It is widely known that music brings joy and happiness while improving the quality of life. This applies to listeners as well as to the musicians themselves.  Sometimes, giving the gift of music to those who need joy in their lives is such a noteworthy story that it needs to be told. This is one of those stories.

US-based musician Lee Williams is doing precisely that: bringing joy and enrichment to people’s lives – including his own. Lee performs regularly at retirement homes with a classical “a man and his guitar” act. 

The idea came to him two years ago when Lee’s mother-in-law was in a retirement facility. 

“I was talking with one of the staff and mentioned how much I enjoyed learning guitar and what music had come to mean to me in my old age. So, she simply invited me to play. I accepted, and we scheduled it. I played for about an hour. Needless to say, with my poor skills, I was terrified but realized how much the patients appreciated it”, Lee says.

“It feels great to be appreciated and know that you brought some real value and so much happiness into some lives.”

And indeed, Lee’s musical journey began in his golden years. 

“I never touched a guitar until I was 69 years old.  I guess one is never too old to learn.  I am so grateful I took it up.  My progress is slow, but I still love it”, Lee explains.

Lee has learned his guitar skills both independently and with Justin Sandercoe. He has used the JustinGuitar app and also visited Justin’s Guitar camps.

“I have attended Justin’s Guitar camps three times: once in Petite St. Vincent’s, once in Italy, and once in Montreal. The camps have helped me improve as a guitar player in a surprising way: Justin insisted that I learn to sing. The truth is, I’m not that great at either playing guitar or singing, but I love the hell out of both”, Lee says modestly.

“I really recommend the camps! Both the instructions and the class itself are great!  It’s nice to be in a supportive group. Justin and his instructor colleagues are nothing less than outstanding”, Lee continues.

Lee wants to emphasize that one shouldn’t miss the chance to perform for others just because one might be worried about one’s skills as a player. 

“I Never touched a guitar until I was 69.  I guess one is never too old to learn.“

“My advice is, don’t worry how badly you play or sing – just do it”, Lee says.

He enjoys his performances at retirement homes tremendously. 

“Seeing the smiles and laughter is what I love the most about it. I also tend to tell a couple of jokes along the way. As poor as an artist as I am, it feels great to be appreciated and know that you brought real value and so much happiness into some lives.”

“I have seen them laugh wildly and also see tears flow down their faces. It’s quite moving. They absolutely love and appreciate it, and you are doing great service,” he continues.

Personally, Lee is most inspired by classic rock bands such as The Allman Brothers, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Chris Stapleton when you cross the bridge from rock to country. He mainly plays old-school rock and new-school country with his guitar.

However, when performing in nursing homes, he always considers what the elderly would appreciate the most.

“Initially, I choose songs from the early to late sixties. At the end of the first session, I ask them to write down what they want to hear and try to study and play those songs when I return. You know they love it when you start getting warm hugs and handshakes at the end of the session. The songs seem to take them back to earlier days”, Lee tells us.

“Artists from Ricky Nelson to Willy Nelson and everything in between are especially loved. Also, each home is a bit different depending on the demographics. My best advice is just to be open and, most importantly, have fun with it!” Lee advises.

“Music allows us to transcend from a simple existence to truly living.”

To other hobby musicians, Lee has a word of encouragement.

“Playing in retirement homes is the definition of a win-win situation.  It gives both the artist and the patients tremendous joy and enrichment.  It’s also a great way to learn to perform before an audience, and one that you can almost rest assured will greatly appreciate you no matter how little or exceedingly skilled you are.  You will find retirement homes very appreciative of your offer to play, and the patients will love the hell out of you for it.

We have now talked a great deal about what music means to his audience, but let’s now focus on Lee. What does music mean to Lee himself?

“It allows us to transcend from a simple existence to truly living”, Lee says philosophically. 

Read the previous My Music Journey

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The post My Music Journey: Lee Williams first appeared on Musopia Blog.

Musopia has the honor of supporting an extraordinary organization, the Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals (Kummit), in its important work. Founded in 1993, this organization has been an important ally to the five Finnish university children’s hospitals, supporting pediatric healthcare, research, and the well-being of young patients.

Specialized healthcare is supported by society’s funds. Still, with the donations from the Association of Friends, even more can be achieved: by investing in better equipment, development, and research, as well as focusing on mental health and patient comfort, the best possible care can be provided to young patients.  Musopia has recently donated guitars and ukuleles to all five children’s hospitals around Finland.

Supporting the Healing Journey Through Joy

Kummit channels its efforts into four essential programs: innovation and equipment acquisitions, pediatric research, patient comfort (known as “Kummitassut”), and children’s and adolescents’ mental health (“Mielen tila” program). Each program is equally important to fulfill the association’s mission.

For us it’s important that we can create an environment where children can be children again. The hope is to give the family a more positive experience of hospital visits so that the child remembers something pleasant happening at the hospital. As a result, the following visits become easier.

explains Jaana Roos, Project Manager of The Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals.

This sentiment lies at the heart of the association’s mission—to support children’s health and ensure the best possible care. Enhancing patient comfort is one aspect of this mission. Given that many young patients spend more time in the hospital than at home, often for extended periods, providing various stimuli, from games to books, can significantly improve their experience.

Enhancing Patient Comfort and Well-being

Kummit endeavors to create a nurturing and comforting space for children undergoing treatment. This is done through arranging visits from volunteers and providing comforting things to do.

As hobbies are difficult to carry out in the hospital, I would rather speak about the role of comfort. The well-being of patients and families in the hospital plays a significant role in the patient’s recovery and the family’s coping.

The Power of Comfort in Healing

The importance of comfort should not be understated in pediatric healthcare. By facilitating activities that allow children to be children—whether through playing, gaming, or engaging in creative endeavors—the association aims to uplift spirits and foster resilience in young patients. Among other things, music has been a source of joy and comfort for many pediatric patients. Now they have an opportunity to get familiar with playing music as hospitals can offer instruments and supporting apps for those who are interested in playing.

