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Deciding Between Acoustic and Electronic For Your Keyboard Lessons

August 7, 2015 Keyboards / Piano

Deciding Between Acoustic and Electronic For Your Keyboard Lessons

There is no question that even if you are just a beginner in any artistic or even athletic field, you will need good equipment. Things are just easier and more convenient when you are equipped with good tools. You want to be a good baller? You don’t play in cheap shoes, right? You want your keyboard lessons to be better and easier? Then let us look at the instrument choices you can make.

Acoustic

Acoustic piano should always your first option. The sound that comes from real strings being struck by the hammer of an acoustic piano cannot be compared or reproduced by any synthesized instrument, even by the best electronic keyboard your money can buy. The weight of the keys when you play them also gives you an experience that is really responsive, which makes the feeling more satisfying.

The main argument against an acoustic piano is that it can be a bit pricey. The price ranges in the thousands of dollars and much more if you want a grand, or even just a baby grand piano.

If you are just beginning your keyboard lessons, Singapore can offer you a start with an electronic keyboard first.

Electric Keyboard

Although the sound cannot exactly replicate that of an acoustic piano, there are some good electric keyboards that are decent enough to the not so discerning listener or player. There are even electric keyboards with weighted keys, to simulate the experience of an acoustic piano.

If you do not have access to an acoustic piano, you should opt for the keyboard with weighted keys. This type will prepare you for advancement to a big piano, as it exercises and strengthens your fingers and hands. It also feels more like a baby grand piano.

Try to get keyboards with the standard 88 keys, as this gives you the full range of seven octaves. But obviously, these are more expensive than the most common 61-key keyboards. With the 61 keys, you will need to make adjustments in your playing, as this removes the first and last octave in the spread.

Despite the very small compromise on the sound, the electronic variety has a number of advantages over the acoustic. For one, they never get out of tune so you will never have to pay a piano tuner. Another plus is that since it is electronic, you can set it up to connect to a computer or other external equipment or gadget and you can play around with the sounds using applications or programs designed to enhance, distort, or synthesize the tunes.

Another pro for the electronic keyboard is that it is not as noisy as an acoustic piano. The volume control permits you to lower it down to a level that it does not disturb the people who are in the same room. And if the lowest level is still too loud, you can plug in earphones and listen to your playing by yourself.

An acoustic piano is definitely a great way for a beginner to start keyboard lessons on. If you can get it, then you should go for it. But an electronic keyboard is an excellent tool too, and it has its own advantages, and prepares you to move on to an acoustic piano later on.

Why Choose to Take Cello Lessons?

August 1, 2015 Cello

Why Choose to Take Cello Lessons?

There are a number of instruments that you can choose from, each of them with its own pleasure of learning and playing. Each instrument has its own depth, history and advantages. People often find themselves dithering over what to learn and if they have already started learning, whether to pursue it or switch to something else in which they are interested as well. It can be a huge dilemma and it can become difficult to choose one over the other because obviously, it is not possible to learn all the instruments at the same time. Which begs the question, why should you opt for cello lessons?

It’s a beautiful instrument! The moment you draw a bow across the strings, you fall in love with it because of the lovely tone it produces. More melodious than many other string instruments, cello is often an integral component of orchestras, where it is used for the richer and fuller sound. Even if you are just practicing, you are not likely to annoy the people around you because of the melodious tone of the instrument.
There are not many people who learn the cello because of lack of teachers or because the instrument is too heavy for them. This makes you one of the unique people who know to play the cello and you tend to stand out in musical circles or when you go for an audition. It’s a wonderful feeling since you don’t feel the need to compete too much if you want to go in for a professional career as a cellist. It’s an advantage cellists have over other musicians.
You will be able to find a professional opening far easier than those who play other instruments for the abovementioned reason. You will be welcome in an orchestra, because there is almost always an opening for a cellist. As versatile as the instrument is, it has fewer players than one would expect. Apart from satisfying your own passion for music, it’s also a great career opportunity.
If you are the kind of person for whom something needs to be a challenge in order for you to enjoy it, taking cello classes is just the right thing for you. From managing its size to finding a decent teacher in your vicinity to actually learning the instrument properly, there is always an intense challenge attached to learning the cello. Like it or not, it’s an amazing instrument that will challenge you to push your musical capabilities. But the rewards are great too!
The cello is the deepest string instrument after the double bass guitar. It is an instrument mostly used in classical music solo pieces and orchestras, but the existence of the cello is not unheard of in modern music and is often used in popular rock and pop songs, including in many indie bands. This makes it a versatile instrument and increases your opportunities as a cellist if you plan to make it a career.

