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How To Prevent Body Injuries Caused By Bad Habits During Keyboard Lessons

April 24, 2015 Keyboards / Piano

How To Prevent Body Injuries Caused By Bad Habits During Keyboard Lessons

Playing the keyboards may look ‘harmless’ from a spectator’s point of view. Yet keyboard players are at risk of having hand and other body injuries. It starts with improper executions until it becomes a habit. During keyboard lessons, you are taught ‘healthy’ playing techniques. However, keyboard players still fall into the trap of acquiring bad habits.

Are you guilty of committing these bad habits? Here are the tell-tale signs:

Your fingers, wrists arms, and elbows are tensed and rigid.
Cramming: You haven’t practiced for such a long time. Now that you have an upcoming performance, you get into panic mode and cram for your practice sessions.
Bad posture:

slouching
raised shoulders
elbows are placed too close or too far from your body
knuckles are too low or placed below wrist level
wrists are not aligned with the keyboard — too high or too low wrist position
psychological stress, anxiety, and negativity
not resting or taking small breaks during practice sessions

Pressing the keys by using your fingers only:

causes muscle strain in your entire arm
produces a ‘hammering’ or pounding sound

If you do not heed the advice of your keyboard teachers, you may start feeling these warning signals:

Stinging pain around the hand and wrist area
Fingers and arms may feel numb and weak
Lack of blood circulation
Pain extending to the forearms
Cold hands
Soreness in the shoulder and/ or neck area.

An ounce of prevention…nip it in the bud…Your hands and body can heal with these best practices:

Rest and relax. Refrain from playing when your hands are sore or in pain.
Gradually resume playing. Take it slow. Your injury will only get worse if you push yourself too hard.
Practice regularly. Yes, you can practice every day but take intermittent breaks.
Do simple stretching and warm-up exercises before playing your actual pieces.
Take on an exercise routine to increase blood circulation. It helps nourish your muscles and tendons.
Strengthen your stamina. Your overall body strength and resistance would help your body tackle the long hours and the physical strain from playing and practicing.
Reduce the use of the computer. Pounding on the keyboard, clicking on the mouse, and spending long hours gazing into the screen is a keyboardist’s worst enemy. It could cause neck strain and carpal tunnel syndrome, due to the hands’ repetitive movements.
Treat yourself to a day at the sauna. The heat and the steam serve as a natural relaxant for your tired muscles. And yes, it soothes the mind too.
Play with a smile. Smiling or enjoying what you do eases the tension. It releases ‘happy hormones’ that have natural healing powers on the body.

The legendary classical pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff uttered these sad words when was told that he would never be able to play again: “My dear hands… Farewell, my poor hands.” Suffering this fate not only affects your hands, but your spirit as well. Make the most out of your keyboard lessons by imbibing good keyboard playing habits. Take good care of your hands. It is the outward expression of your musical spirit.

How Pop Singing Lessons Could Help You Prepare For Singing Contests (Part 2 of 2)

April 24, 2015 Singing

How Pop Singing Lessons Could Help You Prepare For Singing Contests (Part 2 of 2)

If you were to conduct a survey among a group of professional pop singers, there is a high probability that majority have joined singing contests. Building confidence is one of the best takeaways from a singing contest experience. Pop singing classes are not all about vocal techniques. It also provides you with the proper training how to sing with confidence.

Whether you’re auditioning or in the midst an actual contest, confidence is one of the most crucial factors that would define your performance. Here are some pointers on how you could psyche yourself-up to get that competitive edge:

Hydrate your throat area. Have a room-temperature bottled water with you, as you wait your turn. Contestants often dread the ‘waiting time’. This is usually the time when ‘nerves’ come and attack. Anxiety causes your throat to dry –a big ‘no-no’ during singing. Take a sip of water from time to time to keep you hydrated.

