“This is a great solo to start on—it’s simple, clear, and articulate; it will teach you how to hear clear phrases and how to hear bends (which make up a […]
Guest Post – John Mead Teaches the Guitar Solo from Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones Read More »
When I was first taking guitar lessons my teacher told me to bring in a cassette of any song that I wanted to play. I was so blown away when
“How do you do THAT!?!?!?” Learn a Song By Ear: An Approach (Free Self-Guided Lesson) Read More »
I have a thurough self-led lesson about playing by ear in the works. For now, I thought I’d leave you with this. My advice on how to learn to play
Playing By Ear Demo – Hold Music Read More »
The song began with a gentle and cyclical guitar part. A jangly loop.
Guest Post From Rose Signet – Thoughts On Writing, Recording and Collaboration Read More »
I think probably everybody has some sort of healing dream. And so as you journey through the different songs, maybe little, little parts of the dream are falling into place or coming true.
Tisa Batchelder on Her New Album, Dream Girl Read More »
. . . standing backstage at our album release show and hearing the sold-out crowd stomping and chanting,
“It’s a Gril! It’s a Girl! It’s a Girl!”
“It’s funny to think of myself as a person who is old enough to reflect on some good times.” Jonas Friddle Jonas Friddle joins Getting to Know Trees to talk
The sweet moments in this video took place on June 5, 2021. Toro was one of my dearest companions and rest teachers. Can I sing you to Sleep? was inspired by and
Can I Sing You to Sleep? – Maria McCullough Shares a Sweet Moment with a Dear Companion Read More »
One of my music students, Elijah, has offered some music inspired by this time of giving and receiving. Present Time! is Elijah’s musical take on the excitement of opening Christmas
Present Time! – new piece by Elijah Kim Read More »
Help a loved one (and/or yourself) start 2023 off with some music! Contact Jason at 773-369-8268 or jason@knowingtrees to discuss some options. He can work with your budget and schedule!
Gift Packages of Lessons are Available this Holiday Season! Read More »
Maria was one of the teachers at this year’s Celebrating Tradition Retreat in Spring Green, WI and I was lucky enough to be invited to tag along. What a rare
Slideshow – Celebrating Tradition Retreat 2022 Read More »
A student and I were working on finding ways to play these bass walks more naturally, rather than having to think through them. I made these short videos (all under
Common Bass Walks for Guitar with Alternating Bass Read More »
We measure the distance between two notes using intervals. Here is a worksheet to help you get familiar with some intervals. When you’re done with the worksheet, compare the drawing
Getting Familiar with Intervals Read More »
Today, I am honored and humbled to offer for sale pieces from my Listening Wide-Eyed: Limited-Sight Contour Drawings of Musical Instruments series. Between now and early July 10, 2022 you
Listening Wide-Eyed: Limited-Sight Contour Drawings of Musical Instruments for Sale Read More »
As you may know, throughout the year I keep a running total of days that I perform activities that are important to me. Over my many years as an artist,
Stuff I Keep Track Of- Totals for 2021 Read More »
This is the continuation of some thoughts I’ve been thinking and discussions I’ve been having around the idea of talent. As a guitar teacher, I spend a great deal of
Drawing Circles – Counterclockwise/ Clockwise, Eyes Open/Eyes Closed Read More »
I keep track of the number of times I do certain activities in my life. This comes from a pretty severe case of perfectionism/”fear of the blank page”. Keeping track
Stuff I Keep Track Of – Totals for 2020 Read More »
Here is the zine for How to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on your Harmonica. Also, this zine contains a very fun song about everyone’s favorite snack, a Juice Box!
