Rick's Music World

Today seems like a great day to stop by and pick up a new cymbal or drum for the upcoming gift-giving season!

Not sure what you're looking for? Ask one of our staff members for help - they're friendly, knowledgeable, and waiting for you!

This holiday season, we're so thankful for all our wonderful students, their supportive families, and the incredible teachers behind each of their successes.

We feel fortunate to have such a unique and exciting musical community! 🎶

In honor of November being Native American Heritage Month, we'd like to feature an important family of instruments in Native American music traditions - the drums!

Native American tribes use unique types of drums for different purposes, but here are four basic family's of drums that you could see.

💧 Water Drums - these are filled with water to varying levels. The different amounts of water and the different materials used create widely varied sounds and pitches.

🦶 Footed Drums - these instruments aren't exactly like the drums you may be familiar with, and are much less popular than the other family members. These are often hollowed-out logs or dug holes in the ground that are then covered with a stretched canvas or skin. They're played with the musician's feet!

🖐 Handheld Drums - the most widely used drum in Native American music and rituals. Some are double-headed, some are held from the inside, some are tuned with pegs and some are simply tacked on to their shell. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different varieties!

🪘 Powwow Drums - these are often larger drums that can allow for multiple performers to play on them at once. A "powwow" is a Native American ceremony that can have feasting, dancing, singing, or all three!

Cultures from all over the world have their own unique kinds of drums. Can you think of any unique drums from your culture?

Thank you to all have served and continue to serve! 🇺🇸

It's Indigenous Peoples' Day! Most may know today as Columbus Day, but we encourage all to learn more as we recognize Indigenous Peoples' resilience and strength! Learn more here --> https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/columbus-day-myths

Well we lost a great one today.
Mibbit Threats taught bass with us at Rick’s Music World for several years in the early days. He was an extraordinary bass player, and an extraordinary teacher. However beyond all that, he was one of the kindest and giving souls you would ever meet in this world.
He always gave his best to all his students and anyone he would come in contact with on a daily basis, he was just full of positivity.
Mibbit had more talent and music knowledge in his little finger than most people have in a lifetime.
He went on to play with some of the most notable people in the music industry, we were so proud of him.
All of us that knew him at Rick’s Music World, are extremely saddened with the news of his passing today. RIP brother…

Hey left-handed guitarists. Look what Chris just unpacked. A bunch of Fender lefties for sale. Come down and check them out!!!

Every month we send out an E-Newsletter and we love to highlight our students! Fill out the google form and student(s) will be featured each month in our newsletter!

Use this link for the form: https://forms.gle/z3UQsCD9gwGEaiEb9

Photos from Lakeville Arts Council's post

A new school year has started and as the fall approaches it’s time for new beginnings! If you or your child has ever wanted to start learning an instrument, now is the perfect time! Finding the teacher that fits you can be hard — that’s why we only search for the best! We offer voice, guitar, bass, ukulele, drums, trumpet and more! Just give us a call at 508-977-0200 or email us at [email protected]. Start your Fall off the right way, sign up now for our September FACEBOOK QUICKSTART DEAL. This deal includes no registration fee and a free Rick's Music laptop briefcase. A $75 total value. Call today and mention FACEBOOK QUICKSTART before we book up!

In a world where gratification and information is so immediate, one thing music can teach you is patience! Learning to play an instrument with a great level of skill doesn't happen overnight. It's important to remember that things like this take time and, in the end, it's so wroth it! Musical skills are life skills and can be with you for a life time. Call us and start learning an instrument today!

Today is Musical Yoga Day! Do you practice yoga? If so, comment below with some music that you listen to!

Strange music? What the... What is strange to you may not be strange to someone else!

What kind of music do you enjoy, that others may think is strange? Leave us a comment below!

A lot of potential musicians are turned off from music lessons because they fear they can't commit to a serious schedule of practice and lessons. While it's important to take lessons seriously, this doesn't mean you need to learn music without having fun! Many of our students enroll in music lessons for the shear joy of playing, and we love that!

If you love to play music, or just want to learn, reach out to us and let us set you up with the perfect teacher! We'll help you with any of your musical needs and reach your musical goals!

Are you a high school junior or senior and looking to audition for your dream college? If so, make sure to check out the Ensemble Music Schools and read what you need to do to ace your audition! From putting together your pre-screen video, to going through the entire live process, make sure you click the link below and read on!

https://www.ensembleschools.com/blog/practice/preparing-for-college-audition/"

“I’ve found that no matter what life throws at me, music softens the blow” — Bryce W. Anderson

Congratulations students on your musical ladder achievements!!

Jake D. Songbird on guitar with teacher John B.

Fayella T. Musician on piano with teacher Nicole D.

Cole S. Apprentice on drums with teacher Alec D.

Aurora C. Allegro on piano with teacher Jocelyne C.

Autumn B. Musician on guitar with teacher Bella S.

Michael and Ty came down to save some money on No Tax Saturday and bought these beautiful Fender Squire classic vibe and Dean V. Guitars. Thanks guys for supporting your local music store. We really do appreciate it!

August is the birth month of one of the greatest singers of all time, Whitney Houston!

As a child, Whitney sang in church and became a background vocalist while in high school. In 1981, she became one of the first black women to appear on the cover of Seventeen. Signed to a label at age 19, her first two studio albums, Whitney Houston (1985) and Whitney (1987), both peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and are among the best-selling albums of all time.

Her song, ""I Will Always Love You,"" won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became the best-selling physical single by a woman in music history. Houston went on to star and record soundtracks for Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher's Wife. Houston produced the latter's soundtrack, which became the best-selling gospel album of all time. She is the only artist to have had seven consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, from ""Saving All My Love for You"" in 1985 to ""Where Do Broken Hearts Go"" in 1988.

