Teachers articles
Some Guitar Advice
P.I.F.A.C.E "P" is for "promptness" To be prompt doesen\'t mean to "Rush" , but to be "Ready" and "Alert" to be "Aware" and "Present" "I" in for "imagination" To be imaginative can work well within a certain social context, if you are going to play the blues find out some of the history of the blues.Allow your guitar playing to be connected to the culture around you and influenced by global cultures....
5 Myths About Modes
When I was writing the Enyclopoedia I was aware that a lot of guitar students find the idea of modes very confusing. I spent a bit of time working out the best way for guitarists (and others) to think about them, but it wasn't that hard. It therefore continues to amaze me that even experienced guitar teachers often say things about modes that are either incorrect or very confusing....
How Do I Start Learning Scales?
So, you're an advancing beginner who's been playing for 6 months to a year and wants to start learning scales. This post should give you an idea of how I ordinarily approach this with students, and what the roadmap looks like. There's plenty of room for variation, though, since everybody's different......
Faq
1: Do I need to have a guitar before my first lesson? Yes. It is crucial after having a guitar lesson to review and practice the matters learned. You might prefer borrowing or hiring a guitar while you go through your introduction period, which is the first month of you playing. Some students find they have a knack for the instrument after the first few lessons, while others may need more time to adjust. In any case - ANYONE CAN PLAY GUITAR....
Robert Castellani - Song For Eric
Hey everyone, Just thought I would upload a quick video with an example of some of my 'percussive' acoustic guitar playing. This is a style that's taking off at the moment and it's great fun to learn! Please followthe link:...
Practise, Practise, Practise!
"Between lessons, you will need to practice as much and as often as you can. I recommend practicing your instrument every day. It is much better to do seven thirty-minute sessions than to practice for three and a half hours non-stop! The more often you practice, the quicker your progress will be and the better you will become." ...
Repertoire Syllabus
Building your own repertoire as a guitarist is one of the most important things. Ever been asked to play something for an audience on the guitar, the instrument you love and have been practising for so long, and yet felt unsure of what to play? If you are in a jam session, playing a cover/tribute gig or even playing for your friends, having a ready-to-play setlist in the back of your head will set your fingers free!...
Let Healthy Music Flow Out Of A Healthy Body!
(article from http://goolmusic.blogspot.com/ - subscribe to follow similar & different posts) Enough burgers! You need a fit body to let healthy music flow out of you! What is it with some players who despite their solid understanding of music’s “right” notes, they still get tired (or even fell pain) when playing for a long stretch of time?...
About Me...
In June 2009 I graduated from Londons Guitar-X college with a Diploma in Popular Music Performance and a Higher Diploma in Popular Music Performance. Before my time at Guitar-X I worked as a touring and recording guitarist for a band signed to a well respected media company....
Got Rhythm?
Recently there was a debate on a music forum that I frequent about the greatest rhythm guitar player ever. All sorts of names cropped up, some familiar, some not so but all mentioned were people who had turned this into a true art form. It got me thinking about what makes a great rhythm player. What do all these people have in common that makes what they do so essential to the music being made? Without it, where would such legendary moments such as Back in Black, Master of Puppets, Ain’t talking ‘Bout Love (and my personal favourite) Money for Nothing (sorry!) be? This isn’t just restricted to the rock genre. In any great guitar style there is great rhythm guitar being played. This article looks at why in order to be a great, well rounded guitarist and musician you will need to embrace this valuable concept and what you can do to be a better rhythm player....
The Secrets Of Effective Practice
For those wishing to move forward and be able to do what they wish on their instrument, practice is essential. As a guitar tutor, I tell my students all the time, “It’s not the lessons that will make you a better player, it’s what you do with the 6 days between now and the next class!” It has also never failed to surprise me how many people think that simply lessons on their own will make them a better player and that their skills will magically increase just by spending time (and money) with me! Nothing could be further from the truth....
The Teacher - The Ultimate Musical Shortcut
Everyone starts playing a musical instrument with the best of intentions. Whatever the choice of instrument is, anyone who plays or has played a musical instrument at any point in their lives can remember what it is like getting started. After the initial honeymoon period with the instrument is over how long does the instrument actually stay an instrument instead of becoming another household decoration?...
Finding The Best Music Teacher For You
One of the key elements to learning a musical instrument is having a great teacher. In my article ‘Why Do I Need a Teacher’, which can be found at my website http://www.guitar-lessons-leeds-and-bradford.co.uk/, I highlighted the positive effect that a teacher can have on a beginner musicians ability and future as a musician. Whilst this is an important step, finding someone of quality is equally important. A poor teacher is almost as bad as not having one, probably worse as you will waste time and money learning and developing your skills ineffectively. So, here are some tips for finding the person best suited for you....
Developing Timing And The Inner Clock
Developing Timing and the Inner Clock By Pete Lindemere B.mus PGCE Part of the job description for being a bass player is to provide the harmonic foundation for the chords and melody played above the bass line and to provide the metronomic and rhythmic link between those and the drum kit – hopefully in a creative and interesting way. Being a major part of the rhythm section, part of the bass player’s job is also to lock in and compliment any drum pattern played and provide good time keeping....
Bass Lessons Availible!!!
Teaching from begginers to intermidiate level students can expect to learn; sight reading, ear training, technique, posture, varied gengres such as; rock, pop, soul, jazz and much more. Lessons prices: £10 per half hour, £20 per hour. If you're interested or want any more information feel free to email me at jk_thebassplayer@yahoo.com...
The Importance Of Blues Changes
Everyone knows or at least is aware of the basic blues changes formed of the 1, 4 and 5 (I, IV, V). They form a staple part of every guitarist’s playing, however how well do you know them? Do you know how important they are in advancing your playing beyond that of the average guitarist into an all round musician? ...
Learning Types And Memory Techniques
Learning Types and Memory Techniques There are a lot of things you need to remember as a musician: scales, intervals, chords, key signatures, time signatures, accidentals, musical terms and elements as well as all the physical techniques you should know as a bass player - the list seems endless! ...
This Is What I Do....
Studio Bass Thang ...
What Is Audio Mastering?
What is Mastering ? (In Simple Terms ) Audio Mastering is the final step between your production's studio mixdown and mass production at a pressing plant. A good mastering engineer combines objectivity and precision with the creativity of an artist, helping you to unlock the full sonic potential of your music. He will tweak your productions with high-end sound-processing gear to give them that final finish you were looking for. Your tracks will gain punch, depth, volume and spectral balance, in other words, they will sound exactly the way it's meant to be. It's the audio step that comes just before manufacturing a CD. Some people would even say it's a crucial step....
The Rhythmic Scale
Outside of drummers and drumming circles rhythmical understanding is quite often the weakest link in an otherwise accomplished musician. For a lot of musicians, rhythm is more invisible than harmony or technique, but studying and understanding rhythm is as important as studying harmony or technique, and is useful in both composing and improvising...
Music & Intelligence
Will listening to music make you smarter? Will learning to play a musical instrument make your brain grow larger than normal? Questions like these ones have been popping up all over the place in the past few years, and not just in scientific...
Spoilt For Choice!
As teachers of the guitar we have the great good fortune of the many perks that come with being able to teach what essentially is the ‘coolest’ instrument is around. Being as it is, at the centre of much of the popular culture of the last half century, the guitar gives its teachers the opportunity to avoid many of the associations of stuffiness and...
Taking The Plunge!
I thought I would give a bit of advice and hopefully inspiration to anyone out there thinking of starting up teaching full-time. I am 35 years old and had been working in an Admin job "which I hated" since 1991, Over the last few years the urge...