredibly genuine and easy to work with.  In addition their song selections cross such a wide genre of music that they are a perfect fit for any occasion!”
 
“ I have hired this band for festivals and banquets and you won’t find a better, more diverse group of talented musicians to  enhance your event anywhere!”
 
Amelia Earhart Festival – Travis Grossman
Concert/Event Promoter, Entertainment Coordinator for the Amelia Earhart Festival.

Soca Jukebox was hired to play a private event for a large group in Sioux Falls SD last summer.  We have had a musical act every year for the last 10 years at this event with little fan fare.  However, everyone loved Soca… people danced, sang along, and had a great time at the party with this group!  I chaired the event and still have people tell me it was the best event in the last 10 years mostly because of the evening played by Soca Jukebox.  On top of delivering on their performance the group was super easy to work with, punctual, and delivered on every promise made….which isn’t always the case in my experience.  I would recommend them to anyone or any function as they really bring the fun to the party!  I can’t wait to see them again!
Best night ever!
– Minnihaha Country Club, Souix Falls, SD – Rory Kelly
 

 (Jason)  “As entertainer at our organization’s major donor appreciation banquet, Jason Riley has been a smashing hit!  So much so, we brought him back 3 years in a row!”

-Angus Foundation, Milford H. Jenkins, President

(Jason)“Consistently classy, electrical and an amazing composition of eclectic genre!” – —MOSAIC Life Care, Joni Bestgen

How Can I Stick with Learning a New Instrument?

How Can I Stick with Learning a New Instrument?

Posted on by jason riley

Hey, let’s face facts. Learning a musical instrument is fun and rewarding but it’s also kind of tough.

If it were easy, everyone would play an instrument.

Unfortunately, we know that it’s kind of a rare skill amongst the population at large.

Personally, I think everyone should learn to play something.  And they can!  The key is to understand that simple doesn’t always mean easy.  That anything worth doing requires effort, energy and attention.  To know that you might not always feel like practicing.  You might feel bored or frustrated sometimes.  But you know you are going to do it anyway.

There are certain things we all do.  We like to eat.  We like to sleep.

Hey, we are human and we do those things everyday because we need to.  Well, now we are talking about musicians.  Guess what they do everyday?

Musicians play music and practice it.  That’s just who we are and part of what we do.

Everyday.

The days we sleep and the days we eat.

For beginners, it is often tough to accept that it takes a lot of time and effort to become the accomplished  musician they dream of, but with the following tips, you’ll find it easy to stay dedicated in your music lessons.

Choose your instrument wisely.
When you’re first considering music lessons, follow your natural inclination toward a specific instrument.  Also, it is worth taking a wander around your local music shop.  Not only does this give you the chance to hold the instrument, but you can get demonstrations of every variety until you find something that’s right for you. If you don’t find yourself immediately attached to anything, you can always rent instruments – or try one that everyone has access to… with some singing lessons!

Learn music you like.
It’s all well and good to aspire to play the great classics that every professional has in their repertoire, but when starting off,  it is worth picking some pieces of music that mean something to you.  If you ask your teacher to help you tackle a piece you feel a connection with, you’re far more likely to want to carry on learning and attempting to play.

Learn with others.
Even though many of us opt for private music lessons with the hope of learning faster with more one-on-one time, it can actually be beneficial to learn with a friend or a family member.  This works especially well if you’re trying to encourage a child as young children love to be involved in what their parents are doing.  Group classes are a great way to get started and make some like-minded friends.  Especially important for the socialization of our littlest learners.

Music is NOT rudiments and scales?
Traditional music teachers will often begin by teaching scales, chords and other basics but these can get extremely tiresome after a few lessons.  Find a teacher that will start by teaching you based on YOUR musical goals and it might just keep you interested for when more structured rules and theories need to be learned.

Don’t be afraid to jam.
Even the most rehearsed and experienced musicians need some moments of letting go.  This is something you can easily achieve with a jamming session. Whether you’ve learned just one song or you have a whole repertoire, spontaneity not only encourages creativity, but it might open up your eyes to things you never knew you could play. Finally, jamming might reveal to you what you want to focus on in your lessons, which makes it easier to stay dedicated and work toward your goals.

