Experience in organ repair is valuable when the instrument needs a doctor. Organist Felipe Dominguez had to gut and reassemble this massive instrument at the First Presbyterian Church in Annandale, Virginia.

Better study up on organ anatomy.  The organist is dubbed organ doctor when the machine breaks down.

The organ is a huge, intimidating instrument.  What happens when it breaks?  Who do you call in to fix it?  The best technician around is often the organ player himself (or herself).  Felipe Dominguez recently had the experience of fixing a minor problem with the organ at the First Presbyterian Church in Annandale, Virginia, where he works as principal organist.

Now, being able to play the organ doesn’t automatically qualify you as an organ surgeon.  Training in organ building and repair is essential to avoid expensive catastrophe.  Mr. Dominguez had nearly five years of experience assisting organ technicians, so he was confident as he began to disassemble the organ in Annandale.

“I [tried] to find out why the 2′ Principal was so unstable,” Dominguez explains.  “Sometimes it would be incredibly out of tune, then other times, right on. It turns out that the slider for that rank was off the track so sometimes the holes would only align 80% or less, and other times, 100%, which caused the variance in the tuning (which was caused by the variance on the air supply depending on the slider’s alignment).”

Fixing the problem required nothing short of organ surgery.  Felipe removed all the organ pipes and toe spacers and laid them out on a long table, placing post-it notes with their corresponding nomenclature. After reassembling the pieces, the entire process took about six hours.  Felipe had some help from the church’s pastor and a close friend.

So after all that to-do, what was the magic fix?  What high-tech material had the just the right properties to make flexible spacers?  To our surprise, it was nothing more sophisticated than pieces of a cardboard box.  “It turns out that cardboard was the perfect material, because it allows for the wood to expand when it gets humid, which happens a lot here in Washington D.C.”

An organist quickly becomes a surgeon when problems arise with the instrument.  At such times, experience in building and repairs becomes invaluable.

On the whole, Dominguez said that fixing the organ was a great experience.  His friend really “enjoyed learning about the inner workings of a tracker organ.”

As an organist, you never know when you will be required to perform a little surgery of your own.  Search for opportunities in your area to gain repair experience alongside organ technicians.  Aside from enhancing your performance skills and general knowledge, unexpected glitches will make all your study of organ anatomy well worth the time and effort.

Students pursuing careers in organ performance will benefit from Felipe Dominguez’s professional advice.

Felipe Dominguez’s Top 4 Tips for Budding Organists

Most concert organists have a church position as their main source of income, and play concerts on the side. If you want a career as a concert organist, you will have to consider a full-time position as a church organist. Your position also gives you credibility and prestige. It is quite different to be introduced just as “John Smith, organist” than it is  to be introduced as “John Smith, organist at St. Mark’s church in Cleveland, OH”. Here are some suggestions for aspiring church organists:

1)    Feed your passion.  First and foremost, you have to love the instrument. Practicing will be part of your life and you have to have a systematic approach to constantly expand your repertoire and learn music quickly.

2)    Start working NOW.  Make sure you get some good experience while at school (either high-school or University). There are plenty of churches that may need a substitute organist for when the principal organist is on leave. Even if the pay is no good, get the experience. There are things that you will learn while playing at a church service that no one can teach you in a classroom.

3)    Learn how to play hymns.  Hymn playing is critical. You need to be able to play hymns at a very high level, with voice independence and energy. You may want to learn some tricks to vary different verses other than registration changes, however, that won’t matter if you cannot play a hymn convincingly with great independence of parts.

4)    Continue studying piano.  Do not quit piano! Much of the choir music we do has piano accompaniment and it is quite challenging at times. Do not stop playing your piano repertoire.

Give It Time

No matter how talented you are, developing the skills needed to sustain a career in organ performance takes years of persistent practice.  Keep your chin up through moments of frustration.  Keep your fingers playing and keep those eyes on your dream.  As with anything, never hesitate to ask for help along the way.  You never know but your lifelong mentors may simply be waiting for you to start asking the right questions.

Opera season usually starts in the late summer, but depends on the venue.

Opera season is upon us, and that means it’s prime time for opera fans to purchase season tickets.

When exactly does opera season start?

The answer is simple: it depends on the venue.  Many opera houses throughout the world begin their seasons in August, while others–such as the Metropolitan Opera Company–begin in September.

On the other hand, the nice thing about “community” opera productions is that you can often catch them year-round.  Check your city websites for local listings of community opera shows.

How long does opera season last? 