We are hiring! If interested click here --> https://ensemble-music-schools.breezy.hr/p/f1ff6266d6cc-voice-piano-teacher?state=published

Congratulations to our teacher and student spotlight of August! Check out more in our monthly newsletter!
https://mailchi.mp/0574e89f0290/music-in-august

Today is National Bagpipe Appreciation Day! To learn more about the history of the bagpipe check out these links!

---> https://tinyurl.com/historic-uk
---> https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL443CCCAAD1B0C016

“The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the the world with” — Bruce Springsteen

Congratulations to these students!

Owen M. Allegro on Guitar with teacher Mark C.

Richard L. Apprentice on Drums with teacher Nicole D.

Molly M. Songbird on Guitar with teacher John B.

Sergot R. Apprentice on Piano with teacher Beau S.

Tyler G. Apprentice on Guitar with teacher Mike M.

Are you working on your sight-reading skills during each practice session?

If not, you should be! Being able to sight-read increases your overall music reading ability. How can you practice sight-reading?

Pull out any sheet music you have laying around (make sure you don't already know it!). Put a metronome on and play through the music at a pace that ensures you're playing each note correctly, the first time. Even if this means the tempo is 40 BPM - you're on the right track! Commit to working on this skill every day and you'll see your reading skills grow exponentially!

Want more practice tips? Give us a call and let our knowledgeable and experienced teachers work with you on preparing the perfect practice session!

July is the birth month of the famous French Impressionist composer, Maurice Ravel!

Born into a music-loving family, Ravel went on to attend the world-renowned, Paris Conservatoire. As a composer, he liked to experiment with musical form, as in his best-known work, Boléro (1928), in which repetition takes the place of development. Ravel was a master of arranging and made some orchestral arrangements of other composers' piano music (like his version of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition).

A methodical worker, Ravel's compositional output was lower than many of his peers. Much of his music exist in only two versions - a piano score and, later, an orchestration. He was also one the first composers to recognize the potential of audio recordings and how they could help others to hear the work of musicians.

“The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers” — Roy Ayers

Congratulations to these students on their musical ladder achievements!

Eva R. Vivace on piano with teacher Bella S.

Vere M. Songbird on piano with teacher Jocelyne C.

Julia C. Vivace on piano with teacher Bella S.

Andy T. Musician on guitar with teacher Dave M.

Alicelyn S. Rockstar on drums with teacher Alec D.

As an adult thinking about taking music lessons, the first question is usually, ""Do I have the time for this?"" Followed by, ""Will I even be able to learn anything?""

The answer to both of those questions is a resounding YES!

If it's a time commitment issue, our instructors will work with you by detailing the perfect practice and lesson schedule to fit your goals and lifestyle. You don't need to practice hours a day just to enjoy the benefits of music.

Music, like any skill, is learned by people of all ages, all around the world. It's never too late to start learning.

Reach out today and get started! 🎶

It's Barbershop Music Appreciation Day! Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a primarily homorhythmic​ (the same word sounds at the same time)​ texture. The melody is consistently sung by the lead​ (second tenor). The (first) tenor ​​harmonizes above the melody, the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completes the chord. Barbershop harmony is rooted in African-American traditions of the late 1800s in the South.

Check out these links to learn more and listen to some awesome examples!
---> https://www.barbershop.org/about/history-of-barbershop
---> https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdoQH6ky20Xky4Exl_GSAWOaW2iFED188

Congratulations to our July student and teacher spotlights! The work you do and the music you make for Rick's Music World is amazing!

Natalie C, one of our fine Ricks Music World students, came in today to pick up an early birthday present. She found this beautiful Washburn Bella Tono Vine acoustic electric guitar that just came in yesterday. We’ve had them on order since February and she’s the first lucky customer to get one. Happy early birthday Natalie and congratulations on your new guitar!!

Sir Richard Starkey or, better yet, Ringo Starr, was born this day in 1940! You probably recognize him as the drummer for the internationally famous, top-selling band, The Beatles. Along with playing drums, Ringo sang and wrote songs for the group. You can hear him on ""Yellow Submarine"" and ""With a Little Help from My Friends"". He also wrote and sang ""Don't Pass Me By"" and ""Octopus's Garden.""

As a drummer, Ringo excelled at playing tasty, creative grooves that perfectly matched the songs. It makes sense that he's now credited with being the richest drummer on the planet!

Happy Birthday Ringo!

July is National Anti-Boredom Month! What better way to fight boredom than to enroll in music lessons?!

Whether you're looking for lessons for your child, or your ready to start your own musical journey, music lessons are stimulating, exciting, and guaranteed to push you to be the best version of yourself!

Reach out today and let us help you keep from getting too bored. 😉

“Music can change the world” - Ludwig van Beethoven

Congratulations students!

Nylah A. Prodigy on piano

Lily C. Musician on piano

Bella C. Sonbird on piano

Ethan A. Rockstar on guitar

Nicholas J. Allegro on piano

All with teacher Bella S.

☀Sun is shining, keep on smiling☀ Check out our July E- Newsletter! - https://mailchi.mp/6f2715c041cc/sun-is-shining-keep-on-smiling

Happy 4th of July!

If you've ever wondered how you can connect with your young musician, have you considered taking lessons alongside them? Not only is it a great bonding experience, it can be a very special way to help them build confidence, comfortability, and their abilities. Read more about it here! https://www.ensembleschools.com/blog/lessons/considering-parent-child-lessons/

Lessons over the summer are a great way to keep your child (or yourself!) engaged and active! There's not a better activity that helps grow your mind, dexterity, and confidence. If you're interested in music lessons for yourself or your child, reach out today and we'll connect you with one of our fantastic, highly qualified instructors!