All actions that momentarily take the mind off illness are a great help in recovery. Music visits and hospital clowns, in particular, are highly desired and enjoyable. In some hospitals, musicians regularly visit neonatal intensive care units. Music also helps calm small premature babies.

explains Jaana Roos.

Creating Lasting Memories

Photo: Atte Mäläskä

Music plays a big role in one of the association’s flagship initiatives, the “Elämä Lapselle” concert, which represents the power of music and uniting for a shared mission. Through this renowned charity event, which brings together performers from various fields, including entertainment and culture, the association raises important funds and creates unforgettable experiences for children and families.

We can invite patients from various university children’s hospitals to the Elämä Lapselle concerts. For the past few years, they have had the opportunity to meet the performing artists personally before the concert. Many happy and surprised faces have remained in memory when they have interacted with their idols.

Pediatric patients have appeared in concerts mainly as interviewees but sometimes even performed with an artist. The concerts are the most important campaign entities of the operating year in terms of both fundraising and visibility.

How You Can Help Make Miracles Happen

An individual can get involved in the association’s activities in many ways. You can read more about how to donate or participate at www.kummit.fi but below are some options.

The Association of Friends’ activities support the best possible care for children and young people in Finland. We warmly welcome you to join the support team for young patients!

Jaana Roos

Did you enjoy reading this chapter of the series Doing Good? Read the previous part where we introduced Music Will, which runs the largest nonprofit music program in the US public school system.

The post Doing Good: The Association of Friends of the University Children’s Hospitals (Lastenklinikoiden Kummit) first appeared on Musopia Blog.

JustinGuitar has been the first stepping stone for many successful guitar journeys, and many aspiring guitar players have learned how to play guitar with guitar teacher Justin Sandercoe’s help. Although the populars JustinGuitar Lessons and Songs App is described as an engaging and effective step-by-step beginner guitar course, it’s not just beginners and rookies who can benefit from Justin’s teaching.

Case in point: passionate hobby guitarist and singer Sanna Keskioja first started playing the guitar when she was a teenager, but one could say that she experienced a renaissance in guitar playing when she got acquainted with Musopia’s JustinGuitar App.

“I wish I had had the JustinGuitar App when I first started practicing years ago. It would’ve made a big difference”, Sanna says. “Back in the day, when I started playing, you didn’t have anything like these guitar lessons as an option.”

“I started playing because I simply thought the guitar was such a cool instrument. I really liked the sound, and I used to be a huge fan of Led Zeppelin and other guitar heroes back in the day.”

“I wish I had had the JustinGuitar App when I first started practicing years ago. It would’ve made a big difference.”

She first started to play classical guitar when she was 16 but soon encountered a problem: her hands were simply too small to get along with the classical guitar. “I felt like it took up all of my time just trying to stretch my fingers to hit the right spots, to be able to play the songs”, she explains. She ditched the classical guitar but later found a better way to play that suited her needs.

“During my studies, I got motivated to learn basic guitar chords to accompany myself when I was singing, which is the most important form of musical expression for me. The most important thing about playing is that I can accompany myself when I sing.”

This revelation made all the difference since strumming was easier, even with smaller hands. “Still, with small hands, you must pay attention to how you position your hand to reach the right chords at the right time. Justin’s technical tips have been very helpful to improve my strumming and rhythm skills”, she explains.

“I first found Justin’s app in 2022. I had just recovered from a finger injury and was ready to start practicing again. That’s when I got acquainted with JustinGuitar.”

It made all the difference. Sanna says that she first tried to look for quality teaching on YouTube but soon noticed that JustinGuitar’s teaching methods were much higher quality. “Justin Sandercoe is a top-notch teacher”, Sanna says. “He is a fantastic teacher: very systematic, his pedagogical skills are of high quality, and, most of all, his technical tips are excellent.”

“I have learned a lot of new things! The most important skill for me was learning to strum guitar properly. I’m not a natural at it, and Justin’s teaching has helped me improve significantly. Justin’s advice generally is much better than what I’ve received before. Thanks to him, I’ve truly been able to improve my sound. When I started taking guitar lessons, there was no such thing as remote music lessons. As a self-taught musician, it would have been much easier if I had had the chance to start learning with an app like this from the beginning. Now, I need to keep correcting a lot of old mistakes.”

Besides the quality and possibilities of remote guitar lessons, Sanna finds that a lot has changed in the world of guitar playing. “Back when I first started playing, there were just guys we looked up to as guitar heroes. Girls didn’t really play in bands, and there were barely any female guitar heroes yet. Now, there are several great, cool female guitar players, like the amazing Finnish guitarist Erja Lyytinen”, Sanna says.

“Thanks to JustinGuitar , I’ve truly been able to improve my own sound.”

“I myself don’t entertain the idea of becoming a major guitarist. At the moment, I simply enjoy improving my technique and being able to accompany myself while singing. One day, I’d like to perhaps play guitar in a band and write my own songs, but before that, I need first to have the guts to play in front of people”, Sanna laughs.

For her, the best part about playing is the flow state you get into. “If you’ve just had the worst day and start playing guitar, hours suddenly fly by, and you lose all sense of time.”

Music, in general, is more than just a hobby for her. “Music is such an integral part of life and of who I am as a person. It is quite simply irreplaceable; I can’t even begin to imagine a life without it. For me, music has always been number one. It’s always there, one way or the other.”

Although Sanna doesn’t entertain broad audiences with a guitar yet, she has found a lovely and somewhat original way to spread joy with music. “Next to music, I love riding and being around horses. When I notice that a horse might be a bit tense, I start to sing. I’ve noticed it relaxes both parties equally”, Sanna laughs.

Read the previous My Music Journey

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The post My Music Journey: Sanna Keskioja first appeared on Musopia Blog.