There are so many reasons to learn the instrument, but really, the basic question you need to ask yourself is – do you want to take cello tutorials? Singapore as a country has immense potential for learning and performing this instrument and if the answer is yes, just go ahead with it!

Advantages of Drum Lessons at School vs. Home

August 1, 2015 Drums

Advantages of Drum Lessons at School vs. Home

Drums are really one of the most popular instruments around the world, as well as one of the oldest. You can learn drums from different sources, but in the end, everyone requires a good teacher to progress further and learn the correct techniques. If you are seriously considering an option between learning in a school and taking private drum lessons, check out the following advantages of both options before making a decision.

Learning at school

You will usually be provided with a soundproof studio which will not disturb the neighbours. If your neighbours are not musical, and sometimes even if they are, they might not want to hear you beating away on your drum at all hours. Then, there is always the problem of the very young and very old complaining about it. If you take classes at school, there is no such problem. In many institutes, you can even practice after class for a while, taking care of your problem.
By joining a music academy, you will save money on buying your own equipment, especially if your school offers practice rooms. Even if you prefer to buy your equipment in order to practise at home, you will still be saving money on accessories, music sheets and other materials that the school usually provides.
A reputed music school will ensure that their drum teachers are certified and it will not be your responsibility to ascertain that your teacher is qualified enough to teach drums. Since this is a major concern for most music students, it can come as a huge relief to have it taken care of by a trusted organisation.
Drums are an instrument that can take up a lot of space, depending on the type of music you want to play. If you are living in a small flat, you might not have the space for setting up your instruments. Joining a music academy solves this problem for you.

Learning at home

You don’t really have to leave home in order to learn the drums and you can do other things immediately before and after lessons. You can stay within your own comfortable home or room and enjoy the lesson in complete privacy without other students looking on. If privacy is important to you for enhancing your learning, choosing home lessons makes a lot of sense.
An obvious advantage of learning drums from the comfort of your home is that you avoid travelling. It is not always hectic or tiring, but for those who travel to work or school or college every day, it’s a big deal to be able to skip this and still get the musical education they desire.
If you are one of those who need to proceed at your own pace, then private lessons are the best option for you. You can set your own goals and deadlines and pursue your learning according to your comfort. You don’t need to consider other students and worry about catching up with others.

For students, the priority is to ensure that they receive good drum tutorials. Singapore has many places that offer both private lessons and lessons through an established music school. Check out your options and find one to suit your comfort.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Saxophone Lessons on Skype

August 1, 2015 Saxophone

Advantages and Disadvantages of Saxophone Lessons on Skype

The internet has changed the way we do everything, and this includes learning music. A quick Google search will show that there are hundreds of resources online for helping you learn the saxophone at both beginner and advanced levels. Generally, this does not do away with the need for an actual teacher, but it can enhance your knowledge and there is far more availability of resources than ever before. Saxophone classes through web applications such as Skype and Google Chat are now possible, so let us take a brief look at their pros and cons.

Advantages

Saves travel time – This is obviously the biggest advantage of learning the saxophone through online sessions. Depending on where you live, it is possible that you might have to drive or travel long distances to get to a teacher. Even if you take private lessons, your teacher spends similar time and energy to get to your place. Imagine not having to lug your heavy instrument around for classes every week!

No geographical restrictions – It is always better to choose a good teacher who lives at some distance than a more conveniently located mediocre teacher living nearby. This can be tiresome in practice and sometimes even impossible. But now, with online lessons, you can choose anyone from all over the world. You can focus on quality without worrying too much about convenience of location or travel.

Recording sessions – When you take lessons on Skype, you have the convenience of having it recorded so you can go through it again and again as many times as you want. You need never forget what you learned in your classes and you will be able to retain the small tips that are often valuable. This is a great facility which is generally not available in face to face sessions.

