Learning To Play The Piano For The Entire Family!

Not everyone who takes piano lessons end up being successful in playing the instrument. Although it may seem like fun, learning to play the piano can be extremely challenging and difficult as well. But fortunately, there are now several courses that can help simplify these lessons for you, such as the Rocket Piano Program.

The Rocket Piano program is a series of piano lessons made for both beginners who never had piano lessons before and for advanced piano players who simply want to learn more techniques and playing styles. The program features over 12 months' worth of simple and easy to follow lessons that have been tested and proven to produce results. It includes a custom made learn to read Sheet Music, step-by-step lessons on famous piano songs and a wide selection of songs that you can play for practice - from blues, jazz, pop, country to classical.

The Rocket Piano program is created by Rock Star Recipes, one of the top leading teams of musicians, instructors and music teachers in the business. With over 30 years of combined musical experience, their team members have been instructing thousands of students with the use of simple yet effective music teaching techniques.

One of the best things about the program is that it can take you through various levels of skills, depending on the techniques that you have acquired from the previous lessons. As mentioned before, the program offers beginners, intermediate and advanced levels of techniques. At the end of the program, you'll be learning to play the piano like a professional.

Aside from that, the program also offers you a wonderful selection of songs to practice on. This was made especially to suit the different tastes of piano lovers - from classic songs all the way to original compositions made especially for the program.

Learning to play the piano is more than just memorizing the piece. Rocket Piano will not only teach you the song but will also introduce you to underlying theories and lessons on how the instrument ought to be played. After learning the theories, students are instructed to apply these lessons to actual musical pieces. In the end, you'll not only master your practiced pieces but you'll be knowledgeable enough to play any song you want- something that you can barely do in other piano courses offered out in the market today. To make learning even easier, each piece featured in the course comes with an audio file that you can play over and over again for practice.

The course introduces a very effective practice system that allows you to master the piece in just a matter of weeks. It teaches you how to read music like a professional, learn melody, scales, arpeggios and play chord progressions in any key. And best of all, the course can also teach you how to improvise and play new piano pieces and songs like you have practiced it many times before.

Learning to play the piano has never been this fun and effective. So if you are planning to enrol for piano lessons anytime soon, turn to the Rocket Piano program today and you'll be playing the instrument like a pro in no time at all.

Have you ever wanted to play the piano? Find out how fast and easy it can be learning to play the piano!

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Loudest Human Voice

In my first job as a teacher, I was called upon to talk at a meeting of prospective parents in the school hall. By chance (or was it malice on the part of my colleagues) I was put on first to talk about my area of responsibility, and I found myself in front of a rather squeaky and unreliable sound system.

I chatted away, and did my bit despite the squeals and squawks, and handed over to the Head of Sport, who deliberately stood to one side of the mic, announced in a booming voice, "I don't need artificial aids," and proceeded to make me look a bit of a turnip for having used the amplification.

Not my finest moment, but the fact was that for people of average voice, it is hard to be heard at the back of the school hall when it is full.

In fact if you think about speech day, sports day, the swimming gala, the dance class, or any situation when you've got a spot of laryngitis, if there's no amplification, it is hopeless.

What my school was doing (I discovered after that first humiliation) was trying to get by with a rather cheap bit of kit that came from the Far East, and it was only when it failed completely while the head was addressing the good and the great of the town at speech day that we decided to get the system sorted once and for all.

Of course different situations need different systems. I pushed for (and eventually got) a system that could be used as a PA system at events, and could change the speed of music in my dance classes. (The Head of Sport didn't like the fact that I'd introduced dance into the Sport department - but it was very popular - and in the end even he admitted that the system did help the swimming gala.)

But you don't have to go that far. There's the Entertaina for up to 150 people, the Entertaina Plus USD (which allows the playing of the CD as well as your speaking into the mic - ideal for sports events and the like). The one I managed to procure with its variable speed system is the Entertaina Plus PC 30.

However there's always someone who is opposed to spending money, and in this case my head of department decided to have one final go at me. "How many decibels has it got?" he asked when I proposed the new system at a staff meeting.

It was in fact a meaningless question, but as a result of it, I went and looked up decibels and this is what I found out. It doesn't have much to do with amplification equipment, but it's quite interesting.

140dB Harmful to hearing
130dB Above this it starts to be painful
128dB The loudest scream by a human recorded at a distance of 2 meters
120dB Disco when standing near the speakers
110dB Live rock band - can lead to hearing loss for musicians
100dB An electric mower or a tractor passing close by
90dB Open top car ride on motorway or a food blender which you are operating
80dB Very noisy alarm clock, or a kitchen waste disposal unit
70dB Vacuum cleaner
60dB Normal conversation at 1 meter
50dB A quiet office
40dB A dripping tap
30dB A soft whisper
20dB The background sound in a broadcasting studio
10dB Leaves rustling close by
0dB Threshold of hearing

So now you know.

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The Best Way To Learn Blues Guitar - Musical Notation Or Tablature?

In the sixties, Stephan Grossman amongst others produced a kind of musical notation for guitar that was particular to those times. Many of the important blues men were gone by that time, but a noteworthy few were still around, like Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin' Hopkins and Reverend Gary Davis. It was Grossman's encounter with the singing reverend that was the spark that started the quest for old style blues picking. Many students in those years yearned to learn and pick the old acoustic blues in the original old style, just like the blues masters. Blues guitar tabs were the foundation of this revival.

Blues songs have a traditional root, and many variations have been created using an original piece. Listen to Robert Johnson's 'Sweet Home Chicago', for example. It was originally named 'Kokomo Blues' and was authored by Scrapper Blackwell. As well as the countless permutations around a theme, new pieces were produced in many different finger picking styles peculiar to a particular region. Within those regional styles you can likewise see considerable differences between artists, so producing a great variety of blues guitar music.

Of course, in the past, blues men 'borrow' each others material and also transformed traditional music to their own individual style which added to the richness of this music. How could this material be transcribed in a manner that guitarists in future years can learn to play in the same way? We can listen to the records, but there's so much music it's not enough.

Many years ago, musical notation was much the same for all instruments, and consisted of a stave, notes and some indication of the tempo. If we wanted to stick with this standard musical notation, then we have to know how to understand it - this is not particularly easy! Actually, all we have to do is to know where the fingers of each hand should go. If there was some way of knowing this, and listen to the recorded originals, it would be a huge fast track to learning the old finger picking techniques. As a matter of fact, Stephan created a form of notation known as 'tablature', which speeds up the learning process.

The strings of the guitar are represented by 6 lines, and a number could be written on one of those lines. This means that the string should be picked on the fret indicated by that number. A line extending upwards from the side of the number indicates that we should pick with a finger, and a line extending downwards indicates a thumb stroke. The chords can also be shown over the tablature as well. Other symbols can also be used, which help in defining the timing, slide or kind of stroke.The method is simple and very simple to understand. Even if it seems a little clumsy when first used, most people are reading it within a few of weeks.

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Intervals Music And How To Learn Them Quickly

Learning how to name intervals in music has many students in a state of frustration.

Intervals range from the very simple inside major scales, to the more complicated when we deal with chromatic notes and to the seemingly near impossible to work out, when double sharps and flats come into play. To be able to name intervals you need to understand half-tones (semi-tones, half steps) and whole tones, because the distance between 2 notes is counted in 1/2 steps. It is also very helpful to know the circle of 5ths diagram.

Interval names consist of a number (second, fourth etc.) and a modifier (unison, minor, major, perfect, diminished, augmented & octave).

Finding the number is easy in most cases, working out the modifier can get a bit more tricky.

Let's start with the easy ones:

The 8 Simple Diatonic Intervals:

The are measured in every key from the tonic (root note) to the other 7 notes in each scale.

Ex: key of C:

C - C = Perfect Unison (0 semi-tones)

C - D = Major Second (2 half-tones)

C - E = Major Third (4 semi-tones)

C - F = Perfect Fourth (5 1/2 steps)

C - G = Perfect Fifth (7 semi-tones)

C - A = Major Sixth (9 half-tones)

C - B = Major Seventh (11 semi-tones)

C - C = Perfect Octave (12 1/2 steps

No matter what key you're in, unisons, fourths, fifths and octaves are always Perfect and seconds, thirds, sixths and sevenths are always Major. So far, so good.

Now, of course there are other intervals possible in every major key, 48 in fact, between any major scale note and every other major scale note. Here is where the other modifiers come into play.

We find out that:

Seconds can also be minor (ex: E - F & B - C) (1 semi-tone)

Thirds can also be minor (ex: D - F, E - G, A - C & B - D) (3 semi-tones)

Fourths can be Augmented (ex: F - B) (6 half-tones)

Fifths can be Diminished (ex: B - F) (also 6 semi-tones)

Sixths can be Minor (ex: E - C, A - F & B - G) (8 1/2 steps)

Sevenths can be Minor (ex: D - C, E - D, G - F, A - G & B - A) (10 half-tones)

We can sum up that inside each major scale, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th intervals are MAJOR or MINOR, while unison, 4th, 5th & octave intervals are PERFECT, AUGMENTED (+ 1/2 step) or DIMINISHED (- 1/2 step).

