I have been teaching and working with children and adults for over 23 years and must admit I have been fascinated with the whole process of how we learn and succeed at music. I have always taken a research approach to my teaching as I feel it is the best way to improve results based on facts rather than assumptions. I also actively seek out new research done by credible people in the area of education. The following Youtube video is an example. The video discusses how new borns learn language from day one (or even earlier). Although not mentioned in the video my research has shown that learning music works in much the same way. Music really is just a language. In the video the presenter talks about how our brains in the first year of life do not discriminate different spoken sounds but gradually employ filters that allow us only to hear the sounds of the language/s we hear around us. This explains why it becomes increasingly difficult as we age to learn new languages. I believe music is the same. If a child is exposed to people playing real musical instruments in the home they become more attuned to them and therefore are more adept at learning music. There are of course exceptions to this but not as many as one might think. Mozart and Tommy Emmanuel are both examples of musicians who had musical parents. Take a look at this video if you have time and especially if you plan on being a parent.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Keeping the Guitar Fun for Kids
Learning guitar can become challenging for children but if it all gets too serious they may lose interest. It is therefore important to put the fun back into learning by finding some songs that will spark them up. My suggestions are as follows;
Progressive Guitar Supplementary Songbook.
This book is graded for the first 3 levels of the Junior G4 GUITAR METHOD and contains many well know melodies. They not exactly recent tunes but most are familiar. You can purchase from our G4 GUITAR SHOP on line and we will post directly to you.
Pull out the CD collection.
Try to look through your collection of songs and play them to your children to see which ones get their attention. You may be surprised. Some songs date well. The Beatles, ACDC, The Eagles, Queen, Led Zeppelin are still popular with many kids today.
Surf the Net.
Try surfing the net for guitar tab. Websites include;
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/
http://www.guitaretab.com/
http://www.911tabs.com/
Kind regards,
David Hart - Program Director
Become a G4 GUITAR FAN on FACEBOOK.
http://bit.ly/G4FACEBOOK
Visit the G4 GUITAR METHOD Website
www.g4guitarmethod.com.au
Ph:0405-274456
Progressive Guitar Supplementary Songbook.
This book is graded for the first 3 levels of the Junior G4 GUITAR METHOD and contains many well know melodies. They not exactly recent tunes but most are familiar. You can purchase from our G4 GUITAR SHOP on line and we will post directly to you.
Pull out the CD collection.
Try to look through your collection of songs and play them to your children to see which ones get their attention. You may be surprised. Some songs date well. The Beatles, ACDC, The Eagles, Queen, Led Zeppelin are still popular with many kids today.
Surf the Net.
Try surfing the net for guitar tab. Websites include;
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/
http://www.guitaretab.com/
http://www.911tabs.com/
Kind regards,
David Hart - Program Director
Become a G4 GUITAR FAN on FACEBOOK.
http://bit.ly/G4FACEBOOK
Visit the G4 GUITAR METHOD Website
www.g4guitarmethod.com.au
Ph:0405-274456
Friday, December 11, 2009
"How do I get my child to practice?" - The story of Jack and the electric guitar.
A common question from parents is "How do I get my child to practice?" Probably the best answer is to use an example.
My most recent story involves a 10 yo boy Jack who was learning with me and was simply not practicing. Each week he turned up and made excuses like how his guitar was out of tune so he couldn't practice or his Mum forgot to remind him and so on. I am sure he had a copy of '1001 excuses for not practicing'. At this point I knew it was time to come up with a plan.
I began by asking Jack questions to find out what he really wanted. I discovered that he really wanted an electric guitar. So I spoke to Jack's parents to see if they were planning on buying him an electric guitar at any point. They said they would buy him an electric guitar if I felt it would make a difference to his progress. I suggested we use the electric guitar as a reward.
Next I sat down with Jack and his parents and asked Jack how much he really wanted the electric guitar. As expected his answer was "More than anything in the whole world". I then said "Jack I have spoken to your parents and they are going to take you to the guitar shop so you can pick out an electric guitar". You can imagine how excited he was at this point. I then said "Here is the deal. When you have successfully completed Level 1 of the G4 GUITAR Junior Checklist your parents will buy you the guitar. If you practice for 20 minutes a day between now and Christmas you will be playing your new guitar by Christmas Day".
Jack agreed and we got to work. From that day on Jack practiced everyday often for more than 20 minutes. I told Jack that if he did an extra 5 minutes a day he might even get the guitar before Christmas. As a result Jack completed Level 1 in record time and his new electric guitar was in his hands by the end of November. But best of all Jack now had a positive association to practicing. Jack loves practicing and is a confident guitarist.
