Freeway Music — Columbia, SC’s Premier Music School

There have always been alternatives to music lessons such as: books, cd’s, videos, and now, internet and YouTube offer great resources for music students to learn to play their instruments. Still, there is nothing that can replace having a lesson with a teacher in person. Here are a few benefits from “In Person” music lessons:

Relationship

Nothing can replicate the relationship one establishes from having music lessons in person. The music teacher can instantly respond to a student. It’s kind of hard to high five a student through a computer screen, or establish a relationship with a YouTube video. Also, if your music teacher lives in the same town with you, they can attend your music events, or other events like even soccer games, etc. I personally strive to have a strong relationship with my students and their families. I pride myself in being a mentor to my students, encouraging them to grow, not only in music, but in academics, sports, and life in general.

Jamming

I have several Skype guitar lessons that I teach, but the one thing that I miss the most is playing at the same time with my students. When I was young, I remember a specific night jamming with my friend. He played rhythm guitar and I played lead guitar for a Metallica song. We stayed up all night playing and had a blast. There is a special moment that happens when two or more people are in a room together playing parts that compliment each other. I always jam with students who are learning to improvise. I try to use my own energy in the room to inspire them to play, and illustrate dynamics. Playing along with a student also creates a guide for the song they are working on, gently pushing the student to completion and correction. I’ve even noticed guitar students moving, dancing, and mimicking my movements when we are standing and preparing for a showcase. This is a great opportunity to talk about stage presence. This element of music lessons is vital.

Opportunities

Having a local music teacher creates many more opportunities for students to plug in and develop. One of my favorite elements of Freeway Music is the showcases. We pair guitar, drum, bass, voice, and piano students into bands and they perform together. The last several showcases even included violin, saxophone, flute, and banjo students. The showcases always give me chills. It’s so amazing, as a teacher, to watch a student’s confidence grow. The showcases give students purpose, propelling them to practice more. Students forge friendships and band together, sometimes for life. My teacher, Robert Newton, had a local jam session. His guitar students would go sit in and meet some of the best local talent. This helped propel my career so much. I have also had my students come sit in and play with me at my gigs. Just like Robert took me under his wing, I do the same for my students. Our students at Freeway have played on local radio stations, in parades, and at music festivals. We’ve had clinics for tone, songwriting, specific instruments, and much more. Most of the guitar teachers at Freeway are former or current guitar students of mine. Networking and connections go a long way in any business, and your music teacher could be your best resource.

There are many avenues to explore learning outside of your regular lesson to supplement what your are learning. Unfortunately, one can’t replicate the relationship you form, playing together in person, and the opportunities that come from private lessons. My best students do both, and I encourage you to do the same. Good Luck!

The Talmud says that a person should do two things for himself. One is to acquire a teacher.
From The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Here are the Spark Notes from “The Chosen”.

Studying with a teacher is the best thing that any student can do for his/her development. While this fact is undeniable, it’s also dependent on the student’s being open to instruction from someone that is his/her superior and can demonstrate instructions with ease and confidence. Much like martial arts masters were challenged to fight by potential students, so too must a musical “master” be worthy of pupils.
*Check out IP Man

The Ego Problem

Ego is not inherently a bad word or a bad thing, but it is the one aspect of our personalities that can sabotage our ability to improve and/or how we view our improvement. This “ego problem” can especially affect a person’s decision about whether to take private music lessons or not. Genuine objectivity is needed to decide that the “outside influence” of a qualified music teacher is the ideal influence on our musical development.

Admitting that you could benefit from some qualified help is a big step in the right direction. Too often, the need to feel like we are “talented” or “gifted” enough to teach ourselves prevents us from seeking help from a teacher. Separating this need from objectively admitting your shortcomings is a key part of the process. Then, finding a qualified music teacher with whom you have a great relationship will accelerate your rate of development.

The Discourager

There are plenty of frightened, but talented, musicians in this world that deny practicing or tutelage has shaped them. It’s unfortunate when this type of negative association with learning occurs and is propagated. I can only assume that somewhere along the line, these jaded or fiercely independent musicians had a bad experience with a potential teacher or mentor. While these incidents certainly can happen, it is no reason to discourage others from pursuing the path of studying (as the drummer for the Black Keys – never mind his name – has done).

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

That brings me to my next point: just as not all students require the same type of instruction, not all teachers come in a “one size fits all” option. It is very important to connect with your teacher on some level. This connection doesn’t need to be overt or deliberate, but without some reciprocated trust and respect, the relationship is pointless. That description sounds a lot like other interpersonal relationships, doesn’t it?

The relationship that you have with a teacher is just as crucial a factor in determining how you feel about your progress on your instrument as any of your technical skills. A teacher can be a mentor, role model, and friend, but above all, he/she is an inspiration to his/her students. There is no substitute for the genuine connection that occurs between an enthusiastic student and a confident, qualified teacher.

