Dig beneath the dominating sounds of string instruments. Ignore the Autotune treatments of today’s pop tunes. What if the fundamental...

Attending a baseball game doesn’t make you fit and neither does watching a legal thriller make you a lawyer. The same thinking applies to...

Those of us at The Music Junction believe talent is everywhere and inside all of us. You do not have to be born with musical ability to be a great singer nor do you have to be rich to create beautiful music.   We came across an NPR story that is a wonderful reminder about talent. Also, you’ll quickly become enchanted with this music!   The Malawi Mouse Boys spend several hours every Sunday singing for their church. The rest of the week, they hunt mice to sell as snacks to t

Kurt Elling is my (Charissa’s) favorite jazz vocalist of all time (sorry Ella).  I first saw him live 7 years ago at the Green Mill Jazz Club in Chicago, where he got his start.  He performed in LA in 2012 and gave one of the best performances I’ve ever seen, with a small 3-piece ensemble of high-end musicians who were so tight and advanced that it felt like a whole new level of music. Miamiartzine.com has a great description of his voice.  “Elling has a weapon in his throa

We know that music provides so many benefits to the brain but we were touched by one story about how music can make us better people.   A...

If you ever plan on going on a road trip, consider visiting San Francisco’s wave organ to experience that music is truly everywhere if you’re willing to listen.   Located on a man-made jetty off the city’s marina, this piece of art uses the movement of the waves to make music. Put your ear to one of the “organ pipes” and you can hear the low notes that make a wonderful contrast to the light splashing of the waves. What is a special treat is that the sounds are always alterin

This is a funny and interesting video of a science experiment demonstrating how two female monkeys react when treated unfairly.  “Only female capuchins were tested because they most closely monitor equity, or fair treatment, among their peers,” said Sarah Brosnan, lead author of the study.  Looks like unfair treatment is disliked in any species!  This can be interesting information for parents in the human species, who have all observed the unpleasant reaction between siblin

NPR recently did a story on the saxophone trio , S.O.S., noting them as “underappreciated.” The English trio S.O.S. — saxophonists John...

Some people start their day with a cup of coffee while others read the newspaper. Still more, check their social media accounts. Do you...

Though for many, Fantasie Impromptu is a college level piano piece, this student has learned it beautifully at age 8.  She has extremely developed finger dexterity and strength for someone her age.   A long hand span is also needed to reach the octave (8-note) stretches in this piece.  And the song definitely requires a sophisticated understanding of the subtle musical nuances in the dynamics and phrasing. Does that sound like a normal 8-year-old??! A neat example for beginn

Here’s a clip of American Idol runner up Melinda Doolittle singing “ My Funny Valentine ”. She is one of the most exceptional talents the show has ever seen. This year 2016 marks the final year of American Idol after a 15 season run. Cheers to the show that made us all think we could be stars and cheers to all the lovers out there this Valentine’s Day.  Interested in lessons?   Learn more!   | Questions?   Contact us Music Junction offers private one-on-one music lessons with

The New York Times reports on a study showing that children who took music lessons at a young age had advanced development in their...

Happy Valentine’s Day! While you may receive a card, get a box of chocolate or eat at a fancy restaurant, nothing says love to us like some good music. After all, most music is about love with its swooning and excitement. Whether single or coupled, we’ve collected some classic love songs that will make your heart full. Enjoy!   “At Last” by Etta James There is a reason why newly married couples choose this tune for their first dance. It is beautiful and romantic. This song wi

The Holderness family has had us laughing for a while. They once wore matching pajamas for a Christmas video that became a viral sensation on the Internet and we’ve quickly become big fans of their latest video. Their “ Baby Got Class” video pokes fun at the back to school season, a time of the year when restless kids stock up on an ever-growing list of school supplies and tired parents can once again enjoy a quiet house. The song is a parody of rap classic “ Baby Got Back ”

We already know how much listening to music can benefit Alzheimer’s patients thanks to the documentary “Alive Inside.” Now, new research...

Every year the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in West Hollywood presents over one hundred concerts featuring leading...

Through the science of cymatics, we can not only hear sound, we can actually see it.  In this video , Evan Grant demonstrates the science and art of cymatics, a process for making soundwaves visible. This is one image of what Beethoven’s 9th Symphony looks like through a cymatic device: Useful for analyzing complex sounds (like dolphin calls), the science of cymatics can also make complex and beautiful designs. Interested in lessons?   Learn more!   | Questions?   Contact us

This song from Israel-based artist Kutiman is called “ Give It Up ” and includes more than 20 different clips from amateur artists playing the bassoon, piano and cello as well as featuring an acapella singer.  In his official YouTube page, Kutiman cites his sources and it’s worth clicking on the original works just to see how much effort goes into creating an original piece of music.  The music is also a worthwhile listen! Kutiman first became famous for pioneering this type

By now, you know we love this time of year with all of the holiday music and special live performances but this is also a great time to...

This week’s Music Worth Noting features some great music that blurs genres and gives us music that is fresh, new and, in one case, educational. Enjoy! Mark Ronson “ Uptown Funk ” will make you want to dance and smile, which is why you have probably heard it on the radio and in the mall at least a dozen times. We’ll take it for granted that you have already heard this song several times and play you the unique version of the video without background music.   Crossroads Project