What To Expect From Piano Lessons
If you are starting the piano and are considering taking piano lessons, you may be wondering what playing the piano and taking lessons will actually be like, and how the learning process will go. While all teachers teach the piano in slightly different ways, I can describe the way I teach piano and what to expect.
Finding a piano - Before you can take piano lessons you will need a piano or keyboard to play at home, if you don’t already have one. An acoustic piano is often a good choice, either an upright or grand piano, because it provides the best sound and feel for playing. Whether you get a new or used piano, make sure that it is in good condition, that all the keys and pedals work properly, and that it has been tuned regularly. A digital keyboard can be another option. Although keyboards usually don’t sound and feel quite as good as an acoustic piano, they offer other benefits, such as that they never go out of tune, the volume can be adjusted, they can be played with headphones, and they usually have many other sounds available at the touch of a button. If you do get a digital keyboard, I recommend getting one with a full 88 keys, weighted and touch sensitive keys, and a sustain pedal.
Piano lessons - When a student first starts lessons with me, I ask them what their goals in playing are and what type of music they want to learn, and I adjust my teaching curriculum to the needs of each student. If a student is new to the piano, the first lesson consists of learning how the piano works, proper playing posture and technique, the names of the keys, and learning how to play some beginning pieces of music. Later on, students will learn how to read and play music, learn scales and arpeggios, learn some music theory, and gradually advance through the piano repertoire. Some students may also choose to work on improvisation as a part of their lessons. If a new student has been playing for a while, we can continue with learning more repertoire, more theory and exercises, and continue advancing as a pianist. Learning the piano takes time, so spending enough time practicing at home, and being patient with the learning process are the most important things you can do when taking piano lessons.
What To Expect From Violin or Viola Lessons
If you are starting the violin or viola and are considering taking lessons, you may be wondering what playing a string instrument and taking lessons will actually be like, and how the learning process will go. While all teachers teach the violin/viola in somewhat different ways, I can describe the way I teach strings and what to expect.
Finding an instrument - Before you can take violin or viola lessons you will need an instrument to play, if you don’t already have one. Most students around middle-school age or older will need a full-size instrument, and students younger than that will need a fractional sized instrument. Violas also come in different adult sizes, depending upon the needs of the player. Finding the right size is important for playing comfortably, so it is best to let someone at a violin shop or your teacher measure for the right size. It is usually best to rent an instrument instead of buying when beginning to learn a string instrument, especially if the student is younger and will go through several sizes before they reach a full-size instrument. Many violin shops offer a rent-to-buy program, so that the rental payments will go towards the price of a full-size or permanent instrument later on. It is also best to avoid the very cheapest instruments, as they will most likely not be in a playable condition, not stay in tune, and will sound terrible.
Violin or viola lessons - When a student first starts lessons with me, I ask them what their goals in playing are and what type of music they want to learn, and I adjust my teaching curriculum to the needs of each student. If a student is new to string instrument playing, the first lesson consists of learning about all the parts of the instrument and bow and how they work, how to rosin the bow, proper playing posture and technique, and basic sound production. Later on, students will learn how to read and play music, continue working on intonation (playing in tune), work on basic scales, arpeggios, and etudes, and gradually advance through the violin or viola repertoire. After a solid foundation has been established, more scales, arpeggios, etudes, and shifting and vibrato can be added to the learning process. If a new student has already been playing for a while, we can continue with learning more repertoire and technical exercises, and advancing as a string player. Learning the violin or viola takes time, so spending enough time practicing at home, and being patient with the learning process are the most important things you can do when taking violin or viola lessons.
What To Expect From Guitar Lessons
If you are starting the guitar and are considering taking guitar lessons, you may be wondering what playing the guitar and guitar lessons will actually be like, and how the learning process will go. While all teachers teach the guitar in their own ways, I can describe the way I teach guitar and what to expect.