In the first part of our exploration into the “Learn Guitar Together – Class of 2023,” we delved into the diverse backgrounds and motivations to learn how to play guitar that brought this unique group together. As we journey deeper into their stories, we find that their path to mastering the guitar is not without its fair share of challenges, but the joys they’ve discovered along the way make it all the more rewarding.

Navigating the Challenges and Joys of Guitar Learning

The journey of learning how to play the guitar is not a real one without its fair share of challenges. Tony and Stephen provide insights into some of the most demanding aspects of their learning experiences.

One of the hardest parts is fingerstyle playing. Tony explains that this playing style leaves no room for error, as it exposes every wrong note. In contrast, playing chords can sometimes mask these errors to some extent. Tony’s acknowledgment of the intricacies of fingerstyle playing underscores the technical challenges that many aspiring guitarists face.

George’s Top Tip for learning to play: As Richard, one of the moderators, says: learn songs. That advice has changed my guitar journey.

Stephen, on the other hand, describes his entire guitar learning journey as a challenge. He candidly states, “I’ve found it all hard, to be honest, but rewarding as what seemed impossible eventually becomes possible.” This sentiment captures the essence of learning a musical instrument, where persistence and patience are essential in overcoming hurdles and witnessing personal growth.

In the midst of these challenges, our interviewees also reveal the aspects of learning how to play guitar that bring them immense joy.

In his guitar journey, Dwain has enjoyed learning solos and improvising over backing tracks.

For Tony, it’s the experience of playing live with a friend as a backing rhythm guitarist. He acknowledges that he may not have been a virtuoso, but the thrill of performing and the audience’s positive response created a unique sense of satisfaction and excitement. It’s a testament to the profound joy of making music, even at a beginner’s level.

Playing guitar can also become a source of emotional support. Sarah describes her instrument as a “safe space” that provides comfort when life becomes difficult or stressful. This profound connection between a guitarist and their instruments goes beyond the act of playing.

The joy can lie in the sense of accomplishment, like it does for Stephen. Whether mastering a challenging chord, nailing a complex riff, or comprehending a piece of music theory, these milestones bring him a profound sense of satisfaction. He also mentions the positive impact of music on his mental health. Boris’s joy in the learning journey is evident in those moments when, after extensive practice, he can finally play a song or a specific part of a song. These moments validate the hours of dedication and hard work put into perfecting a piece of music.

Boris’s Top Tip for learning to play: 1) Record yourself frequently. 2) Don’t rush.

The Songs and Guitarists That Boost Motivation

We are curious to hear what songs have been in our participants’ repertoire and which ones they already mastered.

Tony recalls a memorable practice session with his friend when they tackled “Johnny B. Goode.” His friend guided him through the chord progressions, allowing him to play along with confidence, picking up on the chord changes in the backing track. 

“Wish You Were Here” has tested Sarah’s patience and nerves. However, the moment her parents, who hold the song dear, had tears in their eyes and were amazed by how close she came to capturing the “real” sound, it made all the effort worthwhile.

Not everyone thinks they have “mastered” a song at all. Khurram emphasizes the subjective nature of mastery but takes pride in being able to play “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver reasonably well, according to his own opinion. Raffie found solace in the Beatles’ classic “Let It Be.” Overcoming the struggle of nailing the challenging F chords in the song brought her great satisfaction. 

When it comes to guitarists admired by the group, Mark Knopfler is mentioned a few times. In addition to Knopfler, Tony draws inspiration from guitar legends like Hank Marvin and Jeff Beck. He also credits his friend Clint for sparking his guitar journey.

Sarah is captivated by Brian May, both for his guitar skills and unique approach to playing. She also admires Jonny Buckland of Coldplay for his memorable guitar parts and David Gilmour’s mesmerizing style.

Sarah’s Top Tip for learning to play: Don’t think it’s too late. You’ve started at exactly the right time in your life. Enjoy the journey!

Some have stories behind their love for certain artists. Raffie has a lasting admiration for Eric Johnson, dating back to the 70s when her brother introduced her to Johnson’s music: ”Had a mild crush on him since the 70s when my late older brother came home with the Seven Worlds album and lent it to me. I have not given it back yet.”

The Goals and Dreams in Music

In less than a year, our group has achieved a whole lot of guitar skill goals set out for the journey. However, there’s still plenty to do.

For Khurram, writing his own songs seems interesting, but first, he wants to learn some music theory. “I would be happy being able to play a few songs in Open Mic events,” adds Khurram. Boris shares the dream of playing at an Open Mic.

Raffie’s goals are more related to the joy of just playing guitar, no matter the occasion. “I just like playing for pleasure. I just like to be able to play or strum guitar at a campfire.” This seems to be a theme for many and emphasizes the meaning of music as a way to have fun and unwind. “I’d like to jam with a band for sure,” says Stephen as well. Dwain mentions entertaining his friends and family, as well as just playing for himself, as the main goals for his guitar journey.

Dwain’s Top Tip for learning to play: Progress through the JustinGuitar Beginner Course Modules properly and take your time.

The music is not just about performance or perfection; it’s about the enjoyment, the sense of accomplishment, and the connections made along the way. The “Learn Guitar Together – Class of 2023” has not only showcased the transformative power of learning an instrument but also the incredible impact of doing it together. The journey is a testament to the fact that the beauty of music lies not only in the notes played but also in the shared experiences and the community that music can build. 

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced guitarist, the “Class of 2023” reminds us that there’s always something new to learn, and there’s joy to be found in every note and every chord. So, let us all be inspired by their stories, and let music bring us together as it has for this exceptional group.

Read the first part of this series.

More inspiring stories to discover:

Musopia’s partnership with the non-profit organization Music Will

Top 10 Tips From Fellow Guitarists to Beginners

The post Learn Guitar Together – Class of 2023: The Journey — vol. 2 first appeared on Musopia Blog.

