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Maintaining a Violin – Part 2

Instrument Maintenance

Learning how to maintain your violin is an important part of your violin lessons because a well-maintained instrument will allow you to learn capably and will give good service for many years. We have already seen some tips on how to keep your violin in good shape in the article: http://absolutelyintuned.com.sg/blog/maintaining-violin-part-1/ . In this article, we will see some more tips on keeping your violin well maintained and in good condition for the longest possible time.

Violin case

Your violin case should be chosen with the utmost care. This is the one thing that would help your instrument be kept safe from all the accidents, whimsical and changing weather, and your own carelessness. So, when purchasing a violin case, put some thought and effort into it. Ensure that the case is sturdy and of good quality.

When purchasing a violin case, you have to take a lot of factors into consideration. The climate that you live in would have to be of primary consideration. The case must be built with the right kind of wood that would survive better in your climate. If the climate is too dry or too cold, this can be dealt with built in insulation and humidifier features.

Apart from these basic precautions, also check that the violin case is geared towards maximum comfort for your violin to rest. It should have sufficient padding so that the instrument is protected at all times and there is no friction between the instrument and the case. The case should also have sturdy and well-padded pockets for the bow and other accessories so that everything is well protected.

Finally, making a safe space to keep your case is just as important as making a habit of putting your violin away in its case. Make sure that you clear up sufficient space so that the violin does not crowd over with other items even if you don’t use it for a while. The case must never get wet or be exposed directly to the elements. You must also keep the case tucked away in a corner so that it doesn’t accidentally get tipped over. By just developing some of these good habits, you will go a long way in ensuring the longevity of your instrument.

Loosen the bow

The violin bow is generally made of horsehair, and is quite tough. The bow, when stretched and played across the strings, produces a typical sound that we associate with the violin. Taking care of the bow is also important. One way to do this is to loosen the bow when the violin is not being played. This is to ensure that the stretched hair does not get stressed, which can break. Even when tightening the bow, just do so only as much as required. The bow will require being re-haired once a year.

Changing strings

When it comes to the violin strings, they are quite hardy. However, they still require some care. The same principle as with the bow applies to them and they ought to be kept loosened when not in play to reduce pressure on the strings and the bridge of the instrument. You also need to learn how to change the strings properly.

For more information on local violin lessons, please refer to this link

Benefits of Hiring an Acoustic Guitar Teacher

If you are looking to learn how to play the guitar, the most important thing is to find a good teacher for your acoustic guitar lessons. There are many types of guitars, such as classical guitar, jazz guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and so on. No matter what kind of guitar you want to learn and specialize in, you would need somebody to guide you. Take a look below at some of the benefits of hiring a guitar teacher.

Body Posture

Not everybody pays careful attention to this seemingly small thing. But playing for a long time with incorrect posture can lead to hand pain, chronic back ache, pain in the shoulders and neck along with other problems. Learning and making use of the correct posture can help you prevent the harmful effects. Hiring a teacher for your guitar lessons is a good decision as they would tell you about these things and make sure you follow them.

Personal attention

In a class with other students, you would have to go along with something that is suitable for all the students. If you are hiring a guitar teacher, you can inform and request your teacher about your interests and learn that interest. Learning something that you actually like will help in keeping the love for your instrument alive and keep you motivated to perform better. Teachers would have had years of experience which would be very useful to you. They would help you to avoid mistakes and make sure you are on the right path every time.

More comfort

Again, if you are in group classes, you would have to stick to a strict time schedule. Hiring your own guitar teacher would help you a lot as you would be able to schedule the classes at your convenience. Another great thing is that you would be saving all the time that would be wasted during commute. You can use that time to practice more or finish up your other works.

You would also not have to be concerned about your peers moving faster or slower than you. Since you would be the only student, you can go at your pace, thereby getting the most out of your lessons.

Networking

Teachers often know a lot of people in the same field and are likely to introduce you to them if you want. They also organize events and performances where you can get a chance to play and show-off your skills. This acts as an opportunity to take up the stage giving you some exposure. Playing on the stage will teach you a lot of things of which you might have no idea if you just continue to practice and play in your house.