What type of guitar should I play? - Before you even begin guitar lessons, you will need a guitar to use. Depending upon what types of music you are most interested in playing, the three main types of guitars you can choose from are acoustic (steel string), electric, or classical (nylon string). While all three types of guitars can be played with only the fingers, acoustic and electric guitars are also often played with a pick. Both acoustic and electric guitars can play a wide variety of styles, but classical guitars are used in fewer genres, often in classical or folk music. While both acoustic and classical guitars have a hollow body to amplify their sound, electric guitars need an amplifier to make a sufficient sound. The neck and fretboard also feel and play slightly different depending upon the style and model of guitar, so it’s best to choose a guitar that is best able to make the kind of sound you like and also feels good to play. You can start guitar lessons with any type of guitar and still get the basics of how to play, so if you happen to already have a guitar you should be able to start with the one you have, and you can always get a different guitar later should a different one suit you later on. Also, kids around age 6 to 12 often need a fractional sized guitar, but anyone older than that should be able to use a full size guitar.
Buying a guitar - You should try out different guitars and see which ones you like best before buying one. A guitar should have a rich and resonant tone, and should feel nice to play. Make sure the guitar has no obvious defects or cracks, has no rough or uneven edges, that every note on every fret does not buzz, and that the strings are at the correct height. While some of those issues can be fixed by a repairperson, it’s best to find a guitar that is already in good condition. It’s also a good idea to get a second opinion from an experienced guitar player if you are new to guitar, so you can make sure you are buying a quality guitar. While there is a wide price range for guitars, it is best to avoid the very cheapest ones, as those are often barely playable, sound terrible, and will make playing more frustrating than needed. If a new guitar is out of your price range, a used guitar can also be a good choice, but just make sure that it is in good condition.
Guitar lessons - When a student first starts lessons with me, I ask them what their goals in playing are and what type of music they want to learn, and I adjust my teaching curriculum to the needs of each student accordingly. If a student is completely new to the guitar, the first lesson consists of how the guitar works, how to hold it correctly, basic playing techniques, and often a beginning song. Later on, students will learn more pieces of music, chords and scales, different playing techniques, basic music theory, and learn how to read music through standard notion, tablature, or chord symbols. Learning how to improvise guitar solos can also be learned once a student feels comfortable with the basics. If a new student has already been playing for a while, we can continue with learning more repertoire, more chords and scales, music theory, and advancing as a guitar player. Learning the guitar takes time, so spending enough time practicing at home, and being patient with the learning process are the most important things you can do when taking guitar lessons.
6 Things Adults Should Know About Taking Music Lessons
Adult students have many reasons for wanting to learn how to play an instrument. Maybe they played an instrument as a child, but stopped for one reason or other, and now as an adult are thinking of starting music lessons again. Or maybe like many adults, they regret never learning how to play music as a child, and want to start now. Or maybe they have recently been inspired by an amazing musician or piece of music, and would like to learn how to play like that one day. Whatever their reason may be for starting music lessons as an adult, there is no better time than now to start learning! Here are six things that that adults should know about taking music lessons, and that will help with the learning process:
It’s never too late to start. There are many paths to becoming a musician, and anyone at any age can learn how to play an instrument and experience the joy of playing music. Although children and adults learn in slightly different ways, it doesn’t really matter if you never learned music as a child, because learning as an adult can be just as effective, and in fact adults have certain advantages that children don’t yet have, like having more life experience to draw from, and the ability to understand concepts faster.
It’s okay to communicate with your teacher about your goals or any difficulties during practice. I ask all my students at the first lesson what their goals in playing are, regardless of their age, and I adjust my teaching methods for each individual student, and that should be something that all music teachers should want to know and be able to do. So if you have certain goals for your playing, like wanting to play a certain style of music, wanting to learn certain pieces, or wanting to be able to perform one day, you should feel free to let your teacher know. And letting your teacher know about any particular difficulties you had during practice that week is another important thing, because teachers want to help you overcome any difficulties in practicing or playing.
Life will get in the way sometimes, but that’s okay. One potential downside that adults can have when taking music lessons is that they have busy lives that can pull their attention away from music to other important things, like work, relationships, or family. But trying to keep a regular practice schedule, and getting back on track with practicing if you do happen to lose some practice time, is the most important thing you can do, because regular practice is the only way to keep learning and improving.
It takes time to learn how to play an instrument. Most students, regardless of their age, tend to underestimate how much time and work learning music will actually take. It can often look and sound so effortless when a professional musician is playing, so it’s natural to underestimate all the time and work it took for that person to be able to play like that. On average it takes around 10 years of daily practice for a musician to get to a professional playing level, so it’s good to keep that in mind when you set your own goals for playing, and being able to set realistic expectations for your rate of progress. While the amount of time spent practicing is important, the quality of your practice is just as important. You can read more about the most effective practice methods in my other article here, and learn about the best ways to practice at home.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. As people start to enter their teen years and beyond they become much more self-conscious and often too self-critical. While learning and playing music can be a lot of fun, it also takes a lot of time and hard work, and adult students often begin to doubt themselves in their learning. So being realistic about your goals, your speed of progress, and trying not to compare yourself with other musicians is important when learning music. Also take time to celebrate all the work you have done when you finally start to reach some of your playing goals.
