Upcoming Workshops
Rhythm & Groove Training
When: Monday, July 7th
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Where: Bridge MKE
Join us for a one hour training session focusing on timing and how to keep a steadier beat.
Student of the Month
Jane is the student of the month this May. She has been an upstanding worker since she started. What gets her the nod as this months winner is her diligent and hard work leading up to our summer recital. For most kids, the time leading up to a recital is nerve wracking. Jane took that fear and turned it into motivation. We’re really proud of her and we know she will continue to work hard!
Name: Jane
Instrument: Piano
Time With Us: 10 Months
Favorite Song We’ve Learned So Far: Vasco de Gama
Dream Song To Learn: “This Girl Is On Fire” by Alicia Keys
Favorite Activity Outside of Music: Challenging herself on the monkey bars
Summer Recital
Our first ever recital was a smashing success. It was such a cool experience to see so many of our amazing students rise to the occasion and perform. It’s not easy for most people to do it and so we commend anyone who’s willing to take the leap and try it out.
Thank you to all the parents and teachers who also made this possible. It was a night to remember!
Alex's Cool Music Gear of the Month
The ToneWoodAmp 2 is a cool gadget that you can attach to the back of your acoustic-electric guitar to add effects like reverb, delay, and chorus without needing a big amp. It’s easy to use, just clip it on with the magnets, and it uses your guitar’s soundhole to project the effects. It costs around $270 and has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 hours. You can control it using an app on your phone, and it even has a feature to help cut out unwanted feedback when you’re playing live.
This accessory is perfect for guitarists who want to get creative with their sound while keeping things simple. It’s great for solo performers or anyone who wants to add extra layers to their acoustic playing without lugging around a bunch of extra gear. If you’re looking for a way to spice up your acoustic performances, the ToneWoodAmp 2 might be just what you need!
Instrument Spotlight: Breathing And Posture For Beginner Singers
Good breathing and posture are very important if you want to sing well. When you sing, your body is like an instrument. Standing up straight helps your voice become stronger and clearer. Try to keep your shoulders relaxed, your head up, and your feet flat on the ground. This posture helps air flow freely, so you can sing comfortably and easily.
Breathing deeply from your belly (instead of your chest) gives you more air and helps you sing longer notes without running out of breath. To practice this, place your hand on your stomach, take a deep breath, and feel your belly get bigger as you breathe in. When you breathe out, your belly should gently move back in. Good posture and deep breathing will help your voice sound better and make singing easier and more fun!
Live Performance Tips: Consistency
Live music performances can be unpredictable—power issues, small stages, equipment failures, and even bad weather can cause problems. That’s why it’s important to set your instruments up consistently every time.
Drummers should recreate their exact setup from home, often taping drum outlines onto rugs to maintain precise positioning. Keep your stand heights and angles consistent so your playing remains intuitive.
Keyboard players should keep their instruments, benches, and pedals at the same height, distance, and volume at every show.
Guitarists need organized pedal boards, dependable power sources (not batteries), and consistent amp settings.
Vocalists must know the correct microphone distance and always bring necessary accessories like spare batteries for wireless mics, special clips, or stands.
Music Theory Shortcuts: What's A Scale?
Even if you’re new to music, you’ve probably heard the term “scale,” like when someone says, “The song is in the key of A Major.” But what does that actually mean?
Simply put, a scale is a specific pattern of notes. All major scales share the same pattern, and all minor scales share their own unique pattern—the only difference is where they start.
So next time you hear someone mention a scale, hopefully it’ll be easier to visualize, even if you don’t know all the details yet.
Alex's Farewell Tour
Alex Bennett, the director and founder of Milwaukee Music Lessons, has announced publicly that this will be his last summer of live performance for the foreseeable future. While he doesn’t know when his last show will be yet, it is possible that his live career may be over as early October.
So if you’d like to see him on stage one more time with ‘Sons of Sconnie’ before his hiatus, please come and say hi to him at one of his outdoor festivals before the summer is over. He would love to see you there!
Upcoming Music Gigs
This section promotes not just teacher music shows but also student shows as well!
Band Guide:
Sons of Sconnie = Alex (Director/Teacher)
Vintage Notes = Paul (Teacher)
Broken Arrow Band = Jacob (Student)
6/7 – Jackson Point @ Seymour – Broken Arrow Band
6/13 – Polish Fest @ Milwaukee – Sons of Sconnie
6/14 – Kountry Bar @ Appleton – Broken Arrow Band
6/14 – The Station @ Foxtown – Sons of Sconnie
6/15 – Whitnall Beer Garden @ Whitnall – Vintage Notes
6/21 – Stadiumview Bar @ Green Bay – Sons of Sconnie
6/27 – Replay Sports Bar & Grill @ De Pere – Broken Arrow Band
Student Milestones
3 Months
Paxton W.
Jeremy F.
Eliaja R.
Dave C.
Brennan M.
Griff Z.
6 Months
Robbie F.
David S.
Miles B.
Harper B.
Sebastian P.
9 Months
Jack F.
Cathy Z.
More News