Technique

Learning from the web is a great way to learn nowadays but there are some things that the videos or the internet just cannot teach you. There are a variety of techniques which you should learn in order to excel in your guitar lessons. A teacher would be sure to mention this and teach you the various techniques involved in playing the guitar in your guitar lessons.

For more information on which type of class would be the right fit for you, you can check out https://www.absolutelyintuned.com.sg/acoustic-guitar-lessons-online-learning-vs-regular-classes/ . For more on guitars, you can refer to our Guitar Lessons Page

Buying an Electric Guitar – Part II

Electric Guitar Lessons

Buying an electric guitar is not an easy decision. There are many factors to be considered, some of which shall be discussed in this article. But apart from these, the budget and other practical considerations are also sufficiently important and need to be taken into account. With so many things to look out for, it can be very intimidating to set out to purchase an electric guitar. This is why it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the elements you need to look out for. The article: http://absolutelyintuned.com.sg/buying-electric-guitar-part/ contains some things to check out when purchasing a guitar. Now we will discuss further details here.

Decide on tonewood

The wood used in making the instrument plays an important role in the tone of the guitar. Some woods provide a deeper sound, while others have a high pitch. Hence, the tonewood of the guitar needs to be chosen with care, depending on the type of music you want to play, the kind of tone that you personally like, as well as the weather and climate conditions of your location. Guitars can be made of many different kinds of woods, each one providing slightly different features to the instrument.

Some common woods used to make electric guitars are maple, mahogany, rosewood, ash, ebony, poplar, etc. The main criterion for choosing these woods is that they are easily available in areas where guitar manufacturers can access them. Another reason is that these woods are sturdy and dense, and hence the instruments shaped from them are also sturdy. There are also a large number of other tonewood guitars available in the market. It is recommended that you go for any sturdy wood after educating yourself on the choices available to you, keeping in mind that different parts of the guitar might be made of different woods.

One thing to look out for is that sometimes manufacturers of cheaper guitars tend to stick plywood together to construct a guitar. This kind of guitar does not sound good or look good, and it doesn’t hold out much hope for longevity either. It is also hard for the player to actually be able to learn guitar lessons on such instruments. So always keep in mind that the best guitars are made of solid hard woods.

Test the guitar

All said and done, you might have the best features in your guitar, but their just saying so would in no way make it a sure thing. You have to test the guitar properly to ensure that it suits every need of yours. The feel of the guitar is as important as anything else we have discussed so far. If you are comfortable with holding the guitar, then it is a good one for you. Make it a point to actually go and test out the guitars before making the purchase. Even if you choose to purchase online, do go and try out the guitar you want to buy in a shop or from a friend who owns one before placing the order.

For the best electric guitar lessons, you need a good instrument. So take care to buy the best possible instrument within your budget.

Cleaning Tips for Those Playing the Flute

Instrument

A dirty instrument speaks of a bad musician. Every aspiring musician or instrumentalist should first learn to care for their instruments. These would also be taught to you during your flute lessons. Maintaining it properly at the right time would take very little effort, time and cost from your side. Once your flute gets a problem, you will need to get it to a professional to be repaired and it is not always that easy!

Take a look at the below tips for an idea on how to maintain the flute and keep it clean.

Longevity

One main reason one should care for their instrument is that if it is maintained with love and care, the instrument would live up to several years. It would last a longer time and save you the time, energy and money of purchasing another.

Moisture is the enemy

When one plays the flute, moisture forms inside the instrument due to the act of blowing air into it. This can cause damage to the flute. Never ever forget to wipe it and give it a quick dust down.

You can use a soft and clean cloth to remove dirt and clean the inside of your flute. It is advisable that when you are done playing, to take your flute apart. It is important to clean every part, nook and corners to make sure there is no dirty residue left inside and the moisture is cleaned up.

Polishing the flute is an easy task keeping in mind that it is quite a small and light-weight instrument. But one needs to be careful of the same fact because it is played with our mouth. It is a good idea to brush your teeth before playing to make sure the particles in saliva do not spoil the flute.

Flute case

If you travel often, the best way to transport the flute is to carry it in a flute case. It is also a good idea to keep it in the case if you are done playing or practicing. This helps in avoiding moisture and extreme heat. It will also protect the instrument from a fall. There are many cheap cases available but they will not do the job. They would most likely let the moisture in. They would not be made of good quality material, thereby risking the flute in case of a fall. Since this is a one-time investment, make sure you take the right decision and buy a good case for your flute.

