Mike Molaro

 

 

 

about the Lessons:

First and foremost the lessons are fun. Music is an art form. Art is about self expression, joy, and curiosity.

Mike tries to make the lessons as engaging, interactive, hands on, and as fun as possible.

Secondly, learning music involves a set of many skills and is a multifacted discipline. Mike believes in a balanced and comprehensive approach and he teaches using a combination of many methods and ideas: 

 

playing by ear, chord charts, sight reading, learning popular songs (or obscure ones you love), music theory, improvisation, and song writing

 

playing by ear:

as valueable as sight reading is, it is easy to forget that music is heard. It is through our ears that we percieve music, through our ears we find it pleasing, or displeasing, through our ears that we hear harmony and disonance, intervals and melodies. I believe nurturing the inate ability to play and learn music by ears alone is one of the most important aspects of becoming both a great musician and composer.

 

chord charts:

it's a simple concept that can get one playing some of their favorite songs in weeks. It's also how jazz players comp, how folk musicians communicate, and how blues players know what their improvising over.

 

sight reading:

since the 1400s, and solidified in 1600s with the compositions of Bach, the West now has a very sound and ingrained form of musical notation. Yup, those little note heads on lines. Anyone with a desire to learn and understand classical music must become effeicent at 'sight reading' (simply playing as if reading, without much or any preparation beforehand). Of course, the advantages and joys don't merely extend to classical music but can be applied to every musical genre: jazz, showtunes, death metal, bubblegum pop, rock, folk, etc...

 

learning popular songs:

most of Mike's students find this to be the most exciting part of the lessons, and possibly the most valuable. There is nothing quite as inspiring and motivating as the ability to play the songs you love and enjoy. Learning dull melodies or tired folk songs can only take you so far. Mike tries to spend a portion of every lesson teaching his student's any song of their choice (movie scores, video game music, and silly songs you heard on youtube are all fair game!)

 

music theory:

it's one thing to learn to play a Cmajor7 chord, and it's another to understand it consists of a root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 7th. Understanding theory supplies the player and songwriter with the inner workings of music. The 'physics' or 'architecture' of music. Every great composer throughout history either knew this intellectually and/or intuitevely with their ear. Knowing theory gives one the ability to improvise, learns songs faster, compose more effiecitently, transpose songs to different keys, and gives the player an overall better appreciation for how and why music sounds so pleasing (or displeasing) to the ear and brain.

 

improvisation:

the ability to flow. One of Mike's favorite aspects of music, and one that makes it the most meditative is the ability to improvise. Improvising is understanding what notes create what effects over certain chords and in certain key sigantures, and then using this knowledge to let go of inhibition and let the notes fly. From Mozart to Muddy Waters to John Coltrane, all were profeicient improvisers. Without learning the ability to improvise it is nearly impossible to continue towards song writing. Two fascinating articles revealing the brain science behind improvisation: This Is Your Brain on Jazz and Music Can be Good for Your Brain

 

songwriting:

there is nothing in life that compares to the ability to create art that is unique, individual, and moving. There are consumers and creators and in a modern world where we are bombarded with tevlevision, movies, video games, and screens from every which angle, it becomes more diffuclt for both adults and children to set aside time to create instead of consume. On the surface it's a fun time out to explore or extrapolate on various topics and ideas. On a deeper level it is one of the few ways to commune with one's spirituality. Self expression is empowering on many levels. It gives one the quiet and confidence to trust in themselves and explore the infinitie inner workings of the human heart and infinite subconscious (insert rant about metaphysics and cosmology and "god")...but layers above how profound the act of creation is...it's just plain FUN.