Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten's music transcends generations, making it the perfect introduction to folk and blues for kids. The simplicity and beauty of her melodies resonate with young ears, fostering an early appreciation for different musical genres. Libba's journey from a self-taught musician to an influential figure in the folk and blues scene is nothing short of inspiring, so we wanted to take a moment to not only foster a love for music but also instill important lessons about creativity, perseverance, and the invaluable contributions of women throughout history.
You can download a 3-string guitar tab for "Freight Train" right here, and don't forget to dwell in Libba's soulful melodies here, by checking out our specially curated Spotify Playlist.
Listen to our specially curated "Elizabeth Cotten for Kids" Spotify Playlist right here. And learn to rock "Freight Train" on your Loog guitar, by downloading the 3-string tab right here! Don't worry - it's beginner friendly! 😉
Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Queen, The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Madonna and Regina Spektor in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Reggae is not just a music genre; it's a cultural phenomenon that originated in the heart of Jamaica. Rooted in a rich blend of African rhythms, Caribbean traditions, and the soulful expressions of its people. With its fun syncopated beats, offbeat guitar chops, and socially conscious lyrics, reggae became a powerful voice for change and unity.
If you're looking for a genre that's not only super fun but also fantastic for learning the ropes on the guitar, you've come to the right place. Today, we're learning all about reggae's rich history and impact on our culture. You can check out our specially curated Spotify "Reggae for Kids" Playlist to start groovin' right here. And you can also download the 3-string guitar tab for "Three Little Birds" right here.
Now you're ready to start groovin'! Download the 3-string guitar tab for "Three Little Birds" right here, and check out our specially curated "Reggae for Kids" Spotify Playlist right here.
Did you miss our previous 'for Kids'? We've already covered Blues, Metal and Punk in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music genres. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Imagine a magical journey where guitars, harmonicas, and sometimes even pianos, speak in a special way, telling stories about happy times, tough moments, and everything in between. Well... this is Blues music. A musical diary where musicians share their feelings and connect with others.
What makes blues so special is its heartfelt sound. It's a bit like when you feel happy, sad, or even a little bit silly – there's a bluesy tune for every mood! The music often has a rhythm that'll make your feet tap and your head sway. So, if you ever hear a guitar wailing or a harmonica humming, you might just be in the company of some blues magic.
Get ready for a musical adventure that's all about feelings, stories, and the joy of sharing through the power of music. We've prepared a specially curated "Blues for Kids" Spotify Playlist that will get little ones in touch with their emotions through music. And for those who might be feeling brave, here's a 3-string guitar tab that will teach little rockstars the basics of Blues. Get ready to sing your heart out!
Check out our specially curated "Blues for Kids" Spotify Playlist right here, and if you're up for a family jam session, download this special E Major 12-Bar Blues for 3-string Loog guitar and let your soul sing!
Did you miss our previous 'for Kids'? We've already covered Metal and Punk in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music genres. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>At Loog, our ongoing mission remains steadfast: to ignite the passion for music in children and empower them as they learn to play an instrument. There are plenty of benefits to early musical education, including enhanced cognitive development, which are crucial for a child's growth and well-being. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to a world where confident and empathetic individuals thrive.
However, for the children who need it the most—those requiring a confidence boost to navigate today's world—access to instruments remains a significant hurdle. We are all about connecting kids to music, and we couldn't think of a better way to do this than by helping music programs in under-privileged areas. Since embarking on this journey over a decade ago, we have actively engaged with some impactful and necessary music programs worldwide.
We've also partnered with the Playing for Change foundation, donating all returned (fully functional) Loog guitars to music education programs serving minorities and children in need. And not just in the US: some of our guitars even made the journey to the Playing For Change Patagonia music program in Argentina!
Both of these initiatives join a growing group of wonderful organizations we’ve partnered with in the past - from the Save The Music Foundation to smaller, volunteer-driven initiatives in schools and neighborhoods in both the US and abroad.
This year, we're reaffirming our commitment to making a positive impact. Building on our tradition, we began the year by fulfilling last year's Giving Tuesday promise. A percentage of all proceeds was donated to the "One Child, One Instrument" program. This initiative not only imparts musical skills but also serves as a gateway to cultural enrichment!
Today, we would like to invite you to join us in this endeavor. Your support is simple yet powerful—all you have to do is make any purchase from our store (yes, any product), and we will donate a percentage of all proceeds towards similar initiatives for next year. We've extended our offers so we can all help make a more musical (and happier) world together in 2024.
Stay tuned to see what organization or initiative we’ll partner up next! And if you’re interested in collaborating with us, don’t fret - drop Eugenia a line and we’ll get back to you soon. Here's to another year of spreading the joy of music and building a brighter future, one empowered kid at a time.
THANK YOU for being a part of the Loog community! ❤️🎸
The Loog Team
It's time to grab your musical compass and set forth on a journey into a world of magical melodies, piano keys, and delightful stories. We've crafted the perfect Spotify Playlist for the occasion, and for those up for a challenge, we've prepared a 3-string guitar tab for "Fidelity," one of Regina Spektor's most cherished songs. But that's not all! Since we're incredibly excited about our new Loog Piano, we've also created a music sheet for "Fidelity" that you can download right here, which you can play as soon as your Loog Piano arrives. Let's dive in!
Listen to our specially curated "Regina Spektor for Kids" Spotify Playlist right here. And learn to rock "Fidelity" on your Loog guitar, by downloading the 3-string tab right here! And if you're up to try the piano version, you can do so by downloading the music sheet to "Fidelity" right here. Don't worry - it's beginner friendly! 😉
Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Queen, The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Their revolutionary sound, captivating melodies, and enduring influence have made them the gold standard of rock 'n' roll. If you're a parent eager to share the magic of music with your kids, The Beatles are the perfect place to start!
In this delightful journey, we'll introduce little rockstars to The Beatles and help you pass on the joy of their music to your little ones. From their early days playing in local clubs to their unforgettable songs like "Yellow Submarine" and "Let It Be," we'll explore the band's captivating history.
Join us as we embark on an adventure that will have kids and adults singing along and grooving to the timeless tunes of The Beatles! We've prepared the perfect Spotify playlist for the ride, which you can check out right here. And you can also grab your Loog guitar and jam out to "Yellow Submarine", as we have the 3-string guitar tab right here, available for download. Let's begin!
Listen to our specially curated "Beatles for Kids" Spotify Playlist right here. And learn to rock "Yellow Submarine" on your Loog guitar, by downloading the 3-string tab right here.
Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered Bob Dylan, Queen, The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Join us in a riveting journey through time as we delve into the incredible life of Leo Fender. From a farm to the forefront of music history, witness how Leo's passion for electronics and music led to the creation of iconic guitars like the Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster. This tale isn't just a story; it's an invitation for young dreamers to discover how curiosity and creativity can change the world.
We've also prepared a very special Spotify playlist where we explore the sounds of Fender. You can listen to it right here!
Want to own your very own Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster? Check them out on our online store. Happy rockin'!
And don't forget to check out our super cool "Sounds of Fender" Spotify Playlist, right here:
Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered Bob Dylan, Queen, The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>As a true musical icon and Nobel laureate, Bob Dylan has left an indelible mark on the world of music. His poetic lyrics, distinct voice, and profound influence have captivated audiences for decades!
With his musical roots in acoustic folk music, his ability to reinvent himself and experiment with rock by going electric later on, and his unmatchable song craftsmanship with lyrics that are both deeply personal and universally relatable, Bob Dylan has earned a dedicated fanbase and inspired countless individuals to stand up for their beliefs.
No artist has brought the worlds of literature and music together quite like Bob Dylan. Plus, his constant experimentation and refusal to be confined by genre conventions have kept his music fresh and exciting over the years. Dylan's legacy serves as a reminder to embrace our individuality and follow our dreams, no matter the trends or expectations. And this is exactly why we believe kids should learn about him!
So, let's put on some Bob Dylan tunes (we have just the perfect playlist for that, right here) and allow his poetic genius to transport us into a world of thought-provoking melodies and captivating storytelling. And if you're feeling ready to take on your own musical journey, here's a tab for "Knocking On Heaven's Door", an all time rock and roll classic that will surely inspire rockstars of all ages on and on.
Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering his work, exploring the vast catalog of Bob Dylan is an enriching experience that promises to leave an indelible mark on your musical journey! Listen to our specially curated "Dylan for Kids" Spotify Playlist right here. And learn to rock one of his all-time classics on your Loog guitar, by downloading the 3-string tab right here.
Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered Queen, The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Taylor Swift has fought against sexism, unfair critics, bad friends and sucky boyfriends, all while releasing hit after hit. This is what makes her lyrics so relatable. Her songwriting is very unique, but at the same time very engaging and approachable. And this is why she's loved by millions of fans around the world!
We always say: Loog is all about bonding with your kids over music. And if they need to know who David Bowie is, you get to learn from them as well. So today we're learning everything Taylor Swift. Ain't that the coolest thing about music? It helps us bond with our loved ones in unique ways.
Taylor Swift has inspired millions of kids (especially girls) to pick up a guitar, learn music and even write their own songs. Because playing guitar doesn't always have to be super complex. Sometimes a few chords and a great melody are all it takes to make a kid fall in love with music, and that is what we're here for.