Professional servicing

At least once in a while get your flute professionally serviced to give it a long and healthy life. Never try to fix the flute on your own if there should be problems with your instrument. Take it to the professionals. You might cause more damage to it if you handle it without having proper knowledge of the same.

Regular maintenance is an absolute must for the flutes as a clean instrument will play amazingly and will never let you down! Be regular in the maintenance of your instrument and they would play faithfully. To know more about flute lessons for beginners, check out: https://www.absolutelyintuned.com.sg/flute-2/

Saxophone Teachers: How to Get the Best From Your Students

Saxaphone

Teachers are always pondering over the question of how to get the best from their students and make sure they excel. Many teachers use some sort of technique with their students to make sure they keep themselves up to the mark. For a few tips and ideas on how to get the best from your students while giving them saxophone lessons, read on!

Connect with the students

Maintaining an aloof persona of a teacher will not let the students connect either to the teacher or the lessons. Try to make the classes interactive which would help the students be more comfortable. Once they are in their comfort zone, they would find it easier to learn and also to approach the teacher about any doubts or queries they might have.

Set up a target

Giving the students targets will act as a booster for them to practice and work harder. The targets can be a mock performance, a band trial, or exams. Rewarding the students is also a great idea. Scolding or chastising students could have a negative impact on their learning experience. Never discourage the students.

Your teaching experience

Analyze your skills and the type of potential students that you would like to work with. Some people like working with kids while others would rather stick to adult classes! Some teachers like the challenge of teaching a beginner while others would prefer to take advanced classes.

Make the learning process fun!

Organize informal competitions with the class during the saxophone lessons to encourage everyone to practice harder. Try to involve more practical teaching than theoretical teaching as young students are more likely to get bored with constant theory classes.

Encourage all your students to audition for an orchestra or a band, giving live performances and other such activities which would slowly prepare them to play professionally one day and also eliminate stage fright right at the beginning.

You could also give them a gentle nudge towards the path of becoming a professional. They might have no idea how to pursue this. This is where the teacher comes in and helps them make a good career decision. Make sure you are not forcing the student as this could have a negative impact.

Motivate

Encouraging and motivating your students is one of the main things a teacher should do. Giving rewards or verbal praises or appreciating and recognizing good work will go a long way in motivating the students to learn and perform better.

Sticking to the lesson agenda is a good thing. But once in a while, it is necessary to let the students experiment. They would learn a lot more and come across a variety of new things.

A saxophone!

If you are teaching beginner students, it is most likely that they wouldn’t yet have an instrument of their own. You can give them suggestions based on your experience about which kind of saxophone would suit their needs the best.

Always advise your students to research well before buying a new saxophone. Guide them and teach them to differentiate between the assumptions that the general public makes and the truth. If you are new to saxophones, check out this link for more details:  http://absolutelyintuned.com.sg/how-to-buy-the-instrument-for-saxophone-lessons-beginners/.

Guitar Lessons: Maintaining Your Electric Guitar

Guitar Lessons: Maintaining Your Electric Guitar

 

Maintaining your guitar will take up your time and effort, but if you get into the habit early, it will come automatically to you. Make sure you develop certain rules on handling and storing your guitar quite early in the game. The right time to start developing this habit is immediately after purchasing your guitar. The newness of it might give you the incentive to develop good maintenance and care habits, which will continue even after you are more comfortable with and less in awe of your electric guitar.

Keep at room temperature

Electric guitars are made of wood, and hence the temperature can affect them in really extreme ways. Avoid keeping your guitars where it will come in contact with extreme temperature. This means no exposure to wind, rain, sun or snow. Guitars are constructed so that they function best when kept at room temperature. Extreme heat can cause the wood to warp while extreme cold can cause it to crack. Another thing to guard against is extreme humidity, which can make the guitar shrink, swell or crack. On the flip side, keeping it in a climate that is too dry is likely to lead to cracking as well. The ideal humidity level is around 50%. If the climate gets too dry, you can put a humidifier in the guitar case.