Thankfully the art of how to name any interval does not get much more complicated than discussed so far. We already know the numbers and possible modifiers but when it comes to the countless chromatic interval possibilities there is one extra dimension we have to cope with:

2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths can also be Diminished or Augmented. That's it!

All that remains is to summarise:

Unison, Fourth, Fifth and Octave Intervals are either Perfect, Diminished or Augmented.Second, Third, Sixth and Seventh Intervals can be Major or Minor and also Diminished or Augmented.

For intervals that are wider than an octave, the rules are simple: Treat ninths like you would a second, tenths like thirds, elevenths like fourths etc.

By far the quickest way to learn the name of intervals is to become really familiar with the major scales and their modes and have the circle of fifths explained thoroughly.

Much more free in depth information on intervals with images, an easy "how to name any interval" formula and "The Ultimate Intervals Finder" (a downloadable pdf file) plus a circle of 5ths chart and explanations on all major scales can be found at: http://www.eartraining-online.com/diatonic-intervals.html

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Solutions To The 4 Things People Find Hardest When Learning Guitar

Learning the guitar can sometimes feel like a major uphill struggle. Different people struggle with different things, after all everybody is different. Just what do people struggle with when learning to play guitar? What are the three things that people find the most difficult when starting out?

Learning The Chords. There is no way around it, chords are a major part of playing the guitar. They are important for virtually every song and once they are mastered you can play literally anything. So why do people struggle to learn the basic chords? It is the simple case that they are not intuitive. Chords require you to learn the positions of all your fingers at the same time and in some very unintuitive positions. It simply isn't something that comes naturally for most people.

Injured finger tips. OK, strictly speaking this isn't a skill that needs to be learned but it is something that all new comers will suffer from. If you have never picked up a guitar before it is difficult to appreciate the stress that is put on your finger tips. It hurts! You may get blisters, you may get cuts but eventually, over time your finger tips will become immune to such injuries. You will find that the tips of your fingers will become hardened and you will lose a lot of the feeling in them.

Timing. Just as in comedy, in music timing is everything. A sense of rhythm is essential and some people claim to have one naturally. Some people do but anybody can learn to keep a rhythm going it just takes practice. A good drummer in a band will keep the rhythm of the track together but if you are practicing on your own then tapping your foot can help. If all else fails and you really can't keep a rhythm going then you may need to get a metronome as a temporary measure to help you.

Switching between chords. If learning the chords was difficult then switching between them can be near on impossible! Most tracks will contain more than one chord and will involve quick switches between them. This is what makes the difference between a good guitar player and a great guitar player. You need to be able to smoothly link the two chords whilst keeping the correct rhythm. It is difficult at first and the only thing that can improve the situation is practice and lots of it! Once you know all the chords off the top of your head you should have no problem quickly shifting between them.

Other than hours of practice, the only real thing that can make your guitar sound better is your equipment.

The Fender Frontman is simply the best amplifier on the market for beginners and pro's alike.

Click here now to see more information about guitars and the Fender range.

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Piano Lesson Software - What Online Lessons Have That Traditional Lessons Don't

The article below will discuss piano lesson software and what it offers to a student that traditional lessons don't. For anyone interested in learning the piano who have been wondering if online lessons would work for them, this article will help you make that decision. You'll discover the benefits as well as a few drawbacks to using piano software rather than going with weekly lessons with an instructor.

1. Affordability: You can't get something for nothing, something of true quality anyway, but that doesn't mean you can't get quality piano instruction without paying large sums every week that really add up. There are some online lessons that you can find that are free, however if you want a structured lesson plan like one you would get with traditional lessons you probably need to invest in a piano lesson software. The good news is that piano software doesn't cost an arm and a leg either and it is a great way to learn how to play the piano. There are many programs available that are priced under $50 and you can get them instantly and start right away.

2. Convenience: Unless your piano teacher lives across the street, it is likely that you are going to be spending extra money on gasoline not to mention the time wasted on a commute to your class. It doesn't get any more convenient than having piano software that is instantly available on your computer that you can use any time you wish; no commute, no gas money spent, and no extra cost for the lesson time as the software you pay for is a one-time investment.

3. Flexibility: Having lesson books, audio and video files at your fingertips means you get to practice and learn any time you want, and you get to move along in the lessons as fast or as slow as you want. The only downfall to this kind of flexibility is that some people let life get in the way and they don't put in the practice time that is necessary to see improvement. But if you are a self motivated person, having this kind of flexibility might actually work to your advantage, it just depends on your level of commitment and how badly you want to learn.

Above you learned more about piano lesson software and what kind of perks it offers that traditional lessons don't. Online lessons are more affordable as the software is typically a one-time payment that runs less than $50, they are convenient because everything you need comes in an instant download, and they allow you the flexibility of learning when and where you want and at your own pace.

To learn more about the #1 piano lesson software on the market, visit Download Piano Lessons.

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Learn Guitar Strumming and Chords Using a Method Book

When it comes to learning anything new it's always a benefit to have a teacher or a good book or method that would include audios or videos. If you want to learn guitar strumming and chords it's the same.

Start With Easy

When you are learning to play chords and guitar strumming patterns you want to begin with the easiest ones first. This will build your confidence and give you an "I can do it" attitude.

With the guitar, the easiest chords to begin with are Em and A7. The easiest rhythm is down - down - down - down.

Truthfully, guitar is a relatively easy instrument to learn. You can learn a dozen chords and a few ways to strum and have a lifetime of fun.

However if you learn a couple of dozen chords and barre chord positions and a dozen more strum patterns you will be able to play millions of songs. This is not an exaggeration at all.

Find a Good Method Book to Learn From

If you have the right method book you can triple how quickly you can learn guitar strumming. With the right method, as you go through each lesson, each step will build on the last and it will get progressively more challenging but because you are building up to that challenge you'll always be ready to meet it.

The best way to learn guitar is with chord diagrams and photos and diagrams of the strumming motion and an audio track to listen to.

Practice Your Chords and Strum Patterns Over And Over

When you practice the guitar, practice your chords and practice your strumming over and over again. The objective is to get so comfortable that you don't have to think about it any more.

At first, think about what you are doing. When you play a chord pick each note individually. Each note should be clear. You may have to tweak the position of your fingertips. Eventually you'll find that "sweet spot." Keep practicing. Our brains are marvellous. After numerous repetitions your fingers will just go there.

Guitar strumming is the same thing. At first you'll likely stop strumming momentarily as you go from one chord to the next. As you get better, force yourself to keep the strumming going and get your hand playing the chord to keep up with the strumming.

Have Fun

After all it's called playing the guitar.

If you are having trouble getting something to sound right ask another guitar player or go to your local music store and ask them. Guitar players really like showing each other stuff and helping newer players.

And finally let me emphasize that when you see a good player playing and he or she makes it look so easy, don't assume that it was easy for them. We all had challenges learning. It didn't necessarily come easy but it certainly came with practice!

Just keep at it. I've never met anyone who really wanted to learn to play not be able to learn. After all there are guitar players who have no arms and they play with their toes. (Check out YouTube)

We humans are truly amazing creatures. It's amazing what we can do when we set are minds to it. That is why I can sincerely say to you, if you want to learn guitar strumming and chords - You Can Do It!

If you would like to learn guitar strumming and chords faster than you thought possible please check out my website at http://guitar-strumming-patterns.com/. While there, please download my FREE eBook "Guitar - How to Get Started" and the email mini course "7 Useful Beginner Guitar Tips." They're filled with lots of useful knowledge, advice and tips.

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Playing Your First Live Show

Have you finally found a band that you are compatible with? Are you a solo artist that hears everything finally coming together? In either case if you've gotten the chance to play a live show or gig, chances are your first emotion was exhilaration, followed by anxiety about how you will perform. Let's get you back to that exhilarated feeling!

You're probably thinking, "I've got butterflies in my stomach. I'm a ball of nerves! What if I make a mistake? How can I play a live show?" Well, let's get the first question out of the way right now. The odds are really good that you will make a few mistakes in your first show. Most people do. The questions you need to ask yourself are one, will anyone notice? And two, if they do notice it, will anyone remember that mistake when we hit the big scene? As long as you stay focused on your goals, neither of these questions will be relevant. Remember to write down the reasons why you're doing this! Are you doing it to entertain friends? Do you have something to share with the world? If you do, you must train your mind to remember that the world wants to hear it.

One thing you can do to minimize your chances of making a mistake is to practice your part! Practice over, and over, and over again, until you feel that you can play it without thinking. This is more important than most guitarists understand. Guitar practice, as with any performance rehearsal, is necessary to make sure things will go smoothly once you are on the stage.

You can also train your mind to think positively by reciting certain positive phrases over and over again. Phrases like, "I can achieve anything I desire" or "I will get on the stage and feel good about myself. People want to hear me play" will always increase your confidence and help quell that butterfly feeling in your gut. This particular technique has positive effects on practice as well. Because you know you can achieve anything, you will do what it takes to get there. Practice will come naturally because you know that's the most important aspect of doing well on the stage.