Refrain from eating one hour before your performance. It may leave you feeling bloated. Or some foods may dry up your throat or may cause stomach upset. However, do not starve yourself. Do eat right and just enough to sustain and keep those hunger pangs at bay until show time.

No caffeine and carbonated drinks before the show. Coffee or tea causes throat dryness. While carbonated drinks will bloat your stomach. And you don’t want to let out an embarrassing burp in the middle of a performance, right?

Dress and carry yourself like star. Dressing-up with style and individuality for a performance shows professionalism and confidence. Not over the top fashion and attitude. A true-to-yourself sense of style would bring out the star within you.

Stick to the contest piece that you practiced during your pop singing classes.A last minute song change could possibly ruin your chance of rendering your best performance.

Just in case, come prepared with 1 or 2 more pieces. You can never tell how a live contest show would turn out. Or if judges would want to hear and find out more of what you’re capable of. Show them you’re not a one-trick pony.

Make eye contact. A lot of contestants fall into the bad habit of singing with their eyes closed. You are not singing to yourself. You sing to connect, communicate, and tell your audience a story.

Don’t get paralyzed when you make a mistake. Just keep singing. Shrug it off. Redeem yourself and ‘wow’ them with the rest of the song. Who knows, they may not have noticed it after all. Sometimes, judges and audiences forgive such hiccups. It may show your vulnerability, sincerity of emotions, and maturity as a performer.

Enjoy the moment. Savor the attention and the spotlight. This could give you a confidence boost and calm your nerves.

Investing time and effort to practice for a contest is must. It may be hours, days, weeks, months, or even years of training with pop singing teachers, prior to the competition. Yet it ain’t over ‘til it’s over. You still have to be on your toes and do some prep-ups just a few ticks away before and during the competition.

How Pop Singing Lessons Could Help You Prepare For Singing Contests (Part 1 of 2)

April 8, 2015 Singing

How Pop Singing Lessons Could Help You Prepare For Singing Contests (Part 1 of 2)

Reality singing contests shows dominate prime TV these days. It not only becomes an avenue for aspiring singers to show-off their singing talents or validate the skills learned from years of pop singing lessons. It has become a ticket to stardom, and not to mention, win cash and valuable prizes too.

Stage fright, nerves, and butterflies in your stomach — even the pros get that. No matter how talented you are, these may get the better of you during the competition.

Here are some best pre-competition practices on how to prepare for the big day:

Find a competition that is appropriate for you. Competitions are usually categorized according to age, music genre or singing style. On TV, American Idol is looking for ‘the total package’. While The Voice, focuses mainly on ‘the voice’, especially during the blind auditions. Before you compete, it is good to check the battleground if it matches your skill and style.

Study contest rules. In any competition, you have to abide by the rules. No matter how good you are, a violation could ruin your chance to succeed. Understand and pay attention to contest mechanics details.

Pick the right song. Judges often say that song choice could make or break your performance.

• Pick a song within your range. During your pop singing lessons, you may have been determined your vocal tone and pitch. The song should be within your comfortable range.

• You can go out of your comfort zone when it comes to style, but make smart choices. Take calculated risks.

• Do not sing an ‘over sung’ song. But if you do, do not sing it exactly how others do it, or mimic the original artist. You have to put your personal imprint in the song. The judges need to hear ‘your voice’.

• Make sure that your song choices highlight the best in your vocal ability.

Memorize song lyrics. Forgetting and fumbling through the lyrics of the song doesn’t only make you look bad. It could throw off your entire performance. It also shows lack of preparation on your part.

Integrate moves and gestures into your performance. Dance moves and gestures add life and flavour to your rendition. It could also emphasize and add sincerity to your emotions. But don’t go overboard. Too much dancing could zap out your energy or leave you out of breath. Unnecessary gestures could make you look cheesy.

Prepare spiels. Judges or hosts will not only ask you to sing, but to answer some questions about yourself or your song. Be prepared for this. Think of an honest answer or a funny or heart-warming anecdote that could make them remember you.