So, are you ready for a Taylor Swift 101? Here's the perfect Spotify Playlist with Taylor Swift's greatest tracks. PLUS, a 3-string tab to "Shake It Off" so you can come off as a cool parent and rock along with your kid on your Loog guitar. And if you're not a musician yourself, maybe Taylor can inspire you too 😉
Now that you possess some Swiftie knowledge, we think you might be ready to jam along to "Shake It Off" with your little rockstar. And if you want to hear more from this talented woman, check out our specially curated "Taylor Swift for Parents" Spotify Playlist below:
And check out the video version below!
Don't miss our previous edition of our 'for Parents' series! We've covered Harry Styles and Olivia Rodrigo before. Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered Joni Mitchell, Queen, The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Written by Violet Celine
Is your kid a budding musician or singer? If so, that’s a skill you might want to encourage.
Aside from granting them a cool talent they can show off to family and friends—and even a possible career path down the line, we note in one of our previous articles that music helps kids by giving them a tool to express their emotions in a fun, healthy, and sustainable way. What better way to motivate your kids than giving them their very own space to practice and record their songs?
Itching to get started? Here’s how to set up a home recording studio for your kids.
If you're building a studio from the ground up, a study published on ASA.scitation.org found that the best principles for studios' dimension ratios are that the length-width ratio should be between 1.15-1.45 and that the width-height ratio should be greater than 1.1. This optimizes frequency distribution and sound quality. However, this only applies if you intend to spend a considerable amount of time and money on your home studio. That said, it's perfectly fine to initiate their musical journey with a laptop and a set of headphones.
You can make a wonderful spot for your children to record by simply using the materials you have on hand. Find a room or space in your home that's as far from clamorous streets or rowdy neighbors as possible, then fill it with heavy pieces of furniture as well as carpets and rugs. This will serve to dampen and absorb distracting sounds. You could also purchase affordable materials like acoustic sealant tape to block small crevices where noise could enter through, such as the gaps between the door and its frame. Setting up heavy curtains on the windows can absorb most sound pollution leaking in from the outside.
When deciding which equipment to invest in, you'll be looking at these two categories: instruments and recording gear. Kids often have strong preferences in the instruments they want to learn, and it's important to respect that. If they're open to suggestions, however, a great option is our own Loog guitar. It comes in different sizes, has a built-in speaker and amp, and comes bundled with an app, flashcards, and free video lessons. If you purchase an electric guitar, your kids won't even need to worry about recording gear—all they need to do is plug the guitar into their audio interface and they're good to go! When your kids are ready to level up their guitar sound, they can easily acquire digital guitar amps or pedals through the AmpliTube Custom Shop or Native Instruments.
Another good choice that TheModernRecord.com suggests is digital keyboards. These can replicate the sounds of different instruments and usually come with a MIDI interface, which can connect the keyboard directly to your device and expand its array of sounds. A stellar model is the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-775, which possesses 88 Weighted GrandTouch keys and velocity-sensitive pedals that imitate the feel and sound of an acoustic piano.
Though digital instruments eliminate the need for recording gear, your kids may want to practice singing, too. If so, Shout4Music.com recommends looking at some of the best microphones for vocals. The Neumann U87 AI is considered one of the finest because of its amazing versatility—as a large diaphragm condenser with a variety of polar patterns and a sensitivity that reaches up to 20/28/22 mV/Pa ± 1 dB, it captures lush sounds whether your kids are singing from far away or right up to the mic. It can also handle sound pressure levels up to 127 dB without distortion. Both these features mean your kids can still capture high-quality recordings even with limited experience using vocal mics.
Now that you’ve established the studio space, gear, and instruments, it’s time to settle the recording and playback interface. Since this is a basic studio set-up, you can simply connect your kids’ musical paraphernalia directly to a computer and use digital applications to capture the music.
Audacity is one classic program many beginning musicians use. It's free, open-source, and has powerful sound and editing features that rivals its paid-for counterparts. If your kids want to work with something simpler, MCT-Master.github.io recommends the digital audio workstation Soundation. It features an easy-to-learn drag-and-drop system, 12 virtual instruments, an extensive loop library of 20,000 royalty-free samples, and thorough tutorials covering everything from basic recording and advanced music mixing to how to recreate the Stranger Things theme song.
Encouraging your kids’ burgeoning musical inclinations is one of the best things you can do for them. Even if they don’t end up performing onstage in front of thousands, they’ll attain social skills, an artistic way of expressing themselves—and audio files of their precious homemade music, thanks to the recording studio their parents set up with love.
With songs rooted in pop, jazz and rock, Joni was able to write such deep and personal lyrics that would resonate with millions of people. She became one of the most acclaimed singer songwriters of the 20th Century and many people are inspired by her music everyday.
Joni Mitchell was always very artistic. She isn't just a guitarist and a singer, she is also very interested in the piano, the ukulele and other musical instruments, as well as painting. Keep reading to find out how she combined these artistic passions and other super cool fun facts about her!
We've also prepared a specially curated Spotify Playlist to get our little ones started on Joni Mitchell, which you can listen to here, as well as a 3 string guitar tab for "Big Yellow Taxi" that you can download right here.
Don't forget to check out our specially curated "Joni Mitchell for Kids" Spotify Playlist here, and if you're ready to rock out, download the 3-string tab for "Big Yellow Taxi" and sing your heart out with your Loog guitar!
Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered Queen, The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>This is the sixth episode of Loog B-Sides, a series of conversations that celebrates and shines a spotlight on some of our fave Loog Community members. You can also listen to excerpts from this feature and others from Loog B-Sides on Spotify.
Our ultimate goal has always been to help create more musicians in this world, because it's been proven that music makes us smarter, nicer and happier. It's no secret that music education helps kids lead better lives, improving cognitive skills, stimulating the mind and making them more empathic, among other benefits.
And the best part is that these amazing benefits are not just reserved for kids! Adults who receive music education tend to improve their brain health, happiness and quality of life. Few things can stimulate our brain like music does. This is one of the reasons why many organizations use music education as a tool to help people, as is the case of Jazz Hands for Autism.
In the words of Founder and Executive Director Ifunanya Nweke, with whom we had the pleasure to sit down and talk, they "provide workforce development training, specifically that in the music industry, to adults on the autism spectrum and everybody else who is neuro divergent."
Jazz Hands for Autism is a small to mid-size nonprofit organization based out of Culver City, California. And in this Loog B-Sides Episode we're going through the work and purpose of Jazz Hands for Autism, as well as learning how music education can improve the lives of neuro divergent people.
Don't feel like reading? Listen to an excerpt of Ifunanya's interview here.
We are an innovative and award nominated answer to an age old problem, the foremost talent advocacy group for musicians on the autism spectrum. And through that, we're changing the way that individuals who are on the autism spectrum are taught and included in different communities, starting with the entertainment industry.
We focus on music because we realize and recognize that music is much more than just an aesthetic pleasure. It's much more than just, “oh, this feels nice, this sounds nice.” It's actually a really powerful tool for social connection and social mobility. And seeing that adults with autism are the most unemployed segment of our population and have the least self-determination of any other demographic group, we found it to be very imperative that we uncover ways to change these dire stats, using a tool that can be accessible. AKA, music.
Through our music based educational, vocational and placement programs, we’re essentially creating access to expression and employment for people with autism who are often a forgotten, but incredibly important part of our population.
After watching movies like 'Rain Man', many people walk away with the idea that everybody who's on the autism spectrum is a Savant or has Savant level skills, but that's not the case. There's a saying that goes, “when you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism.” While there may be similarities in some of the challenges that people with autism face, some of the affordances that they have or some of their idiosyncrasies, each person with autism has very various strengths and challenges.
This is part of what neurodiversity champions and why it's so important, because even within the autism spectrum, there is a myriad and so many different ways that a person’s strengths can be in one area and challenges can be in another. But for another person's autism, it can be reversed or somewhere in between.
Now, this being said, studies do show that individuals with autism may have more of an affinity for music than other typically developing individuals. So music based programs and activities could be very beneficial to the development and meaning-making in the lives of people who have autism. What I would say is that a safe way to approach this is to ask the person in the spectrum what their interests and talents are.
We work with individuals on the spectrum of various ages, depending on the program. The first program that we ever had was the Jazz Hands Concert Series, which provides a performance platform for people with autism of all ages. Then we have our junior academy, which is one of our newer programs. For that one, we provide in-home and Zoom based music lessons to youth on the autism spectrum. That's from ages 8 to 17. And then, our biggest program is the Jazz Hands Musicians Academy, which is our workforce development and vocational program that provides music based training and placement. It's for adults on the autism spectrum who are 18 and older.
In addition to those three programs, we have our music library that we just recently launched. That one's more of an initiative and not necessarily a program per se, because it can be attached to any of our other programs. And what that is, it's the first ever music library, featuring original compositions and songs exclusively created by neuro divergent composers and songwriters. For this one, you can be of any age. If you're neuro divergent and you wrote or composed an original song, you can submit it to Jazz Hands. We would then evaluate it and, if it's selected, add it to our music library. Then we would go out and pitch that to different music supervisors for film, TV, advertising, YouTube, etc.
Oh yeah, definitely. I've read many studies explaining that we're not fully sure why that's the case. We don't know if it's just due to the actual increasing prevalence of people with autism, or if it's just an increase in the efficacy of the tools used to diagnose individuals who have autism. It could be one or the other or a combination of both, but that number is growing steadily in the United States.
Basically, if you look at the stats every four years, there's an increase in the number of people with autism. It's gone from 1 in 121 to 1 in 54 people who have autism in America. That number is also growing worldwide as well. So, that 1 to 3% is not super accurate because there are some places where diagnostic tools are not very efficient or effective. We actually don't even know the total number of people with autism, it’s just based on some research that has been done, just a generalized sample, but it's probably much higher than 1 - 3%.