Tune the guitar regularly

A guitar needs regular tuning in order to stay in shape and produce good music. Many people never learn how to tune their own guitars, which is a distinct disadvantage. Learning how to tune a guitar must be taught along with basic guitar lessons. If this doesn’t happen, then it’s still never too late to learn. Learn how to adjust the pegs, tighten the strings, and other basic maintenance for keeping your guitar ready to play. You can tune the guitar at regular intervals. Always tuning right before a performance might however be a good idea.

Clean the guitar regularly

A guitar, no matter how good it sounds, also needs to look good. At some point, if you don’t have the habit of keeping your instrument clean, the dust and the gluck will collect and not just spoil the finish, but also get inside the nooks and crannies of your instrument and spoil its functioning. Simple caring techniques will ensure that your guitar looks and remains classy, clean and in good shape. Wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth after every playing session. The fewer products you use on your guitar, the better. But if you absolutely have to use a polish or a cleaning agent, buy a specialized one that is specially made for guitars.

Guitar cleaning and repair toolkit

You must have a guitar kit in which you can keep all the essential tools required for cleaning, tuning and repairing your electric guitar. Your cleaning kit should contain a feather duster, a soft cleaning cloth, a soft dusting cloth, guitar polish, and a small paintbrush to dust the hard to reach places. Your repair kit must contain miniature screwdrivers, miniature ratchet set, and wrenches. With these basic tools, you can make sure that your guitar is kept in good shape for its entire life. Learn these important things in your electric guitar lessons.

The kind of equipment that goes along with your electric guitar and must be similarly kept in good condition can be found here: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/equipment-for-electric-guitar-lessons/. For an overview of electric guitars, please refer to www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

 

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Guitar Lessons: How to Be a Better Jazz Guitar Player

Guitar Lessons:  How to Be a Better Jazz Guitar Player

 

If jazz guitar is your thing, then by all means, go for it! It is generally believed that jazz guitarists have a tougher time learning than others because jazz is all about improvisation, though technique and theory help a lot as well. The idea is that jazz guitarists must be able to develop their music with an instinctive feel for rhythm. But this is not impossible to achieve. If you have a strong interest in this genre of music and are sufficiently dedicated, then you can become a good jazz guitarist. Here are a few tips to get you started. For knowing more about your options for taking jazz guitar lessons, please refer to: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/options-for-jazz-guitar-learning-lessons/.

Train your ear

The first thing to do is to learn how to train your ear to get a feel of the music and pick up ideas. For this, there is only one thing you can do and that is to listen to plenty of jazz music. Listen to jazz, try to remember the tunes and then hum along. Over time, you will be able to grasp the concept. It only happens very gradually. Practice without the help of play-along music. It is also helpful to try and tune your guitar by ear. Once you are able to understand the music and know how it flows, you will be better able to make certain decisions for yourself when it comes to choosing the notes.

Learn jazz tunes

Dedicate some of your practice time to learning jazz tunes. It is important to start building up a repertoire even if your goal is ultimately to write your own music. The music already created will work as a stepping stone to success. The positive aspect of this is that once you are able to play a good number of jazz tunes, you will be motivated to continue working on your music and practice more and more. Just knowing bits and pieces and learning difficult techniques will contribute to this feeling of having actually learned something that is pleasing.

Work on your rhythm

Jazz is all about one thing, and that is rhythm. If you understand rhythm, you are ready to play jazz. There are several ways in which you can develop your understanding of rhythm. One is to use a metronome while you are playing, so you realize when you are going off time. Using this technique regularly will lead to a better understanding of timing. When blowing and composing, always include rhythm in your calculations. Play with other musicians in a jazz band, so you get into the habit of keeping time.

Practice a lot

Absolutely nothing can be achieved without practicing a lot, at every available opportunity. It is ideal to work on your music for a couple of hours every day. Even if this is not always possible, try to make sure that you are practicing as often as possible. The only thing you have to watch out for is that you are not developing bad habits while practicing. This can be avoided if you have a good guitarist to teach guitar lessons. You could also record yourself and then play it back so you know where you are going wrong. Over time, you are guaranteed to improve.

www.guitarlessonssingapore.com is a great resource for all things guitar!

 

Find Your Perfect Music Teacher with Absolutely In-Tuned Music Agency!