The second thing that the Talmud instructs a person to do is to find a friend. How great is it when your instructor turns out to be a friend as well?!

Happy learning!

We are now in the age of touch screens and internet. Rather than fighting technology, I embrace them, and use them with my students in guitar lessons. So, I have decided to share with you some great apps that can help you in your music lessons. These are useful for both teacher and student.

Name That Note

Name That Note

Name That Note is great! It allows music students to pick a level of Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. Users can choose bass clef, treble Clef, or both! It starts with basic natural notes, and then works up to difficult key signatures and ledger lines. It keeps score for the student, and has a timer which creates the real life pressure students need to experience. This is a great app for piano, guitar, drums, voice, bass, or any instrument! This is an Apple app, but fear not Android users…there are comparable apps for Android!

Rhythm Cat Pro

Rhythm Cat

Another important element of music that is applicable to all instruments is Rhythm. Rhythm Cat is a really fun game format for rhythm. Users simply tap in the rhythm along with the music. Students will work through various stages, and use the 3 star system popularized by Angry Birds. The exercises progressively get harder as you go. It’s simply a fun way to learn rhythm…And I mean come on, that can be a drag sometimes. haha!

Better Ears

better Ears

Music starts with the ears. Let’s face it, if it doesn’t sound good, what does it matter?! Better Ears does just what the title says, it gives you better ears! Users can choose the preset levels, or work with their customized level as they study intervals, scales, chords, progressions, pitch, and much more! This app is so helpful for both student and teacher in their music lessons.

Seconds Pro

Seconds Pro

This app is not specific to music lessons, but is a great app for music students! We’ve covered some basic elements that are important to all instruments with rhythm, sight-reading, and ear-training; however, none of these matter if students don’t practice. Seconds Pro allows you to set up a customized exercise schedule. Students can name the exercises, order them, customize the time, and even customize the colors. Once you have your schedule set, you simply press start. Your device then speaks the exercise out loud, the timer rolls, and as your exercise is nearly done it counts down the last few seconds. There are also optional rest times in between; these are customizable as well. Seconds Pro gives students a well organized system to get their practice done, and be ready for their next music lesson.

Whether you play violin, sing, play drums, it doesn’t matter. These apps will help you exercise the basic elements of music, and make you more prepared for your lessons. There are many other useful apps we didn’t cover like a tuner or metronome. Also, for my fellow guitar players and students, check out FretWiz ! It’s Great! Go check out the app stores. You are bound to find apps that will be very helpful along your musical journey. Good Luck!

Coming To Your Lesson Prepared.

You wouldn’t show up to football practice without a helmet, right? And I assume you wouldn’t head to the mall without your wallet…

Not a chance.

In the same way, it is extremely important to come to your music lessons prepared. “But whyyy,” you ask, dreading the scolding that typically comes from teachers or bosses. Fear not! Below are some reasons/helpful suggestions that will make your lesson experience even MORE fun.

Numero Uno…

The importance of being prepared:
The biggest reason one should come to their music lessons prepared is to not waste time! Let’s face it, your piano, voice, guitar, drum, saxaphone, etc, etc, lessons aren’t free. The last thing you want to do is spend half of the time you pay for, repeating what you did last week, simply b/c you didn’t come prepared.

The lesson itself will go much more smoothly if everything is in place. Consider it a cool puzzle, and your preparedness is the missing piece that you can’t find in the box, under the couch, etc. You also know how frustrating it is when you can’t find that piece, and we all love the feeling of completing a good puzzle. (Don’t lie, you know you do too).

Your attitude will be so much better when you are prepared/seeing your progress, and even better you won’t have the sinking feeling that comes when you’re about to tell your teacher you didn’t practice 😮

What does it mean to be prepared:

materials:
Have any materials that you use for your lesson with you…like notebooks, sheet music, blank paper, mp3 players, & let’s not forget your instrument. Yes, multiple students of mine have forgotten their guitar for their guitar lesson. I mean, that is basically the same as swinging at a baseball without a bat (ouch), or catering a party and forgetting THE FOOD (we all know the hangry feeling —> hungry + angry).

You don’t want to spend your lesson printing off sheets, digging up songs that should be ready to go, etc.

homework:
I realize this word carries a lot of meaning & that everyone dreads their ‘homework’. Let’s be real, though…practicing awesome songs by awesome artists (including yourself) has to be the best homework assignment ever. You’re welcome 🙂

Basically, this means, have your lesson from the previous week mastered before you walk in the door. Your lesson is either 30 minutes or an hour long, I imagine; having roughly 84 waking hours each week, you can squeeze in enough time to have that material down by your next lesson. (see our previous blogs on practicing & scheduling practice time by Matt & Tony)

It’s frustrating & a waste of time to spend your lesson relearning what you did the previous week. If you come to your instructor saying “Check THIS out,” you can build on what you’re learning and progress faster than you can imagine, which is much more fun. Again, we all like fun, right?

attitude:
I’ve had a lot of students carry in things that detract from their learning experience. Granted, sometimes these things are unavoidable; however, most of the time it’s as simple as making the choice to let music be an escape from whatever annoyances or issues life can bring. Again, this will make your lesson more productive & more exciting for you & your instructor.