Set aside a certain amount of time to practice each and every day until your show. This does not include time just spent practicing with the band. You need some time to practice alone as well. You should be able to hear the band in your mind playing along with you. Remember, that you are a superstar! Keep reciting those positive phrases and practicing. Pretty soon you're going to realize that you're no longer nervous about being onstage...well, maybe you'll be a little nervous, but not about making a mistake! You'll know you're going to get out there and kick some tail.

Again, train your mind so that you CAN do what it takes. You have the power to succeed. It all depends on you, and on how badly you want to be in the spotlight. Let the world hear what it has been missing! We'll all appreciate it, and we'll appreciate you for giving it all you've got! Remember, when, not if, but WHEN you put everything you have into your passion, it will pay you back 100 times what you've put into it. If performance is important to you, you will do this.

Now go break a leg!

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Time In Music (Or The Leaf On The Stream)

Why is it that some solo artists, combos, bands or orchestras communicate with the listener on an extra special level? They seem to have that extraordinary ingredient that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Is it tuning, technique, tone, personality, grace, ease of execution? To make it onto the top shelf they need all those, but for me, the number 1 element is their sense of TIME.

Imagine that a leaf falls onto a steadily flowing calm stream. The speed of the water represents the time and you are the leaf. When the downbeat falls or the count in finishes, the leaf hits the stream. How to learn rhythm and not rock the leaf? Because whether you push forward (racing) or pull back (dragging), the leaf makes a disturbance on the water.

The great artist allows time to be, he has no need to fight it and his graceful mastery of the instrument permits him to move through a piece of music without creating a ripple on that stream.

Of course this little analogy of mine applies mainly to music that flows at a steady tempo and is a bit more far fetched for colla voce or out of tempo pieces. But even for that style I like the idea of the stream (and the leaf) slowing down or speeding up, simply by making the surface it flows on more level or steeper.

How to accept time in music and flow with it?

Don't hold or touch your instrument with any unnecessary tension. Concrete arms & shoulders holding a trumpet or bowing a cello are a barrier to flowing time.
Be aware of your technical ability at all times.
Resist the urge to show-off, especially if point 2 above is not happening.
Leave any controlling personality traits in the dressing room. It's about acceptance and cooperation.
Learn to play time without pushing or holding back the leaf.
Don't fight it, accept it, go with it. Nothing special needs to happen, just play.
If you want to "dig-in" more (for that slow dirty shuffle groove) simply sit lower in the "water", immerse yourself, nothing else.

How does disturbing the time affect a group of players?

It doesn't matter if there are 2 or 5 or 16 or 60 musicians playing together, the lack of time in music by just 1 or a few is the one sly and hidden element that can make any band or orchestra sound ordinary.

It only needs a pushy drummer or a lagging bass player, a "tempo-bulli" on principle trumpet or a technically inept 2nd viola to create that tell-tale ripple around the leaf and make a piece of music sound uncomfortable.

The most outstanding combos, bands and orchestras, the ones that seem to have the touch of magic, simply consist of musicians who tick all the boxes when it comes to pitch, technique, sound and creativity but who also have accepted the fact that time in music does not have to be messed with.

Just BE the leaf and enjoy the ride.

Be prepared to surrender to the stream, that is how to learn rhythm.

I've had the pleasure to sit in bands with that special sense of time.
It was difficult to wipe the smile off my face.

Learn to internalize the beat and become the leaf on the stream: http://eartraining-online.com/best-metronome.html

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Suggestions for Piano Teachers - Guiding Highly Motivated Piano Students

Some Thoughts on Guiding Highly Motivated Piano Students

As October is around the corner, many piano students are already preparing for the forthcoming season of music festivals, competitions and examinations. These performance opportunities unquestionably spur enthusiasm, diligence and stamina, as well as serve as major milestones for progress and achievement. In my teaching career, I have the fortune of encountering some highly motivated students, who dedicate hours of practice at the instrument every day despite the heavy demands of schoolwork. The mother of my eleven-year-old piano student once complained that her child is "addicted" to the piano. He is so drawn to the instrument that his parents literally have to drag him away from the piano for supper.

It is evident that students who are infused with a desire to learn, coupled with parental commitment, and insightful guidance will progress at an exceptional rate. However, it is also important to note that despite apparent facility at the outset, problems for high-achieving students can easily be overlooked.

I have seen cases where promising students hit a brick wall in their progress at some point. For instance, by the time a high-achieving student reaches her teenage years, she may start to re-evaluate the purpose and direction of her musical studies. This is also the time when some promising students abandon their musical training despite outstanding progress. Educational psychologist Jeanne Bamberger coins the term "mid-life crisis" to describe this situation for musical prodigies. At a certain point, the prodigy may question the purpose of his artistic pursuit, or begin to experience fatigue, burnout, or even suffer from other performance-related interferences and ailments. Addressing these problems goes beyond raw talent, determination or duration of practice. Rather, it is closely related to a mindset. Unless passion and efforts are harnessed in a balanced and productive manner, problems emerging from students with a strong commitment to excel can be more difficult to rectify. Resolving problems of this nature demands a level of empathy, sensitivity and insight from a pedagogue.

Below are a few practice guidelines I share with my students, which I hope fellow teachers and musicians may find useful:

(a) "Pre-hearing the music between our ears" - I encourage students to have a well-defined musical goal in mind before they play. It is important to have a clear idea of the specific character of the sound, tone and expressive qualities prior to translating this auditory image into physical gestures and sounds at the piano. With a clearly defined notion of the quality of sound that we aim to achieve, practice becomes a process of bringing this auditory image to life.

With this goal, practice becomes a process of introspective experimentation where musicality and artistic expression are combined through continuous self-adjustment and internal feedback. Musical performance is fundamentally a bio-aesthetic undertaking. The physical aspects of performance are only part of the package. It is also crucial to comprehend the historical background, style, character, and structural organization of the music, before one is able to translate the concept of sound into coherently organized movements that bring forth specific musical intentions.

(b) "Cultivating a level of sensory awareness" - For a singer, the body is her instrument. The key difference between a pianist and a singer is that - the singer is obliged to take breaths between phrases due to finite capacity of the lungs. By contrast, it is physically possible for a pianist to zip through a piece of music without feeling asphyxiated - though in this instance, the body becomes more prone to tension, fatigue, or injury. And this problem is particularly rampant for determined students who tend to ignore or dismiss preliminary warning signals such as fatigue or pain.

It is therefore important for teachers to guide students through exploring musical and choreographic relationships inherent within the music score. In the process, they derive a deeper understanding of the musical text and learn to discover movements at the instrument which offer them greater flexibility and comfort. A level of sensory awareness can be cultivated from an early age. For instance, as young students are guided towards specific technical aspects such as: how to figure out fingerings or hand positions that are appropriate for their hand size; they also acquire in parallel, a sense of internal awareness thereby enabling them to become more discerning of viable performance options.

(c) Musical practice is a discipline that requires the full assimilation of physical, psychological, emotional and intellectual awareness. Technique is primarily a means to achieve a more purposeful end. Effective practice involves establishing neuro-pathways both in the brain and the body that reinforce security while maximizing flexibility for creative expression. Knowing how to practice effectively not only maximizes efficiency, but also prevents the reinforcement of errors and bad habits. I often encourage my students to be critical thinkers during practice - in other words, they learn to anticipate problems, and to strategize a plan for practice such that errors can be prevented.

(d) "Know thyself"- Productive practice goes beyond impulsive repetition. It requires cultivation of an introspective mind. Through a reflective process, students develop an awareness of their own tendencies. Once these tendencies are identified, one can then creatively "outsmart" oneself by altering one's perception to circumvent specific obstacles.

We construe our own reality. To be effective in practice, we sometimes need to play mind games with ourselves. By altering the perception of our relationship towards the score and our instrument, we generate new interpretive possibilities. Like an actor on stage, musical performers have the license to make believe. In the process, we can freely exercise our imagination to creatively re-organize technical and musical elements, as well as our own perceptions of the musical structure. In so doing, passages that once appeared to be insurmountably difficult suddenly become manageable or even simple. From this perspective, practice can be a truly liberating experience when the aesthetics of emotion and expression can be rediscovered through the integration of mind and body.

By: Dr. Angela P. Y. Chan

Author: Dr. Angela Po Yiu Chan

Biographical Information:

Dr. Chan has given solo and duo piano performances in Canada, Europe, the USA and Asia, and has been featured on the Discovery Channel (Canada), Global TV, PBS, CJNT, Australian Television Network, Maclean's magazine, the Gazette as well as various radio stations.

She has adjudicated a number of competitions including the Concours de Jeunesses Quebec- Ontario, the Young Music Explorers Videotape Piano Competition and the Young Music Explorers Piano Scholarship Competition. Dr. Chan has led numerous workshops and masterclasses in Quebec and Ontario and hosts a column on piano pedagogy in Musifax, a publication of the Quebec Registered Music Teachers' Association.

Dr. Chan is founder and director of Lambda School of Music and Fine Arts in Montreal, where she also heads the Lambda Piano Teacher Accreditation Program. Since 2008, Chan has formed a joint piano studio with renowned Montreal-Korean concert pianist Wonny Song with whom she is also co-authoring a new piano method book series. Dr. Chan also belongs to many music associations such as the Quebec Registered Music Teachers' Association, the National Music Teachers' Association and the American Liszt Society.