In most cases, it starts late summer and lasts until spring.  On rare occasion, however, opera companies extend their season throughout the entire year.  The opera house at Covent Garden only takes a break for the month of July.

Check the websites of opera houses in your area to find out when their season starts, how long it lasts, and where to purchase tickets.  You’ll probably have to do a lot of clicking around.  Opera companies don’t always post straight-forward answers to your questions on their websites, but all the information should be there . . . somewhere.

The best–and sometimes the only–place to look is at their production schedule.  Very often they have a calendar that lists what shows are playing and when.  You’ll probably have to scroll through the whole thing to figure out when their season begins and ends.  Until opera companies become more user-friendly and transparent with information like this, viewing the season calendar is the best option.

How to Become a Board Certified Music Therapist

The increasing demand for music therapists has outstripped the supply in the United States.  That spells “job security” for current music therapists, as well as many who are currently pursuing music therapy as a career.

How does one go about becoming a board certified music therapist anyway?  It’s no squishy task.  You’ve got to jump through all the right hoops.  Here’s how you do it:

1)      Pick an instrument.  First, you have to be a musician.  Choose an instrument and start learning how to play.  Sound easy?  It isn’t hard if you enjoy studying music.  Becoming a skilled musician takes years of intense study.  If you have no music skills, you can kiss your music therapist dreams goodbye.  If you are already a decent musician, proceed to Step 2.

2)      Investigate.  Do your research.  Learn what it’s like to be a board certified music therapist.  Shadow some professionals and see if it’s something you’d like to do.  Also, keep checking back with My Dream Teacher because we’ve interviewed a bunch of them.

3)      Get a degree.  You’ve got to get a college degree approved by the American Music Therapy Association.  The minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree in music therapy.  If you already have a bachelor’s in something else, you can get what’s called an equivalency degree.  This means you can take classes that you would have taken to earn a music therapy degree.  If you are so motivated, master’s degrees, master’s equivalencies, and doctorate degrees are also available in music therapy.

4)      Get an AMTA-Approved Internship.  After completing your education, you must get an internship at an AMTA-approved training facility.  These typically last for six to nine months.

5)      Get certified (MT-BC).  You must take the national board certification exam, which is administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists.  Once you pass, you receive your certification, and you can print MT-BC next to your name on your business card.

6)      Get a job.  It’s a good idea to start your practice by getting a job at an authorized care facility.  From there, you have the option to always work in facilities or to start your own private practice.

7)      Renew your certification.  You are required to renew your license every five years.

Piccadilly Circus Panorama, Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0

With all this media attention on London for the 2012 Olympic Games, it’s fitting to take a closer look at the music scene in London’s West End.  Located conveniently at the core of the city, the West End features some of the finest theater productions in the world.

You’ll find a good mix of classic and modern entertainment in the West End—from Shakespeare to nightclubs, cinemas to musical theater productions and more.  Many theaters are located in Leicester Square and the Piccadilly Circus, though many others are speckled throughout the city.  (This makes the term “West End” a little deceiving, since many productions associated with the term aren’t actually located in the geographic region of London.)

You can find classic shows as well as new productions. The musical We Will Rock You, featuring music by Queen, opened in 2002.

The West End is on par with Broadway in New York in terms of the quality of musical theater shows.  Which is “better” depends greatly on the show and the cast.  (I tend to prefer the singing in New York shows and the acting in London shows, though again, this depends greatly on the show and the cast.)  For the price-conscious theater goers, there are many ways to get cheaper tickets to West End shows.

For instrumentalists, the West End is “the highest arena for orchestral pit playing in musical theater”.  Believe it or not, many people go to shows just to enjoy the orchestras.  In addition, the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others perform throughout the city.

For opera fans, The Royal Opera House at Covent Garden fits the bill, showcasing the classiest opera shows you’ll find anywhere.  As one of the most coveted opera companies in the world, the Royal Opera Company sets itself apart with its year-round opera season: September through July, taking just one month off in August!  The Royal Opera Company is appropriately titled because it’s partially subsidized by the British government.

Her Majesty’s Theater in Haymarket is one of the most famous theaters in the West End.  The Phantom of the Opera has been playing in this venue since its debut in 1986.  The modern theater is the third in its series, while the original Her Majesty’s Theater housed famous artists like Haydn before burning down in 1867.

London’s West End has something for everybody.  Whether you’re more inclined toward classical music or modern, you will likely find a superb performance to satisfy your personal tastes.