And you know, there are many people who have autism that have other neuro divergences as well. It's very frequent to meet a person who has autism, but also has anxiety or ADHD or bipolarity. Many people who are neuro divergent actually have several different neuro divergences occurring at the same time.
There's people who say, “oh, we're all on the autism spectrum,” and that's not fair. Of course we all have different idiosyncrasies and different ways that we see the world, but when it comes to autism, it's actually a diagnosis. People with autism have a lot of challenges and barriers in the world, so to say that we're all on the autism spectrum really undermines a lot of those challenges and barriers.
Then also on the flip side, for a while there has been people ashamed of autism and they would hide it. And now there's a lot of people embracing the autism label and using it as an empowering term, specially on Social Media. And we don't wanna take away that tool of empowerment from them.
On the one hand, we don't want to say, “oh, everybody has autism” because that's not true. Cause there are very real challenges and barriers that people with autism face. And on the other hand, we don't wanna take away the word autism because many people are now using that as a way to empower themselves and promote awareness and acceptance in society.
I just mentioned earlier, many people with autism have very real challenges and barriers. One of those areas where there's a lot of challenges is employment. Even beyond autism, getting employment in general is really tough for many adults, right? Whether or not they are neuro divergent. However, for individuals who have autism, that road is even much more difficult. And that's due to social challenges that many people with autism face: being able to interact, read social cues and follow the social standards that we utilize to interact with each other. Whether they're reasonable or not, that's a different conversation. But some people with autism may not understand many of these social standards, and that makes it more difficult for them to find a job and actually maintain it.
Based on the research that I've done, music can help alleviate some of these challenges. Leveraging existing musical interests can assist with creating access for learning those skills, and this is what Jazz Hands does to teach other generalizable skills or transferable skills. So for example, if a person is already interested in music and then you help them learn how to prepare for an audition using their music, they're learning a lot of social skills in that process.
Starting from a place of interest is really important. At Jazz Hands, we start with music, and in addition to that, we leverage the power of music to improve the learning process of people with autism, and also the way that they're included in their community. When it comes to education, if you look at many different programs, music is a big part of learning. For example, the “Hello” song when you first walk into class in kindergarten, or learning your ABCs with the song. Music is a really big part of learning. But for some reason, we, along the way, forget that.
Music is important to help people learn new skills, especially neuro divergent individuals. In learning those skills, our musicians are able to better succeed in different employment locations, especially those that are music based. Part of what we do is advocate for them. We go to different places and say, “Hey, are you looking for entertainment? We have really talented musicians that can meet your entertainment needs.”
Our graduates and students have performed on over 150 stages, in many different places including Culver City, Pasadena and Carson. They've performed and DJ'ed in the L.A. Zoo, for private parties, for politicians, and things of that nature.
Beyond performance, our musicians are also interested in teaching music. So we have partnerships with a couple of schools, where our musicians are able to go in with a job coach and be able to teach music to other students. Some of whom are also neuro divergent. So that's another part of what we do at Jazz Hands. It's not just performance, but also teaching music and composing original music.
Our musicians have also gotten internships at studios. Whether it's a local studio or a Grammy Award winning studio, they have interned at these studios to learn the back end of creating and engineering music.
So like I said, our musicians have performed on several different stages, they've taught music to children who are enrolled in non-public schools, they have interned at Grammy Award winning studios, they've composed music that has been used in film, TV, advertising, and other digital content. There are many different ways to be employed in music. And we help our musicians learn different skills based on their interests for the segment of music that they wanna work in.
We’re also actively checking in on our musicians to see if they have developed any new interests as they go through our program. As they perform in different places or see different things, their interest may expand. They may come and say, “Hey, you know, I recently went to this museum, and it has to do with music history. I know a lot about music history, and I would love to work at a museum.” So our job is to go to that location and say, “Hey, we have a really talented and qualified individual that will make a great addition to your team. Can we set up an informational interview where you can learn who they are and see if they're a good fit for your company?” We're actively trying to help our musicians expand what they know they can do, and find opportunities in the community where they can actually put that into practice.
I have someone in my family that's neuro divergent. He has not been officially diagnosed with Autism, he's been diagnosed with ADHD, but he does suspect that he's on the spectrum. So he's gonna go in for that. And I was a big part of his life as he was growing up. One thing that would often happen is that while he was in school, he would think that kids were trying to be his friend and not notice that they were making fun of him, and so he was bullied in school. That's an example. Whereas for me, I may pick up really easily that they're trying to be condescending, being rude, or being mean.
That can be an issue, because we like to think that workplaces are just like these very objective places, and they're not. They're composed of people who have different ways of addressing different agendas, and there's power dynamics. And depending on how you “move” socially in that environment, it can affect your career. So if there's a social event happening and they're not able to pick up all the different cues, it can affect their mobility in that organization.
Another thing is that when it comes to getting promotions and things like that, it's not always based on merit. It's based on knowing how to rub shoulders with the right people, and for a person with autism, that may not be something they’re familiar with. That may also limit their possibilities at a workplace. Those are just some examples that kind of talk about the politics of a work environment, and how that plays into the social construction of that environment. These things can create a barrier for a person with autism.
On top of that, I've met quite a few individuals who are on the autism spectrum that are very blunt, actually. Things like sarcasm may not necessarily land well with a person with autism, generally speaking. A person with autism might say, “this thing is just not working well.” and it might offend somebody. Whereas somebody who doesn't have autism would say, “maybe let's try something different.” And this impacts their social capital in the work environment. There's a lot of different nuances, that people who are not on the spectrum may not consider to be something that they're actively doing, but for a person with autism it can become a barrier in the workplace.
I can answer in a politically correct way or in the most honest way possible. I think I'm gonna choose the honest way. Research has proven that our society is very ableist. A lot of society's structures are not designed for people who do not operate in the “agreed upon”, mainstream way. And so, to be honest, if the world was to look the way that I think it should, some of these social standards would be dismantled.
Why do I have to deceive or not be straightforward to get somewhere? I don't think that that's fair, you know? I think some of those social standards that have become barriers for people with autism, are actually things that we need to dismantle anyway. Because they're not actually working for anybody, they're creating inequities. In my opinion, that's what we should be getting done. In a way that's more practical.
What we do is provide training in different social cues. Like, if you're gonna go to an interview, here are some things that you may not wanna say. Here's some things that you may wanna say, here are some ways that you may wanna approach it. Make sure you have some questions and do your research, so when they ask you “if you have any questions”, you're not tricked into saying, “oh, no, I don't have any questions.” Most people don't have questions at the end of an interview. They just research something and write it down so that they can impress whoever’s interviewing them. So, we do teach some of those skills. But like I said, if the world was to be the way that I think it should be, that shouldn't even be a problem, because I shouldn't have to pretend anything to get the job. I should be able to just be myself and get the job.
I just wanna go back and say, if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism. So there's no 'one size fits all'. There may be some people who have autism who just wanna sit at a desk and do data entry. That is their thing and they're passionate about that. And so for those individuals, an office job would be most suitable. But for those who wanna explore more creative aspects of who they are, a creative job would be best. To answer your question: music is a valid career choice for anyone interested in pursuing it.
Like I mentioned, at Jazz Hands we particularly work with musicians on the autism spectrum. Everyone we work with has already expressed an interest and has shown emerging talent in music. So, all we do at Jazz Hands is help them cultivate this talent and support them in sharing it with their communities, through volunteer or paid work opportunities. We don't infuse or force an interest in music. We leverage the existing interest. If somebody comes to us and says, “Hey, I have an interest in music.” We’re like, “Okay, great. We can support you.” But if somebody comes and says, “Hey, I'm interested in construction”, well, we may not be able to support you in the fullest way possible. We would send you to a program that is focused on that area.
Although music is a very powerful tool for social connection and mobility, a career in music is not for everyone. And so, the model that we're trying to put forth through Jazz Hands is to support an individual who has autism with job training and job scouting. You have to start with asking them what they're interested in and what they're motivated by. And then, from there, you can create pathways to help them break into that industry. It’s very person-centered. Getting to know the person, what their strengths and interests are is important to help them learn skills and find ways to mitigate some of their challenges.
Long story short, there are volumes of research that show that people with autism have an affinity or an inclination towards music, even more so than their typically developing peers. Knowing this makes music a really great tool for therapeutic intervention, social connection, and overall just creating a life of meaning for individuals who have autism, especially those who already have an existing interest in music.
In some individuals who have autism, loud noises can cause overstimulation and be very off putting. However, although music and sounds are connected, they're not exactly the same. Music is an organized sound. That's very important. It's organized and also a pattern sound. So many people who may have sensitivity to loud sounds may not necessarily be sensitive to loud music.
I mentioned earlier that I have a family member that is on the spectrum. So, just in general, Jazz Hands came to be because three things collided. One is my loved one who is neuro divergent. I've been providing support to that person for a majority of their life, and I've been an advocate for them in many different spheres. I also have a really deep love for music. For me, music is also a big way that I'm able to communicate and interact with people. And lastly, I met a really talented individual who has autism. And when I met him, he didn't even realize that he was leveraging the power of music to build community around himself.
After I met this person, it seemed like everything that I cared about kind of collided: me advocating for my loved one who is neuro divergent, my love for music, and then also meeting this talented individual who was using music to set an atmosphere. So, the next step I took was to create a platform where my love for music, social support and community inclusion came together for the benefit of neurodivergent individuals, especially those who have autism.