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Aspiring Singers Are Enrolling in Vocal Training Classes to Put Their Stamp on Contemporary Music

Those who have taken note of the sudden success of Il Volo, the Italian trio of teenagers, have surely had the thought of taking vocal training classes cross his or her mind. The fresh-faced youngsters immediately bring to mind memories of The Three Tenors, what with their blend of booming, operatic voices and the mathematical certainty that there are indeed three of them. And just like Luciano Pavarotti, they hail from Italy. For those aspiring singers who do not naturally possess their pipes and vocal range; a reputable vocal training program will teach everything from proper breathing techniques and protecting the voice to harmonizing and ear training.

A complete vocal education program combines creative and technical development with regular live performance - a thorough curriculum that will allow students to not just sing, but to communicate effectively with their audience. It is imperative for students to find or recognize the vocalists that inspire their creativity. Finding a stylistic identity is Step One when building confidence as a professional performer, since performing live is about more than the ability to belt out the notes.

Students in either an Associate of Arts or Bachelor of Music in Performance program undertake various vocal training classes that will develop, polish, and expand the limits of their vocal instrument. Lyrical interpretation, stage presence, presentation, and microphone techniques are all covered in the vocal performance classes that have been designed to produce skilled yet versatile contemporary vocalists.

An intrinsic knowledge of music theory and vocal techniques will become second nature to any performer worth his or her salt. As such, these vocal training classes serve as a prerequisite to topics related to performance. Learning the anatomy and physiology of the voice, the importance of proper breathing techniques, and how best to protect the voice teaches students about the science of voice production. On the other end of the spectrum, pitch registers, vocal techniques (such as vibrato), sight-singing, and music theory are invaluable skills when it comes time to lay down tracks in the recording studio. Training the ear to distinguish between major and minor scales, intervals, chord qualities, and the like is a necessary component to harmonization.

Even if a potential student is not a tenor or even a fan of opera, vocal training classes will transform each student into a stylistically versatile contemporary vocalist. These programs incorporate regular seminars and clinics with personal counseling sessions with internationally known performers. Classes are the foundation for any well-rounded vocalist. Before a performer realizes her vision on stage or in the studio, she must be capable of working and communicating effectively with her fellow musicians.

Being fully immersed in the music school experience provides students with a supportive network of teachers and students that will allow them to challenge themselves, leaving their comfort zone in their wake. This is where students come up close and personal with musicians who have traveled the path they are on. This blend of classes, workshops, and live performance allows students to explore their individual truth as artists and what skills they bring to the table.

Resource Box:

Musicians Institute, a music school located at the heart of Hollywood, stands as a venue for aspiring and professional artists to master their crafts. Whether a student is taking a vocal, guitar, drums, keys, bass, or music business course in the school, they will receive a music education designed to develop them as well-rounded artists. For more details on the various musical and technical programs offered at MI, call 1-800-255-7529 or visit MI.edu.

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Guiding Piano Students Towards Effective Practice

Competitions, festivals and music college entrance auditions are just around the corner. This is a time where dedicated students are spending more hours on practice in preparation for these major events. When I was a student, I seldom practice more than 5 hours a day despite eminent deadlines, though many of my fellow classmates claimed that they practiced more than 8 hours a day.

It has been documented in educational and psychological research as in Sloboda et al's (1998) study on musical giftedness that there is positive correlation between hours spent on practice and overall achievement. For instance, to attain international levels of performance requires approximately an accumulation of about 10000 hours of practice.

My question remains - Is it really true that the more hours the better? When does one reach the point of diminishing return - where more practice hours does not equate better results. In fact, over practice may lead to fatigue, loss of perspective towards the music, or even injury.

Practice is an essential part of musical development, and it is important that healthy and efficient practice habits are cultivated from the onset. In my teaching, I help my students develop a keen sense of awareness towards practice from a very young age. I believe that it is very important to have a clear understanding about what is involved in meaningful practice from the very beginning. In practice, efficiency is important as time is a commodity for most students. Skills for practice need to be developed so that the most can be achieved within a limited time frame.

I often stress the difference between "Quality versus Quantity" in practice. By that, I am referring to two modes of working - working hard and working smart. Working hard is a given, but that in itself does not guarantee positive results. On the contrary, working smart will ensure that one paves the way for optimal results. Coupled with dedication, clarity of mind and self control, students are likely to achieve their goals much more effectively without having to suffer the consequences of inefficient practice. It takes much more time and effort in back tracking and rectifying mistakes that were incorporated into practice. Time misspent is in essence time wasted.

I give my students very clear goals for their practice, and I specify to young students the goals they need to achieve from one lesson to the next. Ultimately, it is the results that count.

Musical practice is both a cognitive and physical process. It involves troubleshooting and problem solving. Once a problem has been identified, one needs to strategize for a course of action to rectify the problem. This is a reflective and introspective process that requires active listening, sensitivity and awareness of the physical body. Repetition will only be fruitful when a solution has been found for a specific technical or musical problem. The danger in many instances is that students repeat passages before they have found any solutions to their problems. In which case, repetition is done haphazardly, and as a consequence, becomes counterproductive.

I have identified three stages of practice for my students:

(1) Problem identification - This is a phase where problems and difficulties are identified. It is only after isolating the specific problems and difficulties can one effectively strategize for a solution - whether it is technical or musical.

(2) Problem solving - This involves a level of experimentation, cognitive judgment, active listening and making adaptive physical adjustments. In this process, one has to be mindful, as one needs to continuously make dynamic auditory, visual, physical and aesthetic judgments as to whether certain choices or approaches are appropriate and effective.

(3) Reinforcement- The actual process of physical reinforcement of motor co-ordination through repetition in order to reach a level of physical automatization. This will only be useful when a proper solution has been identified.

Musical practice is a re-iterative process. Once a level of automatization has been achieved, the student may wish re-evaluate their performance goals for the next level. In so doing, steps 1 to 3 will be re-iterated multiple times for further refinement.

Cultivation of healthy and effective habits needs to start from a very young age. Many teachers find it effective to write down practice goals for elementary students, so that they will be reminded of the content covered in the lesson. This also provides a clearly pre-defined structure for students to adhere to during their practice. While this prescriptive approach may be effective in the short term, it does not necessarily cultivate introspection and nor help students make dynamic judgments during practice. Once students have developed a certain level of musical awareness, it is important to teach them to learn on their own. They should develop the ability to critique their own performances, seek their own musical voice and to find solutions in achieving their goals.

During lessons, I ask my students a lot of questions with regard to their playing. The purpose is to encourage them to evaluate their own performances, identify problematic areas and propose suggestions towards artistic refinement. This training also sensitizes students towards becoming an objective and critical listener, so that they become better able to evaluate weaknesses in their playing. In this process, they also learn to become more resourceful in devising solutions to rectify problems. This engages students fully into an active and self-motivated learning process. They also become less reliant upon external feedback. Rather, they develop a level of astute musical awareness from within, which accelerates the learning process.

I like to use this analogy with my students. The painter uses paint as his medium, and artistic expression is recorded on canvas. In photography, light is the medium and film is the canvas. For musicians, sound is our medium, and time is our canvas. Musicians are sculptors of sound in time - creating the intangible while shaping the invisible. As Michelangelo said, his artistic process involves chiseling away the excess in order to reveal the statue hidden within the marble block. In the process of musical practice, likewise, we are continuously crafting out the excess in order to unleash the true image of sound from within ourselves. Practice remains a life-long process of discovery...

Reference:

Howe, M. J. A., Davidson, J. W., and Sloboda, J. A. "Innate talents: Reality or myth?" Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 21, 399-442 (1998).

By Angela Po Yiu Chan

Website to contact author: http://lambdaarts.ca/

Email to contact author: angelachan@LambdaArts.ca

Author: Angela Po Yiu Chan

Biographical Information:
Dr. Chan has given solo and duo piano performances in Canada, Europe, the USA and Asia, and has been featured on the Discovery Channel (Canada), Global TV, PBS, CJNT, Australian Television Network, Maclean's magazine, the Gazette as well as various radio stations.

She has adjudicated a number of competitions including the Concours de Jeunesses Quebec- Ontario, the Young Music Explorers Videotape Piano Competition and the Young Music Explorers Piano Scholarship Competition. Dr. Chan has led numerous workshops and masterclasses in Quebec and Ontario and hosts a column on piano pedagogy in Musifax, a publication of the Quebec Registered Music Teachers' Association.

Dr. Chan is founder and director of Lambda School of Music and Fine Arts in Montreal, where she also heads the Lambda Piano Teacher Accreditation Program. Since 2008, Chan has formed a joint piano studio with renowned Montreal-Korean concert pianist Wonny Song with whom she is also co-authoring a new piano method book series. Dr. Chan also belongs to many music associations such as the Quebec Registered Music Teachers' Association, the National Music Teachers' Association and the American Liszt Society.

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Improving Your Guitar Playing

Tips and suggestions for guitarists who feel that their playing has remained at the same level for too long, and who want to improve their guitar playing. How to make rapid progress, make better use of your practice time, and achieve your playing ambitions.

The first thing to do is to assess where you want to go with your playing. Are there any guitarists you want to sound like? What are your guitar playing aims? Once you know the direction in which you should be heading, you'll find it easier to make progress towards your goals.