 

www.jasonriley.com
www.stjosephartsacademy.com

Gifts for your Guitarist

Posted on by jason riley

Gifts for your Guitarist

Looking for a gift for that guitarist in your life? You can encourage their musical growth and help speed their progress with a few key tools. Here’s a list of a few items that every guitarist can benefit from and that we all need in our “toolbox”. There’s a wide range of items from very inexpensive tools to unlimited expenditures on tutoring or new rigs. You might check to see what your guitarist already has or might be most interested in. Here’s a few things we all can use.

A guitar – Always get the best instrument you can afford. Young guitarists will outgrow 1/2 and 3/4 size guitars and be ready for full-sized instruments by about age 12 or 13. Guitars aren’t quite like saxophones or pianos where just one will do. Serious guitarists will eventually have at least a small collection including an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar based on what kind of music they’d like to play. Nylon string acoustic guitars are known as classical guitars, hollow-body electrics are sometimes known as “jazz boxes”. Guitars are fairly inexpensive compared to violins or pianos. Your guitarist will have some idea of the types of guitar designs they are most attracted to. They are more likely to enjoy it, play it and practice on it if it’s something they really wanted.

amplifiers – electric guitars need an amplifier to complete the instrument. A small practice amp will do until the time comes for professional playing. A good amp will make even a cheap guitar sound good while a great guitar will still sound bad through a cheap amp. There is a wide range of styles in amplifiers too. The more modern ones come with some nice effects built in.

effects – You can add effects to your electric guitar/amp combo with effects pedals. These are stand alone devices sometimes called “stomp boxes” as we control them with our feet. They add distortion, vibrato, reverberation and delaying effects to the guitar.

Electronic tuner ($15-25) – I recommend a clip-on tuner. They are a great invention and clip right on to the end of the guitar. You can also get free guitar tuning apps for your smart devices these days. Other options are stand alone tuners, pedal based tuners, pitch pipes and tuning forks. Go with the clip on type if you can.

Music stand ($15-75) – Every practicing musician needs a music stand. The inexpensive fold-up kinds are just fine but something a little more substantial is better. It’s a tool they should use everyday for years.

Guitarist’s foot stool ($12-20) – Foot stools are commonly used in classical guitar playing and sitting positions but they are great for all guitarists. They just help us get a better hold on the instrument and raise it up a bit which makes everything easier.

Metronome ($20-100) – Everyone needs a metronome. Again, there are apps out for metronomes for your smart device. Options are the old school “pendulum” types that wind up or more modern electrical, quartz or battery driven digital models. I personally wear out metronomes because I use them so much. My favorite for the past several years is a $60 Boss Dr. Beat (DB-60) that is a metronome, tuner and timer combo.

Capo ($5-25) – Sometimes called a “cheater bar”, capos are an important and enlightening tool for any guitar player. They allow us to easily transpose music to other keys and offer fresh and inspiring sounds. They actually make the guitar a little easier to play too!

Picks (.25 – $10) – Picks or “plectrums” come in a variety of shapes, sizes, thicknesses and materials. Don’t go crazy here but do get a variety or different ones for your guitarists to have on hand. We use different picks for different styles of play. Players who have some long-term experience may know exactly what their favorite picks are. I still like to try different ones from time to time for a different feel or inspiration.

Guitar straps ($10-40)— Straps come in a variety of styles and can add a little personality or flair to your instrument. They can be made from a variety of materials from nylon, fabrics or leather. I usually try to find one that matches the color tone of my instruments (each guitar has it’s own dedicated strap) and I like wider ones versus narrow. Acoustic guitars will sometimes need additional strap buttons installed. You can also by strap locks ($30) that will keep the guitar from slipping out of the strap. My heavier electric guitars all have strap locks.

New instrument cable ($15-25) – Guitar cables wear out from time to time (even if they say “lifetime warranty”). They are around $1 per foot and most guitarists will use the 15-25 ft models. If you are running amps will effects pedals or pedal boards you’ll need cabling in a variety of lengths from 6 inches to 25 feet depending on the number of items in the signal chain.

Slides ($5-20) – Slides are little tubes of metal or glass that slip over a left hand finger. They create a sort of “Hawaiian” sound and many guitar styles are based on their use. They are a fun tool to have on hand. It’s important to get the right size for your finger, like buying a ring. Choosing the steel or glass one is up to you. Normally, the steel ones are for acoustic and the glass ones for electric, but really anything goes.