It first started with me meeting this individual and realizing all these things. And then me saying, “There's gotta be a place where neuro divergent people can express and leverage the power of music to connect with their environment and their community."
Jazz Hands for Autism is ever-evolving. And I think a big reason why we're ever-evolving is because we always start with the person and say, “What else do you want in this life? What do you wanna learn? How else do you wanna show up in this life? How can we support you in making that happen?”. One thing that we don't necessarily have is a very concrete or rigid strategic plan. And this is how it's always gonna be.
Our growth as an organization is very informed by the individuals that we support. They're the ones leading how the organization is growing and moving. I'm not on the autism spectrum. So as a leader of the organization, I need to ensure that I'm always listening to those we are supporting, otherwise we would recreate what we claim we're trying to solve.
One thing that Jazz Hands hopes to put out into the world is to listen to who you're supporting, and to always evolve based on what they need and not what you think they need. Jazz Hands only exists to support the individuals with autism. If we're not listening to them, then we're not accomplishing our mission.
I also wanna highlight our team. The strides that we've made with our organization, the mission, with how we're supporting our musicians, are all made as a team effort. Our team is absolutely incredible. I would venture to say, we have the best team ever. They really love their job. They really love our students. Our students love, love their instructors, and everybody just really comes together to push forward the mission, to support our musicians. That is what is most important: to focus on those we're supporting and have them be the ones that inform how the organization grows and evolves.
Yes. I am a singer-songwriter, and I’m learning how to play the bass. I've also played the clarinet and a little bit of piano when I was younger. I still write music. I still sing. And I'm gonna be getting a saxophone soon. Music is a really big part of my life. I perform at open mics and things like that. The stage is a place where I feel very free.
And I want other people to feel that way too. Especially individuals who, because of the way society's built, may not have immediate access to tools that help them express themselves in that way, in that fullness of who they are. I think the stage is a very welcoming place to do that.
The thing is that in an ableist society, it's the same way with a racist society, or a sexist society. The victims of that “ism” always tend to internalize it and think something is wrong with them. But it's not like that, it's just that this society is not set up to make it easy for you to navigate it. Jazz Hands means to help our musicians realize there's nothing wrong with them. And that when you're given the proper support and proper tools, you can be everything that you've ever wanted to be.
They can visit our website or just send us an email. We're trying to grow our network, because there are people with autism all over the world, all over the nation, and we don't want our work to just stop in Culver City, Los Angeles, California. We want to be able to help any person with autism with an interest in music anywhere in the world. And so, if people wanna learn how we're continuing to fine tune the way we support musicians who have autism, we'd love for them to contact us. And if they have any ideas or things that they've seen in their work, we'd love to hear that as well and see how we can collaborate.
But there are many different ways you can help. The first one is by donating. We need your support. Like I mentioned, we do a lot at Jazz Hands, and sadly that requires financing, it requires money. I wish it didn't, but it does. And so, we do need financial support. If you'd like to donate, you can do so right here.
Also, if you want to check out our music library, please do right here! There's a lot of great music. And once again, the songs are written and composed by individuals who are neuro divergent, especially those who are on the autism spectrum.
You can also follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We are also on TikTok. We have some really cool content! And we're on YouTube too. We're not just supporting our musicians in an insular way, we realize that the world is becoming more digital. Our musicians are expanding their digital footprint as well. So you can find our musicians' performances on our Social Media.
You can listen to an extract of Ifunanya's interview on Spotify right here. And check out the rest of our Loog B-Sides Episodes right below!
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As we celebrate International Women’s Day (and Women's History Month), it is important to recognize the absolutely essential contributions that women have made to the world of music.
Unfortunately, when it comes to guitar playing, women have often been overlooked and underestimated. Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 best guitarists of all time includes only two women. The first one is Joni Mitchell, coming in at number #75. Then we have Bonnie Raitt at #89. But how can this be? Are there not enough female guitarists? Are women not talented?
Absolutely not! We know that there are many, many more talented female guitar players out there. At Loog Guitars, we are proud to have 50% of our players be girls. And Fender says the same thing about their sales right here in this study.
Let's do the math, shall we? If this list were representative of guitar players, only 2% of guitar players should be female. The remaining 98% would be men. Which makes... absolutely no sense.
So what’s happening here? Back in the day, women were often heckled and abused at live shows, so it’s easy to see why they’d give up. However, they didn’t. Absolute legends still prevailed, and it’s not like we’re talking about some anonymous women here. Joan Jett? Melissa Etheridge? Patti freakin’ Smith? Any one of those ring a bell? It’s not like talented women just magically appeared out of nowhere. They’ve been rockin’ out for decades, despite all the haters and naysayers. And in this post, we’ll be highlighting some of the female guitar players that have been overlooked by traditional lists, and we think deserve more recognition.
@loogguitars Spoiler Alert: the first person who ever rocked was a queer black woman 🎸 #loogguitars #guitartok #guitars #guitar #guitarist #guitarists #guitarplayer #guitarra #rocknroll #rockandroll #blackwomen #blackhistorymonth #womenshistorymonth #womenshistory #herstory #femaleguitarist #femaleguitarists #womeninrock #womenthatrock #womenpower #womenempowerment #inspiringwomen #inspiring #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #parati #paratupagina #rockhistory #womensday #womensmonth #internationalwomensday #internationalwomensmonth #theog #rockmusic #rocklegend ♬ original sound - Loog Guitars
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a pioneer of rock and roll, and her innovative guitar strumming inspired countless musicians, including Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard. She started playing guitar in church at a young age, and her gospel-infused music combined blues, jazz, and rock. Despite facing discrimination as a black woman in the 1940s and 50s, she continued to perform and inspire others with her music.
Joan Jett is often referred to as the “Godmother of Punk”, and for good reason. She helped pave the way for women in rock music in the 1970s, and her hit song “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” remains an anthem to this day. Her raw, powerful guitar playing inspired a generation of female musicians and proved that women could rock just as hard as the guys.
Melissa Etheridge is another trailblazing female guitar player, known for her powerful voice and soulful guitar playing. She has sold millions of records and won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Her music has touched the lives of countless fans, and she continues to inspire others with her talent and passion.
Tracy Chapman’s music is characterized by her soulful voice and her acoustic guitar playing. Her songs often tackle important social issues, and her music has resonated with audiences around the world. Her debut album, which included the hit song “Fast Car”, earned her multiple Grammy Awards and critical acclaim.
St. Vincent, also known as Annie Clark, is a multi-talented musician, singer, and songwriter. Her guitar playing is known for its intricate, innovative style, and she has been praised by critics and fans alike for her unique sound. She has won multiple Grammy Awards and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of rock.
These are just a few examples of the incredible female guitar players who have been overlooked by traditional lists. Luckily, many more girls are now picking up guitars due to role models such as Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne or Lzzy Hale. It is VERY important to keep inspiring young girls and showing them what they're capable of! And of course, giving credit where credit is due, and recognizing the contributions of countless women who have been overlooked throughout history.
As a tribute, we made a special, limited edition Loog poster featuring 12 amazing women in music, most of them absolute awesome guitar players. Perfect to inspire the rockstar girl in your life, everyday! Check it out right here.
Loog Guitars is proud to have 50% of our players be girls, and we hope to continue to inspire and empower girls and women around the world. Here’s to a more inclusive future in rock music, where women are recognized for their incredible talent, passion and musicianship.
]]>What are kids these days listening to? Have you taken the time to check out what the kids in your life are into? You actually might be surprised at how good their taste in music is.
Just in case you're feeling a bit lost with today's music trends, we have your back. We know it can be hard to keep up with it while you're, uh, you know, being a parent. Life gets in the way, we get it. And while it's still okay to rock out to Green Day, Paramore or Blink-182 (they're still as awesome as they were about 10 years ago), we think you might want to rock out to your kid's favorite artists as a way to bond with them. And who knows, you might be into it as well! 😉
You see, if you were into those pop punk bands we mentioned, or even The White Stripes, Avril Lavigne or Alanis Morissette, you might be surprised with a young artist called Olivia Rodrigo. With barely 18 years old, she released her debut album and revived the pop rock sound we all know and love, but with a fresh, unique twist.
Olivia's songs are emotional, honest and just what we needed to hear. And we think you need to hear it as well - so we've made a special Spotify Playlist for you to get into these beautiful songs along your little rockstar. And if you wanna come off like the coolest parent ever, you can help them rock out to "Good 4 U" by downloading the tab right here.
Now that you're familiar with Olivia Rodrigo, we think you might be ready to jam along to "Good 4 U" with your little rockstar. And if you want to hear more from this young artist, check out our specially curated "Olivia Rodrigo for Parents" Spotify Playlist below:
Don't miss our previous edition of our 'for Parents' series! We've covered Harry Styles before. And in case you're not familiar with our Musicians for Kids series, we’ve covered Queen, The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
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You don’t need to be a guitar master to actually start feeling the love - in fact, it’s those super easy songs for beginners that usually hit the spot. You try it once… twice… three times. You practice. And lo and behold, you’re suddenly playing a recognizable tune. The feeling is hard to miss - and quit. Before you know it, you’re moving on to harder songs, harder strumming patterns and knock, knock, knockin’ on rockstardom’s door. Hey, hey, heeeeeey, hey!
