The Elements of a Successful<br>Music Program : ADMIN

Learning Ukulele with Curt

The Elements of a Successful
Music Program

These are if you're going it alone or with a qualified teacher.

UPDATED:
22 August 2025

The Elements of a Successful Music Program

“You’re born with a spark... to search for the truth, for the best you can be. Practice. Discipline. Preparation. Try and try again. Then one day you‘re on top and they say you're an overnight success, ”a “natural.” You smile, you know.” - Anonymous

Here Are A Few Of The Elements That Would Be Typically Covered In A Well Rounded Musical Education

These are if you're going it alone or with a qualified teacher.

Technique

Technique is the physical control and coordination needed to play an instrument or sing. It involves position, efficiency of motion and effort, as well as exercises to develop specific physical skills.

LESSON: Technique Lessons

I'm a firm believer that your never going to do anything musically that your fingers haven't done before. They can be trained to a very high level to do what they have been trained to do and hopefully at the right time. — Curt Sheller

Theory

Theory is the established body of principles behind music. It includes scales and chord building, intervals, progressions, resolution, harmony, motion, power, color, chord substitution, keys and time signatures, rhythm, melody, etc.

From a core foundation of the principles of music you can build and derive additional information from that same foundation.

Basically, just understanding it all works.

LESSON: Theory Lessons

Ear Training

Ear Training is the development of the active and passive capacity to relate to music aurally. It includes the ability to recognize and reproduce melodic and harmonic intervals, chords, chord progression, rhythm, melody and harmony.

LESSON: Ear Training

Repertoire

Repertoire includes the songs within a musician's performance ability. These songs maybe memorized or read. They may be literal reproductions or creative interpretations.

LESSON: Repertoire Lessons

Improvisation

Improvisation is the ability to spontaneous create melody over a predetermined chord progression. It involves scales, alternate fingerings, arpeggios, intervalic development, sequences, embellishments, superimposition, rhythm, motifs, development techniques and idiomatic considerations.

LESSON: Improvisation Lessons

Songwriting

Songwriting is the creation of original music based on a single melodic line with a chord progression. Lyrics may or may not be included.

LESSON: Songwriting Lessons

Reading

Reading is the ability to reproduce music from written notation. It includes five phases; note recognition / alternate note locations, rhythm recognition, fingering considerations, communication terminology and interpretation.

>Reading can be at a casual pace to learn a musical passage or at a pro level having never seen the music before.

LESSON: Reading Music Lessons

Musical Idioms

Musical Idioms is the study of music and the musical styles it involves well developed categories as; Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass, Classical, Folk, Urban and Fusion. It also includes subdivisions and specializations.

LESSON: Music Idioms / Styles Lessons

Arranging

Arranging involves the choice of instruments, tempo, rhythmic feel, form, intros, endings, interludes, solos, harmonies, and instrumental accompaniment of a song.

LESSON: Arranging Lessons

Composition

Composition is the creation of original music based on multiple simultaneous and compatible melodies. It historically involves the classical forms but frequently includes more sophisticated levels of contemporary music.

Orchestration

Orchestration involves the choice of instruments for a composition. This choice is based on the ranges and colors of the instruments which best represent the mood and creative intent of the composer.

Interpretation

Interpretation involves the ability to perform a song or composition in a unique and personal way. These skills involve a interrelated set of disciplines which include, theory, ear training, technique, dynamics, embellishments, phrasing, and rhythmic flexibility.

All this leads to the development and nurturing of the artist within us all.

Available at Funky Frets

Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within, Book & Includes On-line Down-loadable code

"Effortless Mastery is a book that the world really needs. It was not written by a philosopher or an academic. Kenny Werner, is one of my favorite pianists I've ever had the pleasure of working with, and in my opinion one of the best pianists living on the planet. Kenny teaches that 'The joy of practicing is concentration. The joy of playing is liberation.' Effortless Mastery teaches the seeker how to achieve both at the highest levels. It also shows how to practice effectively, promoting real growth and how to play and perform free from fear and self-judgment. I highly recommend this book."
- Quincy Jones

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On the web since 1992 and a Mac since 1987 (Mac II) • Serving up Ukulele content since 2003 ( 22 years ago ) • Lets Kanikapila!!! v12.13.0 (8.2.23) • And, since Sept 2020, happily on Pop!_OS Linux and a System76 Thelio. Half the cost of the iMac and a real treat to use. I use it for ALL development work. Only wish the Affinity Suite of apps by serif where available on Linux (and I do know you can run them in Wine with a few hacks).

This sit has ben profesionaly red. awl tpyos aree free and no aditonal chrge • I'm blaming it on “jazz” fingers. “Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.”

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