Evaluate and critique yourself by way of the following:

• Practice in front of a mirror

• Record your song. Play it back and listen so you could identify areas you need to improve on.

• Video tape yourself. From there you could see how you move, bad habits or distracting mannerisms.

Your pop singing lessons could give you a head start on how to prep-up for competitions. The key is to prepare. Win or lose, you would always gain something from the experience.

Practice Tips to Enhance Your Ukulele Lessons (Part 2 of 2)

April 8, 2015 Guitar / Ukulele

Practice Tips to Enhance Your Ukulele Lessons (Part 2 of 2)

Many would agree that the ukulele looks like a fun and easy musical instrument. But learning to play the ukulele entails work and dedication. In spite of having that laid-back and carefree vibe, you need to reinforce your ukulele lessons with practice.

Ukulele classes are usually an hour long per session. But your lesson does not stop there. In fact, it has just begun. Your teacher is there to guide you through the learning process. The key to unlock mastery of the ukulele is through consistent and committed practice.

Make the most out of your practice sessions with these tips:

Practice

• Timing: Every song has a beat and rhythm that flows with specific time signature. Timing is the element that binds your chord positions and strumming patterns into a melodic and cohesive sound. Practice chord transitions and strumming patterns following the rhythm of the song. Start practicing slow and steady. Build-up your speed until you have worked your way to the proper pace of the song.

• One section at a time: Don’t attempt to attack the full song in one sitting. Start with the ‘easy’ parts. Or maybe you can master it one stanza at a time. Once you’ve got the hang of it, it would be easier to transition and focus on the tricky parts of the song.

• Daily: Practicing at least 20 to 30 minutes a day can work wonders on your progress on ukulele lessons. Diligence, perseverance, and regular practice could cause a great impact on your overall ability.

• But know when to stop: Torturing yourself will do you more harm than good. Yes, there will be pain that promises gain. However, know the limit of how much pain you could take as it might cause injury or permanent damage. Give your body the time to rest and heal so you’ll gain more strength to play. If pain is internal or persists, go see a doctor.

Record yourself and listen

It is difficult to play, listen to yourself, and analyse your performance all at the same time. Record yourself. Sit back and listen. In doing so, you can spot errors, weakness spots to improve on.

Play for and with others

Of course you want to impress people and make them feel good while you play, right? This would give you enough reason and pressure to persevere and up your game. Playing with others also give you accountability and focus to catch up and be in-synch with the other players.

Admire, watch, and learn from the masters

Let them be your inspiration and motivate you to be a better player. Emulate and imitate, yet develop your own style as well.

Enjoy!

Bob Brozman, a ukulele virtuoso was quoted stating the fact that any language in the world say it as “play music”. There’s no such thing as “work music”. So, just enjoy and have fun with the ukulele.

Practice is an investment. The amount of time and effort you put into ukulele lessons and practice, would reflect on your progress. If you practice today, you reap the rewards of being a good ukulele player tomorrow. And who knows, you may even make a career out of it too.

A Cellist’s Guide In Preparation For Teaching and Conducting Cello Lessons (Part 2 of 2)

April 8, 2015 Cello

A Cellist’s Guide In Preparation For Teaching and Conducting Cello Lessons (Part 2 of 2)

When parents or students are searching for music teachers to enrol with, they look into several factors. These will help them decide which teacher best meets their needs and expectations. Your background, experience, and credentials as a teacher are your core competencies in conducting cello lessons. However, it is a fact that other factors may even outweigh your qualifications.

Therefore, be prepared not only on the lesson per se. Potential students will surely be asking a lot of questions. Here are the rest of the ‘teaching tools’ and frequently asked questions that you need to be ready with:

Teaching Fee:

More often than not, this becomes the deal breaker. Given all other things being equal, a student may choose another teacher over you due to a lower fee. Here are some of the things to factor-in to determine how much you should charge.