Amy Kalas, MM, MT-BC, Founder of Wholesome Harmonies Music Therapy in Miami, Florida

The demand for board certified music therapists is growing at an alarming rate.  In fact, there aren’t enough music therapists to meet the present demand.  As the general population gains awareness of this fascinating field, more people are asking for private and group therapy sessions.

Amy Kalas discovered this while working as a board certified music therapists at United Cerebral Palsy in Miami, Florida.  People would call the clinic asking for private sessions, and so she started meeting with clients to supplement her full-time job.  This side job grew so quickly that she started Wholesome Harmonies Music Therapy, where she now works full-time giving private sessions to kids with special needs.

To become a board certified music therapist requires an advanced degree (MM) and a board certification (MT-BC).  For our readers interested in pursuing a career in music therapy, Amy Kalas gives valuable insight into this rapidly expanding industry.

Our Interview with Amy Kalas

How do you keep your sessions relevant to each client’s needs?

Music therapy treatment begins with an assessment of each client’s strengths and needs. From this assessment the music therapist creates individualized goals and objectives that specifically target each client’s needs. Goals can range from increasing expressive language to improving social skills to increasing sustained attention.

Some principals are universal to all clients. As music therapists, we are looking – in general – to improve the quality of life for our clients. Whether that means: improving their communication skills so they can have a conversation with their grandparents; desensitizing them to sensory stimuli so they can tolerate various types of clothing; or improving their fine motor skills so they can write their name, the ultimate goal is to improve quality of life.

What kinds of results do you look for when working with your various clients?

The results vary from client to client. Music therapists address goals in a wide range of areas, including social skills, cognitive skills, communication skills, and motor skills. Each client is unique in their needs and in their response to music and music therapy. In general, I am looking for improvement – no matter how great or small – in some area or areas of functioning.

What is your vision for the future of Wholesome Harmonies?

My vision for the future of Wholesome Harmonies is to continue to expand the services we provide to parents and to other music therapists. I am now in the process of hiring a subcontractor so more clients in the Miami area can receive music therapy. I am also expanding the online resources I provide for other music therapists. Those resources include original children’s songs, sheet music, and ebooks with music therapy intervention ideas. I want Wholesome Harmonies to continue to grow so that I and other music therapists can provide the highest quality service to our clients.

Tell us about the presentations and consultations you offer about music therapy.

I offer presentations on a myriad of topics related to music therapy. I offer general presentations about what music therapy is and who can benefit. I also offer presentations on specific topics related to music therapy, such as: sensory-based music therapy ideas for individuals with severe and profound intellectual disability; music therapy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder; music therapy in early childhood; music therapy to improve speech and language; and music therapy co-treatment with occupational therapy.

In all of my presentations I use live, interactive demonstrations, as well as video clips (with parent consent) to demonstrate what various music therapy techniques look like in action.

How does the Miami area inspire your artistic creativity?

Miami is such as vibrant place, it’s hard NOT to be inspired! I am inspired by the music, instruments, and dance of the Latin culture. I try to bring as much of that into my sessions as possible. In the past, I have brought a guest percussionist into my sessions to visit the children and demonstrate various Latin percussion instruments. I have taught the children different Latin dances, such as samba and merengue. I have taught the children different songs, chants, and finger plays in Spanish and had them perform for their parents in a Multicultural Day celebration.

Do you see differences in how your clients respond to activities involving different instruments?

Some clients become over stimulated by the guitar (the sound of the steel strings or the frequency of the pitches). In that case I would use piano to accompany myself or I would sing a cappella. On the other hand, I notice clients in general respond very well to novel instruments. Knowing this, I often bring in my primary instrument that I studied while in music school, the clarinet. The children are always in awe when they see this instrument. I also try to use other non-typical instruments in my sessions like the accordion, harmonica, kazoo, cowbell, kalimba, and kokoriko, to name a few.

What is your advice to students who are considering a career in music therapy?

My advice is to go for it! There are not enough music therapists to fill the need that is out there. The field of music therapy is in need of more well-qualified, well-trained, passionate music therapists.

My advice is also to strengthen your musical skills. At the core, music therapists are first and foremost musicians. The more skilled we are as musicians, the better we can serve our clients. This means being skilled on a variety of instruments (guitar, piano, ukulele, primary instrument) and being skilled in a variety of musical genres (pop, classical, hip hop, etc.).

In the final two videos in this series, John Tracy–Founder and Owner of Tampa Bay Music Academy–advises music teachers to strengthen their networks and sharpen their skills.  These invaluable tips are not to be missed!