Unlock the joy of music with our personalised teacher-student pairing service.


Whether you’re a beginner, rekindling a love for music, or preparing for exams, we connect you with skilled & experienced educators who tailor lessons to your needs.


Discover the benefits of learning an instrument:

Reduce stress

Boost brainpower

Build confidence

Ignite creativity

 

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Guitar Lessons: Purchasing a Bass Guitar

Guitar Lessons:  Purchasing a Bass Guitar

Bass is not the most popular choice for guitarists, especially when they are just learning. But despite this fact, it is actually an excellent choice to take bass guitar lessons at some point because of its varied advantages as can be seen in this article: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/take-bass-guitar-lessons/. This very fact can make bass guitarists interesting to other players. And it’s cool! Really. But purchasing a bass guitar comes with its own set of specifications that might or might not apply to the purchase of a normal acoustic guitar. Here are a few tips to get you started!

Starter bass guitar

It is not completely necessary that you should buy a starter bass guitar when you are just starting out, but for those who are not yet sure of your dedication level, this might prove to be the smart choice. Starter bass guitars are typically cheaper than the better models and hence, there would be less investment required on your part. However, keep in mind that these instruments probably have hardware and electronics of lower quality than you might expect. If you are sure about your interest in learning the bass guitar, it is better to get a good quality one, otherwise stick with a starter bass.

Comfort level

Bass guitars tend to be larger and heavier than their acoustic counterparts. This is not necessarily a disadvantage but the wrong guitar size and shape can make things difficult for you physically. Pick up the guitar you are interested in and start playing. Try playing it both standing up and sitting down. If the guitar is not comfortable or sound good to you at this testing level, it probably never will be good enough for you. Some guitar shapes will not feel right in your hands or in your lap. Don’t choose these, and opt for one with which you feel the maximum comfort. Choosing a bass guitar comes with a checklist but the primary one to tick off is the comfort level.

Body and finishing

The body of a bass guitar is as important as anything else. The neck must be attached to the body with a bolt-on-neck. Any other method of joining the neck to the body means that the guitar is poorly constructed. Make sure that the neck and the body don’t have much of a gap. Check the finishing of the guitar closely as well. Some guitars are made of pieces of different wood, all glued together. This does not make for a good guitar because the different types of wood all affect the tone; and the presence of glue does not give good resonance. This can be detected if checked properly. Other things to check are bridge, controls, pickups, strings, tuners, etc.

Bass and amp

The most important thing about the bass guitar is well … the bass! If you already own an amplifier that you like, plug the guitar to it and see how it sounds. If you don’t yet own an amp, then this is a good time to buy one that works well with your guitar. Try the bass with different amplifiers and pick one that sounds the best to you.

If you desire more comprehensive information about bass guitars before starting basic bass guitar lessons, please check out: www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

Find Your Perfect Music Teacher with Absolutely In-Tuned Music Agency!

Unlock the joy of music with our personalised teacher-student pairing service.


Whether you’re a beginner, rekindling a love for music, or preparing for exams, we connect you with skilled & experienced educators who tailor lessons to your needs.


Discover the benefits of learning an instrument:

Reduce stress

Boost brainpower

Build confidence

Ignite creativity

 

Explore our wide range of lessons:

👉 Click here to find out more and begin your musical journey today!
Register Now

👉 Read more on our blog!

Benefits of Hiring a Guitar Teacher

Guitar Lessons for youth

As someone who is looking to learn how to play the guitar, the most important thing is to find a good teacher. There are many types of guitars, such as classical guitar, jazz guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and so on. No matter what kind of guitar you want to learn and specialize in, you would need somebody to guide you. Take a look below at some of the benefits of hiring a guitar teacher.

Body Posture

Not everybody pays careful attention to this seemingly small thing. But playing for a long time in an incorrect posture can lead to hand pain, chronic back ache, pain in the shoulders and neck along with other problems. Learning and making use of the correct posture can help you prevent the harmful effects. Hiring a teacher for your guitar lessons is a good decision as they would tell you about these things and make sure you follow them.