• Experience: If you are a new cello teacher with little or no experience, research as to what is the going rate of a more experienced teacher. With that, you may want to reduce a certain percentage from it.

• Your Value: Strike the right balance between the going rate and ‘your value’. Evaluate yourself, making sure you don’t feel undervalued or short-changed, based on your skill and experience.

• Location and Travel cost: Should you decide to conduct cello lessons at your student’s home, include your travelling costs into your asking fee. You may not be able to quantify this entirely, but take into consideration the time and effort you will be exerting in doing this.

Lesson Plan and Monitoring Progress

• Set goals for each learning phase: Students learn in different ways and at different paces. Yet it would be helpful if you have a general lesson plan for each phase. For instance, first phase lessons for beginners should start with an orientation to ‘break the ice’ and getting to know the cello better.

• Teaching materials: Have a list of books you would require for your students to have. Research videos and other visual aids to present new methods in learning the cello.

• Monitoring: Have a record book or use a computer program like an excel sheet where you can have a record of your students’ lessons and progress.

Student-Teacher Agreement:

Teaching to the best of your ability is your commitment. While the student should be committed to learning as well. To do this, there should be a student- teacher system of order and compliance. You could draft a written agreement to make your students aware of what is expected from him as a student. Likewise, what you commit to do as a teacher. It may contain the following:

• Observance of lesson schedule
• Commitment to practice
• Cancellation fees
• Make-up fees
• Special sessions for shows or exams
• Goal setting
• Lesson planning
• Tracking or rating of student’s progress

Teaching is a career and your bread and butter. Learn how to sell yourself. Lay down your cards. You are the authority in conducting cello lessons. Show your students what you could offer. Show them you are prepared. It is the first step on how you could gain their trust and confidence.

Tips to Enhance Your Ukulele Lessons (Part 1 of 2)

March 28, 2015 Guitar / Ukulele

Tips to Enhance Your Ukulele Lessons (Part 1 of 2)

Ukulele players really make playing the ukulele look so easy and effortless. Yet looks could be deceiving, right? Learning to play any musical instrument requires dedicated and passionate effort. Hence, ukulele lessons are not an exception.

It is a fact. The ukulele has got a fun and easy-going vibe about it. It is often seen and played on beaches, bonfires, summer camps. It is rarely associated with more ‘serious’ venues like concert halls or theaters. With this, the ukulele has not been taken seriously by musicians…until now. The ukulele has made a sweeping comeback, so to speak. As of late, it has been getting applauses, standing ovations, and gaining its rightful place on the onstage.

So now you’re serious about learning to play the ukulele? Here are some pointers while getting started:

The Basics:

Get yourself / Buy / Own a Ukulele. Generally, ukuleles are not expensive. They are easy to find as most music stores carry them. Shop around. Find what you think is best and easy on your budget as well.

Learn the proper way of holding a ukulele. The ukulele is such a portable instrument. Hence, it does not require straps that would hold it in place. If you’re sitting down, just let the body rest on your leg, while your arm rests on it while strumming. If you are going to play it standing up, the body should rest against your chest, while your strumming arm would keep it fastened. Of course, it takes practice to be able to do these. Find a comfortable position. Keep it steady. Do not push it against your body too tightly for it will block sound vibrations.

Learn the chords. You won’t be able to play a song on your ukulele unless you know the chords. Your sessions with ukulele teachers would consist mainly of learning the chords. Start with the basic and master them. You have to be able to finger them with your eyes closed. It takes a lot of brain and muscle memory and coordination to do so. The keyword: Practice.

Learn how to strum. Indeed, the up-down-up-down motion is a start. There are no shortcuts. It’s a matter of getting the hang of it. But once you do, improvisation, skill, creativity, sense of rhythm and timing would take over. Your strumming patterns should be in accordance to the rhythm and beat of the song.