In January 2023, we started an initiative with the JustinGuitar Team and were searching for motivated individuals who wanted to learn to play guitar in an exclusive group led by Justin Sandercoe, alias JustinGuitar, and his teacher team. The program “Learn Guitar Together – Class of 2023” started in January and is ongoing. We sat down with a group of participants to hear about their intriguing guitar-learning journeys.

All Roads Lead to the Class of 2023

The Class of 2023 consists of a group with a variety of backgrounds regarding music. Tony, who had no prior experience with guitar, was challenged by a friend to learn chords to play at a caravanning event. After searching for guitar courses online and watching a few videos, Tony came across JustinGuitar and liked his approach the best.

Tony’s Top Tip for learning to play guitar: Be prepared for two steps forward and one step back. Take your time; it will come with time.

Fellow participants Boris and Sarah learned about the Learn Guitar Together group through JustinGuitar’s newsletter. “I was already very happy using the JustinGuitar Lessons and Songs App but missing the “classroom feeling.” I thought I’d give it a go,” says Sarah. She had never played guitar before and never thought she’d be able to. Going through a difficult time in her life, a friend of Sarah’s told her she needed music in her life.

Another class member, Raffie, says playfully that her guitar kept looking at her, so she thought it would be a good time to pick it up. Ten years prior, she had tried to practice guitar, but a full-time career had kept her too busy to start learning.

Raffie’s Top Tip for learning to play: Don’t rush. Just enjoy the journey and follow the app.

Unraveling Expectations

Before diving into the world of learning guitar, each of our interviewees had certain expectations. Some thought it would be a breeze, while others anticipated a more challenging journey.

Tony is a part of the latter group. He emphasizes the artistry of guitar playing, stating, “It’s easy to play a guitar badly but quite hard to play it well.” This sentiment sets the stage for the dedication required to master this instrument.

Sarah says her guitar is her safe space.

Sarah’s experience was a rollercoaster ride of expectations. She remarks, “It’s nothing like I imagined. It’s way more painful on the fingers at first than I thought it could be, but it’s also way more enjoyable.” Her realization highlights the importance of pushing through initial challenges to discover the immense joy that comes with playing along to songs, a feat she never believed possible.

Underscoring the idea that the journey, despite its difficulties, is ultimately fulfilling is one way to look at it. Khurram sees the value in the struggles of the learning process. He believes, “The satisfaction that comes after being able to play is definitely worth it.”

Khurram’s Top Tip for learning to play: Practice makes permanent, so make sure that you’re practising correctly.

Sharing the Good and the Bad

During these ten months, the closed group of Learn Guitar Together became tight-knit, and all of the interviewees highlighted the supportiveness and helpfulness of their peers. There is a place for both active posters and bystanders. “I’m not an active participant in social media, so my role has been primarily to “see” what other people are doing. That, in turn, helps motivate a “solo learner” like me,” explains George, who wishes he had heard about JustinGuitar sooner. The support, fast answers to any questions, and sharing the struggles have brought the members together.

“Listening to the peers sharing their progress makes me understand that struggle is part of learning the guitar.” -Khurram

Stephen, too, says the group has been a confidence booster and helped him realize that “we are all just learning how to play guitar and won’t sound like our favorite guitarists”. He adds that fellow participants made him understand that he is not as bad as he thinks. According to Dwain, the members share valuable feedback whenever anyone asks for it. The motivational atmosphere has kept everyone involved, even in times of musical despair.

Stephen’s Top Tip for learning to play: Practice more and use structure instead of noodling like I do.

As we wrap up this glimpse into the captivating journeys of the “Learn Guitar Together – Class of 2023,” it’s clear that the paths to learning the guitar are as diverse as the individuals themselves. From beginners like Tony, who embraced the challenge, to those like Sarah, who found unexpected joy in the pain of progress, each member of this exclusive group is crafting their own unique musical adventure. The value of perseverance and support within the community is evident, making this journey all the more enriching. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll delve deeper into the challenges of our dedicated learners, their musical dreams, and the motivators of this extraordinary guitar class.


More inspiring stories to read:

How the Musopia Music Room was born: Building an Inspirational (Sound Proof) Space Inside a Thriving Office

Learn from the best: Top Tips from Music Educators

Follow Musopia on Linkedin for the latest news

The post Learn Guitar Together – Class of 2023: The Journey — vol. 1 first appeared on Musopia Blog.

We sat down with Levent, mobile developer and Team Lead of the Kala Ukulele App and found out why Musopia is a great place to work from a developer’s point of view.

How long have you worked at Musopia?
I joined in October 2021, so it’s been two years already.

Why did you want to work for Musopia?
I had long wanted to work for an international company, and Musopia caught my eye. And especially after seeing the music tech connection, I knew I just had to get the job.

Where have you worked before Musopia?
My first job in software was at Sanlab, a Turkish company manufacturing Training Simulators and Motion Platforms. Then, I worked at RestPlay making mobile casino games for about two years.

What do you like best about working at Musopia?
Oh, there are many great things: the hybrid working system, work-life balance, and flat hierarchy, to name a few. The office music studio is also a major plus; we can, at any time, just go in and jam!

Making music is one of the biggest drivers for me. It’s one of the few things in life that offers such long-term gratification.

What do you think are Musopia’s strengths?
It’s got to be the people. We have grown a lot in recent years since I joined and acquired the best talent around.

What is your area of responsibility at Musopia?
I am the Team Lead of our Kala Ukulele App. I get to plan and develop our roadmap, and I am responsible for implementing and releasing new features and enhancements. My core specialization is building UI elements and other user-facing features that feel responsive and satisfying.

How have you been able to develop your skills at Musopia?
I came from a game development background, and there were a lot of differences to the work here at Musopia, especially when it comes to live-ops. We do a lot of remote content management, which has been very interesting to learn about.