Disadvantages

No opportunity for hand work – In a real time class, the teacher would be constantly alert on how your posture and handwork is developing, a very important aspect, especially for beginners. In a virtual setting, this is not possible as the teacher might miss out on a lot of cues where the student is doing the wrong thing.

No opportunity for duets – Saxophone students can learn a lot from giving recitals and playing duets with other people. This is not possible in a virtual setting and there is almost always some problem with camera lagging which prevents a proper joint performance with other students or the teacher. A student who is taking saxophone classes online will lose out on this opportunity.

Lack of networking – Networking with other saxophone players and music lovers in general can generate huge opportunities for a student. It is usually the teacher who can introduce you to different people who give performances or can help you with different facets of a musical career. So unless you already have a strong network or are member of a local club where you can get the same opportunities, this is a definite problem.

Like everything else, learning saxophone via the web has its advantages and disadvantages. You need to assess the different aspects and analyse your own priorities before choosing one option over the other. In the end, you will be the one who benefits or loses from your decision of taking online saxophone tutorials. Singapore has both real time and virtual teachers, so you can consult them before making a decision.

Questions to Consider When Hiring a Keyboard Teacher

August 1, 2015 Keyboards / Piano

Questions to Consider When Hiring a Keyboard Teacher

When you want to learn the keyboard, one of the major decisions you have to make is how and whom to choose as a teacher. For some, it is made easier because they already know someone or their parents already are keyboard performers, but for most people, finding a keyboard teacher is a huge task, since it can be difficult to ascertain whether they are going to be compatible with you or not. Following are some questions you can ask to determine whether the teacher with whom you are proposing to study with will work for you or not.

Formal qualifications – This is generally a must-ask question since degrees and certifications will easily help you ascertain the teacher’s level of proficiency.

Teaching experience – Your keyboard teacher might hold the highest qualifications, but if they don’t have teaching skills, they might not be a good teacher. Ask for how many years they have been teaching the instrument and then ask for some references, from whom you can find out more details.

Performance experience – If you are looking at learning the keyboard to later perform professionally, it will be helpful for you to have a teacher who already gives public performances. This will help you to gain contacts and enter the performance scene yourself. In addition, teachers who are also performers will be able to guide you better when it comes to issues such as performance anxiety, how to deal with management, etc.

Materials – Find out what books and materials the teacher uses to teach the keyboard. Some materials are very expensive, so it is a good idea to know what you would be expected to spend before committing to it. Some teachers also provide their own material, which will be included in the price of the tuition. Find out all these details before signing up.

Type of music – The keyboard is an instrument that can be used in different styles of music, but you may not necessarily want to learn all the styles. Most students generally opt for a particular genre of music in which they are interested. Ensure that the teacher has experience and knowledge in that genre.

Keyboard – A most important question you need to ask is whether the teacher would provide the keyboard or whether you must have your own. If you are taking group keyboard lessons and the teacher is providing their own instrument, you must also find out whether you shall have an instrument all to yourself or whether you would have to share with other students, and if so, how many per instrument. All these are extremely relevant questions because it will affect the quality of your learning.

Teaching methods – A keyboard teacher will only teach you the technique and help assess your performance on a regular basis. The bulk of the practicing and learning will have to be done by the student outside class hours. So, homework is an important tool in your musical progress. Discuss with the teacher how much they expect you to practice at home and what kind of assignments they give for home practice. Assess whether you have the time to do all this because otherwise you will not be able to gain your full potential from the lessons.

With the above seven questions, you will generally have a detailed understanding of the keyboard tutorials. Singapore has many teachers who will be happy to discuss these questions with you before you begin a long-term student and teacher relationship.

Qualities for Successful Completion of Opera Singing Classes

August 1, 2015 Singing

Qualities for Successful Completion of Opera Singing Classes

Learning opera singing is an art many music students can only aspire to but most generally veer off into easier and more quickly rewarding streams of music. Only a person with true passion for the opera singing and the stage as well as for the operatic life will consider a career in the field, with all the attendant issues. However, if you have the passion and the talent, you can achieve a great deal of satisfaction by joining opera singing classes, as well as learn all kinds of different skills at the same time. Here are a few abilities you might need or have to cultivate in order to become successful in the opera.