The joy of learning is best felt when you are relaxed. Learning is best when there is no fear or tension, especially in young children. Your body also responds well when muscles are relaxed. Chord fingering requires pressure in order to produce sound. Yet, a song always has moments of silence or ‘rest’. Your body should be in synch and respond to these ‘rest’ periods.

With the phenomenal comeback of the ukulele in mainstream music, people took notice. And they love it! That is why ukulele lessons are now on the rise. Yes, it looks easy but it don’t come easy. Practice is what makes a happy, carefree, and fun-loving ukulele player!

How to Take Your Violin Lessons to the Next Level

March 28, 2015 Violin / Viola

How to Take Your Violin Lessons to the Next Level

The violin is a sophisticated instrument. It has to be played at a close-to-perfection level. Its pristine and delicate sound comes out best from highly-skilled players. Thus, violin lessons are indeed demanding. Good enough is not good enough.

So how do you up the ante and challenge yourself to constantly improve as a violin player? Here are some self-help tips:

1. Listen. Watch. Learn. Be Inspired. It all starts from listening. You witness the beauty of music unfold through listening. Listening is also the backbone of learning. Here are activities where you can listen and immerse your senses to violin music.
a. Record and listen to yourself playing the violin. This would help you and your teacher in violin lessons pinpoint areas that need improvement.

b. YouTube. Use this social media tool to your advantage as an additional resource material. It has a treasure trove of violin performance and tutorial videos.

c. Watch a concert. This is a lasting experience that could leave you in awe and inspired.

d. Attend a violin masterclass. It is a great opportunity to learn from the masters. You get to interact with higher-level violinists. They could give you nuggets of wisdom on the discipline of playing the violin. They share tips and techniques. They could give you very useful and constructive feedback on how you play.

2. Analyze and Emulate. After watching and/or listening to a performance, ask
yourself, ‘what did I like most about the performance?’. How does the violinist execute the technique you’ve been working on? Take notes on key elements of the performance like bow technique, posture, movements, etc. Watch, learn, and try to do it yourself.

3. Practice
a. When: Daily practice is a must. Have you found an optimal time for your practice routine? You should set an ideal and fixed time/s of the day when you can focus and be free from distractions.

b. Where: Listening is important. Thus, your space should be quiet or has minimal noise coming in from the outside. At the same time, also be considerate to others. The sound you make while playing should also not disturb others, especially your neighbors.

c. How long: Listen to your body. It will give you signals if it is drained, overworked, and stressed out after practicing. Thus, you may want to break down your full schedule into shorter sessions. With this, you allow your body to rest, recover, and re-charge.

d. Practice Accessories: Have the materials you need within reach. Aside from your instrument and music sheets, you may also want to have a pencil, a notebook, a recorder by your side. If needed, you may also want to equip yourself with tuning aids, music stand, violin resin, extra strings, etc.

4. Handle your violin with TLC (tender loving care). The violin is an extension of your body
and soul. It gives a voice to your emotions, your inner being. Treat it with love. Handle
it with care. Its beauty and elegance deserve respect.

Learning to play the violin does not start and end during your violin lessons. Go beyond the sessions and find ways to improve. What do you think is the best method to supplement your violin lessons?

A Survival Guide to Classical Singing Lessons

March 28, 2015 Singing

A Survival Guide to Classical Singing Lessons

So you think you got what it takes to make it to the world of classical music? You’ve got the voice, the talent, and the passion. You have the dream. You believe in your vision to achieve. But will you survive? Taking classical singing lessons is definitely a significant step. It will arm you with various survival skills. Yes, there a lot of bloodthirsty hopefuls out there as well. They’re willing to work as hard as you do. Their dreams are as big as yours. And yes, they have the same struggles as you do.

So how can you make the most out of your classical singing lessons to give you a competitive edge? Here are some great survival tips:

Sing daily. Sing every single day. ‘Singing is my life’ is not merely a figure of speech. For a classical singer, it is a part of almost all of their breathing and waking hours. Who knows, they might still be singing in their sleep. The act of daily and even long hours of practice is a big component of your progress and success.

