Today we have the opportunity to share the fifth installment of our “Instructor Features” blog series! This week we have Jordan Koehlinger to celebrate. Jordan is an avid trumpeter, teacher, and musicology scholar with interests in a variety of musical styles from orchestral, to chamber, to jazz. With performing experience both in the United States and abroad, she has played with the Symphony of the Lakes in Warsaw, Indiana; served as auxiliary brass for Ernie Haase and the Signature Sound; and performed in the Opera Maya festival orchestra in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
3 Reasons to Have a Piano in Your Home
I’ve seen so many do it this way - people become interested in learning the piano, then they go to a music studio or instructor’s home to learn it there. Or, even farther down the spectrum, they try to learn how to play via an app on a phone. Although we ought to celebrate the music-making happening here still, the benefits of having a piano inside your own home far outweigh any other conveniences or frugality in general.
August Student Spotlight: Milo M.
Overcoming Performance Anxiety from Practice to Performance
Your heart races as you step on stage. Blinking at the lights, you feel the familiar threat of panic rising in your throat. You try to ignore it, but the sensation spreads throughout your body. Trembling, you begin to play, but despite your many hours of practice, the piece completely falls apart. Disappointed, you walk offstage feeling defeated and hopeless to overcome your anxiety.
If this scenario sounds familiar to you, you are not alone. Having struggled with performance anxiety myself, I can attest to its difficulty, but I want to reassure you that your situation is not hopeless. You can learn to manage your performance anxiety by implementing some of these helpful strategies as you practice, prepare, and perform onstage.
The Vibe Back-to-School Discount!
July Student Spotlight: Jake W.
Private Instruction Builds Classroom Leaders
Speaking from experience, I wish I would've taken private lessons throughout middle and high school (even earlier if I had had the opportunity). While I was eager, passionate, and dedicated in my involvement in choir and band, I had to push myself especially hard to achieve certain musical skills that otherwise would've been much easier to gain had I taken private lessons early on.
Where to Find Quality Percussion Resources on a Budget
Shopping in general typically involves an effort to find the best available intersection between quality and price. This can become tricky with musical instruments, and percussion products are no exception. While it can be difficult to determine what will be the best choice for an affordable price, there are a few places to shop that will make this easier. This article presents several websites and resources that will help you find the right items at the most reasonable price.
Instructor Feature: Marilyn Watkins
Today we have the opportunity to share the fourth installment of our “Instructor Features” blog series! This week we have Marilyn Watkins to celebrate. Marilyn Watkins is an experienced music teacher and violinist. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in music education from Ball State University. Her varied background includes orchestra director at Pike Township schools, music director of a church, and performances in college and community orchestras such as Muncie Symphony and Carmel Symphony.
Read more about Marilyn below, and at the link near the bottom of the post.
How to Practice Piano with Correct Technique
To any new player beginning the process of learning the piano, all 88 keys staring back at you can look quite intimidating! Thankfully, with great technique and practice habits from the onset, you can overcome that boundary quickly. That piano suddenly becomes a beautiful instrument just waiting to be played!









