Category: Kids

Guitar Practicing Tips – Use it or Lose it!

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Last night I was working on some music and decided to find some of the pieces I played for my college recitals. Found the folder and could not believe my eyes. There was SO much music. Music I haven’t played in years. Great music that I need to start playing again! Ponce, Villa-Lobos, Bach, Scarlatti just to name a few.

Excited to play these pieces again I dug into the thick stack of sheet music. I must of spent a few hours easily sight reading. Amazing that I forgot all about so many of these great works. Not only do I need to re-learn them but I completely forgot that I ever played many of them.

So here is the ‘Use it or Lose it’ lesson. As musicians we spend a lot of time on our craft, novices to professionals alike. No one wants all that time to go to waste! This is something I preach to my students. Work on new music as your main practice items but everyday work on some old music, as well! Play a few old pieces every time you practice and they will always stay in your head and fingers. It’s when a piece is tucked away, not seen or heard that musical atrophy sets in and although anytime a guitar is in your hands is a good thing, it is NO fun to have to re-learn something you already worked so hard on in the past!

Another advantage to practicing many songs weekly is to develop a full repertoire.  When friends and family know you play guitar they WILL ask you to play for them. So you get set to perform and realize you have only been working on a couple of pieces and they are in the development stage, not really ready for prime time. But if you have a handful of songs ready to go you will be the life of the party!

Keep practicing!

Guitar Practicing Tips – Put in an Extra 5!

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When you are done with your practice session…put in 5 more minutes. These extra five minutes often turn into much more and can become very inspired. This might have something to do with the fact that you have done your regimented practice and are now playing for your own fulfillment on the instrument. Also it takes time for your brain and muscles to coordinate the way you want. It is no different than a workout. Those first 10 minutes of exercise can be rough before you hit your stride with endorphins being released, etc. Musicians and athletes both use the terms being locked in or being in the zone.

There have been countless times I was not having a great session and been ready to call it a day when I decided to add an extra 5. Some of my most productive sessions have come out of this practice.  I’ve written some of my best compositions and infused strong musicality when I have gotten into ‘the zone.’

Give it a try…if nothing else, you get an extra 5 minutes of practice!

Note to parents of guitar students: This may or may not work with young kids. Even if they love to play their guitar they are often driven to fill their duty i.e., a 20 minute practice session and can get frustrated over extending the time. Of course you know your kids and how they work best.

Let me know how this works for you!

Happy Mother’s Day

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There is no doubt that music has always been in my blood.  Even long before I could play an instrument I loved listening to music.  My earliest memories are of listening on an old record player we had in had in the living room, the kind that looked like a big suitcase when it was closed.

The two records I remember most are a Sesame Street album with my favorite song “Rubber Ducky” (yeah I admit it!) and one of my mom’s, Roger Miller’s “Dear Folks Sorry I Haven’t Written Lately.”

For those of you unfamiliar with Roger Miller he was a country singer with somewhat of a comedic flair his style often made use of nonsensical lyrics. Miller was a true musical genius combining this ‘silly’ side with his songwriting skills.

There was one song in particular that I loved as a little kid. Well that record disappeared over time and I could not remember the name of that song, my mom couldn’t either and to make it even more difficult the album has been out of print and really hard to find even online.

I also remember listening and loving music while driving in the car with my mom. Whenever I got any money as a kid I would make her drive me down to the Wherehouse to buy 45s. Then when I was old enough to play an instrument I remember her driving me to lessons…trumpet, saxophone, piano, and guitar. She always supported my ‘habit’!! Even today she comes to many of my gigs.

Thanks mom for all your support over the years and supplying me with music in one form or another as a kid whether you realized it or not!

Love you, Happy Mother’s Day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGz2JhUhiQc&feature=related

BTW, I finally found the long lost song the other day, it’s called “Whistle Stop.” Hearing the tune immediately takes me back to being five years old sitting in the living room listening with my mom!

The funniest thing is I remember what is sounded like and I have tried singing it to people to jog their memories…picture me singing this and trying to explain the song as you listen!