Endurance and stamina

Opera singing involves long hours of singing in high pitches, which takes its toll on both your vocal chords and your general body. Apart from this, opera singers need to be on the move continuously, brushing on their skills and attending performances regularly to network and experience the art in its full glory. All this requires incredible amount of stamina and physical and mental endurance in order to sustain the lifestyle.

Healthy lifestyle

If you want to take opera singing lessons for adopting it as a career, your first priority must be to develop a healthy lifestyle. Your voice is your most precious tool and you need to take good care of it. This means preventing colds or sore throats, taking enough rest and fluids when you are unwell and getting regular medical check-ups in order to prevent any complaint from developing. In addition, it is also important to get enough exercise in order to maintain a high level of stamina and eat nutritious food and get enough sleep and develop an overall healthy outlook.

Interpersonal skills

Opera singing is not just about your singing skills, though that is required. It is a highly competitive field in which it is rather hard to enter. This is where good people skills can help you. Meeting the right people at the right time can help you gain gigs, which in turn will develop your career. Interpersonal skills are also valued in this field because you have to learn so much in so many different skill sets that you will have to take every opportunity offered to hang around talented people and learn from them. Opera singers have to be learning all the time, and without people around you, it’s pretty much impossible to do so in an isolated environment.

Discipline

An opera singer requires intensive training and discipline to develop their skills to a level where they can give a performance. The dedication and discipline that opera singers need to put in their practice and work is very high. With so many different and difficult skills to learn, discipline and time management is essential for an opera singer. Without this level of discipline, most students studying for the opera end up dropping out. Some of them don’t even begin their lessons since it takes a great deal of musical knowledge and education to even contemplate starting with opera lessons.

Ultimately, some basic life skills can also help an opera singing student to perform well, as well as singing talent and musical skills. If you want to take opera singing tutorials, Singapore is a great place for it since the art has now spread out all over the world and is gradually making inroads in different countries.

Tips for Selecting Acoustic Guitar Teachers for Beginners

August 1, 2015 Guitar / Ukulele

Tips for Selecting Acoustic Guitar Teachers for Beginners

Acoustic guitars are the oldest type of guitars and they are very popular among modern and classical musicians alike, and there are a large number of people who learn it either as a hobby or for a long-time career potential. In either case, it’s usually a passion with them. Hence, it is comparatively easy to find good teachers for teaching acoustic guitar lessons to beginners and at the advanced level. Let’s take a look at some ways you can ensure that you gain a great experience with your teacher right from the beginning.

Choose a good teacher

This goes without saying, but it’s amazing how many people think that it’s all right to start off with a mediocre teacher or even someone who just knows a little bit more than you. This is faulty thinking as your teacher will be the person who will be teaching you the skills and the techniques you need to develop your own style of playing. Besides, if you start off with a mediocre teacher, you might develop bad habits and will have to relearn everything from the beginning again. Save time, money, and effort in the long run by finding the best teacher you can.

Invest money

You would not buy substandard books or enroll in an unaccredited institution when it comes to your mainstream education. So there is no reason why your musical education should suffer in the name of economy. Yes, learning the guitar can be an expensive pursuit, but if your aim is to learn well and satisfy your passion, it is important to spend money in terms of choosing a good teacher or school, buying or renting a good acoustic guitar and purchasing the materials, books and accessories required. Consider it an investment for a long-term musical learning.

Refuse a negative teacher

Strict teachers have been revered in the past for their strictness, but that era has passed and for the good of students and learning in general. Do not take disrespect from your guitar teacher. This includes making snide remarks, losing their temper with you or behaving in a generally unacceptable manner. A teacher who makes you feel like a failure should also be avoided. Remember that a great student teacher relationship is one of mutual respect, where both parties gain something out of the success of the other.

Select wisely

You can find good acoustic guitar teachers through different methods. You can try asking at the music department at your local university or check out private music schools to find someone you like. You could also ask those who are already learning whether they can recommend some good teachers. Word of mouth recommendations are usually as sound as professional accreditations. It’s also a good idea to attend concerts regularly and find out whether your favourite guitarist is taking acoustic guitar lessons. With a bit of time and effort, you can usually find a good teacher.