If your child is learning guitar and not practicing or making no progress please don't give up. Send me an email and together we can work out a strategy. Email me at david@g4guitar.com.au
David Hart - Program Director
Become a G4 GUITAR FAN on FACEBOOK.
http://bit.ly/G4FACEBOOK
Visit the G4GUITAR METHOD Website
www.g4guitarmethod.com.au
Ph:0405-274456
Friday, November 27, 2009
Give up your day job and become a pro guitarist
Many guitar students are asking about their career prospects as a professional guitarist. I think most would agree that a career as a guitarist is difficult and highly risky. But in my experience this is an out dated perception of real world of guitar. The idea that guitar is not a serious career option probably comes from the fact that most would see it simply as a hobby. The reality is many hobbies turn into industries. Sometimes massive industries. Walt Disney's hobby of drawing cartoons is one great example. Bill Gates turned his hobby of computer programming into a global industry as did Steve Jobs with Apple Mac. Guitar manufactures for example like Fender and Gibson would hardly call guitar making a hobby these days.
The real challenge we face is changing the long held perception that a career as a guitarist is risky and only for a handful of very fortunate rock stars. The fact is the career guitarist has several options other then rock stardom. Currently there is a lack of higher education facilities for guitarists seeking a career simply due to the lack of acceptance that there is a huge music industry that now depends on guitarists. Guitarists who wish to have a career are essentially small business operators yet most lack essential business skills. There is no point in having great guitar skills if you can't afford to buy new strings for your guitar when needed. A career guitarist does not need to be the world's best guitarist. They just need to learn some essential business skills.
Today education and leisure industries are booming industries and guitar fits into both. The opportunity for a career as a guitarist would rate much higher than any other instrument. I started over 20 years ago and have never looked back. Today I am living proof of a career guitarist. Guitar has been my main source of income since I was in high school.
G4 GUITAR is now moving to the next stage. Many of our own students are now beginning to show real signs of promise. We want to assist and support these guitarists who want to pursue a career as a guitarist by giving them access to essential business training and ongoing support. As a result we have created a new program. For more information please visit the G4 GUITAR NETWORK page.
We live in exciting times and have a real chance of change in our industry. By working together we can help increase the pace of change and ensure those guitarists who choose a life of guitar can do so with confidence.
Hope that helps.
David Hart - Program Director
Become a G4 GUITAR FAN on FACEBOOK.
http://bit.ly/G4FACEBOOK
Visit the G4GUITAR METHOD Website
www.g4guitarmethod.com.au
Ph:0405-274456
The real challenge we face is changing the long held perception that a career as a guitarist is risky and only for a handful of very fortunate rock stars. The fact is the career guitarist has several options other then rock stardom. Currently there is a lack of higher education facilities for guitarists seeking a career simply due to the lack of acceptance that there is a huge music industry that now depends on guitarists. Guitarists who wish to have a career are essentially small business operators yet most lack essential business skills. There is no point in having great guitar skills if you can't afford to buy new strings for your guitar when needed. A career guitarist does not need to be the world's best guitarist. They just need to learn some essential business skills.
Today education and leisure industries are booming industries and guitar fits into both. The opportunity for a career as a guitarist would rate much higher than any other instrument. I started over 20 years ago and have never looked back. Today I am living proof of a career guitarist. Guitar has been my main source of income since I was in high school.
G4 GUITAR is now moving to the next stage. Many of our own students are now beginning to show real signs of promise. We want to assist and support these guitarists who want to pursue a career as a guitarist by giving them access to essential business training and ongoing support. As a result we have created a new program. For more information please visit the G4 GUITAR NETWORK page.
We live in exciting times and have a real chance of change in our industry. By working together we can help increase the pace of change and ensure those guitarists who choose a life of guitar can do so with confidence.
Hope that helps.
David Hart - Program Director
Become a G4 GUITAR FAN on FACEBOOK.
http://bit.ly/G4FACEBOOK
Visit the G4GUITAR METHOD Website
www.g4guitarmethod.com.au
Ph:0405-274456
Saturday, November 21, 2009
How long does it take to learn guitar?
When you begin guitar the whole process of learning can seem very mysterious. The most common question I get from beginner guitar students is 'How long will it take to learn?' This is a reasonable question. When I get on a plane to fly somewhere my first question is 'How long will it take?' The difference with the plane trip is it is passive. I don't need to do anything. I will arrive at the same time as the pilot. The pilot determines my time of arrival. In the case of learning guitar the student largely determines the time of arrival and the teacher is more like a navigator ensuring you stay on course.
