Lessons Continue Through School Term Breaks

Don't get me started about the school term system, I could go on for hours!
I've seen the positive side: its great for teachers and their unions, 12 weeks or more of holidays with only a conference every now and then; and I've seen the negative side: children really wanting to play music who are having a hard time putting in the practicing at home get hammered by term breaks because any routine they have managed to establish has been destroyed when everything stops because it's holiday time, again.

If you really want to succeed, be really good at it, don't use the term system as a model. Evey day counts if you want to be good. Heaps of breaks, with some of them very long, will blow the candle out on your dreams. Even if you have been playing for a while, you will know that a break from lessons and the instrument means what once was easy is now hard again. Then when lessons do resume progress is slow because review is needed before any new stuff can be introduced. What should be used as a model are the top achievers, and how they got there, in any discipline.

So if you have a teacher who takes lessons all year round, (a small break at Christmas like everyone else), and you want to be awesome on your instrument. Take advantage of it. You are very lucky. That person really does want you to succeed.

One other thing: learning a specialist skill like guitar, bass and drums, takes a long time and is not easy. During the term breaks the student of music should get used to thinking that yes it's a break from school, but I want to be awesome so I am still going to play and practice and attend lessons. If you think like that, in time you will play like you have always wanted to.

Your Lessons

Are You Getting the Best From Your Lessons?

Are you really keen on learning how to play music? Do you want to help your children learn how to play? Well you can. Everyone has the ability to learn music. It is not a natural skill. No one is born with the ability to play. 

The most important element in succeeding with music is the teacher. They are not all the same. Anyone can advertise themselves as a music teacher. Here are some points for you to consider and some traps for you to avoid.

Reading Music

 

Unfortunately the contemporary music playing world has been plagued with a belief that music reading is not important. This has put the average guitar, bass and drums player at a distinct disadvantage. When playing with other musicians they struggle because they cannot read. In addition their overall skill level will be much lower than musicians of other instruments. The reinvention of another form of reading called tablature is the main reason for this. This is the 'colour by numbers' equivalent. Imagine an accountant who can't count!

If you and your son or daughter are serious about playing guitar, bass or drums he/she needs to learn how to read on the instrument, not just theory, from the very beginning. No other instrument has this issue. There is not a choice of learning the saxaphone, for example, without reading music. From piano to trumpet, all people learn their instrument by reading music notation. Contemporary or modern guitar, bass and drums should be too. There is no special revolutionary way of learning without reading. All that is happening is the student is being ripped off.

 

Are you already having lessons?

If you are already in lessons, even if they have only just begun, you should be asking if reading music on the instrument is happening in the lessons? If so, great. If not it is a warning sign that the teaching quality is not high enough. Any delay in learning music reading is just a waste of time, money, and potential opportunity. If this basic is not happening what else is not happening: technique, rhythm, counting, chord construction? Any fees paid so far would have been lost as precious little useful information would have been learned.

 

Learning music by just learning songs

 

Some people offer lessons by just teaching songs. They claim it is an easier and more enjoyable method. How wrong can they be. An emphasis on song playing, using lyric sheets with chords on, and the use of tablature are warning signs of ineffective teaching. Chords are hard. It takes ages to get them working well. Rhythm is hard and not a natural skill. An emphasis on learning music just through songs is illogical. It would be like learning how to multiply in maths without knowing numbers.

 

Playing in a band

 

An extension to the ill fated 'learning music by songs' concept is the enticement of playing in a band. The release of the movie School of Rock starring Jack Black is often cited as the influence behind this concept. Unfortunately there is a major flaw in the real life equivalent prevalent in our society. The musicians in the movie had been learning classical music for many years. All that happened was the introduction of rock music to these well trained students.

The 'well trained students' factor seen in the movie has been forgotten in the modern day student rock bands. The novelty of playing in a band wears off pretty quickly when no one can actually play. The sound is terrible and they never seem to get any better. It is just not fun. The whole scene becomes negative because the motivation drops. Practice time disappears, and the the expensive gear purchased by hard working mums and dads ends up being stacked in the corner gathering dust.

 

Passion

 

Learning music is a wonderful thing to do. It is a specialist skill. The methods required to overcome all the obstacles of playing music are universal and so can be transferred to any endeavour you wish to be strong at. It is also a long term thing. There are no short cuts.

No Barriers

I hope this information helps. Please feel free to ask any questions concerning the best way to learn. I am passionate about giving students the best possible start. Please remember that, thanks to the invention of Skype, distance is no longer a barrier to quality teaching.

Phil

What Are My Rates?

It all depends on the level of the student and what the student needs. The requirement of a young beginner is different to a self taught person of any age. Requirements also change over time as the student progresses. The first lesson structure may change to include other options. Increased time on one instrument; picking up a second instrument, and/or to taking advantage of the jam sessions are examples of how each student's requirements can be different.

Just contact me and we'll arrange a time to talk.

Guitar Buying Guide

Here is a link which will help you decide which guitar to buy. I haven't
bought anything from them myself, but one of my students has. I saw the guitar only recently and I liked it.

https://www.artistguitars.co.nz/buying/how-to-choose-the-right-guitar-for-a-child/581

I use rockshop.co.nz , you could compare prices.

I would recommend buying a new guitar because you know it would be in good condition.

I hope that helps

Phil

Introduction

Thank you for the possible opportunity to help you receive the best possible start in playing guitar, bass or drums.

Since 2007 I have been committed to providing people with the highest quality of tuition available. My ongoing development, starting in 2001, as teacher and musician, is guided by tutors involved with the top music tertiary institutions in the country. 

Their are many obstacles to becoming a strong musician. One of them is cost and the other one is the quality of the tuition. So I'm going to try and help you with that. Learning how to play music is expensive. There's a great saying which goes like this. “People go to a lot of trouble to find cheap lessons and then get a lot of trouble when they are found.” I'm going to help you out. I will ensure you will receive the best value. 

 

In short there is a complete programme of music which has been put together by the top music teachers in New Zealand. There is a direct link from beginner level, to gaining acceptance to the best music school in the country. Acceptance is based on audition and skill level only. This is a very rewarding and enjoyable journey.

Is there a promise of playing in a band?

When students have reached a certain skill level in there reading and playing they will be invited to play together. I currently host jam sessions. This is a great option because people with similar skills and interests meet and learn how to play together.

It is widely recommended by music professionals that playing in bands should be avoided initially. Too many music students lose their interest as a result of a negative experience from playing in a band when they are not ready.

What kind of support will I have?

A successful music student is one who knows how to practice. It is the time between lessons which determines the level of success and pleasure the student gains from playing music. Learning how to practice is a skill in itself. To help you with this I have created a web site entitled, The Golden Pick and Sticks. This site is designed to reward the student while he/she is practising. It reinforces the principles of practice which I will cover with the student during lessons.