There are a large number of good teachers and an even larger number of mediocre or bad teachers who might be good musicians and excellent at giving acoustic guitar lessons. Singapore offers a good opportunity to find the perfect teacher. If you follow a specific strategy and are willing to expend effort in your search, you might quite likely find him or her to help you with your acoustic guitar tutorials.

Basic Flute Lessons for Beginners

August 1, 2015 Flute

Basic Flute Lessons for Beginners

The flute is a beautiful and melodious instrument that also happens to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, since humans harnessed wind to create music which gradually developed into a major art form. The versatility and simplicity of the instrument make it a great favourite with music lovers. You can play the instrument with a band, an orchestra, with singing accompaniment as well as all on its own. Let us see what kind of basics you will have to learn while taking flute classes for the first time.

Holding the flute

How you hold your flute depends on the type of flute you have chosen to rent or buy. There are basically two main types of flutes – those with holes at the end of the flute, known as end blown, and those with holes at the sides, known as side blown. Your fingers will play a major role in playing the flute, so learning how to hold the instrument properly is of the greatest importance. Expect to spend a couple of lessons in learning how to do it in a way that is both comfortable and technically sound.

Producing sound

While it looks easy to blow on a flute and produce sounds, it actually is not. You cannot just blow anywhere and expect to make a sound. The right way to do it is to raise the flute in front of your lips and blow into the blowing hole, covering only about 1/5^th of the hole during the attempt. You will have to vary your blowing intensities until you get it right. Don’t puff up your cheeks when you blow. You need to sustain the playing for a while, so the air must come from the diaphragm directly. This technique can be picked up quickly, but it is essential to get it right before moving on to learn how to actually produce music.

Fingering

The flute produces music when you learn how to blow on it and finger the holes properly. This is one of the basic techniques you will learn in your flute lessons. Without learning this, you simply cannot proceed with learning to play the flute. It is advisable to use fingering charts during your flute tutorials so that you avoid making mistakes in your finger placements. It might take some effort to learn how to read the chart first, but it drastically improves your performance and will enable you to learn far quicker than otherwise. Covering and releasing the different holes in the flute at the right time and synchronizing it with your blowing will take quite some time to master, but it will produce results.

Posture

Posture is very important while learning the flute. It is important that you maintain the correct posture because it will help you to produce more consistent sounds, and also improves your air capacity. You can sit or stand according to your convenience. The important thing is that your breathing is not affected and you are able to sustain the position over a long period. Your posture must also be developed properly in order to ensure that you don’t develop aches in your muscles and joints after practice.

Flute teachers generally recommend that you use flutes classified as beginner flutes for best effect when you start learning. Over time, you can graduate to a more professional flute! If you are considering flute lessons, Singapore has a large number of opportunities for learning, teaching and playing the instrument, making it a good choice for most people.

Tips for Starting Broadway Singing Lessons for Your Child

August 1, 2015 Singing

Tips for Starting Broadway Singing Lessons for Your Child

If you want your child to become a Broadway star, you need to put in plenty of effort and motivate him or her to work hard to achieve this particular dream. Success in Broadway does not come easy, so your child needs to learn to persevere and focus on their career. Good Broadway singing lessons from a good teacher for your child will encourage them to work forward to this end.

Don’t start too early

While it is usually a good idea to teach children about their various opportunities at an early age, singing is not one of them. Fostering a love for music or the Broadway theatre is a good idea, but actually sending them for singing classes is not. The good teachers who take in students usually prefer to take children only after they achieve puberty in order to avoid them ruining their singing voices. Young children simply cannot develop their singing voices to the level required by Broadway without damaging them extensively. So as impatient as you are your child may be to start them off down this path, wait till they are able to do so without hurting their voices and future chances.

Teach them to appreciate the art form

It is hard for children to work hard and long at anything without sustaining interest in it. If they don’t have any appreciation of Broadway, they will simply not put in the effort required to enter the career. Don’t consider taking them to shows or having a discussion on the merits of different plays as a waste of time as many over-ambitious parents often think. It is a very essential component of their education. Without developing an interest in theatre, Broadway or music, your child cannot really be expected to work towards this goal. Let your child enjoy the wonderful world of Broadway and decide for themselves that they want to join this world.