So, to put a nice bow on things, remember, to save time, money, and have FUN:

Bring your materials.

Have your (awesome) homework done.

Smile! …because your hobby is the coolest, & it also happens to be a great stress reliever, improves brain function, increases test scores, etc, etc.

Check, check, check, and check.

by: Matt Knox

How To Develop A Positive Practice Cycle

Five words that a music teacher never wants to hear: I didn’t practice this week.

The excuses:

Concession – “I swear I will practice twice as hard this week!”

Transference – “It’s my mom’s fault. She makes me go to bed too early!”

Overload – “I didn’t have time to practice. I had to do x, y, and z last week!”

The truth is that letting yourself off the hook when it comes to practicing can lead to serious problems. Not practicing one week leads to not practicing the next, and so on and so forth, until an entire month passes without any progress – or worse – perhaps even regression. Sometimes, the problem becomes so severe that you may give up entirely, believing that your schedule or a perceived lack of talent is too great to overcome.

Why do we do it?

While it is true that some weeks become too hectic to find time to sit down with your instrument, this circumstance is a rarity; the real problem is not time or skill, but attitude. Many students are hesitant to pick up an instrument because the small chunk of free time that presents itself (15 minutes here, 10 minutes there) seems inadequate to make any real progress. Discouraged, the student decides to hold off on practicing when the seemingly daunting task will be more manageable. What we fail to realize is that very few people will be handed a solid hour on a silver platter to sit down with his/her instrument. It just doesn’t happen.

What does happen, though, are those brief moments of freedom we experience throughout the day – the 15 minutes in the morning we spend waiting to leave for school or work, the 20 minutes we waste on the computer after school/work to give our minds a break, the 15 minutes before bed when we try to clear our thoughts for sleep. These are the moments we need to seize and use, the ones we can’t let slip away. They are short, but they add up. Though they may seem too brief to be productive, they aren’t – any time spent with the instrument in your hands will benefit you as a musician, and short burst of concentrated practice are arguably more effective than an hour spent half-practicing/half-noodling in one sitting. Keeping your mind engaged in your homework for the week will keep you focused and sharp, and will also build your confidence in what you are doing – this time, causing a positive cycle of practice that will draw you in instead of push you away.

Stay sharp, stay focused, and take advantage of those small moments. They may be the only thing standing in the way of your becoming the musician you want to be.

There is something truly irreplaceable about performing in a group. Whether that is a musical goal of yours or whether you are using it to grow as an artist, there is a lot to be learned from this experience.

Teamwork

Teamwork is a necessary tool to succeed in school, the workplace, and as a musician (solo or band). It’s one thing to work on a part and play it alone at home, but it’s much different when you have to learn to play it in conjunction with other players. Playing in a group forces you to work together to decide who plays a certain part and when. You also have to match your volume, work on being tight, begin and end at the same time, and basically support one another within the music. It can be a very humbling experience. “When a team works well together as a unit they are able to accomplish more than its individual members can do alone.” Boundless

Friendship

The Casual Kings, Charming Hala, and The Reggie Sullivan Band are bands that Freeway Music instructors play in. These bands have forged lifelong friendships for our instructors. This principle is true across the board with any team building activity. If you rehearse with the same people every week, you can’t help but forge friendships. The best part is that you are developing relationships with people that have similar interests and goals.

Accountability

It’s really great to take lessons, but it’s also very important to apply what you are learning. Joining a group always takes your playing to the next level. Each week, you have to come to the group prepared to play. If you know that people are working on their parts and they are depending on you to do the same, it will give you a high level of accountability. Then, the time you have in your lesson will be more valuable to you and your practice time will be more valuable as well!

Being part of a group will help you develop team work, forge lifelong friendships, and give you the accountability that all musicians need. Join a group as soon as you can and enjoy the benefits that will surely come!

When parents signing for music lessons, often the first question is, “which instrument should I play”. So, here are a few things to consider when deciding:

What Does the Student Want Out of Music Lessons?

The student is the one who ultimately has to be happy with the instrument they play. So, ask the student! Most parents are shocked by what their children choose to study in music lessons. Everyone has different tastes, and that’s okay. Don’t fight a student’s natural inclination. Your child may not openly say what instrument they want to play, but they walk around beating on everything…maybe they should be a drummer! (Don’t be scared! They make practice pads and electronic drum sets…haha) Another approach is to thinking about what the student listens to. If a student loves music that is heavy with electric guitar, don’t buy an acoustic. Buy an electric guitar!