How would you describe the atmosphere and interactions among developers?
It’s pretty chill. There isn’t a strong top-down hierarchy, and everyone is free to speak their mind and contribute to anything. This was pretty cool for me, especially since I come from a country with more strict social roles, so it was really easing my mind to be able to just hang out on a first-name basis with anyone in the company, including our CEO. Overall, it’s a very respectful atmosphere where everyone’s ideas are valued.

Do you work independently or interact a lot with other developers?
I would say that it’s a bit of both. There can be a lot of interaction when working on a project together or when you need to ask for help from someone who knows it better, and there are also smaller things that you just develop by yourself. The practical coding itself is usually individual work, but it tends to happen after discussions to find solutions. If I get stuck somewhere or don’t know which is the best way to proceed, I’ll for sure ask someone who knows better than I do. And if it’s a task I’m very familiar with, I’ll go the route of legendary F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen: “Leave me alone; I know what I’m doing”.

How do you come up with the workflow?
It’s very collaborative. Usually, we’ll talk about the task and discuss the goals, requirements, UI/UX design and the specific tech we’re building as we’re starting it. If everything is clear, a developer can start working on it without needing too much further communication. We work on a scrum-like basis, and at the start of each sprint, we’ll divide the tasks based on priorities and the individual developer’s experience and interest. Some tasks, especially those that require cross-team collaboration, will involve more frequent interaction. Our company policy is to work on hybrid working mode, on average two days from the office, so sometimes communication happens face-to-face, and if not, we stick to our digital communication channels. 

If it’s a task I’m very familiar with, I’ll go the route of legendary F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen: “Leave me alone; I know what I’m doing”.

What is your musical background?
I started playing the classical guitar when I was twelve and moved on to electric guitar a few years later. I played with some friends in a high school band, playing songs we liked for fun, and eventually composed a few songs ourselves. I also got into electronic music production and made some game music. I’ve started writing music again after moving to Finland, and recently, I’ve bought a lyre harp, so I’m currently learning that and incorporating it into my compositions.

Do you play any other instruments?
The guitar is still my ‘main’ instrument, although I’ve also picked up the bass and drums over the years.

What kind of music do you listen to?
These days, I mostly listen to various subgenres of metal, mainly Folk Metal, Power Metal, and a bit of Black Metal.

How do you feel music makes the world a better place?
It’s impossible to say since I cannot compare it to a world without music.

It’s a very respectful atmosphere where everyone’s ideas are valued.

What is the meaning of music in your life?
Making music is one of the biggest drivers for me. It’s one of the few things in life that offers such long-term gratification.

What is your guilty pleasure song, the song that you secretly love?
I don’t get guilty pleasure in music – if I like it, I like it. I haven’t felt the need to keep any songs I love secret.

What kind of coffee do you start your working day with?
Any kind that I can get my hands on. I’m not a picky person when it comes to coffee. And sometimes, I’ll enjoy a cup of tea instead.

Which famous musician would you like to jam with, if possible?
I’ll go with Thanasis Lightbridge, the musician behind projects Dol Ammad, Dol Theeta, and Dol Kruug. I adore everything he has made, so to jam with him would be great. Oh, and here’s another perk of working at Musopia: At last year’s Musopia Slush party, I played with Justin Sandercoe! One famous name down, and many more to go

Read the previous part of this series

Follow Musopia on Linkedin for the latest news

The post Music in My Life: Meet Levent Parmaksızoğlu first appeared on Musopia Blog.

Musopia’s mission is to help every aspiring musician find their music path and make it easy and enjoyable to learn to play an instrument. In this article, we want to give every music educator rock-solid tips to encourage their students (no matter what age) to learn to play. We sat down with two professional music educators and let them give us their best advice.

When asked why someone wants to play an instrument, the answer is usually that it is fun. Someone might tell you they play and practice to become a professional musician someday. While playing for fun and even bigger ambitions is all well and good, it is commonly acknowledged that playing an instrument also has numerous health benefits for you, both mentally and physically. 

Shortly put, playing an instrument is such a beneficial pastime and skill that everyone who is even mildly interested should be encouraged to grab a guitar (or any instrument, for that matter) and start their music journey.

People start playing for very different reasons. Perhaps someone has a dream to play in a band with their friends, another wants to impress a girl with their musical skills, and someone wants to learn tunes that they can jam by the campfire.

Everyone benefits from playing an instrument and should have an equal chance to do so.

While the motivations for learning an instrument may vary, it must also be acknowledged that the learning methods differ equally. Some people need a teacher they can meet every week in a classroom, some prefer 1-to-1 teaching, while others might be most comfortable learning by themselves while watching videos on YouTube. Then there are those who have found inspiration and help by using an app like the ones created by Musopia. 

While motivations and learning methods vary between individuals, it comes down to this: Everyone benefits from playing an instrument and should have an equal chance to do so. Furthermore, some universal tips apply to basically everyone in their learning process.

Earlier, we sat down with Erja Askolin, K-12 music teacher at the Albert Edelfelt School in Southern Finland,  and Scott Burstein, Director of Teaching and Learning at Music Will in the US. As experienced and rock-solid professionals in teaching music, they have noticed some universal methods and tips that should be acknowledged by everyone teaching music. 

Because their views and expertise should get as broad an audience as possible, we wanted to put together the top tips both professionals gave. 

Erja’s Top Tips

1. The students learn better when they enjoy the learning process and are excited. The fact that you get to make music and play instantly and experience success makes you interested to learn more. I want to highlight that learning is fun and easy, and you can play real songs from the beginning.
   
2. If you have a musically inclined adult at home that encourages you to play, it lowers the threshold for taking up the hobby of playing an instrument.
   
3. I want to encourage my students to try and experiment with instruments. I tell them about the possibilities of playing an instrument and where they can practice, and I inform them about the options of different music apps.

Scott’s Top Tips:

1. Finding songs that students know and love is vital. We focus on student-driven music, finding ways to unlock their inner-music makers.  
   
