JEREMY MILLIGAN GUITAR STUDIO
  • Classes offered
    • Homeschool Music Class
    • Guitar Orchestra
    • Guitar Lessons
  • About Jeremy
  • Contact
  • Rates/Policies/Calendar
  • Registration
  • Videos

Creating a good practice environment.

10/23/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Whenever I have a student that seems to be stalling in their progress I ask the question “Where do you practice?”  The reason I ask is because I think the environment you create for yourself (or your child) to practice in is one of the most important factors in the success of that practice, and the progress made.  Setting up a quality practice space can seem like a big commitment of space in your home, but the payoff for the student can’t be overstated.  Here are a few tips for setting up a good space.

  1. Have a quiet space, free of distractions.  This is the most important!  Quality practice takes a lot of focus and attention, and nothing is worse for that than sitting at the kitchen table while dinner is being cooked or, worse yet, on the couch while the TV is on.  Somewhere with a door that can be closed!  A corner of a bedroom is usually a good solution.  
  2. Use a music stand!!!.  A close 2nd to number 1 above.  Having the music at the right height and distance from the player is a huge advantage!  Too many students prop their books up on pillows on their bed or on the kitchen table.  Also, time is tight!  Keep your music out on the stand, open to whatever you are working on.  If you have 10 minutes to practice you don’t want to waste 5 minutes getting your music out, which brings us to…..
  3. Use a guitar stand.   Having a safe and secure stand for your instrument ensures you can have it out at all times, and spend more time practicing.  Not to mention, guitars are beautiful!  Cases are ugly.  
  4. Keep all the essential tools close by.  For a lot of the same reasons stated above.  Don’t waste time searching for your tuner, metronome, footstool or whatever you need to get busy practicing.  Keep them out and on the stand/floor or wherever they belong.  Most of these things have to go to your lesson with you, so when you get home just take the time to unload ALL of those things from your case and set them up so you are ready for the next practice session (right after your lesson is also a great time to practice a little!)
  5. Make yourself comfortable.  Have a comfy chair (make sure it’s a good height), some nice lighting, maybe a glass of water or cup of tea or whatever makes you happy.  Give yourself the fewest reasons possible to get up from that chair!  Make it as pleasant an experience as possible.  

That’s it!  If you can find the time and space to set yourself up well, practice will be something to look forward to, and progress will come faster and faster!

1 Comment

Why Every Guitarist Should Study Classical

6/2/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
    The art of playing the Classical guitar is often seen as an outsider in the wide world of guitar playing.  The strict technique, the odd playing posture (as seen above), the necessity of reading, all place it in a different category of playing than your typical Rock, Jazz, or Folk styles.  However I truly believe that, regardless of what style of music you play, every guitarist can benefit from the experience of playing Classical music in the Classical style.  
    Firstly, Classical guitar is by necessity very technique oriented.  Due to the complexity of the music there is a great emphasis on efficiency of motion, relaxation, and posture that is above and beyond what is typical in the study of other styles.  Learning how to use your hands efficiently and play with a minimum of tension is of huge benefit to your playing in any style.  
    Also, in order to develop that technique you must first develop an ability to practice well!  The study of Classical music requires that challenges be broken down and overcome in small pieces.  A difficult passage might be broken down into the notes to be played, the rhythm, the left hand fingerings, the right hand fingering or picking, the articulation, the phrasing.  Each of these layers can be peeled back individually to help students make steady forward progress no matter what the style.  
    Lastly, there is a very different focus when studying Classical music than other styles.  I’ve found in almost every other style of guitar playing the major focus is learning what to play.  Learning your scales and modes,  fingerpicking patterns, your different chord voicings up and down the neck.  These are the focus of your typical guitar lessons.  The interesting thing about Classical music is that there is no question of what to play.  The notes are all written out for you!  Now you get to focus on how to play them.  I’m not talking about just the physical ability to hit all the notes, but the phrasing, articulation, tone quality, color, integrity of the voices.  These are the details of playing that you get to explore much more deeply when the notes are all decided upon ahead of time.  Until it is played, Classical music is just notes on a page.  Our job as classical guitarists is to bring those notes to life and make it beautiful music.  Developing that approach through the study of Classical music, and then bringing that same focus to the study of Rock, Blues, Jazz, Folk or any style of music will only serve to elevate the quality of your playing!
    There are clearly numerous other reasons for a musician, regardless of your goals as a musician, spend time and effort to study the classical guitar.  Not the least of which being the pure beauty of the repertoire and the instrument.  But, hopefully the few small examples I gave here are enough to get any guitarists out the to dive in!  
1 Comment

    Author

    Jeremy Milligan is a Freelance Guitarist and Teacher of Guitar and Music Theory

    Archives

    October 2017
    June 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Classes offered
    • Homeschool Music Class
    • Guitar Orchestra
    • Guitar Lessons
  • About Jeremy
  • Contact
  • Rates/Policies/Calendar
  • Registration
  • Videos