Get a teacher. You may be born with immense talent. You may have been singing classical songs as soon as you got out of your mother’s belly. However, without proper training and motivation from a teacher you might be led astray or pick-up wrong habits. Classical singing teachers are backed-up by years of experience. Enrich your talent with discipline, motivation, and inspiration. It really pays to listen and learn from a teacher.

Practice singing without a microphone. Classical singing requires vocal strength and power. Classical singers usually sing in theatre or concert halls. You have to train your vocal muscles and cords to project your voice clearly over large spaces.

Look good and presentable. We have often heard the expression ‘a total package’ when industry professionals describe a performer. Subtly, they are saying that looks do matter in the business. This also holds true in the classical music industry. So might as well go with the flow. The fat lady who sings no longer a stereotype for classical singers. Make an effort to make yourself look good. Wow them from inside and out.

Avoid competitions. Singing competitions are now sprouting like mushrooms. Some say this is an easy way to achieve fame and fortune. There are several pros and cons to joining a competition, especially those on TV. With the rise of social media, opinions and comparisons circulate around cyberspace very quickly. If you are still a budding classical singer, the social media banter may be detrimental on your progress. Before entering a competition, build your identity, solidify your confidence and maturity.
Enjoy and love singing. Here’s an inspirational quote about how your love for singing could take your progress in leaps and bounds. Art critic, social thinker and philanthropist John Ruskins says: “When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.”

Classical singing lessons will arm you with techniques to survive. More importantly it will nurture your seeds of love for singing. Live it, love it, and the world will see and love you for it.

Opera Singing Lessons’ Tips to Prepare You for Auditions

March 28, 2015 Singing

Opera Singing Lessons’ Tips to Prepare You for Auditions

You’ve always dreamed of becoming an opera singer. You feel this is your calling. You are determined to make this your destiny. Yet you know that this never comes easy. You spent years taking opera singing lessons to prepare you for this — the auditions. Before any other opera star got his/her moment to shine, they had to go through the dreaded auditions.

Singing per se is not enough. Here are some tips on how to prepare for an opera audition:

Song Choice. Your song choice should be suited for your age. More importantly, consider the role you are auditioning for. Your song should be able to convey the emotion that is very close to the character’s temperament.

Sing from the heart. You’ve heard this a million times on TV reality singing shows. Judges will always look for your connection to the song, how you deliver, and how the audience responds to it.

Sing and speak the language. Most opera songs are written in a foreign language. You’ve got to sing it as if you were speaking the words. Go the extra mile of learning the correct way of enunciating the words.

Easy on the gestures. Body language is part and parcel of a performance. Gestures may stress on the expression of emotions. It can accentuate the attribute of the character. But these movements should be an extension of what needs to be expressed from within. Thus, don’t overdo it. Use it where it is essential. Be natural.

Research and study voraciously. It’s true, your opera singing lessons have prepared you for battle. Yet, think of the war. Opera is a culture, a lifestyle in itself. Read poetry and savor the rhythm of its language. Look at paintings that depict settings similar to the plots of an opera. Watch foreign films. Taste the romance of French and Italian languages. Let it roll on your mouth and tongue.

Find mentors. Your opera teacher has definitely taught you a lot. However, it pays to expand your horizons and learn from others as well. Seek mentors for various aspects of your performance. Someone can be your language, acting, or dancing coach. Or someone could be your style and image guru. All these learnings could greatly contribute not only to your audition, but to your long-term career journey as well.

Be inspired by role models. For sure, you have your share of opera heroes. The person or even character that makes you say and sigh, “someday I’m going to be like her / him”. Their own journeys and learnings on the way to the top can provide you the motivation and the inspiration to keep pushing forward.

Rest your mind, body, and voice. You are a hard worker. You push your limits, but your body, mind, and especially your voice can only take so much. Give it time to rest, recharge, and heal. Pamper it from time to time. It is your instrument. Give it some TLC.