2. It’s very beneficial that kids get to immerse themselves in music early on. Get kids involved with music as soon as they start having it touch their lives.
   
3. Encourage the kids to make musical choices, let them participate and help them find success and grow their confidence.

Next to the tips above, both professionals also had a lot more to say. You can read the interviews with Erja and Scott in full length on Musopia’s homepage. Read Erja’s interview here, and see what Scott has to say here.

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The post Top Tips from Music K-12 Educators first appeared on Musopia Blog.

Musopia is working with several non-profit organizations that are doing fantastic work in spreading the joy of music. One of them is Music Will, which runs the largest nonprofit music education program in the US public school system and has gained a lot of visibility by working with major musicians like Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams, and Bruce Springsteen, just to name a few.

The teachers of Music Will currently serve over 500,000 students in more than 600 cities and towns across the country. That means the impact of the organization is huge, and Musopia is honored to be part of this K-12 classroom music education program.

We had a chance to discuss music education with Scott Burstein, who is the Director of Teaching and Learning at Music Will, formerly known as Little Kids Rock. Scott is in charge of all the music content, curriculum and training.

But now, let’s dive deeper into Music Will and what it is all about.

What is the cause behind the organization, and how was Music Will born?

The organization was started back in 2002, but before then, our founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Dave Wish, was an elementary school teacher who passed his love of music on to his students. There were no music classes for the kids in his school, so he started a lunchtime guitar class that grew quickly, and the kids loved it. He focused on teaching how he was taught: finding songs they knew and loved and letting them use those to build their skills and repertoire. Eventually, the program grew so much that he decided to start the organization. To this day, we focus on student-driven music, finding ways to unlock their inner-music makers.  

Is there a story related to the name of the organization?

The name was originally Little Kids Rock because that was the name of his guitar club, but as the organization grew, we outgrew the name; we no longer focused on Little Kids nor on rock music. Now, we reach K-12 students as well as higher education, and our musical focus is all popular kinds of music.  

Do you have any examples of what your organization has achieved?

We currently work with around 3,000 public school teachers in the US and have impacted over a million students in the last 20 years. These music teachers use our methods and curriculum in their school day to teach students the music they know and love.  

How has it changed your life working for the organization?

I started as a music teacher back in 1998 and was doing a variety of things: marching band, jazz band, Music Theory, Concert Band, Mariachi ensemble, as well as a guitar class. Back then, in my district (the 2nd largest in the US), there were very few teachers doing guitar or any form of popular music. When I was trained by the org in 2004, it gave new life to my teaching, including a ton of instruments and validation for my work to that point. By the time I left teaching in 2012 to work for the organization full-time, we were in over 100 schools in Los Angeles.  Since then, I have shifted from working directly with students to now getting to plan and develop resources for thousands of music teachers to work on with their students all over.  

We work with around 3,000 public school music teachers in the US and have provided access to music for over a million students in the last 20 years.

How have you collaborated with Musopia?

I think I was first introduced to Musopia at the NAMM show sometime around 2014, and I immediately saw its direct link to what we were doing. They gave us hundreds of codes for our teachers to use their guitar karaoke app for free, and it was a huge hit! I remember a year or so after introducing their app to our network, one of the most exciting things was when I visited a couple of music classes around the country and saw the teachers using it with their students.  It was near the end of class, and the teacher said, “Ok, great job today. Do we want to use FourChords App?” and the kids all got excited. A student would pick a song they loved, and the teacher would stream it on their smartboard and the entire class would play and sing the song. It was really amazing; we were watching ‘sight reading’, students making musical choices, fully engaged, and able to participate at multiple levels. I was sold.  

What kind of dreams and goals do you have regarding the organisation’s future?

I hope that there is a point where every student can make music the way they love, use it to further their happiness and education and use it as a driver for their success.  

A student would pick a song they loved, and the teacher would stream it on their smartboard and the entire class would play and sing the song. It was really amazing; I was sold.

Why do you think people are so attached to music?

Music has the ability to connect everyone, set the scene and mood, and express our feelings if we let it.

Can kids benefit from immersing themselves in music early on?   

Absolutely, which is why we believe in getting them involved as soon as they start having music touch their lives. 

You have an extensive list of featured well-known artists and artists that support your mission; how do you get in contact with them initially?

We have artist relations experts on staff, but it started more with our founder just networking and watching that network expand.

In what ways can artists help you out?

They help in many different ways, from donating money and equipment, performing at our benefits or with students, and visiting classrooms, but often the most impactful way is just talking about us to their fanbases.  

Music has the ability to connect everyone, set the scene and mood, and express our feelings if we let it.

How does the school get to start the collaboration with Music Will?”

It can happen in a few ways. Primarily, we get donations for specific markets, and then we go to that market to talk with music supervisors and get them excited about what we do. Occasionally, teachers in a market will tell their district to get involved with us, and they will try to find money to bring our training to their schools. 

Do you have examples of kids who have benefitted from your program?

Too numerous to count. My dissertation is actually specifically about a group of students I had in my class and how the program benefited their lives 10 years later. I saw many musical aspects that were still present, but the more interesting comments were about the social and cultural capital they gained from the experience. They formed bonds, found success that helped them throughout their next stages of life and gained the confidence to be their best.  

What are the most popular instruments among kids?

The ukulele is the one that most request early on, but I think that is often because it’s smaller and cheaper, and teachers can therefore request more of them. Otherwise, we still see mostly guitar and drums. 

Where can people find out more about your work? They can always visit our website (musicwill.org) to learn about our work, and we have free curricular resources for everyone that you can find at https://jamzone.musicwill.org/.

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The post Doing Good — Music Will first appeared on Musopia Blog.

A professional music teacher reveals to us how Musopia’s app has revolutionized K-12 music lessons for good.

When we ask Erja Askolin how she feels about Musopia’s FourChords app, it isn’t hard to notice how excited she gets. “It’s a brilliant invention!” she exclaims.