The Power of Your Network – John Tracy Interview Part III

This video is a must-see for all music teachers. You will learn:

• What networking with other musicians can do for your life and career
• How to network–it’s easier than you think!
• Ways to keep afloat of discouragement
• How to get involved in your community
• What you can do to keep your skills sharp

 About Tampa Bay Music Academy – John Tracy Interview Part IV

In this video, John Tracy tells us more about Tampa Bay Music Academy.  His story is an interesting case study, which provides valuable insights on:

• How to leverage the power of your website
• Where to find venues for private instruction
• Why writing frequently about music is so important

Additionally, he discusses his motivation behind the academy and what the music community is like in the Tampa Bay area.

If you are interested in writing about music and would like to contribute to our blog, contact us today!

To learn more about John Tracy and Tampa Bay Music Academy, visit http://www.tampabaymusicacademy.com

Organists are amazing! Clearly, they demonstrate their superpowers as they tame this beast of an instrument.

Organists exhibit their amazing superpowers

The organ is no instrument for the faint of heart.  This high-octane piece of machinery requires courage to operate and Jedi skills to master.  The operator must demonstrate the skills of an engineer and the sensitivity of an artist.

Beginning organists quickly realize how daunting a task it is to tame this beastly instrument.  It requires not only the use of both hands, but both feet as well!  The organist must learn to manage all four limbs gracefully.

The organist has an entire orchestra at her fingertips.  The organ’s sophisticated pipe systems effectively imitate the sounds of other instruments.  The pipes sound like flutes, reed and even stringed instruments, making the organ perfect for classical music as well as ragtime, jazz, and many other styles–including rock!

While the organist has the power to switch from one voice to another, she cannot do so haphazardly.  She must do so selectively, decisively, and artistically.

For those of us who quit piano at a young age, watching organists perform tempts us into feeling like even bigger losers.  But don’t let it bother you anymore!  It is never too late to learn to play the organ.  Even more “mature” adults are seen taking beginner organ lessons.  In fact, learning to play the organ is a great pastime for the later years of life.

To find an organ teacher in your area, check out our free music teacher directory today.

John Tracy, Founder and Owner of Tampa Bay Music Academyin Florida, gives his advice to music students as he describes the one point that is most often disregarded.  This video is the follow-up to Parents Help Their Kids Succeed in Music.

First and foremost, he emphasizes the importance of rhythm.  “A right note played at the wrong time is still a wrong note.”  Many students struggle to play rhythms correctly–and not just beginning music students!  Intermediate-level students likewise face this challenge.  Even more advanced students run into trouble if they haven’t made rhythm a priority early on in their music study.

As an experiment, I sometimes ask my students to learn the rhythms first before plunking out the melody of a new piece.  The results are always favorable, especially with students who struggle to play rhythms accurately.

In addition to emphasizing rhythm in this video, John Tracy shares a bit of his own history.  He explains how he started studying piano at the age of five and how he got involved with other instruments.  For serious music students who wonder how to make money as a musician, he also talks about how he landed his first job and how that led to him creating Tampa Bay Music Academy.

At My Dream Teacher, we’re constantly looking to other industries for inspiring ways to revamp the classical music world—especially opera.  While we love traditional opera, too few people in this world love it enough to make it a long-term sustainable industry.  So what’s wrong with a little experimentation to keep it from dying?

A recent trend in the running world has captivated my interest.  While running events such as 5K’s, 10K’s, and marathons are gaining popularity, so are a plethora of new and innovative races.

Some of these running events are designed to be more fun than traditional races.  In the Color Run, runners get chalk dust thrown at them at different checkpoints during the race.  Their tagline is “the happiest 5K on the planet”.  They also claim the event is “less about speed and more about enjoying a color crazy day with your friends and family.”

For the more hard-core inclined, endurance races test more than just your running skills.  Wild Thing in the UK claims to be “the toughest obstacle course races on the planet,” featuring 5K’s, 10K’s with obstacle courses designed by the Royal Marines and the British Special Forces.  Tough Mudder is the US equivalent.  While advertisements are designed to appeal to men, plenty of women also hustle to enlist in these challenging events.

It’s not that traditional races are going away any time soon; they just aren’t for everybody.  By the same token, traditional opera is an acquired taste that few people have the patience to acquire.  Wouldn’t it be fun to start seeing more zany productions? I don’t know about throwing chalk dust at the audience, but having an interlude in which they turn on their cell phones and wave them in the air would be cool.

I’m still waiting for the Metropolitan Opera Company to hire an entertainment troop that ambushes unsuspecting bystanders throughout New York City with acrobatics and operatic fun.  If they won’t, maybe I will!