Cleaning cloth/Polish ($5-20) – A clean, cotton polishing cloth is best. Actually, a good ol’ cotton t-shirt is a great guitar rag. Mostly, you’ll use elbow grease to remove fingerprints and oils from the finish. I always have one on hand to keep it dry when we are playing outside in the summer months and always give the guitar a good wipe down before it goes in a case. Cleaners and polishes are also available but they are a “sometimes” application. A little goes a long way.

Strings/String winder ($8-15) – Guitar stings break on occasion. Having a spare set is a must. The comes in specific gauges and materials. Experienced players know the gauges and brands they prefer. If you aren’t sure, just make sure you buy for the right type of guitar. Electric guitar, steel-string acoustic or nylon strings for classical guitars are the basic choices. Steel strings (usually made from nickel) are gauged roughly from extra light to heavy. Go with the light or extra light. Nylon strings for classical guitar are gauged by tension, normal through hard tension. I’d go with at least hard but I personally use the super-high or super hard tensions. A string winder is an inexpensive little tool that helps you put the strings on a little faster. You need one and they are probably a couple of bucks.

Guitar stands ($10-30) – A guitar stand is better than leaning the guitar on the wall. They make it easier for players to keep the guitar out of the case and at hand for practicing. They also make ones that you can install on your wall so they are up and out of the way or even part of the room decoration.

Guitar case ($25-1000) – Every guitar needs a case. If you’re not playing it, the case is the safest place for it. There are soft cases, chipboard and hard cases. You’ll pay a premium for the sturdiest of flight cases for your world tour. All my road guitars are in hard cases. Soft cases require a little more care but are generally easy to pack around and have shoulder straps. Avoid the chipboard variety if you can. They wear out quickly.

Subscription to a guitar magazine ($12-25 per annual) – Everyone likes to get fun things in the mail. Guitar magazines are filled with profiles of famous players, adds for the newest guitar creations and LESSONS! My favorite is Guitar Player as it’s pretty well rounded. Guitar World is more for rock and heavy metal folks. Acoustic Guitar player is great too. You can find one for any style and there are a lot of online options too if you like to save the trees.

Guitar books ($10-50) – I love guitar books. There are so many method books and artist folios from every style and historical period. I’ve been building my guitar library for many years and continue to do so. Guitar books are always a great gift. Some of my personal recommendations are below.

Fakebooks ($25-40) – Fakebooks are a collection of songs, usually in specific style. They will contain anywhere between 200 and 1000 tunes written in traditional notation, lyrics and chord symbols. Musicians take that basic info off the page and we “fake” the song, making it up as we go along with intros, endings and maybe solos too. They are available in every style these days… Jazz, Bluegrass, Broadway, Folk, The best fake book ever, The Real book, even THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS GUITAR FAKEBOOK! A new fakebook every year will really add to your guitarist’s library.

Guitar Lessons ($20-100) – A great music tutor or coach can get advancing guitarists on the right path and the right plan. They can help students save time in learning and provide encouragement when the going gets tough. Finding the right teacher for your student is a must. It’s definitely a two-way street and personalities, learning and teaching styles need to line-up. Experienced teachers will know what a student needs, understand a variety of learning styles and be able to include many of the students own musical interests. I am grateful to the many great guitar mentors and teachers I’ve had through the years.

365 Day Guitar Challenge – Talk to your guitarists often about their practicing and encourage them to make time. We become guitarists by having the guitar in our hand a little everyday. I’ll be talking to my students about the 365 Day Guitar Challenge for 2016. All you have to do is just pick up your instrument everyday. That’s it. Most will go ahead and do a little playing or practicing while they’ve got it. It’s not easy so not everyone will be up to the challenge. I’ll admit, I missed a day or two this last year. But for those with fortitude the 365 Day Guitar Challenge will be a fun reminder that the guitar really is a part of their daily routine. We are guitarists! And it’s Free.

I’m sure you guitarist would also welcome a brand new guitar, amplifier or pedal board at any time. If you are in the market for some larger or more expensive items, you can drop me a note anytime, I’ll share my thoughts and can give a point in the right direction. If you have any other questions about the items listed, I’m always happy to talk guitar and can get specific about the needs of your particular guitarist. Send me a note to jason@jasonriley.com anytime.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and all the best in 2017!

jason

What guitar books are the best?