Some people say this is perhaps one of the greatest love songs ever written. Just by listening to the intro, you'll be submerged into the brightest of guitar riffs, and then, the opening verse comes on and the lyrics hit you: look at the stars, look how they shine for you 🎵 This song celebrates love in all of its forms: you can dedicate it to any loved one and it will sit just right. It's time to grab your guitar and serenade those you love!
Download the 3-string guitar tab for “Yellow” by Coldplay right over here in this link. You can also play along to this video on our YouTube channel to master the song and share it with your loved ones!
Oh, so you’re ready for a crazy little advanced tab, are you? No worries - we’ve got you covered. Seasoned Loog players will be happy to master this iconic Queen classic. In fact, this is the same exact song we challenged our new rockstars to learn last year.
Check out the video above to see how well they did - and keep your eyes open on social media for our upcoming rockstar challenges. They’re online, free to attend, and you get a nifty t-shirt and diploma if you make it into our video mashup. Congrats to all the brave rockstars who dared try this out! (You can see videos from past editions of our Rockstar Challenges here.)
Need a little reminder on how to read tab? No worries, check out the video below:
Happy Valentine's Day!
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Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor revolutionized rock music by introducing new sounds, song structures, visuals and concepts. They drew influence from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and many other British rock acts, but Freddie also admired soul singers like Aretha Franklin and musical theater. The thing about Queen is that they could be a pop band one day, or a full-blown metal band the next!
Queen liked to challenge the "rules" of what rock music should be and they liked to do things their own way, and doing this they've inspired countless of people. But what is most impressive is the diversity of artists they've influenced: from Metallica to Lady GaGa; from Adele to Lil Nas X; from BTS to Radiohead. And many more!
It's time for our little ones to get to know about this timeless band. Not only they challenged the music industry, they challenged society's standards and expectations as well. Keep reading to find out how! But first, check out our specially curated Spotify Playlist with all of Queen's greatest hits, and if you're up for a challenge, you can play "Another One Bites The Dust" on your Loog guitar by downloading this 3-string tab right here.
Don't forget to check out our specially curated "Queen for Kids" Spotify Playlist here, and if you're ready to rock out, download the 3-string tab for "Another One Bites The Dust" and play this legendary riff on your Loog guitar!
Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered The White Stripes, Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Ah, to be a kid with a guitar, full of energy and passion for the things you believe in. This is what punk music is all about: not being afraid to make some noise and speak up for what you think is right. Surely we've all been there at some point in our lives! And now it's time for our little rockstars to learn all about this genre.
Through a "Do It Yourself" (DIY) culture, fast guitar progressions and angry lyrics, punk music became widely popular among young people a few decades ago, and it's still highly relevant up to these days as it has influenced most of today's music and culture.
So, grab your Loog guitar and get ready to make some noise! It's time to learn everything about punk music. We've selected the perfect kid-friendly punk bops to build this fun "Punk for Kids" Spotify Playlist, that you can check out here. And if you're up to play a few power chords, check out this tab for "Blitzkrieg Bop" by the Ramones. Hey ho, let's go! 🎸
Check out our specially curated kid-friendly punk Spotify Playlist here, and grab your Loog to shred "Blitzkrieg Bop" by the Ramones, downloading this easy 3-string guitar tab right here. And remember kids, next time you can’t have dessert before dinner, try playing a punk song about it to let it all out - you’ll definitely feel better! 😉
Did you miss Metal for Kids? We've covered it in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with the genre. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
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If you follow Loog, you might know that we're big on The White Stripes' music. This band revolutionized the alternative rock sound of the late 1990's and early 2000's with simple yet profound songs and experimental guitar sounds rooted in garage rock.
]]>There's few riffs that can be chanted in mass as gloriously as "Seven Nation Army" and still sound as good and instantly recognizable. It's also safe to say that we've all sang it at some point in our lives! The White Stripes has become a staple in rock music as this stadium-sized riff became immortal.
However, it's not all about "Seven Nation Army", as The White Stripes has had a six album long career with many hits such as "Blue Orchid", "We're Going To Be Friends" and "Fell In Love With A Girl" among others.
Jack White's raw and minimalist approach to production and songwriting, makes his songs perfect first-songs-on-guitar. This is exactly why we think every kid should know about The White Stripes. And we also KNOW that Jack White's riffs sound fantastic on a Loog guitar! (Trust us, we've tried it ourselves 😉). In fact, we'll tell you more: Jack White has proved this himself. Check out this post about the Custom Loog Guitar that we've made for him. He even played it LIVE ON STAGE in Montevideo, Uruguay.
We sure are ready to let our little ones become familiar with The White Stripes' music now, so buckle up! We're going to explore the wonderful sounds of this legendary duo. We've prepared the perfect Spotify Playlist and not one, but TWO songs for our little rockstars to learn on their Loog guitar: check out tabs for "Seven Nation Army" and chords for "We're Going To Be Friends" right here. Also, you're welcome to join our FREE 'White Stripes' Rockstar Class, where you can learn a fun, White Stripes song and have a chance to be a part of a Loog video!
AND THERE'S MORE. We have a beautiful White-Stripes-themed limited edition Peppermint Loog Guitar, commissioned by Third Man Records! It comes bundled with flashcards, access to the Loog app, and a red crayon to color a special "The White Stripes for Kids" coloring book (our first ever printed version of this series!) ❤️ Check it out here and grab yours exclusively at the Third Man Records Store.
Don't forget to check out our specially curated "The White Stripes for Kids" Spotify Playlist here, and if you're ready to rock out, download the 3-string tab for "Seven Nation Army" and the guitar chords for "We're Going To Be Friends". Bonus points if you play it on a Peppermint Loog Guitar! 😉🤘
And remember you're welcome to join our FREE 'White Stripes' Rockstar Class, where you can learn a fun, White Stripes song and have a chance to be a part of a Loog video!
Did you miss our previous Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Unfortunately, this is not the easiest of tasks. Music programs around the world are the first to go when times get economically rough. Our busy lifestyles can sometimes get in the way of long-term music education. And for the kids who most need it -those who really need the confidence to thrive in today’s world- access to instruments can be seriously difficult, if not impossible.
Thankfully, not all heroes wear capes - some simply teach music. Ever since we first started this journey 11ish years ago, we’ve always gone out of our way to get involved in some of the most interesting and necessary music programs in the world. We’ve made great friends along the way, most of them passionate educators who wish to encourage kids to have the outlet they had when growing up: music.
This year wasn’t any different. We started off by fulfilling last year’s Giving Tuesday promise, donating a percentage of all proceeds to the “One Child, One Instrument” program, focused on teaching kids and teens from Latin America how to play orchestra instruments, as a way to broaden access to culture through musical learning.
We're very happy to have helped @OJSodre with a donation to the program "Un niño, un instrumento" (One kid, one instrument) thanks to the last #GivingTuesday 💜
— Loog Guitars (@LoogGuitars) June 21, 2022
A big thank you to @Reaching_U and everyone else who made this possible ✨ pic.twitter.com/y0UcI6Q7NS
Later in the year, we partnered with the Playing for Change foundation, donating all returned (fully functional) Loog guitars to music education programs serving minorities and children in need. And not just in the US. This year, some of our guitars even made the journey to the Playing For Change Patagonia music program in Argentina!
Both of these initiatives join a growing group of wonderful organizations we’ve partnered with in the past - from the Save The Music Foundation to smaller, volunteer-driven initiatives in schools and neighborhoods in both the US and abroad.
We’ll definitely continue our work in this direction over all of 2023 - however, we’d love it if you could pitch in! All you need to do is purchase anything from our store (yes, anything) and we’ll donate a percentage of all proceeds from today towards our efforts next year. Stay tuned to see what organization or initiative we’ll partner up next! And if you’re interested in collaborating with us, don’t fret - drop Eugenia a line and we’ll get back to you soon. Cheers and THANK YOU!
The Loog Team
]]>Loog Guitars is all about bonding through music. Everything we do serves this purpose. From our guitars to our digital content, it's all about getting more and more people to share music amongst themselves. And to be able to do this with so much support from our community is something that we appreciate more than words can say!
Our favorite part of this job is reading your messages every day. From how your little ones fell in love with Bowie's or Dolly's music, to seeing your family jam session pictures and videos from all over the world, to even witnessing how top musicians like Jack White become kids on stage as soon as they pick up a Loog - we love being a part of something this special.
And because music can sometimes express emotions better than words, here's a little gift from us to you this Thanksgiving: 3-string tab for "Thank You" by Dido, as well as a play along video. After all, as the song says: "I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life. Just to be with you is having the best day of my life."
Happy Thanksgiving!
]]>And who is Harry Styles, you might be wondering, and why are all the kids talking about him? Well, today we'll walk you step by step, through the story of Harry Styles, his involvement with One Direction, and tell you why we think you should know about him.
We always say: Loog is all about bonding with your kids over music. And if they need to know who David Bowie is, you get to learn from them as well. This is why today, we're going with Harry Styles. Ain't that the coolest thing about music? It helps us bond with our loved ones in unique ways.
By now, you might be familiar with our "for Kids" series, in which we get to introduce our little ones to all our favorite artists. Today, we're tweaking it just a tiny bit and making it "for Parents" instead, because we should give our kids a chance to tell us all about their favorite musicians as well. It's only fair! 😉
But fret not - we've come prepared. Here's the perfect Spotify Playlist with all of Harry Styles' most rockin' tracks - including his solo career and One Direction. PLUS, a 3-string tab to "As It Was" so you can come off as a cool parent and rock along with your kid on your Loog guitar. And let us tell you - you're gonna *adore* this.
