Try this exercise for a week: Each time you set your instrument down after practicing, write down exactly what you can do now that you couldn’t do at the start of the session. If you have doubts about whether you have accomplished anything concrete, or even if you have trouble articulating what it is, odds are you are not practicing correctly. Follow these steps to refine your approach to practicing and accelerate your progress.
Learning a piece of music well requires careful, focused attention from the very beginning. A sloppy, undisciplined start is an invitation for mistakes, corrections, and almost certain frustration later on. The more discipline and care you put into learning a piece correctly, the better you will play it and the more you will enjoy it.
Buying your first guitar can be daunting. You need a decent instrument, but you don’t know how to recognize one. You’re excited to start playing, but you don’t want to spend a fortune before you know you’ll stick with it. Here are the important points to consider in choosing your first guitar and making it last for years.
All teachers want their students to enjoy lessons and be successful in music.
Asking the right questions at key points in their development will help your students get the most out of their studies with you.
One of the things your child might be excited about is finally getting to join band/orchestra and make some music! Whether playing in an ensemble or as a soloist, creating music can be one of the most gratifying experiences in life.
For Parents of Young Guitarists Ages Nine to Thirteen
If your young guitarist has shown a persistent love of music, the preteen years are a great time to nurture those interests more intensely. If they pursue music as a career, rounding out their education now will be a huge help later on. And if they change their dream-career a dozen more times, few extracurriculars nurture the developing mind as completely as a musical education can.
Check out my talented Lessonface student Luca and his original piece ‘Microscope’!
Luca is a piano student who lives in Sardinia, Italy and is currently taking theory and harmony lessons with me as a preparation for his Berklee College of Music Audition in the summer (Good Luck, Luca!).
It's almost time to head back-to-school!