The three main areas that you should address are: technique, knowledge and practice. All three are linked: with a poor technique, your playing will not improve however much you learn. Conversely, if you do not learn anything new, your playing will stay at the same level even if your technique is perfect. Finally, if you don't practice, you'll be unable to perfect your technique and new knowledge will not sink in.

Here are some practical suggestions aimed at a guitarist who has the basics down but who feels that their playing has stopped improving:

1. Learn some new chords. If you already know several different major, minor and dominant seventh shapes, try learning (for example) some major seventh chords, some diminished chords or some minor sixth chords. Even if you don't play jazz, you could learn some 'jazzy' chords, such as ninths, elevenths and thirteenths, and / or some altered chords. Any of these will add new color to your rhythm playing and to your songwriting.

2. Learn how to play some of the chords you already know but in another position. This may inspire some new songs or present an easier way to play existing songs.

3. Learn some more scales, or learn some of the scales you already know in another position. Learn a scale that is less commonly used than pentatonics and blues scales - for example the harmonic minor and / or the diminished scale. Both could potentially add a different color to your lead playing.

4. Examine your picking technique. Learn about alternate, economy and sweep picking techniques if you do not already know about them and incorporate them in your playing. Think about your right hand position, and the way you hold your pick. Watch a guitarist who is good at what you want to do and experiment with emulating how they hold a pick and where they rest their picking hand.

5. Learn some fingerstyle pieces. (This tip is aimed at those guitarists who seldom play without a pick.) Find some beginner classical guitar pieces, or some fingerstyle folk or blues - lots of music is available with TAB if you don't read music. Having some solo guitar pieces under your belt is also handy for when you are put on the spot and asked to play something.

6. When practicing, play with a metronome. This is very useful for improving your technique and timing, whether you are a lead, rhythm or solo guitarist.

7. Buy a book! Getting free information off the web is great, but if you buy a respected guitar book, you have made an investment and will be more likely to read and utilize the information.

8. Aim to learn something new regularly - be it a chord, a song, or technique, etc. You don't have to master it - just become aware of it and as you get better at it incorporate it into your own playing.

9. Learn to practice (rather than play) the guitar for a set time each day. It is very easy to waste time going over things you already know.

10. Meet with new musicians. Nothing can beat getting out of the house and jamming with other musicians if you want to improve your playing. If you've been playing with the same people for a long time, seek out some new musicians to practice with.

11. Get guitar lessons. If you're serious about improving, you will get better faster if you are investing time and money on regular lessons.

12. Learn to play the songs / riffs / solos of your favorite players by transcribing them yourself. This will give you valuable insight into how they approach the guitar.

By examining all of the aspects of your guitar playing, identifying what you want to be able to do and making the best use of your practice time, you will find that the improvement comes naturally.

Tom Wright writes for GuitarScales.info, a free online reference site for all guitarists.
Visit Guitar Scales to learn new scales, chords and techniques.
Guitar Scales

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Learning Guitar Online - 3 Useful Tips

Traditionally, learning guitar was only possible via face to face lessons, or through the use of often times dull music books. You may have experienced those outdated chord and song books that were both tiresome and frustrating. Fortunately with the advent of the internet, guitar learning has never been revolutionized forever. Never before has it been so affordable and fun to learn to play guitar.

The aim here is to give you three useful tips for learning guitar online.

Tip #1 - Free Online Video Lessons

It's often been said that we better through seeing then doing. This is especially true when learning guitar. User based content video websites such as YouTube.com have led the way in free video training. It's now possible to find free lessons on every conceivable aspect of guitar learning and practice.

The problem can be sorting through the huge volume of content to find what's of good quality and right for your level. Try to narrow your search by being as specific as possible. "Guitar Lessons" is too broad. Better to try "Beginner Guitar Lessons", "basic guitar chords", or if you're trying to learn a particular song, "How to play... on guitar", or "... acoustic lesson" (where... is the song title).

Tip #2 - Open Source Free Chord Directories

Once you've found a video lesson for a song you want to learn to play, the next step is to locate the lyrics and chords. There are numerous online chord and tab directories that are contributed to by users. Typically, popular songs will have several versions, some being more advanced than others. An easy way to search for these is to enter "song title + chords" into your proffered search engine. You will typically find several good options from a range of sites. Take the time to look through the top results to find the websites you like best, and then be sure to bookmark them.

Tip #3 - Free Trial Lessons

So far we've looked at online video streaming websites and chord directories to find free online guitar learning material. There's another source of free content that's often of a higher quality than the first two choices. This is free product trial lessons.

Many quality guitar learning sites have free introductory lessons available by signing up for email notifications or via their website. These sites value their customers and go to great lengths to convince new visitors of the quality of their material. It's the nature of the internet for users to want to "try before they buy". Take some time to search for free introductory lessons that cost no more than your name and email.

We've just learnt about three free methods for learning guitar online. User generated training videos are a great source of free lessons and instructional material, though vary in quality and level. The second, chord directories, give you other guitarists' interpretation of popular songs. These are a great reference, though can also vary in quality. The final suggestion was to take advantage of free trial lessons or newsletter sign-ups. If you incorporate one or all of these into your online guitar learning strategy, you will see some real progress.

Visit http://www.stresslessguitar.com// for all the best guitar learning, tricks and insider info.

The Guitar Learning Newsletter gives you all the latest information. Best of all, it's Free!

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Why Learn Music?

When you've decided to go ahead with music lessons, it can be a big event in your child's life. So, what's in it for them?

Brain development

Music training has many advantages for the student, including better development of the areas of the brain devoted to language and reasoning. Learning music can help to rewire some areas of the left brain to help language processing. Another benefit is in spatial development. This helps the development of mathematical intelligence, pattern recognition and problem solving. In general, learning music through childhood is associated with higher marks and better performance in high school and beyond.

The wider experience

Music comes to us from many countries, and children are exposed to music from other cultures. This helps to encourage tolerance and empathy towards difference without it being threatening.

Teamwork and discipline

Fostering excellence is the work of a good teacher. If a note is out of tune, a student has to learn to get it into tune. It has to be in time, and if playing with others, one has to come in at the right time too. All of these things must be learned, which is excellent discipline and helps the child look for and attain excellence, which translates into other areas of life.

Performance

Performing with others is part of music education. Whether it's a symphony orchestra, big band, recorder group, choir or small ensemble, this is teamwork and discipline, as well as being highly enjoyable to most participants. Rewards come from hard work, and self-esteem is enhanced.

Dealing with stress

The experience of dealing with music exams, preparation and performance will expose the child to some degree of nervousness, as well as achievement. The ability to cope with these events helps them to cope with other stresses in later life, and know that they can come through them safely.

Being more creative

Music is self-expression and creativity. Through learning an instrument, the child may well foster a talent in composing or other aspects of creative work. Working with others can be rewarding and spiritual, leading to a more well-rounded person.

Conclusion

All of these benefits come from long-term musical training, preferably with a good, professional teacher, an investment in a quality instrument, and lots of positive encouragement from parents and family. Forcing a child to learn when they aren't interested is a waste of time and money. But if they are interested, even if they don't have a lot of talent, they can still enjoy themselves and reap rewards.

(c) Patrice Connelly, 2011

Patrice Connelly is an Australian musician who specialises in early music with her business Saraband Music. She teaches piano, viola da gamba, music history and theory privately and at workshops. She holds a Masters (Hons) degree in Musicology from the University of Sydney. Through Saraband Music, she imports/exports/wholesales/retails, publishes, researches, teaches and writes about music. For more information please visit her website at http://www.saraband.com.au/.

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The Best way to improve the fledgling-education for children?

Whether your child wants to be next or are looking for, simply, Paganini to give him the best possible start in life, taking the violin can be rewarding and satisfying both the children and the parent. Learning all the musical instruments, especially the violin, da child-start in their learning skills. If you've heard Mozart effect is, you will know that simply listen to classical music and Mozart in particular produces powerful results. So imagine playing the effect that the instrument must have.

First and most important step is to find a good teacher. If a child, I recommend considering the violin that finding qualified teachers Suzuki. Search the Internet for the next organization of Suzuki, which will be able to direct you to your nearest teacher.

Find out if the teacher gives to their classes. It is close, so that the user can the journey, one week for the week, over the next ten years? Involvement, are embarking on such trips to count!

If you're lucky to find trained teachers, Suzuki, that person is likely to take very small children, starting at age 3 or 4. Although progress is slow at the beginning, the teacher will make it possible for everybody, and Suzuki, those first years are of fundamental importance for the establishment of a good technique. Self-discipline required to play any musical instruments is also a significant step towards the achievement of success in the future life.

Suzuki teachers hold classes, individual and group lessons, so every child has the benefit of consideration concentrated and technical lessons private, combined with a joy to share music with their friends and peers in the classroom group. This is motivating, seeing your friend do something better than that and aware that the struggle could do it too!

Group lessons teach also important social skills to children must wait to turn to listen to each other with attention and respect and to participate as a team effort, when they play together in Unison.