Now that you're acquainted with Harry Styles, we think you might be ready to jam along to "As It Was" with your little rockstar. And if you want to hear more from this young musician, check out our specially curated "Harry Styles for Parents" Spotify Playlist below:
Are you familiar with our Musicians for Kids series? We’ve covered Prince, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Madonna in a fun way for your little one to get familiar with these music staples. Also, don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Joan inspired and helped pave the way for generations of women and girls, proving to the world that girls can rock just as hard as anyone else. But not only is she one of the most legendary rockstars of her time, she's also an entrepreneur, a fashion icon and a mentor.
Do you have a wild dream to follow? And won't let other people's thoughts get in your way? Then you are definitely ready to know Joan Jett's story! Learn all about Joan's first steps in music, her all-girl rock band, how she made her own record label and how she earned her rock royalty status.
Don't forget to rock out to our Joan Jett for Kids Spotify Playlist - it's the perfect soundtrack to this story! And if you're up for a challenge, you can download our 3-string tab for her iconic version of "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" right here.
When asked which instrument their kids want to learn, 22% of parents shared that their kids wanted to learn how to play the electric guitar. If your child is showing any interest in playing the electric guitar, it might be time to support them by providing them with the equipment they need.
Do you know how your kid can benefit from learning an instrument? Researcher Maryam Clark explains that musical training improves children's cognitive skills, with a study finding that kids who play instruments were better at attention and memory recall activities than their peers with no musical training. The executive functions in the brain are also greatly enhanced, which is responsible for improving reading skills, increasing creativity, and promoting a better quality of life.
This is why so many experts recommend parents to encourage and support children when they show interest in playing music. Apart from the cognitive benefits, learning how to play an instrument enables kids to learn a universal language of humankind! 🎵
Want to help your kids learn guitar? Here are a few tips that you can follow, even if you don’t play yourself:
Learn Things One Step At a Time
It’s important to remember that learning something new takes time and practice. Whether you're teaching your child yourself, or they are taking guitar classes, they need to focus on the basics right away to not form bad habits. It’s also helpful to break down lessons into shorter practice sessions instead of a full hour of learning and practice. Children can have low boredom thresholds, as well as feeling overwhelmed and frustrated when they make mistakes, which could quickly lead them to lose interest.
Lastly, be patient with your child when they make mistakes. Reassure them that no one becomes a great musician overnight and that they can further improve their skills with enough practice.
Make It Part of Their Routine
One of the ways to master a skill is by practicing it consistently. If you want your child to learn how to play the guitar while also building their self-discipline, make their practice sessions a part of their routine. Self-Discipline by Adam Brown shares that discipline is the most effective way to achieve a goal, especially in our fast-paced world. Because there are so many distractions nowadays, it’s necessary to help them practice by scheduling their guitar study sessions and removing any possible distractions around them during this time.
You should also set achievable goals for your child each day so that they can see that they are progressing. This will teach them to focus their attention on improving. If you actively support your child by creating a conducive learning environment, you can help them become better at playing music and boost their confidence!
Listen to Music with Them
People play instruments because they love music, and you can help develop your child's relationship with music. To inspire your little rockstar, play music that feature the best guitar performances! This will familiarize your child with different music styles at an early age. We recently shared our ‘Ultimate Father’s Day Dad Rock Playlist’, which features some of our favorite 'Dad Rock' songs that you can listen to with your little ones 😉
In conclusion, there’s no need to become a professional musician yourself to help your child learn how to play the guitar. By being patient with them, supporting their guitar practices, and developing their love for music, you can help your child pursue their musical passion!
This is the sixth episode of Loog B-Sides, our Content Team's pet-project where we celebrate and shine a spotlight on our Loog Community members. You can listen to excerpts from this feature and others from Loog B-Sides on Spotify.
So, we've already been through quite a few remarkable personalities here. On the last episode, we chatted with Eric Alper (The Man Behind All Those Twitter Music Questions). Previously, we also talked with our own founder, Rafael Atijas, the amazing bass player Darryl Jones, River Edvalson, George Gruhn (of Gruhn Guitars) and Melisa Salguero.
However, we believe there's still an important part of the equation missing. The people who we design our guitars for: kids! You know, music is such an integral part of our lives that we sometimes forget how it all started.
Do you remember how you first fell in love with music? What your favorite song in the whole world was when you were 8? Or even wondered what color music is? We asked Emiliano (11), Theo (4), Josiah (2) and Aaliyah (10) about their thoughts on music. They gave us their answers to these questions, and more! Here's the result.
And yes, we usually add a transcription to our Loog B-Sides, but this time we thought it was really (and we mean really) worth a listen. Trust us. 😉
Highlights include: "The best songs in the world are Christmas songs. Wait no! *pause* Well yeah, Christmas songs.", "I think music would be a bright color, like red" and "Music is good for people because it would just be quiet without music in the car!" 😋
Lastly, we want to thank Noemi and Tina for letting us consult with these experts. What should our next episode be about?
Want your kids to be featured in a future Loog Experts panel? Reach out to Eugenia at eugenia@loogguitars.com
]]>What makes Madonna so special? Not only has she sold over 300 million records worldwide and is the top-selling female artist of all time, she's also inspired millions of artists and people worldwide to be themselves.
It might sound simple, it might sound cliché. But the truth is that Madonna empowered women, the LGBTQ+ community and other minorities like no one had done it before! Challenging society's expectations and defying stereotypes, she became a timeless icon - therefore dubbed The Queen of Pop.
It's time for our little rockstars to get to know Madonna better and see how she used pop music to spread her message and encourage everyone to be who they are. But not just that! Learn about her acting career, how she became a fashion icon and a successful business woman.
You can check out our Madonna for Kids Spotify Playlist for the perfect soundtrack to this story (and to get those dance moves out!) 😉 And if you're up for a challenge, you can download our 3-string tab for her iconic song "Material Girl" right here.
Download our 3-string tab for Madonna's "Material Girl" right here. And if you're in the mood to dance around a little bit, check out our "Madonna for Kids" Spotify Playlist here 😉
Missed our previous Musicians for Kids editions? We’ve covered Prince, David Bowie, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis before. And don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more iconic music staples, explained. See you next time! 🎸
]]>Every metalhead parent's dream is to share their passion for the genre with their little ones! Bonding to the sound of loud guitars, fast beats, distorted riffs and lots of fun songs to jump along to.
Just picture you and your little ones moshing and pillow fighting to Metallica's "Master of Puppets" and tell us if it's not the coolest family bonding activity ever. We know it is. And you're in luck! We prepared the perfect "Metal for Kids" Spotify Playlist to set the tone.
Also, here are some 3-string guitar tabs for your little metalheads to start shreddin' some classic metal riffs. So put your combat boots on, grab your guitar and turn up your distortion knob - we're going on a fast n' loud kinda ride!
Are you up to hit the road this summer? We have just the checklist for you. Family road trips are easily one of our favorite summer activities. Few things compare to the feeling of turnin’ up the music and singing along with your kids on the road. So if you’re planning to do some road trippin’ these days, follow along! These 6 Family Road Trip Tips will make your next road trip an unforgettable one.
If there’s anything that can make a road trip, it’s the playlist. We recommend that you prepare your road trip playlist beforehand to get the most out of your ride. Include your favorite classics, some refreshing new bops, a handful of rockin’ bangers and don’t forget your family’s favorites for the greatest car sing-alongs!
We all know that trips can make kids overly excited, and sometimes we might need to keep them entertained during the trip - especially if it’s a long one. Carrying their favorite toys is one way to do it, but we recommend that you also take some small instruments along to keep the fun tunes a-rollin’.
And guess what? We have the perfect travel-sized guitar for you to take on your ride. Plus, if you get one of our gig bags, you can always bring your Loog for those warm campfire nights! ✨
Remember the old times, when we listened to music on CDs and cassettes? Sometimes we just need to lay back into our own little world and listen to our favorite albums. And kids are no different!
Our fave is Yoto, that actually makes their own Mini Players. Perfect for kids to enjoy music on all family outings. Yoto Mini’s size and all-day battery make it perfect for road trips! Plus, por-tip: turn it on sans headphones right before bedtime to smooth things over before sleep. Works like a charm! 😌
If you’re the type of person that enjoys a good read while on vacation, then you’re one of us. And hey, our kids also enjoy reading while out. If you want to keep your readings musical, we’ve got you covered with the perfect options for your family here. Knock yourselves out!
To keep kids entertained and still comfy on the car seat, these travel trays are the way to go. This is also perfect to keep their creativity up and runnin’, as these trays make it really easy to carry art supplies to draw and paint while on the road.
The greatest rockstars need the greatest of snacks! ‘Cause we can’t rock out on an empty stomach. This is why the last but not least Road Trip Essential is a handful of snacks. Pick your family’s favorites and rock on! You can even make them music themed, for example, here are some amazing ideas that we stumbled upon on Pinterest. Excuse us while we try all of them ourselves.
And hey - don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t get the kids to eat the healthiest of snacks. Traveling with kids means survival mode - there will be plenty of time to eat carrot sticks at your destination 😉
Are you up for the musical adventure? Load your stuff and let’s go! What are other musical road trip essentials that you just need to take with you?
]]>There are artists, and then there are pioneers who change the whole universe of music. Prince was the latter and will always be remembered as one of the most influential artists of all time. So hop on, and buckle up - we're going on a Prince for Kids kind of ride!
]]>There are artists, and then there are pioneers who change the whole universe of music. Prince was the latter.