Take time to experience the joy of playing music. Once you get to a certain point in your playing, you may suddenly notice that playing doesn’t feel quite as hard as it once was, and that you may sometimes get lost in the musical moment. Stop and enjoy that moment, because that means that you have reached another stage in your playing where playing music has become more automatic and effortless. Also as you start to become more advanced in your playing you can reach more of your music goals, have fun performing or playing with others, and experience the joy of being a part of the music.
Where To See Live Music In Bemidji, MN
For a town of its size Bemidji has a vibrant arts scene, especially for music. With a wide variety of concerts held each month, from classical to jazz, to rock to folk, there are always interesting concerts to see. The following lists several places in Bemidji that present concerts regularly, and I recommend that everyone go see all of the musical events that Bemidji has to offer!
Bemidji Symphony Orchestra - Around since 1938 and currently led by conductor Beverly Everett, the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra presents four main concerts each year, with music from the classical repertoire. The BSO also presents three other concerts each year, including a summer pops concert, featuring american music, show-tunes, and other selections; a movie music concert with music from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many more; and also a holiday concert each December.
Bemidji State University Music Department - The music department at Bemidji State University regularly gives concerts of student, faculty, and guest musicians each year, including choir, band, jazz band, brass, percussion, opera, chamber music, and solo musicians.
Bemidji Area Schools - The Bemidji area schools regularly give student orchestra, band, jazz band, choir, and show choir concerts, and present productions of musicals each year.
Mississippi Music at the Bemidji Waterfront - An outdoor summer concert series held at the Bemidji waterfront, featuring a variety of bands.
Music Under the Pines at Lake Bemidji State Park - A summer concert series held at Lake Bemidji State Park, featuring a variety of musicians.
Bemidji Area Church Musicians Recital Series - A summer concert series featuring area church musicians and ensembles.
Sanford Center - The Sanford Center regularly presents concerts by touring musicians and groups.
Bemidji Chorale - The Bemidji Chorale is a community choral group that presents a set of concerts each year.
Bemidji Area Community Band - The Bemidji Area Community Band presents a set of outdoor concerts each summer.
The Paul Bunyan Playhouse and Bemidji Community Theater. - Both the Paul Bunyan Playhouse and the Bemidji Community Theater present productions of musical theater each year.
The 7 Best Things Parents Can Do To Raise A Musical Child
Music exists in some form or another throughout all human cultures in the world, and is often a part of the daily lives of many people. People use music as a part of cultural ceremonies, social events, and for personal enjoyment, and is used in weddings, for birthdays, holidays, dancing, working, lullabies, relaxing, exercising, sports, in movies and TV, and for personal creative expression, just to name a few examples. In some cultures everyone is expected to take part in the music making of their community, whereas in other cultures music making has become divided into different groups based on musical ability and training, for example amateur, student, and professional musicians. Whatever culture you happen live in, the joy of listening to and making music is something that I encourage everyone to be able to experience, and if music is something that you value as a parent, it makes sense to want to pass along a love of music and your musical cultural traditions to your children. The following is a set of 7 tips on how to encourage your children to make music a part of their lives:
Sing. Singing can be one of the best ways to first introduce music to your children after they are born. It does’t matter if you think you have a good singing voice or not, but singing to them, and later singing with them as they get older, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make music a daily part of their lives.
Play music recordings. Playing music at home or in the car is another easy way to make music a part of daily life. Play your favorite recordings, but also seek out new music to explore together. Discussing the instruments, sounds, and emotions within the music is also another good way spark an interest in music.
Have musical instruments in the home. Having some kid friendly musical instruments, such as drums and other percussion instruments, kazoo, tin whistle, ocarina, ukulele, toy piano, small electronic keyboard, piano, or other similar instruments, and letting kids explore those instruments is another great way to get them interested in music.