Try workshops

It’s a good idea to give your child the taste of Broadway singing through short workshops. A Broadway career requires a lot of commitment and hard work, and not every child will be willing to put in the effort required for a future Broadway career. It is also expensive for the parents to finance all the classes that they might need. There are a number of short workshops that are organised just for children, who get a quick overview of what it means to train for Broadway. This helps in getting the children interested, but it also helps parents to understand whether the child is interested enough to pursue it wholeheartedly.

Invest in Broadway singing classes

For children who do show enthusiasm in working towards a future Broadway career, you must think of investing money in different classes for them. Apart from singing, it helps to have them take lessons in acting, languages, musical instruments, etc. because Broadway is a very versatile art form and the more you know, the more likelihood you have of getting an audition. Consider this an investment in education similar to how you would invest in a college education for your child’s future.

Broadway singing tutorials are important for a future Broadway career, but the interest and the commitment must come from your child. You can only motivate and help them, but the hard work has to be done by them.

Basic Jazz Guitar Tutorials

August 1, 2015 Guitar / Ukulele

Basic Jazz Guitar Tutorials

Jazz can be played on all kinds of guitars, but the archtop guitar has become the jazz guitar because it easily enhances the volume, an important component of them musical style. Tone makes a huge difference to jazz guitarists. So many of them use heavy strings or flatwound strings. If you want to learn the jazz, taking jazz guitar lessons is helpful. Let us see what you should expect at the beginning of these lessons.

Start with jazz

You might or might not have previous experience with music in general or playing the adult guitar in particular. It does not matter if you want to learn how to play jazz music. Since in jazz, you have to use all the keys, you can start with it right away instead of learning how to play other styles of music, which might take you in a very different direction. Jazz is a full-fledged musical world in itself, so you can start with what you intend to continue right from the beginning.

Get educated

Jazz has developed from a simple art form to something highly artistic and complicated. You simply cannot hope to excel without understanding the musical theory behind the music. Learn how to read music and develop your sight learning. Understand how chords, arpeggios and scales work and how to incorporate them in your playing for best effects. A jazz guitar is a highly flexible instrument and you will ultimately develop your own style through long years of rigorous training, but understanding the theory is just as important.

Listen to jazz

If you wish to develop your skills after beginning jazz guitar classes, make sure you listen to a lot of jazz music. Once you understand the theory behind the music, you will also be able to understand the various chords and scales that make up the music, isolate them and understand how they are sequenced together in order to produce great music. Then you can incorporate this understanding during practice. Start with listening to simple jazz music, then progress to more complicated songs. Remember, listening to music is just as important as practicing because it helps you develop a good ear.

Soloing, Comping and Walking Basslines

The three most important concepts that a jazz guitarist needs to learn are soloing, comping and walking basslines. Soloing is a composition without musical accompaniment. It is very difficult to achieve this as the entire burden of the composition is on your shoulders. Comping is a jazz term that encompasses chords and rhythms and countermelodies. Learning how to comp is essential for a jazz guitar player. Walking basslines are a sequence of quarter notes, which can be simple or complicated. They are a major component of jazz music and hence must be learned by any aspiring jazz guitarist. Once these three concepts are mastered, then you can claim to be reasonably well educated in playing the guitar.

Social interaction

Jazz is an intensely social form of music, which musicians have often used to talk about different social issues. You have to work with other musicians to produce good jazz music, so it’s a good idea to get started on it right away. It is ideal if they are more experienced than you as it will enable you to learn more, but take anything you can get. Playing with others will bring out the real challenges, enabling you to improve as a musician.

Jazz is a style of music that keeps on developing and encompasses a wide range of styles over the years. When you start your jazz guitar tutorials, the best way to develop your skills is to start playing while also learning different techniques simultaneously.

Qualities of Good Cello Teachers

August 1, 2015 Cello

Qualities of Good Cello Teachers

Searching for good teachers is an integral part of your musical education. There are many ways you can find teachers with whom you can develop a great relationship and learn a lot. But how exactly do you ensure that you find cello teachers that are compatible and meet your learning requirements? Here are a few tips you can follow to find out if the teacher you are proposing to study with is good for you.