Erja Askolin has worked as a K-12 music teacher at the Albert Edelfelt School, which is an equivalent to junior high school in the US, in Porvoo in southern Finland for 15 years now. Before that, she worked in a private music school. That means she has worked with music for almost all her life.

Music has always been her passion, and it wasn’t hard for her to transform her passion into a profession. “Music has always been my favorite subject at school, and as I started to plan my career, it was easy for me to see that I wanted to combine children, music and even dance in my profession.”

When asking Erja what the best part of her job is, she doesn’t hesitate in her answer: “The best job satisfaction comes from seeing students excited, practising, succeeding and enjoying what they are learning.”

Students are more restless, classes are big, and restlessness has generally increased. Musopia’s app helps students focus, and Erja can concentrate more on individual students.

And that is indeed something that Erja has succeeded in. “Parents of both primary and secondary school students have told me that their children talk at home about how much they enjoyed the music lessons and what they have learned.”

At this point, one must ask: what is Erja’s secret? 

“The FourChords app by Musopia”, she answers promptly. “I’ve been using FourChords since 2015. The app is like a second adult in the classroom. It frees me up to go around and help students.”

And with a classroom full of 24 kids, that makes a huge difference. The teaching groups are big, and that’s definitely a challenge. “No band has 24 students”, she points out. 

What was teaching music like before you started using Musopia apps? “Even busier”, she says. Now I’m free to go around the classroom and help out.”

I want to highlight that learning is fun and easy, and you get to play real songs straight from the beginning.

But what is FourChords exactly? 

Musopia’s “el classico” guitar karaoke app offers solutions for many different needs. It offers simplified chords for every song, adjustable backing tracks, tempo control and transposition, lyrics display so you can sing along as you play and jam with your friends, chord tutorials and sound recognition. FourChords is mainly used by individuals that want to learn how to play, but Erja has proved that the app works phenomenally in classroom music education as well. 

And in the classroom, the app has an even wider sense of purpose. Erja points out the change that has happened in schools in recent years that has been widely discussed in the media. “High school students are more restless, classes are big, and restlessness has generally increased. Musopia’s app helps students focus, and Erja can concentrate more on individual students; the app is indeed like a second adult in the classroom.”

Next to FourChrods, Erja has also been using another one of Musopia’s apps. “I have been using the Ukeoke Ukulele Karaoke app. I have used both apps to sing with the school choir. They work well for singing, too.”

The FourChords app is not just versatile when it comes to different skill levels, but it also has a very versatile selection of over 2000 hit songs in various music genres. You’ll find something for every taste, which is a huge bonus when it comes to kids with different tastes in music as well as very different skill levels.

The students all have their own favorite songs in the app. Among the most popular ones are well-known hits like The Lions Sleep Tonight, Shape of You, Boyfriend, Hallelujah and Eye of the Tiger. The songs for music lessons are chosen together as a group, Erja’s students tell us.

But it’s not all about songs; it’s also about favorite instruments and the different levels of the students when it comes to musical skills. How can music lessons be adapted to a group of learners with very different levels? “We teach the basics of instruments so that everyone tries out all instruments in both primary and secondary school. We also practice a teaching method called band rotation, where we play the same song several times and as a band, we rotate from instrument to instrument in six groups, each with an acoustic guitarist, bassist, drummer, vocalist, percussionist, and pianist. During the lesson, the students each get to play with four or five instruments”, Erja explains. 

The app is like a second adult in the classroom. It frees me up to go around and help students.

What about getting someone excited to learn an instrument for the very first time? How does Erja motivate her students? 

“The fact that you get to make music and play instantly as well as experience success does make you interested to learn more. I have also noticed that an adult role model is important. If you have a musically inclined adult at home that encourages you to play, it lowers the threshold for taking up the hobby of playing an instrument.” In fact, some of Erja’s students have been so excited about the app that they have purchased the FourChords app themselves so that they can continue practising at home.

“I want to encourage my students to try out instruments and experiment with them. I tell them what kind of possibilities there are to play an instrument, I tell them where they can practice, and I inform them about the possibilities of different music apps. I want to highlight that learning is fun and easy, and you get to play real songs straight from the beginning.”

Some of Erja’s students have been so excited about the app that they have purchased the FourChords app themselves so that they can continue practising at home.

She also wants to share a story with us. “It’s very rewarding to get the students excited about making music. One of the most rewarding experiences was when I received a letter from a student after 9th grade, thanking me for the music lessons and saying that the music lessons made him able to cope with other school lessons.”

To other music teachers, Erja has a message. “I strongly recommend using Musopia’s apps in the classroom. It makes all the difference both to the teacher and the students. It really has transformed the way I teach music and how much more the kids get out of it.”

P.S. from the editor:
For classroom use, it is good to make a comparison between FourChords App and JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App, as they both have classroom-friendly play-along features but a different soundtrack sound and other differences in the feature set.

The same comparison is recommended between Ukeoke Guitar Karaoke App and Kala Ukulele App.

Read the first part of this series.

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The post My Music Journey first appeared on Musopia Blog.

If the face in the photo above this article looks familiar to you, there’s a good chance you have already stumbled across it, especially if you’re into music! You might have come across Jenane’s Instagram and TikTok accounts in social media, with both accounts already having over a million followers worldwide. 

Jenane McCulloch is a professional singer, but it doesn’t stop there! The talented 26-year-old musician also knows her piano and clarinet and is an inspiring ukulele player. Her experience with the ukulele is actually the reason why we sat down with the Tennessee-based musician. Jenane has told in her social media channels that to learn to play the ukulele, she uses Musopia’s popular Kala App.

We wanted to know her thoughts on the app and how it has helped her hone her ukulele skills. “The lessons are the best part for sure. I can rewind or pause to practice as much as I need to, and they make it so easy to follow along. It’s definitely the next best thing to having private lessons. Lately, I’ve been working on “Riptide” by Vance Joy.”