One of the important skills of very young children acquire when they start to search traffic Cross body coordination is the opposite arm and leg-eg. the right arm with the left leg, etc. Violin unfolds in exactly the same connection as the right arm Crosses in front of the body in motion bowing. It has been proved the benefits of the brain left and integration and helps with a concentration and emotional development.

Ideally, the teacher will appear in the lesson, as the parent, that can help you with your home practice and be aware of exactly as expected for a child. After you realize how difficult it actually is, I am sure will be patients and unfortunate.

Another important part of the parent is the encouragement and praise. Even at a very early stage try to arrange for your child to play visitors, relatives-in fact, that someone who comes to your home you should expect little concert. This gives your child a great reputation and returns daily efforts in their practice.

It will significantly decrease performance nerves when she is advanced enough to participating in the "real" concerts.

It is difficult to imagine how learning violin can be so beneficial to the growing child. Self-discipline and concentration, as well as the precise coordination of skills acquired during Science Games any instrument, especially the violin has far-reaching benefits for life. Science, to participate as a musician in an orchestra is a skill in itself and the journey to becoming a musician amateur or professional-rich prizes is significantly.

Elizabeth Arnott

Elizabeth Arnott is English and she lived in Mexico for the past ten years, Having spent most of his adult life as a violinist, composer and teacher of violin, Suzuki in London, it currently plays in the local professional Orchestra in Merida, Yucatan, and gives a few lessons to individual students. Completely done with the Suzuki method, she believes that the best way to start the beginners, young children, adolescents, adults, and do a Suzuki, with a repertoire that has been so thoroughly has developed in order to ensure the bases of the great violin techniques.

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7 Secrets for beginners, Seagull S6

Seagull S6 is simply beginners guitar is great price undercutting. Seagull, coffee maker, a Canadian guitar, has been fine-tuning in one of the best in the world, guitars since 1980. Different models of electric guitar made out of Seagull Seagull S6 contributed to coaching his own in the music industry by winning several prizes. He is one of the few acoustic guitars that reviews from users of guitar all over. Here are seven reasons why:

1. Tone. Seagull S6 produces a warm, melodyjn, that sounds even better than those produced by other brands prestigious and expensive guitars. His beautiful sound, you can assign to the careful fine-tuning this guitar. In order to represent the richness of sound, the creator of Seagull S6, use only the best wood for his body and material for accessories. With nut and saddle to the strings of the guitar to the screen is excellent craftsmanship. The result is a timeless sound quality that beginners and professionals prepared for kojacy to the ear.

2. the sturdiness. The secret to business quality guitars Seagull is the superiority of the wood used. Most of the guitars, especially medium-range use plain plywood sides, its upper edge. Seagull guitars are stamped for his solid Cedar tops and black cherry laminated recolored. Unlike those which use plywood as the hub of the cedar in Seagull guitars gives sturdiness that withstand the test of time.

3. the limitation period. Seagull S6 gets only better in his century. The mystery behind the it materials. Guitar top fixed generally produces a better sound quality than plywood guitar top. Solid tops improvements in time and in use. This process is called aging. The more is played, the more correct and produces a wealth of sound.

4. comfort. A typical "Dreadnought", a project of Seagull S6 allows for efficient operation. Has the right size and make the users who find attractive. Even if the player is sitting down or standing up, curvy and easy-to-clutch features enable users to easily hold the guitar.

5. Nuts and registered saddle. Nut and saddle the guitar to hold the strings firmly in place. Seagull S6 uses plastic hybrid, known for its nut and Tusq saddle. More and more manufacturers are now turning to Tusq because it not only supports strings, but also increases the guitar tone.

6. High string operations. Like other fine guitar strings makers adapted the Seagull to ensure high performance. Guitars 12 string could easily tune your guitar easier.

7. the affordability. Who will resist the sheer affordability sounding good and reliable as the Seagull S6 acoustic guitar? Up to $ 500 already own this guitar for someone. What is more, get good value for every dollar it spent because not only you get the guitar, for best guitar.

So if you're a beginner looking for his first guitar, Seagull S6 is guitar, which will be facilitated in playing, professional sound quality and value for your money all at the same time for the Seagull S6.

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Start with easy pieces (guitar)

With all the musical instruments we hear every day one seems to be for most people, and the guitar. This is one of the reasons why it is more and more people to learn to play the guitar. Some may have other reasons why they wish to examine leisure; they probably want to include the band or something. But regardless of the objective, the goal remains the same, and that learning and improving their guitar skills. To be able to improve, you will have to enter the time and effort in training exercises and to be able to do this you will lead the good material and easy guitar tracks to work with.

Meeting the customer's live performances can be pretty Nerve wracking, especially if still beginner. But this is something that really need to build your trust. Once you hear the audience liking to music, there is a great improvement on their skills consultant and learning guitar easy game works. It is very important, Your guitar playing master yourself first, before attempting, joining the team. Solo performance is very different, as any string that you are playing is clearly heard by the audience, and as mentioned, you will build Your confidence by playing a solo. Unlike bandwidth, if you make a mistake if you do not want to be too obvious.

So what should I do to be able to improve their skills lead guitars? The first thing is to get your basic skills blocked. Always start with the basics by studying and mastering the chords, while strumming pattern and basic techniques of playing. Not quickly navigate to playing songs guitar easy, if you do not remember even the basic chords. Allow time for practicing your finger position drills and switch chords, in this way, you can print out the chords and the finger will receive use of positions as they can be very rigid at the beginning.

The next way to improve on their skills is to run, easy guitar songs. Easy guitar songs using their skills will improve faster, especially with the guitar his solo playing. Easy guitar songs you can switch to practice chords, Chord progressions and the proper recognition. In your application, you can now put everything you learned previously.

Hundreds of songs easily guitar can be found on the Internet and choose something that is very known as the old classic. There are many sites that aims to help beginners improve during their solo play guitar skills.

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Things to discuss with the guitar instructor

Many people taking guitar lessons with the impression that they are working on their own with their instructor. However, it is important to remember, are paying them, so if there is something you want to learn, do not be afraid to wywoL'aÄ in the next lesson.

Best acoustic guitar instructors will be open to listening to what their students need to say or ask. If they are not well then it may be time to start looking for a new coach. However, if they are to be, do not be afraid to wywoL'aÄ the things which you think, you need to learn.

The main issue with learning guitar is most people feel like they are shown just what to do instead of education and understand why. If an instructor guitar shows something i need clarification on it, by all means ask. You are a consumer. You pay for their knowledge. Many teachers will happily explain the acoustic guitar, anything that is unclear.

Acoustic guitar instructor is not simply show all the notes and chords, either. You pay them to learn everything you can about your document. I get know your document, especially guitar, some things will be developed. Like for example, most beginning guitar deals with pain in his fingers started to fret the strings on board. This is a totally common and calluses will become over time. But, at the beginning of his acoustic guitar teacher should be able to give a few exercises to develop the calluses as the pain subsides.

Another thing the novice should make is how to deal in hand, plays the cramps, the notes on the neck of the guitar. Keep in mind that the human hand is not designed to bend the way requires a guitar. Hands often in the beginning so the cramp and will get sore. Again this is a problem that should be supplemented with instructor acoustic guitar. They should be able to give tips and tricks to get used to bend in the wrong place.

Again, remember that your teacher acoustic is there because their for pay. They lack the training more than just play songs, they were there to help learn and explore with the acoustic guitar. So nothing you should ever be afraid to ask.

Benjamin j. under Cloyd is an instructor of guitar and a Web site has the best acoustic songs, where you can find and print the best songs for beginners to intermediate to advanced. There is also a teacher of guitar in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

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Look here comes Pokemon-Piano Pedagogy

I play piano more than 40 years, and recently I came across the term, Pedagogy. View my children gather Pokémon cards, when they were little, and immediately assumed must be one Pikachu's lever arch enemies. Could imagine Learning the piano as Pokémon Fire battling to the death of Pikachu. As if they actually fought death.

Domyslalem said, that will provide some information on this topic. I hope you enjoy and are inspired to continue their journey.

What is Piano Pedagogy?

Piano Pedagogy is a teaching piano. Focus on Piano Pedagogy is more oriented instruction for individual students as opposed to the education of music generally more focused on a group or school environment. In other words, piano lessons, which usually include one to one coaching manual or semi-private. In this connection, the Queen of Nice, used to call My pianist, properly known as the teacher of the piano.

The scope of the discrepancy between teachers available associated with piano is very high. Unfortunately, proper education is not always guaranteed simply by the amount of years a person has undertaken lessons. Lasts more than possession.

Factors that affect the ability of any piano pedagogue consist of the education and learning level, understanding performance, knowledge of many musical genres, history and piano repertoire, and most importantly, the ability to customize one teaches methods to synchronize with the different personalities and styles of learning.

Learning how to play piano includes Teaching art skills, problem solving, are motor and intellectual. There are several areas of study involved, including the training of the ear, rhythm notation, technique, improvisation, and Vista and memorization.

Education

Piano Pedagogy may be studied through academic programs, often achieving 13 bachelors, master's or doctoral degree, even at the University of music and attended conservatories. Bachelor of science can call for a few years previous studies piano and against the instructions of knowledge as a prerequisite for the application. The graduate level, many universities require applicants to have some experience of training and a minimum of Bachelor of music or comparable experience in piano performance and pedagogy.