Guitarists everywhere get a great amount of knowledge and practice from specific methods, topical material and artist folios. Some of the first methods for guitar were published in the 19th century by the very first guitarists. The famous “methode por guitarre” by the Spanish monk and baroque guitarist, Gaspar Sanz, dates back to the 1600’s. Many modern guitarists got their early start reading from the methods of Mel Bay and Alfred’s. I’ve built a great guitar library over the years but there are a few books that have been really important in my growth. Books that have taught me foundational concepts, delivered flashes of insight and that I return to again and again. Here’s a quick list of some great books for the guitar.

The Advancing Guitarist – Mick Goodrick
Pumping Nylon – Scott Tenant
The Charlie Parker Omni Book
Jerry Hahn’s Complete Method for the Jazz Guitar
The Complete Joe Pass
Sheets of Sound for Guitar – Jack Zucker
Zen Guitar – Philip Toshio Sudo
Effortless Mastery – Kenny Werner
The Jazz Theory Book – Mark Levine
The Royal Conservatory Series
The Suzuki Guitar Series
Jazz Improvisation: The Goal Note Method – Shelton Berg
Thesaurus of Scales and Chords – Nicolas Slominsky
Creative Guitar 1 and 2 – Guthrie Govan
Ted Greene’s Books
The Library of Guitar Classics – Amsco Publishing
Frederick Noad’s Solo Guitar playing and historical folios
Berklee Press – Melodic Rhythms, Reading and Advanced Reading Studies for the Guitar, Pick style classical guitar – William Leavitt
Sight reading for the classical guitarist 1 and 2 – Robert Benedict
Building a Jazz Vocabulary – Mike Steinel
Matt Smith’s Chop Shop
The Big Book of Jazz Guitar – Mark Dziuba
Kitharalogus – Ricardo Iznaola
Guitar Lore – Dennis Sandole
Intervallic Designs – Joe Diorio
Forward Motion – Hal Galper
Mickey Baker’s Jazz and Hot guitar books
Rhythm Changes 1 2 and 3 – Frank Vignola
Juan Serrano’s Flamenco Method
Dennis Koster’s Keys to Flamenco 1 and 2
The Guitarists Compendium Series (Howard Roberts)
The Book of Six Strings – Philip Toshio Sudo
Guitar Player Repair Guide – Dan Erlewine
The Solo Lute Works of Johann Sebastian Bach – Frank Koonce
The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
My Guitar Basics
My Artist Repertoire Series
My New Books
Syncopation for the Modern Drummer

Fake Books – The Real Books, The Ultimate Jazz Fakebook, Ultimate Guitar Christmas, Classic Rock, the Ultimate Fakebook and the Best Fake Book Ever.

Jason Riley

I’m a hustling musician and family man. I love to learn, play, share and encourage others in music. We’ve got some cool bands (including Soca Jukebox) and I am the director of the St. Joseph Arts Academy. This is my Blog!
www.jasonriley.com
www.stjosephartsacademy.com

Benefits of Music Lessons at the St. Joseph Arts Academy

Posted on by jason riley

Since 1993, the Jason Riley Guitar Studio has helped hundreds of students begin and continue on their musical journey. Now, with the evolution of the St. Joseph Arts Academy, we are the fastest growing school of music in northwest Missouri, soon to be offering private lessons in all popular instruments, as well as voice. We know you are busy and it can be very hard to find a reliable music teacher. That’s why we go above and beyond to find the BEST music teachers in the Midland Empire–so you don’t have to!

Our staff consists of experienced music teachers, capable of teaching all ages and levels. We are will soon be expanding to state-of-the-art, commercial facilities. We provide on-going support to our instructors to ensure we are always providing our students and parents with the best possible musical experience.

While you’re researching the best school for you, consider the benefits of becoming a St. Joseph Arts Academy student and find out why we are the Midland Empire’s number one choice for music lessons!​

15 BENEFITS OF BECOMING A ST. JOSEPH ARTS ACADEMY STUDENT:

1. While guitar and fretted instruments like Banjo, Mandolin, Ukulele and Electric bass have been our specialty in the past, we will soon be offering lessons for Voice, Violin, Cello, Drums and Piano– in one location.
This saves our students time and money, as one family can take multiple instruments on the same day. Other studios offer multiple instruments, but we are the only one to offer all of the most popular instruments in a high quality, convenient environment.
We welcome all beginners and all levels–no matter what your age! Adults- click here for more info!

​2. The most qualified teaching faculty in the area!
Academy Director, Jason Riley teaches as an adjunct professor of guitar at MWSU and Benedictine college. We are dedicated to finding the best teachers in the area so your student can have the right personality and the right teaching style that works for them. All our teachers must have teaching experience, a degree in music or extensive performing experience, and most importantly, a fun, motivating personality that you’re sure to love! No matter what your musical goals are, we want to help you reach them! Our goal is to inspire your student–and that’s the best teaching method of all!

