Music Lessons, Little Rock
Improve continuously by following these 5 tips...
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In your wildest dreams, where do you see yourself when it comes to making music?
- Playing with the baddest jazz cats around and holding your own?
- Creating beautiful music that moves people?
- Gigging consistently with your band, and making more than gas money? (don't laugh - it's a worthwhile goal)
Whatever your dreams are, you only get there by working for them. They don't fall in your lap, no matter how many "overnight success" stories you've read.
(in most cases, the overnight success was more like 10 years of hard work and a lucky break - if you really dig into it!)
To reach your goals and dreams, you have to improve continuously. Most of you know what a plateau is. Most of you know what a rut is. Well, here are 5 tips that will help you stay on the continual improvement track!
Tip 1 - Set goals and write them down
This simple step, no more than 5-10 minutes, is one that most people do not do. We all dream big, but if you read the success stories of those individuals who "made it" in whatever field they chose, you will often find that they had one thing in common, Goal Setting.
By simply writing down your goals, you are more likely to work towards them and achieve them than if you keep it just in your head.
I've written about goals several times. Check out this article on setting goals and then write out your own.
Start big (i.e. play Madison Square Garden and Rawwwkkkk!!!!) but then drill down on what you have to do to reach that goal (learn how to play chords, learn AC/DC songs, solo like Keith Richards, etc).
Tip 2 - Practice Consistently
There is no way around practice. To get better, you have to practice.
What sets most musicians apart is the desire to improve and how much they work to scratch that itch!
Now, I know that everyone has a life outside of music. We all have jobs, school, kids to take care of, homework to do, etc. However, if you are truly into making music and becoming a good musician, you will find the time to practice.
How often you practice is more important than how much you practice. All guitar teachers have seen it, the students that practice for 2 hours just before their lesson - and that's all they have practiced since the last lesson. They always struggle to play the material. Progress is slow, and often frustrating to the student due to working on the same material week over week.
All guitar teachers have also seen the students that practice a little every day (15-30 minutes). By doing so, they often have the material ready and progress much quicker than the student that practices 1-2 days for a hour or more. This is because they touch the instrument every day. They work every day. They improve every day (see where I'm going here?)
When you set up your practice schedule, see if you can work in a 6-7 day a week practice routine. Even if you can only commit 20 minutes or so to this, it will be more effective to do so than trying to cram a couple of hours over 2-3 days.
Tip 3 - Stay out of your comfort zone
This tip could also be called "how to avoid a rut".
If you have been practicing any length of time, you likely have hit a rut or two. Those times where you felt very comfortable playing old material. The scales sound with ease, chords ring true, progressions flow from memory.
Well, guess what?
You are not improving if this is your practice routine. You are simply staying in place. You may not be losing any of your skills, but you most definitely are not gaining ground on your goals.
Every practice should make you sweat (not literally). What I mean is, every practice should make you think and work in order to get something under your fingers. Be it a new scale, chord progression, soloing over unfamiliar changes or anything else that pushes your current abilities. You should have to think through the rough spots, analyze your playing, create new approaches to learning the material, etc.
This is the work that makes you improve, not playing the same scale the same way you've played it for 2 years.
Tip 4 - Ear Training, Ear Training, Ear Training!
I tell my students that their hands are good tools for making music (you need fingers to play the notes).
I also tell them that knowledge is good as well (music theory is not a dirty word - say it with me - music theory is not a dirty word).
But, the most important tool we have as musicians is our ears. Our ears allow us to have musical conversations with our instruments rather than having to explain what we're playing or what others should play. In addition, good ears enables you to learn material already out there (your favorite songs) and help you play the wonderful music we hear in our head (your music).
Ear training is tough in the beginning. You might not be able to tell an F# from a Volkswagon. But guess what, you also couldn't play a D chord the first time you touched a guitar could you?
Everything comes with patience and practice!
Here are a couple of ideas for ear training...
- Buy a pitch pipe
and blow a note. See if you can then sing the note back and memorize it. After a few days, sing the note then check how close you are with your pitch pipe.
- If you have a friend that plays guitar, have them play a note and then find the same note. Pick a scale and have them play a phrase from that scale and then find it and play it back.
- Try some of the software that is out there. I've used both Ear Master
and Band In A Box for ear training. Both programs are good at training you to recognize intervals, chords and inversions.
Tip 5 - Play with others
Playing with others will do more for you than sitting in your practice room practicing for a year. Even if you are a beginner, try to play with others. Most musicians remember what it was like to be a beginner and will not only play with you, they'll likely offer good tips and advice on how to get better!
In addition, by playing with others, you get a reality check on what your strengths and weaknesses are. Take that knowledge and incorporate it into your practice routine. For example, if you knew all the chords that were called out in the tunes you played, but your right hand rhythms sounded dry and boring, spend less time on chord grips and more time on right hand rhythm studies.
If your solos lacked fire, work on your technique and try to burn next time. On the flip side, if you played 32nd note triplets on a slow blues, because that's all you can do, try to spend more time on melodic studies and put some feeling into your playing.
--------------------------------------------------------------
There you have it. My top 5 tips on continual improvement. I hope you can take something from this post and incorporate into your playing. Good luck to you and go practice!
guitar guitar lessons in little rock little rock guitar lessons guitar teacher ear training guitar chords guitar scales practice routine jam session chord progression
In your wildest dreams, where do you see yourself when it comes to making music?
