Dawson Music Academy will host a special celebration this Fall. We are excited about celebrating with our students on Sunday, November 12 during our Sunday Worship Service. Here are 5 reasons we hope all students will join this celebration. Celebrate Your Progress It’s exciting to think back over the past few years and look at the musical progress each student has made. Join together with other Academy students to celebrate the new skills learned and the progress made. Connect with other Student Musicians There’s something special that happens when musicians join together to play. Students pla ..read more

We all have a favorite Christmas song-a song that encourages us, reminds us of fond memories, and brings a big smile to our faces. There’s something powerful about music that ministers to our spirits in ways we can’t describe. That’s why the students and instructors of Dawson Music Academy enjoy sharing music with our community each Christmas. During the month of December, Academy students will share music through a variety of different Christmas Showcase opportunities. One of our favorite Academy traditions is “Christmas at Chick-fil-A.” On a Saturday afternoon, Academy students and their fam ..read more

When looking for the “perfect instrument” for a piano player, there are a multitude of options to explore. There’s a wide variety of styles, brands, and sizes. Parents of you children frequently ask “Do we need to purchase an upright piano or can my child learn to play piano on a keyboard?” To be honest, the answer depends on your musical goals and personal preferences. Perhaps more important than whether the instrument is an acoustic piano or a digital keyboard is the quality of the instrument itself. If an upright piano has aged over the years without being taken care of properly, it may hav ..read more

One important question new violin students typically ask is “Do you recommend renting or purchasing a violin?” While the answer may vary according to the musician’s goals, I have found from experience that renting is typically the best option for beginner violin students. Here’s a few reasons to consider when making your choice. Affordable Pricing At first glance, it’s easy to recognize that the monthly rental fee of around $25 is significantly more affordable than paying full price for a new violin. While many financial experts might say it’s better to make an initial one-time investment inst ..read more

Let’s be honest: all musicians want to sound great when they play, right? Well, even the best musician doesn’t sound great when playing on a less-than-stellar instrument. And not sounding great takes some of the fun out of performing. In fact, some instruments can actually hinder student success. If the instrument isn’t built correctly or if it doesn’t hold tune the way it should, students become easily frustrated. Choosing the right instrument provides great rewards for students, performers, and also listeners. Check out these tips to help you choose the instrument that’s the right fit for yo ..read more

Dawson Music Academy will host a special celebration this Fall. We are excited about celebrating with our students on Sunday, November 13 during our Sunday Worship Service. Here are 5 reasons we hope all students will join this celebration. Celebrate Your Progress It’s exciting to think back over the past few years and look at the musical progress each student has made. Join together with other Academy students to celebrate the new skills learned and the progress made. Connect with other Student Musicians There’s something special that happens when musicians join together to play. Student ..read more

There’s something special about watching and listening to live musicians. You can see the intricacies of each musician’s technique. You can hear the nuances of each instrument. Most exciting, you can feel the unifying atmosphere of 73 musicians joining in one accord to bring the music alive. As Dawson Music Academy hosted the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Explorer Concerts in October, we enjoyed sharing the sounds of the symphony with over 1,000 elementary school students from across Birmingham. The symphony played a variety of musical selections that captured the audience. Here are 4 spectacular ..read more

As Spring Recitals approach, excitement builds among students, parents, and instructors. A Spring Recital is a special time for students to join together with other students to celebrate their musical gifts and to demonstrate what they have learned over the course of the past year. To be sure this year’s recital is a positive experience for your child, here are some easy recital prep tips to follow. Explain the purpose The purpose of recitals is to celebrate students and their talents. At Dawson Music Academy, we enjoy celebrating students’ God-given talents. That’s why we offer Spring Recital ..read more

Are you looking for some hands-on musical fun to spark your child’s interest in music? Perhaps your child has expressed an interest in music lessons, but choosing the right instrument seems overwhelming. A great “first-step” to introduce your child to musical instruments is creating their own instrument at home. While musical crafts are a great source of fun and exploration, they are not just for fun! Musical crafts provide excellent opportunities for learning new things. With instrument crafts, crafters will gain insightful and helpful connections as they are learning how a particular instrum ..read more

If your child is taking lessons on an instrument you yourself don’t play, it can be difficult to know how to help them. Certainly, your child’s instructor at the Dawson Music Academy is your best resource to know how to help your child, but sometimes it’s helpful to have a couple of quick tools up your sleeve. Here are six thing to say to your child to help them practice better. “Do that part again at half that speed.” Lots of beginners rush through practice, and taking it slowly forces them them concentrate on accuracy. Go even further by setting a timer for 5 minutes and have slow-mo time ..read more