3. The widest range of lesson times available, sure to fit any busy schedule!
​SOON to be Open 7 days a week!
Monday: 9:00 am – 8:30 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am – 8:30 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am – 8:30 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am – 8:30 pm
Friday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Sunday: 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

4. A proven track record of excellence.
Every year, aspiring music teachers start their own studio, and a year or two later it’s closed. We have a proven track record of offering quality guitar lessons in St. Joseph, MO, year round. The Academy mission is teaching music lessons, trusted by hundreds of families for nearly 25 years.

5. Parents are welcome to sit in on lessons.
Instead of waiting in a music retail store showroom, or a cramped hallway, our clients can watch your child’s lesson while you wait.

​6. Fully stocked lesson rooms.
Our studio is stocked with everything you need for lessons, including amps and all modern teaching aids via technology. We have spent thousands of dollars on our studio for everything you need for music lessons!

7. Free, all inclusive recitals.
Every parent just wants to know how their child is doing and if they are really progressing. The best way for a parent to understand if their investment in lessons is really worth it is to have their child participate in a recital. In Spring and Fall, many of our students choose to perform in our biannual recitals. We hold these locally so you don’t have to travel far for a top-notch recital experience. Our recital location has a grand piano, so piano students are not playing on just a keyboard. Our sound system ensures a quality experience for all! Unlike other schools, there is no admission (Monster Concert excluded) or any related fees for these recitals.

​8. Professional customer service.
We strive to bring you the best customer service possible, 7 days a week. We are continually adding hours to ensure that we are able to assist you when you call or come to the studio! We will soon have a full time desk staff who are available at the front desk to assist you during ALL lessons, quickly and professionally. Excellent customer service is what sets us apart!

​9. Conveniently located on Ashland Ave in St. Joseph!
Due to its central location, our school is convenient and draws students from St. Joseph, Atchison, Smithville, Savannah, Weston, Dearborn, Elwood, Wathena, Maryville, Stewartsville, Maysville, Weston, Platte City and North Kansas City. We are easy to find, right off the Belt highway (BUS 169), with shopping and restaurants close by.

​10. Discount Cards
We are the only music school that offers student discount cards for our students, which saves you money all throughout the year. You don’t need to worry about finding and purchasing music books, instruments and accessories. All of our current students receive a student discount card that saves them money on all of their music supply needs. We’re here to help and save you the time it takes to find these items, so you don’t have to!

11. Picture Day
We are the only music school that offers a picture day for their students! Every year, we host a free picture day with a professional photographer. We want to celebrate your music and share that memory through pictures. Examples pictured on this page, throughout the website and in our newsletter! Adults are welcome too! Students can bring their instruments to the photo shoot and wear whatever they like.

​12. Medals, pins, certificates and awards to celebrate achievement.
We are the only music school in the Midland Empire that gives their students the opportunity to earn special color wristband bracelets (kids and teens love them!), medals, pins and certificates for passing musical tests. Do other schools offer trophies and certificates? A few. But none of them inspire their students with smiling faces by giving them full color, really cool “success” wristbands that they can show off to their friends.

More importantly, when our students have a test coming up, they practice more, their parents are proud, their teachers are proud, and everybody wins. We also specialize in music lessons for adults. We don’t think learning music should be boring–it should be fun!

13. Make Up Classes
Missed a lesson? Out of town? No problem. Just sign up for our weekend classes. They never expire, and you can come when it’s convenient for you.

​14. Early morning and lunch time lessons for homeschoolers, retirees, college students and working professionals.
Since we are the largest school in the Midland Empire, we are able to be a ‘full service’ music school. This allows us to offer lessons as early as 9 a.m. and we see many students between the hours of 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. If you are a homeschool parent, retiree, college student or working professional who has a flexible schedule, take advantage of our early morning and lunch time lesson spots.

​15. Month to Month Lessons!
Our desire is to inspire our students with the love of music. We do this through teachers and music that our students love. Unlike other programs, we do not require semester minimums for lessons. You can begin anytime! To stop lessons, we just need 30 days’ written notice.

It’s easy to take the next step:

Lessons are first come, first served
so contact us today to arrange your first lesson!