How Old is the Student?

If a student is very young, certain instruments might be too challenging for them. I generally recommend that children start guitar lessons at no younger than 6. Piano lessons are much better suited for a 5 year old. The technique required to press a piano key is much easier than creating notes on the guitar. Ukulele is actually a good instrument to begin music lessons on that is a nice transition to guitar lessons. The strings on a ukulele are softer, and the instrument is smaller. There are some methods that are very user friendly, such as the Suzuki Method. This is a very well respected method used to teach young children how to play string instruments. Some children are just too young for any one-on-one music instruction, and would be better off in a preschool music lesson program such as our Treble Kids program. Honestly, the maturity of the child and their attention span is a huge determining factor as well.

Rhythm Instruments

If the student is unsure about which instrument to choose, and you just want to get them started with a good foundational instrument, I recommend a rhythm instrument such as piano or guitar. A rhythm instrument has multiple voices and can create chords. This is really functional when playing alone or with others. One can sing while playing a rhythm instrument and be self sufficient. Also, theory is much easier to learn and see on a rhythm instrument. I personally think piano is probably the best foundational instrument. One must learn how to read music on both the treble and bass clef. The piano is laid out in front of you, making it easy to see everything. The technique required to make sounds on the piano is better approachable as well.

The bottom line is to decide what instrument interests the student, and whether it is age appropriate. If you are unsure, just make sure you set a good foundation.Hopefully this information will serve you well trying to find the right music lessons for you. Good Luck!

Check out these related blogs:

Buying Your First Electric Guitar

Electric or Acoustic Guitar

Buying Your First Acoustic Guitar

Learn About Digital Pianos

Buying a Piano

Solid vs. Laminate Acoustic Guitar

There are three basic levels of acoustic guitars:

1. All Laminate: Most beginner guitars are laminate. This simply means that the body of the guitar itself is made up of all laminate wood and no solid wood. The price point is usually around $100-$300. Some reputable brands are: Ibanez, Fender, Gibson, etc. My favorite all laminate acoustic “bang for buck” guitar is Art and Luthrie.

2. Solid Top: If you get any solid wood at all, get it on the top. The top of the acoustic guitar is the most important for the sound. Solid tops sound better, and they will continue to sound better with age. The general price point for a solid top guitar is $300-500. One of my favorite solid tops is Seagull guitars. They are actually part of Godin, the same parent company as Art and Luthrie.

3. All Solid: This of course is the best option. Basically, the top, back, and sides are all made with solid wood. This creates the best possible resonation and sound. Most solid wood acoustic guitars start in the $1,000 neighborhood. There are many popular brands in this bracket such as: Martin, Taylor, and Guild. I tell most of my guitar students to go for Larrivee acoustic guitars. I’ve played a lot of guitars, but these are definitely my favorite. Their price points are much lower than their competitors.

Important Features or NOT

Pickup: If you are buying your first guitar, a pickup is not necessarily essential. I recommend that you spend more money on the guitar. You can always add a pickup later. For example, don’t waste $350 on a laminate acoustic guitar with a pickup, when you can buy a solid top guitar that sounds better, and add a pickup later.

Satin vs. Gloss: This is really more of a personal preference. I like Satin finishes, because they allow the wood to breathe a little more. The sound difference may not even be noticeable to most people. Some people prefer a shiny look. So, if that is you, go for a gloss finish.

Cutaway or No Cutaway: I teach guitar lessons and I don’t use a cutaway. I find that I can get around just fine on a regular dreadnought guitar. My thoughts are, “why would you cut away from the sound?”. Some people want to get really high up the neck for lead. I say this feature is unnecessary for your first acoustic…maybe any acoustic.

Color or no Color: NO COLOR! haha…no, but seriously. Unless you are dying to have a blue, pink or (insert color) guitar, I would strongly advise going for natural finishes. Color can actually take away from the sound quality.

Where to Buy Your Acoustic Guitar

A lot of department stores are now carrying guitars. I personally recommend going to a local music store. Stores like Sims Music will have a bigger selection, and steer you clear of any lower end models that will give you headaches. Trust me, there are some humdingers out there! I think buying local is best for guitars, because you can actually put it in your hands and play it. Not to mention, you can easily take it back for any issues or service. If you must go online, you can try places like Musician’s Friend. Some people look for bargains on trade sites like Ebay or Craig’s List. One can find great deals, but you must be more careful when buying used.

So, now you armed with more info on buying an acoustic guitar. Pick which level you want, the features you need/want, and buy it from a reputable place. Happy Playing!

Related Blogs:

Which Instrument Should I Play

Buying Your First Electric Guitar

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