How to Play Twinkle on your Harmonica Zine Read More »
Every year I teach the Music Station at an incredible sports/art/music/community-building camp called Basketball in the Barrio, in Segundo Barrio, El Paso, Texas. We couldn’t hold the camp in 2020,
Básquetbol en el Barrio – Theme Song for Basketball in the Barrio Camp Read More »
I take visual art classes with the most amazing person; Kaye Buchman. Her art classes have moved online and it has been a highlight of the week to meet with
KB’s Theme – song for my art teacher Read More »
This fall I published my latest zine, The Sticker Method: Creating a Habit of Practice (available in the store). This is a method for taking a lot of the stress
The Sticker Method: Creating a Habit of Practice Read More »
I’ve been playing guitar for a long time. And, I teach a lot of guitar players that haven’t played for very long (comparatively). Learning to play is a lot of
On Practicing – Sept. 2020 Read More »
I was inspired to write this tune after a recent conversation with my friend Amanda Healen in which we were talking about my mending from some physical health challenges and
Mending and Tending – a tune about taking care of ourselves Read More »
We can’t have camp this year because of the pandemic. So, Coach Denisse Franco and I wrote a little song to share with the campers. Today, in Segundo Barrio, El
Amigos de Basketball en el Barrio – New Song Read More »
The title of this tune was inspired by a banjo video that Jonas Friddle recently published on Youtube. I didn’t have an empty pickle jar to put a lager in,
Lager in a Pickle Jar – New Banjo Tune! Read More »
I don’t know about you, but as the social distancing continues, I sure am missing eating lunch with my friends. That made me think of this song that I wrote
Lunch Time! With Hibbard Elementary Room 208 Read More »
I spent the day working on “social distance sound”; both my own and others’. I run in a community of educators and teachers who, like many people in the country,
Cheers to the Sound Engineers! Read More »
Why do you play video games? Make music? Draw pictures?
Is it Skill and Achievement? Social? Money? Role playing?
Reflecting on a recent episode of Imaginary Worlds.
Why do you play video games? Why do you play music? Why make art? Read More »
It’s Saturday and for many people that means pizza! Here’s a fun song to go along with your pizza party. Some second graders from Hibbard Elementary and I wrote this
Let’s Have a Pizza Party! – Songwriting with 2nd Grade Read More »
For someone who is relatively new at playing music, learning a new tune, or a bunch of new tunes can be overwhelming. Because of this, I thought I would share
Here is a quick guitar lesson for total beginners. This is my usual first lesson for both youth and adult musicians. If you can do this, you can do anything
Rain, Rain Go Away – First Guitar Lesson Read More »
During this challenging time of life I’ve been inspired by the Marquette Makers’ Project to keep busy with some creative work. I’ve made a lot of lessons like this, but
How to Find the Minor 2 (ii) Chord in a Major Scale – Video Lesson Read More »
Thank you to Huxley and Theo for their help making this music video for my song, Juice Box! This song was written with young students like them in mind. I
Music Video for “Juice Box” – a new song for youth musicians Read More »
Wow! What great musicianship at the packed house for Family Harmonica Workshop at Saturday’s 2020 Winter Roots Folk Festival! Most of the attendees had never played the harmonica before and
Recap: Family Harmonica at Winter Roots Festival Read More »
Hi everyone, Today I’m teaching my first workshop as part of Winter Roots Festival in Marquette, MI. In honor of this big day I wrote a new song for you
Juice Box – A Harmonica Song for Youth Musicians – Notation Download a Audio Recording Read More »
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
Snowy Day – A Song for Young Musicians – Video and Zine Read More »
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
Harmonica Orchestra in Cedar Lake, IN – January 2020 – Wrap Up Read More »
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
Teaching Station at Ore Dock Brewery Read More »
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
Join the Band! – Music with Jason at Ore Dock Brewing Read More »
I keep track of several things during the year. Here are the final numbers. A brief description of what these numbers mean and their relationship to last year follows. The
Stuff I Keep Track Of – Totals for 2019 Read More »
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
Learn to Play Auld Lang Syne for the New Year! Read More »
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
Along the Chocolay – A New Tune and a New Home Read More »
The summer/fall of 2019 has been a time of great upheaval in my life. I was glad to have a set of music together to help process these experiences. On
Some of Jason’s Thoughts about the Grateful Dead Read More »
The Getting to Know Trees Newsletter