Professionally trained

Degrees are important, or no one will go to university. It’s a quick and easy way to ascertain that your teacher does know what they purport to teach. With an universally recognized degree, you will know that the teacher has a great deal of understanding of the instrument and will be able to assist you ably in case you come up with difficult questions. It is also good to have a trained teacher because if you intend to continue learning the cello at an advanced level, you can continue with the same teacher, instead of switching which might disturb your learning curve.

Likes to teach

It is not enough for a teacher to have all kinds of degrees and a good deal of experience, though these are important enough in their own right. A person must like to teach others in order to be a good teacher. A teacher who actually enjoys imparting their knowledge and can find different ways and means to teach their different students is a good teacher who can be trusted. Cello teachers must be able to understand the limitations of their students and work with them accordingly.

Flexible

Teaching by the rule works for many students but many gifted students cannot abide by strict regulations. When it comes to artistic expression, teachers must allow students to explore and learn on their own, as well as develop their own distinctive style. Kindness and a degree of flexibility are essential in a teacher who conducts good cello classes. If a teacher is unwilling to give you the benefit of the personal touch you require, better to find a different teacher. A good teacher must recognize that each student is different, and hence work with them to the best of their abilities.

Goal-oriented

Many teachers just meander on with their teaching, or they rush ahead without even ensuring that the students have mastered the previous lessons. This does not lead to a detailed understanding or learning of the cello in the long run. Instead, goal-oriented teachers who know how to assess their students’ learning and push them to learn more and play better will help in your growth as a cello player. Teachers who set and follow goals tend to have more disciplined routine than others. At an advanced level, it is important for the teachers to include the students in setting these goals so both are on the same page when they work together.

It is not all that hard to find a cello teacher, but one who takes cello lessons in a way you enjoy and find inspirational is the right teacher for you. In the end, you can only work hard at something you love to do, and your teacher is part of the package.

Learning Vibrato on Your Violin Lessons

July 14, 2015 Violin / Viola

Learning Vibrato on Your Violin Lessons

In the field of music, both in singing and instrument playing, vibrato adds more emotion to the music. The effect of a vibrato is more pronounced and the emotion more felt when it is used in violins. As you prepare for your violin lessons, here are some important things to know when applying the vibrato effect:

A stiff vibrato finger will produce a stiff note. Keep your finger arched and tender to maintain its flexibility.
There are basically three ways of creating a vibrato: the arm vibrato, the finger vibrato, and the finger vibrato. If you are just a beginner, you might want to try and learn all three at first, and see where you are most comfortable with, and which style gives you the best sound. What is important in all styles is, as mentioned previously, you maintain a lot of flexibility.
Learn how to avoid the “dead” note. This happens when you suddenly shift from a note with vibrato to a straight note without one. It usually happens when you shift fingers, so make sure you hand off from one finger to the next seamlessly.
Do not let your vibrato raise the pitch of the note. It only serves as a decoration for a note from below, and it must not raise the note higher. Otherwise, your listeners will hear you as out of tune.
A proper vibrato is when your fingertip rolls on top of the violin string, and not slides over the string. Sliding it over the string will either lower the chord (which may be OK in some situations), and raise the chord tune (which is never OK for a vibrato).
The speed of your vibrato is also very obvious to your listeners, so make sure you apply the appropriate one for whatever type of music you are playing. Melancholic and romantic tunes need a wide or slow vibrato, while up temp tunes are better served with a narrow or fast vibrato effect.
Watch and learn from the professionals. There are dozens of videos online that you can easily watch and even download. Study your favorite violinist’s vibrato speed, and see how they manage to fluidly slow it down or speed it up. Watch loosely for their techniques, and you might surprise yourself if you can mirror their abilities even before you start your violin lessons!
Use a metronome to give you a different aural vantage point of what you have been accustomed to. When you have practiced your vibrato for hours and hours already, you tend to lose perspective on what other styles or technique you can use. Metronomes help you count your “wiggles”. Practice with the metronome division 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Once you get the hang of it, you can increase the speed of your vibrato.

This are tips if you are already in the vibrato part of your violin lessons. As a beginner though, a lot of experts and professionals will advise that you first master and get comfortable with the basic, especially the wrist and hand positioning. Techniques learned and practiced in the right order will definitely give you a better advantage until you get to that vibrato part.