Call us at (816) 974-7656

Offering quality piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, voice, bass, drums, violin, cello, mandolin, banjo and ukulele lessons in St. Joseph, MO.

https://stjosephartsacademy.com
http://www.jasonriley.com
http://www.socajukebox.com

Benefits of playing music - Part 2

Benefits of playing music – Part 2

Posted on by jason riley

Teaching a child to play

Parents should be involved in the process of teaching children to play. It won’t matter if the parent is a musician themselves or not. Encouragement and patience is all that is really required. (Maybe a hug or two!)
Parents can help by ensuring the child’s instrument is in good working order and suitable to the child’s age and body size. Kids also need structure and encouragement when it comes to practice time. Younger kids should be supervised by the parents during practice but older kids may be happier to go on their own.
Sometimes parents may have to make sure the instrument is in tune or help younger learners get the instrument ready for practice.
Encouraging language and genuine interest in all children activities is truly a must and a very strong incentive. Reward your child for a great day, week or month of practice and do something extra special after recital times.
Remember, your child may not always feel like practicing and this is natural. If it becomes a struggle for you and the child, discuss ways that you can overcome these humps with your teacher. They should be sensitive to these times with younger children and have strategies available to get them back on the right track.

Benefits of an instrument

For children, the benefits of learning a musical instrument are many. Music learning aids development and is a positive, enriching activity. It helps in developing personal discipline, stick-to-it-ice-ness and builds self-esteem. Learning music early helps develop brain function and communication between both sides of the brain, developing both cognitive and motor skills. Music skills offer the chance to read, practice close listening, incorporate math and higher theoretical concepts all into one fun activity. Students learn about their own likes, dislikes and how to communicate verbally and non-verbally with others in learning and performance settings. Learning an instrument builds the self-confidence that is necessary in so many other areas of life. Music and art are some of the highest and safest means of self-expression that exists for kids.

Here’s what CBS news had to say about the benefits of learning a musical instrument.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-right-note-for-learning-music/

Guitar lessons

Guitar lessons are a great choice for learners of almost any age. The instruments themselves a relatively inexpensive and highly portable. The guitar is used in nearly every style of music from commercial form to high brow art music and to accompany singers.
Taking lessons on the guitar has never been easier. The popularity of the instrument has insured a wide variety of available instruments, method books and modes of learning.
Lessons with a qualified teacher is highly recommended. You can learn one-on-one, in group settings, in the teaching studio or some instructors may even be able to come to your home.
What are you waiting for? Get started playing now and enjoy the benefits of learning music and becoming the guitarist you always wanted to be.

Jason Riley

I’m a hustling musician and family man. I love to learn, play, share and encourage others in music. We’ve got some cool bands (including Soca Jukebox) and I am the director of the St. Joseph Arts Academy. This is my Blog!
www.jasonriley.com
www.stjosephartsacademy.com

Guitar Lessons

Guitar Lessons

Posted on by jason riley

Did you ever want to learn to play the guitar?

Well, I did. And not just a little bit. I wanted to learn to play the guitar really, really bad.

I didn’t exactly grow up in a musical family so it was a little out of the ordinary for a kid around there to be curious about music. Let alone actually want learn how to play an instrument. The instrument I wanted to learn was the guitar.

It started at around the age of eight years old. I told my mom that I really wanted a guitar. It went something like this…

“Dear Mom, can I have a guitar?” And do you know what she said? “No. Why would you want one of those things?”

So the next year, around age nine, I tried again.

“Dear Sweet Mom, can I have a guitar please?” No again.

Age ten?

“Dear Sweet and Kindly Mother, can I pleeeeaase have a guitar?” No guitar that year either.

Age 11 has got to be the year, right?

“Dear Sweet Mom, Angel from heaven that you are, so giving and desiring all good things for your son, may I please, please have a guitar?” You guessed it. No guitar for me.

This had been going on for sometime. I was basically listening to my music collection and playing a tennis racket in the mirror. Why did I have a tennis racket? I didn’t play tennis nor did I want to (nothing against tennis players). I want to be a guitar player. I could feel it deep down in my soul. This was my calling and I wouldn’t give up.

I also had since learned that my grandparents and their brothers and sisters played. Not only that, they were multi-instrumentalists whose own father had put them to work as kids playing on the bandstand for square dances, barn warmings and house parties! Also, a few of my friends were becoming interested in learning to play too.