Personal attention

In a class with other students, you would have to go along with something that is suitable for all the students. If you are hiring a guitar teacher, you can inform and request your teacher about your interests and learn that interest. Learning something that you actually like will help in keeping the love for your instrument alive and keep you motivated to perform better. Teachers who would have had years of experience would be very useful to you. They would help you to avoid mistakes and make sure you are on right path every time.

More comfort

Again, if you are in group classes, you would have to stick to a strict time schedule. Hiring your own guitar teacher would help you a lot as you would be able to schedule the classes at your convenience. Another great thing is that you would be saving all the time that would be wasted during commute. You can use that time to practice more or finish up your other works.

You would also not have to be concerned about your peers moving faster or slower than you, Since you would be the only student, you can go at your pace, thereby getting the most out of your lessons.

Networking

Teachers often know a lot of people in the same field and are likely to introduce you to them if you want. They also organize events and performances where you can get a chance to play and showoff your skills. This acts as an opportunity to take up the stage giving you some exposure. Playing on the stage will teach you a lot of things of which you might have no idea if you just continue to practice and play in your house.

Technique

Learning from the web is a great way to learn nowadays but there are some things that the videos or the internet just cannot teach you. There are a variety of techniques which you should learn in order to excel your guitar skills. A teacher would be sure to mention this and teach you the various techniques involved in playing the guitar in your guitar lessons.

Apart from learning, knowing how to clean and maintain your guitar is equally important. Your guitar teacher would teach you that. To know more about how to maintain your guitar, check out: http://absolutelyintuned.com.sg/guitar-lessons-maintaining-electric-guitar/.

Getting better at your Pop Singing Lessons

Vocal Recording

Pop singing is quite popular, mainly among teenagers and children. Many parents see the enthusiasm in their children for pop singing and enrol them in classes. Along with pop singing lessons, there are a few things that you can do to make sure your child excels in pop singing. Take a look at some of the things below.

Attend concerts

Attending various concerts on pop singing can be quite an eye opener. Notice carefully how the singer is pitching his/her voice, their tone and their body language. Everything will give you a clue on how you can become better at pop singing. Apart from being able to learn quite a lot, you would also be able to network and meet quite a lot of like-minded people there. When you are good enough to do a concert, it is important that you know people who can help you achieve that and make sure that you make a good beginning.

Play in public

You need not wait to get a professional gig to get a taste of what it will be like to perform in public. You can start by playing in your school, college, local events or in the local clubhouse. This will give you some much-needed exposure and help in building confidence. Even if you do make a mistake, playing in front of a small audience will teach you how to cover the mistake gracefully and move on.

Participate in events

There are regular events and competitions organized in almost all schools and colleges. Music academies, clubs, and local events too conduct such events. Try to participate as much as possible. Winning can give you a sense of confidence to move further to a bigger audience. If you do not win, do not take it to your heart. It just means you have to practice more. Taking part in such events can actually help you know where you actually stand and how good you are.

Record and listen

One of the best ways to find where you stand is to record yourself while you are singing. Play the music back later and you would be able to find out where you are going wrong and where you need to improve. This is an excellent way to practice with your mentor or teacher is not available.

Practice!

The one word which says everything. No matter how much better you get, you need to practice every single day. Practice is for you to maintain your singing level. No doubt you would be singing during your pop singing lessons, but that alone is not sufficient. In order to really excel, one needs as much practice as possible.

Always keep in mind that the most important thing while singing is that you are having fun. If you are not, regular practice will start seeming like a chore and eventually, you would lose interest in it.

Have fun singing and try to practice as much as possible. If there is one thing that is more important than practice, it is taking care of your voice. To know The Ten Commandments of Pop Singing Lessons to Prevent Vocal Damage: http://absolutelyintuned.com.sg/ten-commandments-pop-singing-lessons-prevent-vocal-damage/.

Why Learn Drums?

Drums Classes

People usually have some fascination with drums long before they take it up as a hobby – unless their parents have been astute enough to introduce it to them at a very young age. Drums are a great instrument and there are many reasons why you should opt for it. Though it can occasionally irritate the neighbours, there are a lot to compensate for it. And when you ultimately learn to play drums properly, even your neighbours would love it!

  • The drum is one of the oldest instruments known to humankind. Though we now have electronic drums and such, the basic design remains the same. There have been archaeological finds dating back 40,000 years that show us that drums have been an instrument of choice for many prehistoric cultures. What a way to connect with our ancestors!