Attend concerts together. Going to a live orchestra, choir, band, solo performer, chamber music, or other concert is another great way to experience music. Seeing the musicians performing and being a part of an audience adds a lot to the musical experience! Look for concerts being held by performing groups, university music departments, schools, folk groups, or other musicians or organizations, and try to attend some concerts as a family. If attending concerts is difficult, even just watching a concert video online can be fun!
Play music together. Playing music with family or friends is another great way to make music a part of daily life. When kids make music with their parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, friends, or other people, they get to enjoy some of the social aspects of music, and are much more likely to continue playing music throughout their lives. When they are old enough you can also encourage them to join a community or school ensemble, such as choir, band, or orchestra, or encourage them to start a band with their friends.
Encourage musical creativity. Encouraging your child to improvise or compose their own music is another great way to get them making music. All music tells a story in one way or another, and letting children tell their own stories through music can be a great way for them to express themselves through music.
Encourage your child to take music classes or lessons. Learning from an experienced music instructor is another great way to have your child grow further as a musician. In music lessons, kids learn in a step-by-step order how to play an instrument, learn new music, learn how to practice at home, learn how to perform, and they attain a sense of accomplishment as they advance. Making sure they understand how to practice at home, making sure they keep a regular practice schedule, and sometimes reminding them to practice, can help greatly with the learning process. Parents can even take music lessons on their own and learn alongside their child! Learning an instrument takes time, so also make sure that your child understands that it takes a commitment over a long period of time to get to an advanced level. Helping them set goals along the way can also help them continue with their playing.
How to Practice Your Instrument (the Correct Way)
Learning how to practice effectively at home is one of the most important things you can do when taking music lessons. Learning an instrument is a complex skill, so it takes regular, goal-directed practice to make progress on your instrument. Here are some tips on how to practice effectively:
Make practicing a regular routine. Have a regular space at home where it is quiet and free from distractions, and have everything you need to practice ready to go, including your instrument, music, and other items you will need. Try to practice at the same times every day. This will help you set a regular routine.
How well you practice is more important than the amount of time you practice each day. A short, focused, and goal-directed practice session is better than mindlessly playing the entire piece of music over and over again for an hour. The goal is to break down a piece of music into small, manageable chunks, and by starting slowly and gradually getting to the correct speed.
Once you learn how to practice effectively, practicing more will make you a much better musician. The more time you spend practicing your instrument, the better you will become. You will make faster progress, and you will enjoy playing much more. Aim to practice at least four to six days a week, or every day if you can. In general, younger students will need less practice time, but older students will need more practice time as they start to work on longer, more advanced pieces. Shorter practice sessions interspersed with frequent breaks is the best practice schedule for each day, for example practicing for 15 minutes, taking a five minute break, then practicing for another 15 minutes, then taking a ten minute break, then practicing for another 15 minutes is a good practice session. Spacing out your practice sessions throughout the day can also be an effective method.
Playing through a piece once, or playing the whole piece from beginning to end several times is not an effective practice method. Playing the piece once, evaluating what parts need to be worked on, and then isolating small sections by repeating and making corrections is the best way to practice. The goal is to do as much thinking as possible about how the music should go, and what the possible corrections should be before, during, and after playing a segment of music, rather than just mindlessly playing through the music. Sometimes merely thinking about how the music should go while you are away from your instrument is enough to make some improvement later on when you actually play it! The following is an example of an effective practice method:
Play the piece once all the way through. Ask yourself what sections need improvement. You should set goals for each trouble section in the music and think about solutions about how to improve them.
Start with the first small section in the music that needs improvement. Play it once and evaluate how you can make it better. Is the rhythm correct, are you playing the correct notes, are you playing it with the right fingers, is it the correct dynamic level, are you playing with correct articulations or appropriate expression, etc? Slow down to a speed where you can think about all the details in the music and all the movements your hands need to make to play the passage. Write in your music or make notes if you need to. Keep looping though the section while making corrections each time until you have made enough improvement on the current section. Sometimes focusing on one element at a time can be effective, especially when the section is particularly difficult - for example, focusing on just the pitches, or just the rhythms at first, and then later combining them. Once the section has improved, reinforce what you have corrected by repeating the section several times.
Repeat step two for all of the other sections in the music that need work.
Play through the entire piece or larger sections of the music again.
Take a break, because your brain needs rest in order for what you have learned to enter your long-term memory.