We wanted to start a band. No instruments but we had a band. We get together in the shed with anything that would make a sound and tape record improvised songs. My buddy, Eddie (who is now a professional songwriter) would just make up lyrics on the spot! Classic tunes like “Nerds Rule” and “Gone with Gungadin”.

Ed’s brother had broken guitar that was missing some strings. Perfect! We had a toy train that would make a whistle sound. We’d basically clap along and we must have had some drum sticks (no drums of course).

In the sixth grade we were allowed to join the school band. Guess who wanted to join? Me! Guess who was surprised I wanted to join the band? My parents!

No guitar in the school band. That was fine. I’d take just about anything at that point. I’d like to maybe play the drums but I’d take the sax or even the trumpet. Still some of my favorite instruments to this day.

They let me join the band! I got a snare drum and a bell kit. Everybody hated having to learn to play the bells, but hey we were in the band.

The next year, 7th grade and 12 years old I went back to the routine.

“Dear Sweet Mom, whom I love and who always looks pretty, can I please, pretty please with sugar and spice and everything sweet, please can I have a guitar?”

Do you know what she said? “You know I think this kid wants to learn to play the guitar.”

YES! Right! A thousand times YES! She heard me. I think my dad was just sick of hearing about it and said just go get him the guitar.

One of my super cool uncles had one for sale. We went out that night and got it. A black les paul lotus guitar, chip board case, peavey amp with a 12 inch speaker and I think he even through in a Journey song book.

That was the day I became a guitar player and I have never looked back.

Finding music lessons, especially guitar lessons wasn’t easy in my little town. Luckily, I had a couple of cousins that could play and they got me started. Even my dear sweet Grandad got into the action. I have some great memories of those early guitar lessons.

A little later, come to find out, my school band director played what he called “folk guitar”, finger style on a nylon string. Sounds cool to me. $3 a half hour for him to show me what he knew. I wanted an HOUR guitar lesson! 6 bucks though he was worried my tender little fingers would get sore in an hour. I manned up.

I’m very grateful for those guitar lessons with Mr. Walker. He taught me to read. Though it would be several more years before I truly became a “music reader”. One of the most important things I got from him was that he made me learn to play with my fingers AND with a pick. That early training served me extremely well. He also gave me a chance to play the guitar whenever it was an option. At church, at school, he even created a stage band for us, let us jam in the band room and let us order all kinds of music supplies from the school catalogs. That’s where I ordered and paid for my very own, new electric guitar.

He also knew when it was time for me to go on to another teacher. Having showed me what he knew, he helped me to find the best guitar teacher around. Luckily, we found him in a student from the local college. Lessons were now $5 per lesson but the level of play was a lot higher. This teacher was closer to my age, he knew about all kinds of rock and jazz even. He put me to work filling in for him on a theatrical show! He played me great recordings and introduced me to guitar magazines. He was cool. His band even came over to hear our band and give us some pointers. The didn’t have to do that. All very supportive and encouraging.

My early guitar experiences were formative. The array of guitar lessons that I received from family, friends, educators and mentors was invaluable. I learned more in those early years than I probably have since. Sure the music is harder, the bar is higher, the technique is stronger, the academics are more ingrained. But it was the explosion of fun and learning that I had in those days that really made me the guitar player I am today.

Sure, I went on to study with many more great teachers at university, in the community, at home and abroad. I’ve learned a lot by being a guitar teacher and giving 1000’s of lessons over the years.

I’m forever grateful to the amazing cast of people who were so encouraging and inspiring in those early years.

Most of all, I have to say, I’m grateful to my mom. She didn’t give in right away. If she had, maybe I wouldn’t have appreciated that first guitar as much. She delayed a little gratification and by doing so instilled a burning desire in me that grew even more intense.

Thank you, Mom. And thanks to the many amazing teachers I’ve had (and still have) over the years. I’m still committed to learning. I still practice everyday.

I’m my own guitar teacher now. Lots to learn. After all of this, I’m a qualified encourager. I’m an advancing guitarist. And I want you to learn to play the guitar too. Great teachers are around us. It’s never to late to start.

If not the guitar for you, then maybe the drums or the sax! Music lessons build character. Music builds relationships.

Jason Riley

I’m a hustling musician and family man. I love to learn, play, share and encourage others in music. We’ve got some cool bands (including Soca Jukebox) and I am the director of the St. Joseph Arts Academy. This is my Blog!
www.jasonriley.com
www.stjosephartsacademy.com