 

  • Switch on some music and listen to it. Now imagine it without drum beats. That’s right. It just sounds weak and insipid. A percussion instrument, most often a drum, is what gives the music its beat and rhythm. The drum is the instrument that creates a dramatic build up in the music. Why wouldn’t you want to be the drummer?!

 

  • The sheer variety of drums available is heady. Over time, different types of drums have developed around the world. And they all happen to be quite available and popular everywhere else in the world. That just attests to the sheer popularity of drums! From bongos to tablas, from Conga to Bass drum, there is a vast world out there waiting to be discovered by you. For knowing more about the types of drums, refer to: http://absolutelyintuned.com.sg/drum-lessons-types-drums-world/.

 

  • Being a drummer comes with a lot of benefits. One of these is that it helps you understand music better. The musical components of any genre are complicated and beginners usually have a tough time with them. But drum beats have to catch on to the base of the music, so you usually end up developing an ear for the music much faster. In the same way, learning drums can also help improve your rhythm.

 

  • Drumming can be great fun. Even if at the beginning you haven’t learned the basics, you can still have fun banging on a set of drums. So imagine how amazing it would be when you actually learn how to produce good music! There are also many fun drum equipment you can gradually add for your drum kit lessons.

 

  • You will learn to time yourself much faster and easier. As a drummer, your job is to time the music. It is one of the things that most beginners, and indeed many experienced musicians, find hard, but for a drummer, it becomes an established skill very quickly. With experience, you actually become a human metronome. This can actually help you learn other instruments much faster than otherwise.
  • And last, but not the least, you will always have job options. All bands can do with a drummer. The most common band members available are guitarists, so if you offer drum expertise, you will be immediately taken on. If you become the drummer of the group, then you can control the tone, rhythm, and mood of the song. It is a great musical skill to add to your repertoire!

Buying Your First Cello

Cello Group Lessons

When you are just starting to learn a new instrument, your first desire is to own one of your own. Whether you are a beginner just starting with the basics or an advanced learner who wants to take exams for grading, or even a professional who is already performing in public, owning your own cello is a great boost to your confidence and is a sign of your commitment. Cellists who are taking cello lessons regularly benefit a great deal from having their own instrument. But before purchasing a cello, there are a number of things to be considered.

Cello size

When purchasing a cello, one of the most important things to consider is its size. The cello is available in many different sizes, suitable for different body builds. From a one tenth size cello for young children, there are different sizes until the full size, which is for adults. However, many adults also don’t feel comfortable with a full sized cello. For this reason alone, you need to try out your hand at different cellos of different sizes and see which one best fits your build. Buying the right size cello is very important because it ensures your comfort while playing the cello. If you are handling a cello larger than you are comfortable with, you will soon end up with aches and pains. You should be able to sit in a chair with your feet on the floor and still be able to reach the entire length of the fingerboard without over-exerting yourself.

Level of your learning

When purchasing a cello, you must always consider your playing level. This is not some magic formula but simple financial sense. When you buy a cello after starting your cello lessons, it is an investment you are making for your musical future. It is only by having your own instrument that you can ensure you are practicing enough. But buying a first cello is always tricky. You don’t want to spend too much in case you grow out of your passion, but you don’t want to buy an absolute dud either because that will provide absolutely no motivation to play. Opt for a beginner model that gives a decent sound. Once you have mastered the techniques and want to upgrade, there are always better choices.

Brand value

When you are investing in a musical instrument, it is bound to cost you a bit, even if it is just a beginner’s instrument. Considering this, most people want good value for their money. If you just want to pick an unbranded cello at a fraction of the price, go ahead. But be aware that most of these cellos will not come with the same kind of guarantees as the branded ones. The best way to gauge whether it is worth the money is to actually play it. If you plan to stick with tried and tested brands, then there are some good ones that you can check out. The top one currently in the market is Stentor. Other brands you could check out are Cecelio, Cremona, Knilling, Primavera, and Yamaha.

On how to go about purchasing a cello, please check out this article that gives you some tips on the subject: http://absolutelyintuned.com.sg/how-to-buy-a-cello/.