Instruments – Page 4 – Getting To Know Trees

Snowy Day – A Song for Young Musicians – Video and Zine

Recently, it was a very snowy morning here in Marquette, MI. I was waiting for some of my students to have their lesson and I wrote this song. I made a video of me playing the song, and there is a .pdf of a zine that you can print out to help you learn it. Print it double-sided and then follow the instructions to make the zine! The zine contains the lyrics, standard music notation, and specialized notation for harmonica, guitar and ‘ukulele. I was wondering, what would happen if we changed the lyrics from “snowy day” to “cloudy day” or “sunny day”. What changes would you make in the rest of the lyrics so that the song is about your day? Download the Snowy Day Zine here. Be sure to print it double sided and then watch the short video below to learn how to fold your zine. Thanks to Ore Dock Brewing Company for letting me use their beautiful community space to make some music.

Harmonica Orchestra in Cedar Lake, IN – January 2020 – Wrap Up

Last Friday, the 3rd graders at Jane Ball Elementary in Cedar Lake, IN and I had a great time starting up our Harmonica Orchestra . We got right down to business, learning how to hold it and learning how to play only one note. Then we dove into some Hot Cross Buns and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Reports are that it went over very big with the students. One grandmother wrote to me and said, “He’s played it every day since. Thank you for inspiring him to enjoy music in a different way ” That is awesome to hear.

Teaching Station at Ore Dock Brewery

Originally posted on Facebook, Jan. 11, 2020 My teaching station this morning at Ore Dock Brewing. I have just a few lessons today, but I sure hope to do more here. It’s been a long time since I taught a chunk of lessons on a Saturday and I am feeling nostalgic and loved. Thanks to everyone who helped me get here. I’m thinking of you.#JAMuary2020#musicmakesmesmile

Join the Band! – Music with Jason at Ore Dock Brewing

Award-winning music educator, Jason McInnes, will be leading youth, family or adult music lessons this January at Ore Dock Brewing. Sign up for a 30 minute lesson in: * Guitar * Harmonica * ‘Ukulele Beginning, intermediate and advanced students welcome. Jason has over 17 years of experience leading music lessons that empower students to find their own musical voice. Space is limited! Contact Jason at 773-369-8268 or jasonplaystunes@gmail.com for details, to schedule a Saturday lesson, or to find another time to make some music. More information at www.jasonmcinnesmusic.com

Learn to Play Auld Lang Syne for the New Year!

Here is a copy of my newest zine, How to Play Auld Lang Syne on Your Harmonica! Auld Lang Syne is one of my very favorite songs. I actually wish that it was socially acceptable to play it all year long. If you’d like to play it with me, I sure would love that. Print it double-sided so you can make this little booklet. And, here’s a video I made this morning during a snowstorm here in my new home, Marquette, MI. That’s the ore dock that I recently wrote about on my instagram. [vimeo 382136048 w=640 h=360] I love Auld Lang Syne for many reasons, including it’s about spending time with friends, raising a glass to our good health, looking back on the year gone by, and it’s Scottish origin always makes me think of my grandpa, who was born in Scotland. If you learn to play it, please let me know! And, drop me a note if you have any questions. Auld Lang Syne is a great song to share with friend and family. I hope you enjoy playing it as much as I do. Happy new year!

Along the Chocolay – A New Tune and a New Home

At the end of November, 2019, I left Chicago (my home for 24 years) and moved north to the Marquette, MI area. The pace of life in Chicago had gotten to be too much for me. I’m looking forward to finding some space to hibernate beside Lake Superior. I wrote this tune on one of my first days in the area. I’m staying with some friends at the beginning of this hibernation. They live on the Chocolay River; a tributary of Lake Superior (which you can hear in the background). I’m thankful some birds to join in on the second time through the tune. Is that a grey jay that lands on the tree? I have some work to do to learn their names. Here’ the tune in a standard notation .pdf if you’d like to learn it yourself. Thanks for listening!