Failing an audition is not the end of the road. If there’s one thing that you learn from opera singing lessons, it is resilience. Yes, you have it in you to move forward and say ‘next!’.

A Cellist’s Guide in Preparation for Teaching and Conducting Cello Lessons (Part 1 of 2)

March 28, 2015 Cello

A Cellist’s Guide in Preparation for Teaching and Conducting Cello Lessons (Part 1 of 2)

Teaching is one of the best career options that a cello player can pursue. A cellist is definitely qualified to teach in music schools or conduct private cello lessons. Masterful skills, years of playing experience or a music degree are great teaching credentials. Those are your inner core strengths that are uniquely yours. However there are other elements that you need to set-up.

Here are some of the ‘teaching tools’ you need to prepare for. For this article, focus will be on your teaching venue and the environment conditions you should establish.

Teaching Venue and Environment

Space and Size:
1. At the start, you’ll it would be just you and your student in the room. Make sure that it comfortably fits two people.
2. A cello is a rather large instrument so it should have enough space where it could stand.
3. It would be best to have space where you and your student could move around. Music is dynamic, thus, movement could also facilitate the learning process.

Peace and Quiet:
1. Listening and being able to hear one’s self is important in cello lessons.
2. Placing soundproofing materials onwalls, doors, windows, and ceilings are ideal, yet expensive. There are creative and DIY methods in doing so, at minimal cost.
3. Also, be conscious and sensitive as well to the ‘noise’ you are generating. If you can’t find a spot where the sound is suppressed, check for an ideal time instead. It would be best to allocate your lesson schedules at specific times within the day when your neighbors are out of their homes.

Distraction-free
1. Phone-calls / texting: People can’t seem to put their mobile phones down these days. Make it clear to your students to devote 100% of their attention to the cello. Phones should be switched off or placed in silent mode. Resist the temptation of checking for messages. And yes, that goes for you too, the teacher.
2. Visitors and companions: The room should solely be occupied by the teacher and the student/s. Friends and companions should not be present, sit-in or hang around. If possible, allocate a /waiting area for visitors and companions.

Lighting and Ventilation: Is the room too dark or too bright? Is the temperature too hot or too cold? Lighting sets the tone of the room. While room temperature could affect your mood and performance.

Order and Ambiance.
1. Your teaching space should be clutter-free, neat, and orderly. Only the essential teaching materials should be in the room and within reach.
2. You may opt to place some decorations and accessories, provided they are related to music or could enhance the learning environment.

Teaching at your student’s house: Some students may request this or you may offer this arrangement as well. If you decide to do so, check-out your student’s home and the space where he intends to conduct the lessons. Make sure that it somehow fulfills the conditions discussed above.

In addition, add some creative and personal and taste and touch to your teaching space. Remember, cello lessons are also meant to be fun and enjoyable. It is important to reflect that in your teaching environment as well.

Bass Guitar Lessons: Preparing You How to be a Band Bass Player

March 28, 2015 Guitar / Ukulele

Bass Guitar Lessons: Preparing You How to be a Band Bass Player

A band would not sound full and complete without a bass. You may not be able to hear its deep and low sound above the guitar riffs or the banging of the drums. But if you take it away, there’s definitely something missing. Taking bass guitar lessons will make you realize that a band’s bassist has a crucial role to play.

In a band, each member may have its own share of quirks and perks. The lead vocalist getsall the spotlight. The drummer gets all the girls. The guitarists get all the admiration. While the bass player is…’the fat guy who stands at the back’?

Here are some to-do tips that will show the importance of a bass player in a band:

Keep it together. Guitarists plays chords. Alongside, the bassist plays one note at a time. The bass serves to connect all those guitar chords together. The bass acts as a bond, ensuring a tight yet smooth flowing synthesis of harmony and rhythm.