At first, she tried her luck with the guitar, but the instrument soon changed into a ukulele. Why was that? “Honestly? Playing the guitar really hurt my fingers. I know that’s such a small thing to deal with, but who likes pain? But with the ukulele, it hurts a lot less than it did when I tried guitar!” she explains. She hasn’t given up on learning to master the guitar at some point, though, so perhaps we will hear her play the guitar at some point in the future as well.

But let’s focus on the present! What is the Nashville-based musician up to nowadays? 

“I’m a full-time professional singer! I make original music in addition to performing in touring party bands, singing in sessions, and providing background vocals for fellow artists.” 

My main love of it is in performance. I’m happiest when I get to perform and get that energy from the crowd. For some people, it’s songwriting and production, and I do like those things as well, but the payoff for me is when I get to perform, and I’m thrilled that I get to do that so much.

She majored in music in college in Nashville and still lives in the city. Right after graduating, she started to play with a cover band that took her out every weekend, which led to many other things.

She’s enjoying building her career based in Nashville. “If you want to be a singer in the U.S., you either have to live in LA, New York or Nashville. Those are definitely the biggest music hubs in the country. Nashville has a whole lot of songwriters, so if you want to write and make your own music, it’s the best place to be.” While Nashville is known for its country music, Jenane and most of her friends concentrate mainly on pop and rock music. Most of her friends are in the music industry as well.

While Jenane loves all aspects of being a musician, her biggest passion is performing. “My main love of it is in performance. I’m happiest when I get to perform and get that energy from the crowd. For some people, it’s songwriting and production, and I do like those things as well, but the payoff for me is when I get to perform, and I’m thrilled that I get to do that so much.”

Jenane does indeed get to perform a lot. She plays in several bands, and just one of the bands has shows 3–4 times a week. They play in Nashville, but they also go on tours to different cities. Being part of many different bands keeps the singer busy. “With Party Down, we do a lot of tours and weddings. I also do background vocals for a young artist, and I substitute for other bands when they need a singer, and I happen to be free, which doesn’t happen often these days! I’m also part of a girl group called ElectraQueens.”

She’s known all her life that she wanted to be a musician. Before fourth grade, she dreamed of becoming a magician, but once she joined the choir in fourth grade and realised she could sing, she decided to become a singer instead. 

Her first instrument was the clarinet, but she decided to opt for other instruments because the clarinet lacked one significant feature: the ability to sing while playing. This is something she can now do with the ukulele. “I chose the ukulele because it was such a beginner-friendly instrument to get used to a string instrument”. 

Jenane’s ukulele tutorials are very sought after by her followers on her social media accounts, and she is often flooded with messages from her followers requesting her to make new tutorials of specific songs. “My fans are funny, sweet, but also demanding. Once, I had a cold, and I was trying to rest my voice for a while, but it was hard to do that properly because my fans were so eager to get new tutorials to learn new songs. I’m really grateful to have such enthusiastic followers!”

She has built her large follower number very fast; it has just taken a couple of years. “You just need to find the things that work and stick to them. When I realised that people wanted the little voice lesson tutorial videos, I started posting more of those”, she explains. Many of her videos on TikTok have millions of views and hundreds of enthusiastic comments, so Jenane’s strategy can definitely be called successful.

When asked which of the social media platforms is her favourite, she pauses to think for a second. “I do like TikTok the best because you’re able to reach such a wide audience. I have now started to do a lot of Instagram reels, though, and it works well too. The audiences on the platforms are very different, though. For example, in TikTok you have much more beginners who want to learn how to play.”

For ukulele beginners, Jenane has a few tips. Even though most of us want to sing while playing the ukulele, don’t try to do it straight away. “Definitely don’t try to sing along at first, no matter how much you want to. Focus on getting the chords and the strum pattern down first!”

Jenane also emphasises the importance of making sure that your technique is solid straight from the beginning before you build a bad habit. “When I first started to practice the island pattern strum, I kind of learned it wrong. You’re supposed to keep your hand moving the whole time. I paused at the top and got really used to doing it like that. When I then watched a tutorial video, I noticed that I had been doing it the wrong way all along, and I had to break the habit! That’s the great thing about videos and apps like the Kala App because you can see the right technique and movements and have a visual.”

Jenane also emphasises the importance of making sure that your technique is solid straight from the beginning before you build a bad habit. “When I first started to practice the island pattern strum, I kind of learned it wrong. You’re supposed to keep your hand moving the whole time. I paused at the top and got really used to doing it like that. When I then watched a tutorial video, I noticed that I had been doing it the wrong way all along, and I had to break the habit! That’s the great thing about videos and apps like the Kala App because you can see the right technique and movements and have a visual.”

“My favourite part of the Kala App are the videos and getting to watch how the instructor plays the songs himself, and you always have the possibility to rewind and pause if you want to look at something closely. It’s definitely very user-friendly!”

When asked what her musical aspirations for the future are, she pauses to think. “I’m really lucky to be able to perform full-time and make enough money with that. My goal is definitely to be an artist and make my own music as well.” 

While we are on that topic, Jenane has some big news to share. “I have a song coming out soon that I have written together with my friend, Mark Demao. The song is called Light up, and it will be released in the spring of 2023.  I collaborate a lot with my friends, and my goal is to continue writing more of my own songs.”

She also has a goal when it comes to playing the ukulele and the Kala App. “I’d really like to learn to play The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars”. 

With her own music being released and new tutorials coming out, there’s a lot to be on the lookout for in the future!

Check out Jenane’s ukulele tutorials on TikTok!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

You can also visit Jenane’s Instagram account here!

Follow Musopia on LinkedIn to get the latest news.

Read the second part of this series and get to know Music Teacher Erja Askolin.

The post My Music Journey first appeared on Musopia Blog.