Not only did he possess undeniable musical abilities (he played 27 different instruments and produced his songs!), he also had an extravagant image and a unique sound, which became his identity. Prince will always be remembered as one of the most influential artists of all time. So hop on, and buckle up - we're going on a Prince for Kids kind of ride!
Don't forget to check out our Prince for Kids Spotify Playlist for the perfect soundtrack to this story 😉 And if you're up for a challenge, you can download our 3 string tab for one of our fave classics, "Raspberry Beret", right here.
Download the 3-string guitar tab for "Raspberry Beret" here! You can also dive into the world of Prince's music, with our Prince for Kids Spotify Playlist right here:
Missed our previous Musicians for Kids editions? We’ve covered David Bowie, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis before. And don't forget to stay tuned to our Instagram for more iconic music staples, explained. See you next time! 🎸
]]>[TW: FEELING OLD] Yes. You read that right: “Dad Rock” Playlist. Now, now, we know you might have some questions. What is this playlist for? Is it only for dads? What the fret is “Dad Rock”!? And we are here to do our best to answer them.
You might have seen that the term ‘dad’ has become popular to describe certain things that dads usually do or have in common. We all know what a dad joke is, and we can picture what a dad shoe, a dad hat or what dad jeans look like. See where we’re going? So our first guess is that “Dad Rock” refers to the type of rock music a dad would listen to.
(And yes, we do realize dads are not the owners of any of these; the moms in our team wanted to make that clear.)
We did our research on the term Dad Rock and found that it is most commonly used to refer to classic rock. However, the term was coined… umm… a few years ago. There are parents nowadays that didn’t grow up listening to classic rock, at all. Or if they did, it was because THEIR parents were into it.
Basically, what we once referred to as “Dad Rock” is now considered “Grandpa Rock” 😫. Which unfortunately means that “Dad Rock” has grown and evolved to encompass the music WE used to listen to when WE were young, before the entire having kids thing came up (yes, coincidentally, The Killers’ When You Were Young is now considered Dad Rock).
Dad Rock now includes 80s rock bands, 90s rock bands and even some early 00’s acts. Were you one of those kids that thought listening to Linkin Park made them super edgy? Congratulations, you’re now listening to Dad Rock. Green Day? Dad Rock. Metallica?! Dad Rock. Ever reminisce with I Write Sins Not Tragedies? Ah yes, what a shame, what a shame, you’re listening to Dad Rock.
The moms in our team at this point would like to stress the fact that they, too, listened to all of this music when they were younger and, last time they checked, they hadn’t yet morphed into dads 😉 However, as it is Father’s Day today, we will let it slide as “Dad Rock” and get straight to our favorite part - rockin’ out.
Happy Father’s Day, everyone! You can find a complete song list below, but make sure you give yourself a treat and rock out to some of our fave Dad Rock classics with our Spotify playlist right over here. It is up to date with all the hip Dad Rock hits!
]]>This is the fifth episode of Loog B-Sides, a series of conversations that celebrates and shines a spotlight on some of our fave Loog Community members. Meet Eric Alper, the man behind all those Twitter music questions.
]]>We’ve always said we make guitars for kids and kids-at-heart; and there’s nothing that we love more than a fully-grown adult with an intact capacity to marvel at the world (and music!). This is the best way to describe Eric Alper, Canadian music publicist and the man behind one of the most fun and engaging Twitter accounts in music.
If you’ve ever logged in to Twitter, you’ve probably seen him or any of his infamous questions (the man tweets a zillion times a day, it’s insane!). Eric has made a huge following by just throwing the mic into the audience and tweeting music-related conversation starter after conversation starter, offering a wholesome, well-needed musical break from the world around us, in just under 280 characters. Or, as he puts it, “to me, it’s not about being a music critic - cause the world has enough critics - it’s about being a music champion more than anything else”.
And it’s this philosophy that has powered his career, from wide-eyed fascinated boy growing up in the 80s, to working for Ringo Starr, Sinnead O’Connor, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ray Charles, Bob Geldoff and more. Fueled by our own curiosity, we recently sat down with Eric to talk shop and find out how someone who loves music can get to work in the industry - even if they can’t make music themselves. Definitely an inspiring read!
Don’t feel like reading? You can also listen to an excerpt of Eric’s interview on Spotify.
My grandfather has a bar in Toronto where I live called Grossman Tavern, and it was one of the first bars to actually mix music and alcohol. And that was a really big deal in the 1940s because the two would always be separate; you would have bars that wouldn't have bands playing, and then you would also have bands playing, but have a dry bar. So my grandfather was one of the first in the city of Toronto to kind of merge that. Growing up in the 1970s, you had all these different ethnic groups and students and business people, working-class, lower class, upper class… everybody kind of converged in this bar because there were no egos in this place.
And growing up, I remember watching the bands performing magic, and I'm not talking about actual magic tricks, like flipping a card. To me, what they were able to do was magic because I couldn't do it. And I was mystified that these people could make these sounds. I was mystified that they could bring the entire community together using music. And so growing up, it was always about community: music to me was all about having, not just a sense of self, but a place to make the world better or worse, depending on what your mood was that day.
People old enough to remember life pre-Internet, what are some less obvious things you miss about that time?
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) May 31, 2022
I had a subscription to Billboard magazine because I loved reading the stories of record labels and distributors and managers. These people were like my Star Wars figurines, they were my characters in Dungeons and Dragons that other kids would play. I wanted to know more about this otherworldly industry. It was completely like that. I had no idea how to be a part of it. I just knew that I loved it. So I developed that love. I was the geek that taped songs off of the radio in the 1980s. And then in the 1990s, I went to university and started a record label right after that, which became a distributor and a booking agent. And then that led to doing publicity. So a large part of it was being in the bar and seeing The Beatles and Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard performing on the TV and wanting to be a part of that world. And then now it's just like in the beginning of my career, back in the late 1990s, I was trying hard not to suck at it.
It was trying hard not to be bad at it because I didn't know what else I could do. This was the only thing I wanted to do. I knew I couldn't play an instrument. I knew that I stunk at singing. I have no musical talent whatsoever. I'm sorry to say, but I don't even think your guitars could have helped me back then. I was that bad. I know it's super easy for your guitars. I've seen it. I could not get there. I was just one of these kids that loved music, but had no talent for it. But playing and watching those instruments and stinking at it made me want to be a part of it even more. And that's where I am now.
In my teens, I wore the same 7 band shirts every week.
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) May 30, 2022
Now, I wear the same band shirt, just at 3x the price from a clothing store.
So the reason why I became a publicist was when I was in university, writing for the campus newspaper and working for the campus radio station, I would get approached by these people that worked at record labels. They were publicists and they would be inviting me to go and see the shows that they were promoting, or getting free records or CDs and writing about them and talking about them on the air. And I thought that was just the coolest job. What cooler job could you have had than to give music out for free and have everybody essentially love you for that? And you're the person with all the concert tickets! So when I started the record label, I realized that without shows nobody would come and buy the record that we were putting out.
So I became a booking agent along with the record label. And then I realized that without publicity, without contacting the media, without contacting the radio stations and the newspapers and the TV outlets, letting them know that this artist is coming into town, nobody would come and buy a ticket for the artist that I booked in order to sell the records. So then one day I just realized that I could just cut out everything and just do the stuff I love to do, which is promoting music. And so I became a publicist. I'm the one that is the go-between between the media and the artist. So I'm talking to the media (and that could be blogs and newspapers and magazines and radio stations and campus radio shows, TV shows, Spotify, playlist, listers, TikTok, music critics, YouTubers), talking about the artists and working on their latest video or song or album or tour date, and trying to find the stories that I think others would be interested in.
Because the media aren't interested in writing about the new song. It's not really about that. It's hard to write about music. So you have to come up with ideas on what they could write 600 words about, what they can talk to you for 12 minutes on the radio about, and very rarely does that have to do with the tone of your guitar, the way that you wrote the song. Cause most people, they don't care. What they really wanna know is what was going on in your life as a human being. And what kind of passions were you having and what kind of thinking went into the actual creation of the song that they could connect to. And that's really what music is truly all about. It's not just the fact that you may love The Beatles or The Stones or The Who, or none of them. It's like you try to find the connections between yourself and what is going on in your life and the artist that you love. And that's why you love music. So as a publicist, my job is to try to find the stories for the media outlets to connect to, in order to reveal more about what the artist is all about and the act of creation of the song or video or album.
I saw ABBA in 1978 with my parents and I was seven to eight years old. And they came out wearing Toronto maple leaf hockey jerseys for the encore, and I thought “that's so cool.” And I was blown away at the fact that they knew what city they were in, not knowing that every band does that. I think I'm still kind of chasing that little bit of a concert high, being eight years old and the lights going down. There's no more excitement I think I've ever felt than the moment that the lights go down and before the artist or band gets on stage where you can feel the actual energy and electricity in the air and just being a goofball, knowing this is gonna be amazing.
What's a great song from the 80s that still holds up?
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) June 2, 2022
I saw Genesis in 1981. They were my favorite band back then. They're still my favorite band now and I got to see them. And that was wild. I saw them with my sister. So it was the first concert I ever saw without my parents, and my sister’s a couple of years older. And it made me feel like such a big kid. It made me feel like such a guy going to it, cause everybody else around me was all adults. I saw The Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1991 in the same week as I saw Nirvana, all in a small club. And it was the first time that I really saw artists that were not so much older than I was, being able to do something with music. There are so many of them. There was a band I saw - and nobody's gonna care about me saying this anyway, but it means something to me. I used to go down to Austin for South by Southwest for about 20 years, and in the mid-1990s, I was just walking down the street and I heard the greatest band I've ever heard in my entire life.