Play the supporting role. On a positive note, he bass player may have been referred to as ‘that fat guy at the back’ because he is heavy on bass playing skills.He carries the weight of harmony and rhythm on his shoulders. It’s true, a bass player primarily plays a supporting role. However, you should not be led to believe that bassists can never lead a band nor be an icon.

Be the pulse-keeper. This requires you to lock-in or work closely with the drummer. Both of you should function as time-keepers. Establish and maintain the precise and steady flow of the beat. In bass guitar lessons, you may have used a metronome to develop your sense of time. Yet it would be great for you to have your own inner clockwork too.

Be in command of the rhythm. Being the bass player, you need to be the driver of the rhythm. Fasten it on to the beat. You need to know when to hit the notes as you cruise along the rhythm and the beat. A smooth, easy, and memorable sound trip lies in your hands.

Find your shining moments. Embrace the fact that songs do not always have bass solo parts. Yet there are quite a number of songs out there that have brilliant and memorable bass lines. They made a mark in history. Think Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” or “Under Pressure, to name a few. Seize the moment, yet do not overdo it. It is best to go with the flow and keep your stance on guarding the rhythm.

Be yourself. Be cool. Lead vocalists may prance around onstage. Lead guitarists may smash their guitars to smithereens. Well, that’s their thing. You may come up with your own antics as well. Yet keep focused on what you really have to do. Being yourself is the best way to bring out the cool in you.

Your bass guitar lessons are important for you get to know all about that bass. If you’re on the right track, you’ll see that fitting-in and maneuvering your way to the role of band bass player could be no trouble at all.

Keyboard Lessons: What Are The Benefits?

March 19, 2015 Keyboards / Piano

Keyboard Lessons: What Are The Benefits?

“What are the benefits?” is a question frequently asked of teachers and seasoned musicians alike by people considering taking up the keyboard. Let’s be totally frank here; the benefits associated with undertaking keyboard lessons are plentiful. You will certainly not regret investing your time and money in learning a new instrument! Let’s have a look at some of the key benefits…

The power to transform your outlook

Undoubtedly the biggest benefit to learning the keyboard is the transformation you are bound to see in both your mental outlook and overall relaxation levels.

Mastering a new instrument which sees you make palpable progress week after week during your lessons will give you a sense of worthy accomplishment which will boost your self esteem and confidence and give you the power to push yourself further and further. This new sense of motivation and striving for change is bound to transpose across other areas of your life too.

Playing the keyboard is known to have a great effect on your ability to relax and give you a new sense of perspective. Music is a powerful tool to combat depression and stress and your keyboard lessons will provide you with the tools you need to overhaul your life in this way.

Trophy cabinet

Once your lessons are underway, you and your teacher may decide to prepare you for grade examinations or performances and recitals. It’s a great feeling to acquire good exam results and is a fantastic achievement to include on your resume or college application. Many studies show that prospective employees with evidence of their musical talent are more attractive to employers than those who don’t play an instrument.

As well as grade examinations, you can sign up for festivals and competitions which give you a chance to show off your skills, win prizes and accrue some constructive criticism. All this is bound to improve both your performance technique and your confidence in playing the keyboard.

Musical appreciation

It’s a well known fact that people who play an instrument, including the keyboard, are much better able to appreciate the complexities and intricacies of music. Whether it’s thrash metal or classical orchestras that interest you, you will find that your lessons will open you up to a new world of knowledge and skills which will take your music listening to the next level.

The keyboard is a great instrument for giving you a solid baseline for which to master other instruments too. Once you have undertaken lessons and have acquired an excellent understanding of the instrument and your required technique, you will be in a perfect position to consider learning to play more niche instruments – the oboe, say, or perhaps the double bass! It is totally up to you as to how you choose to make the most of your new skills and musical opportunities.

As we have seen, there are multiple benefits to starting keyboard lessons. If you want to improve your outlook on life, improve your resume and improve your musical appreciation – you know what to do!