mikeandronda....music question

[Kiwi Phil]

I recall you mentioning in a post a few days back, you taught guitar.
My youngest, Hayden (12yrs) started seriously learning this Xmas. My worker, John, is teaching him. He gets a 30min lesson 4x a week. Over Jan holidays he got an hr a day.
John has taken him over chords and drilled them in to him and now has him playing Sloop John Dee, Edmund Fitzgerald, el Condo and another we don't know name of.
John can't find his old exercise books with all the songs he learnt years back, so is stumped as to where to go next.

Do you have a list of songs and music that would be appropriate?

Hayden has got chords off the Eagles web-site, puts the DVD on, and plays Taking it Easy and a couple of others, with them. Reckons Joe is the bees-knees.
You'r not going to believe this....his other favourite is Long John Baldry.
Anyway, any suggestions?
Cheers
Phillip

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: mikeandronda....music question

Well when I give lessons, my goal is to help my students become musicians.......There are countless people who can play the guitar, there are many people who can play some songs and mybe even write some here and there.I would call them guitarists........But my goal is to teach and help my stundent be able to sit down and play with a band and/or write their own music as well as learn other peoples stuff on their own. That is what I call a musician. I charge $20 an hour and Its only been 3 yrs since I have worked a hard labor construction job and taught part time so I know the value of $20. I want my students to leave their lessons going "yep I got my $20 worth".........If he were my student I would really be working on Theory which is the "rules" on how things fit together. And at the same time be working on technque which is how we play physically. When I teach a student a song it is because there is something in that song that I want them to learn how to do such slides,hammer on, pull offs, ect....ect..... ect.... Now dont get me wrong if they want me to just teach them songs its their money and thats fine but within a month or so I really want them to be able to look up music and learn the songs on their own( at least the basics). I have developed a lesson plan of my own that at first teaches Chords, then simple scales then how to put them together and then really it depends on how fast the student learns. Im not a fan of the Blues..........But I have found it is the best style of music to use as a teaching skill. The blues is has been used in almost all "Americanized" music. Rock n Roll, Jazz, Country, Heavy metal, Folk, bluegrass and gospel they all have their roots in the blues. You know since your an iboats member I would give your boy a couple free lessons.......But Im guessing the trip here would be just a tad out of your range Do you have dsl or cable for your pc? I have a new PC and I have yet to figure out how to record on it but when and if I do I could send you some of my lessons through email and the recording of me playing and maybe that could help some..........But Im not sure when that will be. one of the things I offer my students is I record the lessons on my pc and then give them a CD. 1st track me playing guitar, both rythem and solo along with drum and bass riffs. 2nd just Drums and bass and solo. 3rd just drums and bass. I charge them an $5 when I do that and it really helps them so I really to figure out how to configure my pc........Shoot me an email at tdetrick (at) sbc global (dot) net And I will send some stuff in the future

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: mikeandronda....music question

Done.
Very much appreciated.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[ndemge]

Re: mikeandronda....music question

Very good point on teaching MUSIC, not just how to play the chords.

I play trumpet, Treble cleff....

I can not play improv, at all. I must have sheet music tellimg me exactly what note to play. If our director tells us to play a "G" Scale... I'm lost, I know I'm in Bb, what's flat/sharp is beyond me.

If it's on the sheet, I can play anything givin a little time to learn it.

I tried to teach myself piano, but putting bass cleff with it just doesn't make sense to me.. I wish from the begining my teacher would have tought more MUSIC than just PLAYING.

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: mikeandronda....music question

Hey Noel could you email I got a question for you?

tdetrick (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

 

[stevieray]

Re: mikeandronda....music question

Phillip - I agree with mike about learning theory & basic musicianship. I have played guitar & bass since I was about 14. Sat around with Peter Frampton & Boston records & learned to copy them note for note & progressed from there. Never had a professional lesson - mostly due to economic issues - and I feel I could have really been a "player" if I had the opportunity to really learn it right. Today, I can copy just about anything (short of Steve Vai or Nuno Bettencourt solos - they are way out of my league). But ask me to improvise a solo or compose something - forget it. Actually, that is where people get the most enjoyment & fulfilment from music - and it has to be based in a solid education. Along with the theory, some whole songs & lead riffs should be thrown in by the teacher (just to keep it interesting & show how the theory applies to real music). And don't limit the styles of music - the more variety, the better. Wish Hayden luck for me!

 

[QC]

Re: mikeandronda....music question

I have played bass and guitar since around 12, but I am just the opposite of stevieray, and I am also waaay different than noel as I don't read. I can improvise to almost anything, by ear or by name (flat this, sharp that etc. ), but I hardly know any songs. I learned about scales very early, probably learned Minor Pentatonics by 13 and it sorta made sense immediately. I can figure out most songs by ear or tabs, but rarely do; I can jam with anybody. I guess my point is that theory is awesome, and I agree that it is more important, but I've always wished that I also had more songs in my repertoire. So I guess a lot of theory and some songs would be a great combination.

I just stumbled on this great site (I think) while checking Pentatonic spelling via Google: http://www.theorylessons.com/index.html

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: mikeandronda....music question

Thank you everybody.
Very helpful.

Hayden took his guitar to school today to audition for the String Ensemble. Apparantly it went like this:

Can you read music Hayden?
No
Have you been playing long Hayden?
Since Christmas
Could you play 2 pieces please Hayden?
OK
.......etc
Your in!

He tells me they have 2 guitarists and 6 violin players. The lady said he would be taught music.
I don't think it is any big deal really, but he is the only grade 8'r to make it, so he's pretty chuffed with it all.

I told him what mikeandrhonda said and he says lessons would be great.

Cheers
Phillip