And I walked into a club and I watched three songs and they were amazing. They had a hundred people in there and it was at the right moment, with the right time, with the right little kind of buzz going inside of me. And I watched this band and it was like, this band is gonna be massive. They should be massive. This is what music is all about. Somebody told me who they were. I promptly forgot about them. And I never remember what their name was after that. And it always bugged me that I didn't know who that band was. That to me just so signifies my life. It's just every opportunity I get to work with independent artists, they could be that band to somebody, could be that artist to somebody. So that's why I continue to do what I do. It's just to help spread the word about that kind of stuff.
Everything! I mean, people can't see this, I'm still wearing the same clothes as I wore when I was 19. I still wear band shirts. Like I'm in my fifties, I still wear like my Doc Martens. I still wear jeans with holes in them. I'm stuck in an era that makes me always feel young. But absolutely, there's no better time travel than to listen to a song, than to listen to an album, than to go back and check out a concert. There's nothing that puts you back in that moment where you first heard that song or listened to that album, or watched that video. It's the best form of time travel.
And because music has always made me feel good when I wanted it to. And made me feel sad when I wanted it to as well. When I was feeling sorry for myself, I would put on the sad blues and it makes me feel better knowing that somebody else is having a worse life than I am. That stuff never, never leaves you. And I know because I’ve hung out with so many artists.
Here's the truth with artists: when talking about their best love song, the most popular song that they've ever written, nine times out of ten, they’ll probably tell you that that song was written in 15 minutes, or that that song was the last song that they wrote for the album, or that they hate that song and that they stuck it in track 15 of the album, hoping that somebody wouldn't notice. And it became a monster hit.
And you can look at it two ways. If you're that artist you have to look at it like “I'm gonna play this song every single day for the rest of my natural life”. And “I'm gonna be asked about that song, every interview of my life”. You can look at it and say, “it allowed me to continue to do this.” Or you can look at it like it’s the most depressing thing ever and hate it and never discuss it.
I choose to have the opinion that it’s an amazing thing that happened to you. I didn't do much to get me here. It was everybody else. It was the artist that got to write the songs. It was me being in Toronto and not New York battling it out between like 16,000 publicists. It was growing up with my grandfather having a bar. It was such a privileged, lucky position that I was born when I was, where I was, and how I perceived something, enough to make it a passion.
And I think when you're a parent, you realize more and more how the things that you don't think about, or took for granted, allowed you to get to this point, both good and bad. So when you're a parent and you start to see that your kid is dancing a lot, when you put on the radio and you think, “wow, that kid’s got rhythm, it's the best dancer of a baby that I've ever seen,” your natural step is to “let's go and get the kid an instrument.” “Let's go play guitar.” “Let's go play piano.” And you try to find those passions. I had that. I had that and I stunk at it, but I knew well enough that if I just kept going and going and going and stinking at doing what I wanted to do, soon I would get better.
And soon maybe the bands would get bigger and bigger and bigger, and they did. But it was only like 1% of what I was able to do myself. The rest of it is all the people around me, which is why your company is so important, because you can't really wait for the kid or child to come along and say, “I think I wanna play guitar”. Sometimes it's those little things of picking up going, “well, let's just try this because we might have the next Carlos Santana, or we might have the next inventor around.” Because art is amazing. Music is amazing. Studies have consistently shown that putting an instrument into a kid's hands makes them feel better about themselves. It helps them with math. It helps them with science. It helps them with technology. It helps them with social skills. It helps them reveal something about themselves. It gives them self-confidence. There has never been a musician in the history of this world that has regretted playing an instrument. And the more instruments that we can put into kids' hands and earlier, the better it's going to be for everybody.
I had a number of guitars as a kid. I'm small, I still am small. So I find it really, really difficult to play. My parents never really were into buying so much of the instruments because nobody in my family played, and nobody in my grandparents’ families played. We didn't have cousins that really played a whole lot. So, forming a band, I never really saw that. But growing up, I played drums in a high school band that lasted four rehearsals and was awful. And the three people in the rest of the band went off to fame and fortune in Canada. And I was the only one that didn't do something in music and the world is a better place for it. But growing up, [my daughter] Hannah played a little bit of guitar and not much else.
And she was small too. So she found it a little bit difficult, which is a shame because I think we both could have used your guitars back then and kind of simplified things. But back then it was really hard to find lessons, it was really hard to find the first easy step to just not make it so difficult for people to learn how to play the instrument, at least for the first little bit, and then get 'em into the harder stuff later on if they wanted to.
Yeah. You know, in the beginning, when I first got on Twitter, about 13, 14 years ago, it was really a small community of people. There weren't that many people on there, but we got on it because we just happened to fall in the same demographic and age group as the way that social media was developing, meaning that we were the perfect age on the demographic from MySpace. And then when MySpace started to taper off a little bit here comes Facebook. So we were one of the first people on Facebook. And then when Twitter came along, we all got on Twitter and so forth.
But in the beginning, it was just marveling at the fact that Lady Gaga would respond back to one of my posts or Cameron Crowe, the director and writer of ‘Say Anything’ and ‘Almost Famous’ or David Crosby would retweet this stuff. Again, people that I grew up listening to and watching, but my favorite story was a question that I asked. I have a lot of these verified famous people, and musicians following me, and then of course I have your average run-of-the-mill people like all of us. And I asked a question: “Did you ever have tickets for a show and couldn't go in the end of it, but regret it?” And so I got a couple of thousand responses, and I do check them up from time to time. So somebody wrote that they were 11 years old and they had tickets to go see Sean Cassidy. And if people don’t know who Sean Cassidy was, he was like this pop idol in the seventies and eighties who went on to have a huge career in film and television on the directing side. But in the seventies and eighties, he was on the cover of every teen magazine in the world. And so this woman wrote that when she was a kid, she had tickets to Sean Cassidy, and she couldn't go at the end of it. And she's always regretted it because she's loved him still to this day. And you have to imagine that a 40-year love of an artist is huge. But for somebody like Sean Cassidy who really in the beginning - and he wouldn't like this what I'm gonna say - wasn't really well respected by the media... He was a pop idol who just happened to continue to do what he did. And Sean Cassidy responded back to her and said, “I'm sorry that you didn't get a chance to go to the show, but the next time I’m in your area, let me know,” cause he still tours from time to time. And they starting talking and it blew her away that Sean Cassidy responded back to her. And I looked at that afterward and I'm like, this is exactly the reason why I love social media and the reason why all of the hate and haters that I see and get can just go to bed, because that's really what it's all about.
And those things probably happen a lot more than I realize, but I just don't look at it as much, because I don't want it to get into my head that I need to stick to a certain road. I'll post about Drake breaking some kind of Billboard Hot 100 record, and then the next post do something about Fleetwood Mac, followed by Louis Armstrong and that's my world. It's not tied to a hundred percent rap music or a hundred percent classic rock. And I know what to do. I know if I just posted photos of 1970s classic rock artists like Pink Floyd and Styx and Tom Petty, I know it would get me a lot of attention, but it's not where I live. And it's not what I find interesting all the time. I love the fact that charts keep changing every week. I love the fact that there are still artists that are breaking records or that have 17 songs on the Hot 100. I'm kind of blown away by that. So I kind of wanna celebrate that and share that too. So I know something gets like 15 likes or retweets. I don't care. I'm just happy to keep posting and I'm just happy to be able to do it.
A large part of it is nostalgia. People love talking about themselves, but when I'm asking those questions on Twitter, it's never about me. Nobody cares. I get a couple of people going, “how come you never answer your question?” And the answer simply is cause I'm not the one that's important here. What's important is that people love to talk about themselves and I don't do it to get more followers cause again, I know that that's not the way to do it. I do it because sometimes I just love reading people's answers. I just love the fact that it could bring up and conjure some memories of things, but also maybe, perhaps, introduce them to artists that they don't know. You reach a certain age (usually, that age is 33, 34, 35 years old) where you stop listening to new music for the most part. You have kids, you get married, you have a mortgage, you have a job, you start to vacation, spending your free money on concerts isn't the number one priority. So people stop listening to new music and sometimes they just have no idea what's out there, and it's overwhelming to go on Spotify and have 75 million songs at your disposal. So that's what I hope to do as well. It’s when I'm talking about new artists or I'm talking about how glorious Tom Petty was back in the seventies. I know that there is a 16-year-old on Twitter that's reading this for the first time that has never heard of Tom Petty's song. That's why I'm doing it.
What was your first concert?
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) September 21, 2021
What’s the first concert you ever saw? What cover song is better than the original? And what's the best opening song on an album? Those are three, no-brainer ones that everybody would have an answer for. I'll never go negative, so I'll never ask like, what band didn't you understand in the beginning, but loved them? Cause I don't want anybody to be insulted by that. Or what band did you love and then saw them in concert and just thought that they stunk? Just a variation on those because everybody knows a song or their favorite song that opened an album or their favorite concert. It's inclusion rather than exclusion. I get direct messages all the time, all day long for people going, can you ask what people's best seventh song on a record is? And I get it, that would be really interesting cause you go on certain albums, and sometimes the best song on the record is the seventh song, but I don't want somebody to stop the car and turn around and go home and find out so that they can answer the question. I want them to answer the question in six seconds or less.
You can listen to an extract of Eric’s interview on Spotify.
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