Although most Piano Pedagogy programs contain a number of experimental performance, curriculum for degree Education becomes schools. And although most of them do not contain, students associated with the group can choose to enable the receive training exclusively within the same category of "teaching the piano".

Check out our featured courses, or make use of major search engines to find courses in Piano Pedagogy, which may be interesting for now by visiting PlayPianoDude.com, where you'll find this and much more, including how to play piano with fingers 12!

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Develop your skills, piano

When choosing what instrument should attend games, piano is certainly belongs first and foremost among these is considering, as it is one of the most flexible musical instruments that we have today.

Playing the piano is widely considered as one of the most well-known and absorbing hobby that you can really enjoy. Whatever your favorite genre of music is, for more details and think about the piano, you can certainly use their skills and enjoy playing music in this particular genre.

First steps for beginners

When it first take piano, can often be difficult to know where to start. The first thing you should do is to actually choose the piano instrument to be used. You can of course buy piano involvement, especially if you plan to buy one from scratch, so most people will usually start with piano or keyboard.

The keyboard is usually the best option, if you're not sure about whether it will be totally committed on the piano, since it is also much less expensive that other pianos larger and Grander.

The next step to start piano is choose how you are going to learn. Most people will organise a series of lessons from a tutor or an experienced pianist. But you find also the comprehensive online Barinova, which are recommended in those cases where planning lessons with tutors probably difficult because of the limitations of lifestyle or time.

Lessons Online or in person?

There are advantages to both types of lessons and eventually will both end up with you piano. But how quickly you can learn about your style of life and time, which can be allocated to your lessons in piano, are factors that determines how well you'll learn the piano, and that between these types of lessons will work better for you.

If you choose lessons personally, usually you will have to find a good tutor, who will be able to guide you through the process of practicing and playing style, which is used to develop at the intermediate level piano.

Another option is, of course, buy a course online piano lessons. There are also a number of advantages by choosing this method to start, piano. First, online lessons appear to be significantly cheaper than having a real teacher. Secondly, this method will really suit you if you cannot commit to regular meetings of your lessons, or want to learn about your own time and pace.

The Conclusion Of The

The piano really is one of the best hobby that you can start, if you are looking for interesting and fulfilling hobby.

At the beginning, the piano can be quite frustrating if you spend a little time to do the practice in law and practice really will have to be great fun, and more importantly, the skills that will impress your friends and family.

Whether you learn it through a series of online lessons or find a tutor to facilitate the first steps in piano, all your efforts will be repaid by the advances in their skills. In addition, you can also start, playing music that have wanted to play all along.

Frank is a journalist based in Atlanta, GA

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How do I get the best for Beat making for you

I understand you want to make your own beats. It's really enjoyable and fulfilling hobby and simply you e may be a little more than just a hobby. The feeling of what can be achieved as only in the end you can hear Your hard work which has already been spinning with you during the previous month, who's life is almost indescribable. Now many many people beat up are likely all hyped up and eager to wyjatkowoscia their first piece of a master, but one newcomer to major problems are faced with is "what is the best software for taking up the beat". Be familiar with from all types of devices, making numerous beat all plead for the best that you can really know what the novice is best for them?

You will discover tons of different types of beat creation software and programs on the web. This gives us a huge question that each newcomer is the question "what one go?" It can be pretty tuff select from such a vast amount of software without a little help in the appropriate direction. So will describe the main factors to consider when selecting a software beat.

First, and probably the most crucial is the cost. Just don't go there and buy the most expensive, which can execute! Just because it is expensive does not necessarily mean being in the least better than others. It is true beat making software changes in value quite drastically. The best thing now is to store a set budget to go and shop!

Most salespeople usually State that the detailed descriptions of what their software can provide, which will create more accurate decisions on software. Although many developers produce certain inappropriate software move so watch open to opinions with regard to the software. Now when it comes to beginners, checking out this kind of information can be much like the description of a new language. I think that is an ideal option to Buy the software, the best of the beat for beginners to start cheap. Stay within a budget of $ 100 would probably be a better option. Might sound like a step backwards, but it would be an ideal place to start for Beginners and allows you to conduct surveys and make a series of amazing intellect. If you are a completely new beat making various free software on the Internet can be used, but they should not have too many good.

Hopefully with this information, you should be able to discover the best software for beat for you.

Take a look at all My helpful tips and tricks for beat making really force you to make certain cuts master!

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Teaching piano-piano lessons with Old School still work?

Whether you are a piano teaching or wants to learn, many people find quite expensive Barinova, and for this reason some future pianistów are never detected. Playing the piano is a skill that takes time to develop. But don't believe the other hand, if you find that it is not. Here are some ideas on how to save some dough while learning how to play the piano.

If you're wondering over cost Barinova, you might want to know what are the available options. Of course, more options, more likely cost-effective solutions are available to the user. Simple supply and demand.

In addition to those of us who are looking to learn the piano teachers ' unions need to find more cost-effective ways of piano teaching. Remember, we are at the age of advanced technology and the internet is a vast Ocean resources when it comes to learning and acquiring knowledge. That includes teaching Barinova and learning games.

"When I was a kid (don't ask me how long ago), a typical way to learn the piano was by professional teachers. My parents started me at a young age (5) and I had weekly lesson in my house pianist. The Internet did not exist, so private lessons were pretty much our only option.

The statement in private have advantages

Today's teacher may charge a per hour, at a session or even on a weekly or monthly. It all depends on how to set it up. Most professional teachers are flexible and can help. Even better if you add the close friend or relative, teaching piano, you can save some serious bucks.

To learn a lot of great things with a teacher of piano. They help each step of the way and more importantly, you can see and hear Your mistakes and correct them directly on the spot. If you want to go this route, make sure that you get to know them before in principle long-term. It is important to find the right match.

On the other hand, some people prefer to learn on its own. If you are in that category, then the vast Oceanic resources above are for you. The good thing is that the advantages of a private teacher, are still available in some cases.

Piano courses

Piano course online certainly will provide you with specialised software teaching, which often will include lessons and instructions with video in addition to all of written material. The price actually is much more cost-effective than to pay a qualified teacher. An obvious advantage is the alternative that you can learn at their own pace.

With the exception of teaching piano, PCs and the Internet, you also have the option of spending money trying to piano ebook. It may seem difficult, but nevertheless, if you prefer to do all the work by itself, this option can do this task. Piano ebook is usually cheaper, so you are better able to benefit from the dough, if this is a problem for you.

Regardless of which option you have, the most important thing you need is a positive attitude and a strong desire to learn. Both piano teaching and learning how to play for the first time, simplify life somewhat with the online course for piano today. And have fun doing it.

You can enter a positive difference

For more information about the piano teaching or learning how to play the piano, visit PlayPianoDude.com, where you'll find this and much more, including the only opinion that trafficking for piano simulators.

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5 tips to help you learn to Play Guitar fast

The science of play guitar is a very long, I can tell you that, but there are ways the journey easier and faster. There are many guitar swells, who does not want to take it slow and try to learn all too quickly, usually what happens with them is that they get zalewowi and they end up bad habits or education they end up having very low technology.

Persons who normally learn in this way are those who simply want to play guitar as a hobby, just want to play for fun and very often attempt to learn the song too quickly. I know this has happened to me, because I play in a team of another guitarist m = wi's "Hey, our next Performance you need to learn the song Saturday night", so I go and try to learn, but Guess what; It is usually not I play right the first time.

It is important to know that there is a magic lesson, or Mystic technique quickly learn the guitar, but there are a few tips that can give you to help you learn, avoid getting frustrated, but the most important other than to learn guitar properly.

OK, so you need to know about the five things play guitar fast learning are:

1. learning the song as a slow Start. It can also sound a bit like a Paradox, but that's the truth, you need to learn slowly and correctly, without any errors, and then with the practice, run, putting some speed. Avoid trying to play a song, just like it sounds, specially the song quickly; most likely, you will not get it right.

2. learn finger exercises. There are many good exercises there will help build finger strength and speeds, find one that matches your level, there is nothing too hard but avoid those that are too easy as well. After fully dominated one step move to the next.

3. Be patient. Rome was not built overnight and legends of the great guitar master the guitar, not in one week, so get in early, if frustrating at some point, don't worry, which is completely normal, the best thing to do if during startup, feeling bored is interrupted, there may be several days if necessary, and then start playing again.

4. the practice as often as possible. This is the key for the great guitarist, so as to learn guitar fast, practices one hour daily, if possible, this may be somewhat difficult, but more effort put into it, the faster will improve its skills, guitar

5. Set your goals. It's easier to get where you want to go, if you set goals, just be careful with realistic objectives and helps a lot, have a role model, so find a guitar player to look up too and motivation they receive through their veins.

Guitar learning is a never ending, like I mentioned before is not a magic recipe I teach guitar overnight, but if you start, take things in small steps, you'll be a step forward in this journey, remember that practice is the key, good luck and happy day.

George Balibrera-guitarist experienced with over 12 years, playing guitar. You can start playing the guitar to be fun and exciting when you have the proper method to learn more. Buy Jamorama at the best price and start learning guitar immediately, or improve your skills as a musician. Remember, practice is the key. To the success of the company.