- Playing with the baddest jazz cats around and holding your own?
- Creating beautiful music that moves people?
- Gigging consistently with your band, and making more than gas money? (don't laugh - it's a worthwhile goal)
Whatever your dreams are, you only get there by working for them. They don't fall in your lap, no matter how many "overnight success" stories you've read.
(in most cases, the overnight success was more like 10 years of hard work and a lucky break - if you really dig into it!)
To reach your goals and dreams, you have to improve continuously. Most of you know what a plateau is. Most of you know what a rut is. Well, here are 5 tips that will help you stay on the continual improvement track!
Tip 1 - Set goals and write them down
This simple step, no more than 5-10 minutes, is one that most people do not do. We all dream big, but if you read the success stories of those individuals who "made it" in whatever field they chose, you will often find that they had one thing in common, Goal Setting.
By simply writing down your goals, you are more likely to work towards them and achieve them than if you keep it just in your head.
I've written about goals several times. Check out this article on setting goals and then write out your own.
Start big (i.e. play Madison Square Garden and Rawwwkkkk!!!!) but then drill down on what you have to do to reach that goal (learn how to play chords, learn AC/DC songs, solo like Keith Richards, etc).
Tip 2 - Practice Consistently
There is no way around practice. To get better, you have to practice.
What sets most musicians apart is the desire to improve and how much they work to scratch that itch!
Now, I know that everyone has a life outside of music. We all have jobs, school, kids to take care of, homework to do, etc. However, if you are truly into making music and becoming a good musician, you will find the time to practice.
How often you practice is more important than how much you practice. All guitar teachers have seen it, the students that practice for 2 hours just before their lesson - and that's all they have practiced since the last lesson. They always struggle to play the material. Progress is slow, and often frustrating to the student due to working on the same material week over week.
All guitar teachers have also seen the students that practice a little every day (15-30 minutes). By doing so, they often have the material ready and progress much quicker than the student that practices 1-2 days for a hour or more. This is because they touch the instrument every day. They work every day. They improve every day (see where I'm going here?)
When you set up your practice schedule, see if you can work in a 6-7 day a week practice routine. Even if you can only commit 20 minutes or so to this, it will be more effective to do so than trying to cram a couple of hours over 2-3 days.
Tip 3 - Stay out of your comfort zone
This tip could also be called "how to avoid a rut".
If you have been practicing any length of time, you likely have hit a rut or two. Those times where you felt very comfortable playing old material. The scales sound with ease, chords ring true, progressions flow from memory.
Well, guess what?
You are not improving if this is your practice routine. You are simply staying in place. You may not be losing any of your skills, but you most definitely are not gaining ground on your goals.
Every practice should make you sweat (not literally). What I mean is, every practice should make you think and work in order to get something under your fingers. Be it a new scale, chord progression, soloing over unfamiliar changes or anything else that pushes your current abilities. You should have to think through the rough spots, analyze your playing, create new approaches to learning the material, etc.
This is the work that makes you improve, not playing the same scale the same way you've played it for 2 years.
Tip 4 - Ear Training, Ear Training, Ear Training!
I tell my students that their hands are good tools for making music (you need fingers to play the notes).
I also tell them that knowledge is good as well (music theory is not a dirty word - say it with me - music theory is not a dirty word).
But, the most important tool we have as musicians is our ears. Our ears allow us to have musical conversations with our instruments rather than having to explain what we're playing or what others should play. In addition, good ears enables you to learn material already out there (your favorite songs) and help you play the wonderful music we hear in our head (your music).
Ear training is tough in the beginning. You might not be able to tell an F# from a Volkswagon. But guess what, you also couldn't play a D chord the first time you touched a guitar could you?
Everything comes with patience and practice!
Here are a couple of ideas for ear training...
- Buy a pitch pipe
- If you have a friend that plays guitar, have them play a note and then find the same note. Pick a scale and have them play a phrase from that scale and then find it and play it back.
- Try some of the software that is out there. I've used both Ear Master
and Band In A Box for ear training. Both programs are good at training you to recognize intervals, chords and inversions.Tip 5 - Play with others
Playing with others will do more for you than sitting in your practice room practicing for a year. Even if you are a beginner, try to play with others. Most musicians remember what it was like to be a beginner and will not only play with you, they'll likely offer good tips and advice on how to get better!
In addition, by playing with others, you get a reality check on what your strengths and weaknesses are. Take that knowledge and incorporate it into your practice routine. For example, if you knew all the chords that were called out in the tunes you played, but your right hand rhythms sounded dry and boring, spend less time on chord grips and more time on right hand rhythm studies.
If your solos lacked fire, work on your technique and try to burn next time. On the flip side, if you played 32nd note triplets on a slow blues, because that's all you can do, try to spend more time on melodic studies and put some feeling into your playing.
--------------------------------------------------------------
There you have it. My top 5 tips on continual improvement. I hope you can take something from this post and incorporate into your playing. Good luck to you and go practice!
guitar guitar lessons in little rock little rock guitar lessons guitar teacher ear training guitar chords guitar scales practice routine jam session chord progression
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This is all really good advice. I found the thing that really improved my playing is when I finally got the nerve to play in front of people at an open mic. It is very true about other musicians being willing to help you and give advice. Every body started at the beginning.
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