The first determining factor in a student's time of arrival is knowing the destination. The student must have a clear goal or outcome in mind. The best way to do this is to write down a list of songs you hope to one day play. At G4 GUITAR we call this the ULTIMATE SONG LIST. You can get a free copy from our downloads by joining our free online course. Just visit our website at www.g4guitarmethod.com
The next determining factor is speed. In my early years of teaching I found overwhelming number of students learning guitar were not really sure about why they were really learning guitar. Without a clear reason there is nothing driving you to practice. I began asking questions like 'Why did you originally decide to take up guitar?' Here is a list of responses I recall;
The first stage of learning guitar can be fun and exciting as you put some basic chords together but then comes the first hurdle. It may be a chord or a picking pattern that just seems impossible. It is at this point that many give up or worse yet they just shy away from the hurdles and stick with what they know. For many this the F chord or bar chords or reading music.
The trick is to take the hurdles head on. When I was 14 years old I remember having to play on stage for the first time in front of my whole school. I was so terrified that for weeks I was trying to plan how I was going to get out of it. Problem was the teacher was knew it and made sure there was no way I was going to back out. So about a week before I resolved myself to the fact that I was not going to escape what seemed like a fate worse than death. I took the hurdle head on and practice for hours everyday. On the night I had to perform I was still extremely nervous but also quietly confident.
To be continued...
The first determining factor in a student's time of arrival is knowing the destination. The student must have a clear goal or outcome in mind. The best way to do this is to write down a list of songs you hope to one day play. At G4 GUITAR we call this the ULTIMATE SONG LIST. You can get a free copy from our downloads by joining our free online course. Just visit our website at www.g4guitarmethod.com
The next determining factor is speed. In my early years of teaching I found overwhelming number of students learning guitar were not really sure about why they were really learning guitar. Without a clear reason there is nothing driving you to practice. I began asking questions like 'Why did you originally decide to take up guitar?' Here is a list of responses I recall;
- I was inspired by a great concert, guitarist or song
- A friend is learning
- My parents wanted me to learn an instrument
- A sibling was once learning but gave up so there was a guitar in the house
- I needed a hobby other than watching TV
- Want to inspire my children to play music
- Seemed like the cool thing to do
- The game 'Guitar Hero' inspired me
- Was watching Youtube and came across some easy lessons
- I was given the guitar as a gift so I thought I'd better learn
The first stage of learning guitar can be fun and exciting as you put some basic chords together but then comes the first hurdle. It may be a chord or a picking pattern that just seems impossible. It is at this point that many give up or worse yet they just shy away from the hurdles and stick with what they know. For many this the F chord or bar chords or reading music.
The trick is to take the hurdles head on. When I was 14 years old I remember having to play on stage for the first time in front of my whole school. I was so terrified that for weeks I was trying to plan how I was going to get out of it. Problem was the teacher was knew it and made sure there was no way I was going to back out. So about a week before I resolved myself to the fact that I was not going to escape what seemed like a fate worse than death. I took the hurdle head on and practice for hours everyday. On the night I had to perform I was still extremely nervous but also quietly confident.
To be continued...
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Become a G4 GUITAR FAN on FACEBOOK.
G4 GUITAR now has a FACEBOOK FAN PAGE so please come and join us.
Its a great place to ask questions or make any comments regarding guitar.
Here are some reasons to join us;
*Ask questions & get advice the G4 GUITAR METHOD
*Communicate directly with the G4 GUITAR team
*Buy or sell your guitar
*Connect with other students in your area
*Form a band with local musicians
*Chat about your favourite guitarists or bands
*Advertise your next guitar performances
*Free lesson giveaways and special offers
*Stay in the loop as to what is happening in your local scene
*Share a Youtube video or watch other students and teachers
*Suggest a topic of interest to you
The page has just been created to connect guitar students, teachers, parents or anyone interested in guitar so come and join us and remember to become a fan.
Kind regards,
David Hart - Program Director
Become a G4 GUITAR FAN on FACEBOOK.
Visit the G4GUITAR METHOD Website
www.g4guitarmethod.com.au
Ph:0405-274456
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Bird composition
The following is an example of how Jarbas Agnelli took birds on a wire and turned them into a composition. Inspiration is all around.
Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.
Join us on FACEBOOK
http://bit.ly/G4FACEBOOK
Visit the G4GUITAR METHOD Website
www.g4guitarmethod.com.au
Ph:0405-274456
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