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Jazz Guitar scales

Typically, the artist relies on their knowledge of the scales as a raw material for soloing. The player to know at least one scale for major, minor and dominant dominant. Most commonly used scales (flatted notes are counted from the major scale):

Chord.................................The Scale Of

The main chord ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Scale

Minor chord ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... melodic minor (the tonic chords)

Minor chord ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...Dorian scale ...(b3, b7)

Minor chord ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...Aeolian scale ...(b3, b6, b7)

Dominant seventh chord.Scale of the Mixolydian mode.(b7)

dominant 7Th chord ... ... ... ... minor scale to b7

Dominant seventh chord ... ... ... ... diminished scale Deputy half notes and whole tones, ranging from the mid tone

Dominant seventh chord ... ... ... ... changes the scale of b2, b3, b5, nat 3, b6, b7

Dominant seventh chord ... ... ... ... the whole ... tons of whole steps

Decreased to half the chord before .........Locrian scale ... b2, b3, b5, b6, b7

It should be noted that the modal scales (Dorian, Lydian, Mixolydian mode, Eolskich, Phrygian and Locrian) are simply inversions greater scale. For example, the c major scale, which uses its second tone d as the tonic scale becomes D Dorian. When the player is fluent in playing scales, should the practice of improvising the melody using one scale and its associated arpeggio (chord sounds single lines). Always know where you are on a chord! Then the player should practice Chord Melody by changing connection improvising chord. Good exercise is to start on the lowest Note and Keep going up step-wise (full and half-tones) via two chords (one bar each, repeatedly), then when you get to the highest note, reverse and go down. You can also do the same using arpeggios. Over time, your mind will constitute a picture where a particular chord and scale is located at fingerboard of your document.

When C7 chord, which requires each part of the neck will look like the chord C7-all sounds chord and scale positions will be displayed as if in the mind of a chord melodies are colored and other sounds of scale are a different color. You want all 12 chromatic notes that curbing our scale chord-chord tones become passing tones and modified the note. Note the root (c) designation of the planet and everything is in different orbits around it. Remember that the player uses scales and arpeggios improvise scale and arpeggios is not using the user. They are the raw material for the melody, but the player is to mold the material, rather than simply learning launch rapid passages. 12 string guitar, you don't need to pause for breath, like say players trumpet-but this does not mean some space should not be introduced into Your game.

David Widelock – guitarist, that would be very like it, if you visit its web site
http://beegumrecords.com/

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Discover 10 popular songs, learn piano as beginner

Here are 10 popular songs to learn piano, especially for beginners

1. the Pachelbel Canon-is a famous song, originally written for strings, but also a very famous and popular playing the piano. It comes in a variety of arrangements for beginners to advanced players, so a big one to learn as a Beginner then a piece of Nostalgia to come back at a later stage, they are more advanced.

2. Imagine by John Lennon-this is one of these songs, which most people know, and would go well on the page, or sing a song! Has Great chord accompaniment is good and improve its technique and enable the use of chords in your game.

3. the Drunken Sailor-the classic folk song is piano song, put a smile on the faces of people, and requires only a simple line basu as the right arm is the main section with two simple chord patterns.

4. Let it Be Beatles-this is another classic song, famous with the Beatles. In simple signature key has a nice piano arrangement by which will be the ideal Beginner.

5. Annie's song by John Denver-this is a song from the lovely melodies, in which his words match. In simple signature key has a beautiful melody to play as a novice, and one song that will continue to play the piano through the years. How to become a more advanced enables the freedom of a proxy to it with different arrangements on piano.

6. Fur Elise-Beethoven ever popular classical piece, written by Beethoven, featuring superior sound and feeling to it. For beginners, listening to it could prozdrowotnych healthful, he and think it is difficult to play, but in reality is the opposite. In simple signature key is repeated only in several different sections to master and is available in a variety of levels. Also sounds great too, so it is a way to impress your audience.

7. Amazing Grace was originally written by John Newton is the classic popular song Gospel. Has many feeling and emotion to it, which plays well when played on the piano. Suits all levels of the pianist, but it is a particularly good start as a beginner, as a simple key durat signature. You can even download it for free from the Web sites of music on the Internet.

8. the clocks of rock band Coldplay. Is a modern famous international alternative rock band Coldplay. It features the lovely simple chords. They played in her right hand to take the lead, with a straight line, but effective bass, which complements this work well. It enters, playing chords, in practice, and show how it is all linked to the music.

9. Piano Man Billy Joel-the title says it all with this song. It is a very popular song originally written for piano. This is a song, add to your repertoire as a beginner. In simple "key and time signature is the Waltz that will develop their skills through the introduction of the waltz rhythm timings to your game. It is also the song that most people will know, sounds, and terrific when played piano.

10. Candle in the Wind "by Elton John-this is one of the most popular hits of Elton John and arranged for piano. Originally it was written in a tone of E-flat major, but there are some easy piano arrangements made, which are simpler key. This allows you to choose the perfect song to learn as a beginner. Acceleration of the melody is simple, but it sounds fantastic.

There are some great free courses to train anybody from the newbie to advanced pianist to learn how to play the piano. Great for beginners to learn is to start some really easy Piano songs that will get you started and help build confidence that all important.

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Left handed guitar lessons from Jimi Hendrix-observations of Monterey

There was probably that the left was released, but more was to left field came on the stretch the boundaries of the guitar and entertainment.

Jimi Hendrix came from traditional Blues background and use of Electronics has been able to extend the tradition in order to develop new, innovative sound that would put him on the map for future generations.

In Jazz, Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery and Andre Segovia classical music and Julian Bream are all large, in their respective genres, as Hendrix and Steve Vai. Although the products of geniuszy are the same species, are so different that it really should be compared.

Hendrix is unique, not because they gave us left the lessons provided guitar, but that was the guitar, acrobat.

Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck created innovation in sound, but Hendrix redefined the guitar almost as if it were some sort of an instrument of war. Part of the "machine Gun" demonstrates not only the ratatatat weapons; It also imitates the bombs and missiles as it did in the Star Spangled banner, rendered in Woodstock.

In this article, I would like to take from two songs by Hendrix's performance at the Monterey: Hey Joe and Wild Thing. The purpose of this is so the student can get a better grasp of what to understand that there is no proper way to hold the guitar.

Allows you to start looking at the beginning of Jimi's guitar solo on "Hey Joe. Here is doing something which is rare for him; game song similar to the one from a recording Studio. But this time do it with his teeth at the front of the audience to Monterey. I think that anyone had ever done so before him. What is remarkable is how notes come clear, with a full tone. There are no thuds or Misses. Is holding the guitar to his face and uses its teeth instead of a pick. Serves to fill because the teeth are not in a favourable position, with the inside of the mouth, Jimi effects with head and neck movement in combination with moving on guitar, closer, and then to the teeth. Don't try it yourself. Assured, this is not safe for teeth. Chipped and one of my front teeth showing "for my friends. I'm surprised that I can't break the string.

Move the position of the teeth, Jimi runs, download without the missing beat. After a few regular picks positioned it then points lead almost like a gun, but by hand pasowaniami play by the first place. Jimi had the knowledge and ability to play chords in the unusual ways. Fingers were very large and can easily wrap around the neck. One could make the work of two finger when he needed. Why is it stretched guitar, showing the audience may have been visually direct performance outside recipients.

Quite often he is addressed pretty girls. I will let you draw your own conclusion there.

With fluid motion he then shows up the guitar as if the play to heaven. But it seems some foreshadowing of the sacrifice to the gods, as the back of the neck and placed the guitar plays every bit as well as in the so-called "normal" position. The song "Hey Joe comes to the penultimate conclusion as Jimi removes a tape from his shoulder and as if to complete the victim has a guitar in front of him with one hand while the other sections of the strap from the side. Meanwhile, the left handed guitar lessons not quite finished. Quickly returns the tape to his shoulders and played the final chords.

His sense of relaxation and groove are constant. There is an effortlessness, usually associated with the idea of Left-handedness. While playing his last evening melody again points the guitar in each direction while his head is looking up into the stars.

Several runs the elbow, to help you make up one bit zoom sound transmitted technique solo. He begins with the quote "Strangers in the Night" bright lights out on blocks by placing the hand in front of its eyes. The ear is highly qualified to know that this is a one handed solo. The game is so smooth, even not notice that he is not at all-electric.

What happened next was unique to the times. While still in the game, and again not somersault never misses the beat. Guitar is placed on the floor, and he Grabs to strings, almost as if the order to be able to fit it, although seemingly to music.

However, this does not do so as the sum of Finish for the day. Jimi Grab some lighter fluid and matches box and proceeds to light his guitar on fire. The song will not end until the cause of flame, and the blazing guitar smashing it gets hard on the floor stage. It seems that with every smash, the feedback is to add another dimension to music. Do not do this at home.

So when someone says that it is necessary to find an appropriate way to store guitar, let this experience left handed guitar, some guidance.

Gene Petty

If you want more info based on left handed guitars for free, go to http://www.onlineguitarlessonsforfree.com/. You might want to read more articles on guitar lessons. Go to http://www.downloadguitarlessonsfree.com/wordpress

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