art of practice

 

How to practice guitar ( the art of practice)

by Eddie Oropezza

Guitar instructor at the Music Factory School of Music

            Practice, practice, practice. We hear this all the time but do we really understand what it means and how to do it correctly? As a teacher I get these questions all the time: “how long should I practice, how many times a week should I practice, what do I practice, and how do I practice?” (yes, there is a right and wrong way to practice)

The answer is always different depending on the student and what they are trying to accomplish. For beginners, it is important during the first year of learning that you are consistent with your practice. This means being able to set aside at least 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week. Now, it is understandable that these expectations can’t always be met because life does not always permit us to practice as much as we want or need to. Or if a student is younger, it might be hard to get them on a consistent practice schedule. A good way to remedy this problem is to spread out your 30 minute practice session throughout the day.

            Example: Say before you leave for work or school you’ve got about 10 minutes to spare, pick up that guitar and run through some chords or scales! Later after school or work and after winding down a bit, pick up the guitar again and review what you played earlier and maybe learn something new like one new chord or a different place on the neck to play a certain scale. After all your chores and homework, or business work is done, set aside another 10 minutes before you go to bed to just jam out or play a tune you may have been working on. Before you know it you’ve knocked out 30 mins of practicing throughout the day! Consistency is key!

            For intermediate and advanced players, the same concept can be applied. Though when you get to the intermediate and advanced levels, your practice time might increase. This is a good thing but, a more focused practice is hard to maintain. Guitar players are notorious for sitting and “noodling” for hours and then saying “Ok, good practice session.” This is a bad route to go if you expect to progress in as minimal time as possible. Instead write out a practice plan and try to follow it as best as possible, that way you get the most out of your practice time.

Example: Say you have an hour to practice. Try dividing up the things you are working on into 15 min intervals. 1) Warm up and dexterity exercises 2) Note reading/sight reading 3) Rhythm and Chords 4) Scales and improvisation.

The approach to practicing is different for everybody, so try and tailor a practice regime that suits you and the goals you are trying to accomplish. If you’re ever at a loss of what to practice, ask your teacher! Remember consistency is key!!


To contact Eddie at The Music Factory                                                             info@themusicfactoryoc.com

How much do Guitar lessons cost?

                                           How Much Do Guitar Lessons Cost?

By Jay Lawless

Guitar instructor at the Music Factory School of Music

This may be a question you have asked yourself, or perhaps your parents have inquired.  With the birth of the internet, this relatively straightforward question has grown the branches of a forest tree.

Much like karate classes, cooking classes, or just about any study, nominal fees apply based on whether you are looking for private instruction or classroom group instruction.  Becoming more popular these days is web instruction through Skype, where the subscriber can actually have real-time lessons from the comfort of their own home (even in pajamas). There are web-based companies that allow subscriptions to their lesson library archives that allow access to lesson chapters at the user’s request.  Lastly, the good old-fashioned lesson book or DVD may be an option with the least out-of-pocket expense.

Private Lessons 

Qualified instruction from a tutor with a degree by far, offers the most benefits to a novice student, and even for that advanced musician looking to hone his or her skills in another genre of music. 

Pricing is typically broken down into 30-minute and one-hour lessons. The most common fee is $30 a half-hour, once-a-week in studio lesson. Most facilities require that lessons be paid by the month, with a lesson scheduled once a week. These lessons are not given by,  “My friend at church who plays,” or “Joe down the street who plays a little,” instructors. Quality, professional instructors are found at reputable institutions such as, “The Music Factory”, located in Costa Mesa, Ca.  Professional music schools should have the a fleet of instructor’s resumes available for viewing, allowing you to get a better understanding of whom you choose to study with. 

The best part of private lessons is that it’s structured. Complete with a lesson plan, goals, and study material to take home. Students have the luxury of asking questions with personable step-by-step guidance.

Private in-home lessons (and even at your business) are also available for an additional fee.

Group or Classroom Lessons

Classroom or group-style lessons are fun, however, progress with instruction tends to rely on the momentum of the entire class. Typically the speed is at the pace of the student progressing the slowest, but it can be a great social opportunity. 

Common costs for group and classroom lessons can run $75 to $150 for six to eight-week courses. They are generally held once a week for an hour. Though be advised, there can be many variables in actual classroom time.  Class sizes can be as big as a college forum or as small as four to six students with only one instructor during classroom time. Class and group lessons offer participating students much less supervision and guidance than that of a private lesson. Age groups become a factor and tend to be broken up into kids, teens, and adults. Depending on the facility, these classes can be great for a group of friends or co-workers to get together and learn together.  Make sure there is information readily available about the instructor as it takes great patience to teach in this environment.  Picture 10 out-of-tune guitars playing at the same time.

Web-based Lessons (such as Skype)

This new format for instruction works great for the homebody. Cost is about the same as a private lesson at a music school.  Web-based lessons require an up-to-date home computer or laptop with internet access. 

Study material is usually available for download from the instructor, and sometimes for an additional fee. Due to the unrestricting ability to reach out to anywhere in the world, these lessons have become extremely popular with international students searching for instructors here in the states, and vice versa.

Generally web-based instruction require a monthly tuition that can range anywhere from $30 to $150 per month. With a paid tuition, students can access archived lessons already given and recorded by an instructor.  These lessons can often be vague, such as “Beginning guitar”, or more specific to a style of guitar.  Having access at anytime to these archives gives a student the opportunity of studying virtually anytime they choose.  Unlike Skype lessons, the student does not have the ability of asking questions.

Guitar Instruction Books, CDs, and DVDs

Cost for this approach is minimal in comparison to private, group, and web-based instruction. A typical beginning book, CD, or DVD may cost you around $11 to $20 dollars.  There is an incredibly vast library of these books and may be worth your while to do a little research prior to buying them. 

Keep in mind that taking guitar lessons means that you will need to have or purchase a guitar.  A worthy acoustic that will actually stay in tune starts around $99, but you can definitely spend much more. Electric guitars start around the same price, however, requires the purchase of an amplifier and accessories to make it work.  Electric guitar packs can start around $150 for an entry-level set.

Whatever your learning style, there is something for everyone. The gift of music can change your life.

To reach Jay directly info@themusicfactoryoc.com

I want to learn guitar...should I buy an Electric or Acoustic?

I want to learn guitar...should I buy an Electric or Acoustic

This is a very common question when considering to play guitar. It commonly 

arises after your first trip to the music store, staring at that array of 

beautiful natural wooden acoustic guitars lining the walls. You picture yourself 

strumming soothing bright and glistening chords. But then, you hear the rocking 

rumble customer testing out a shiny sunburst painted electric guitar. He is 

shaking the walls with the distorted "Whole Lotta Love" riff. Cool! So, Where do 

you start? Is there a passage way or rule?

 Well, there really isn't a straight forward answer. When talking with other 

musicians and instructors, you will find there are plenty of opinions that can 

cause indecision. The best approach is looking at some advantages and 

disadvantages of both.



Acoustic guitar:

Advantages:

1. No amp needed. You can pull it out of the case anytime anywhere and play.

2. You can transpose any style song to a cool sounding "unplugged version"

3. Less money to spend on equipment amps and cables.

4. Produces a consistent nice tone. Most beginners have trouble setting good 

tones on amps. Your family may not enjoy hearing uncontrolled buzzy distorted 

feedback.



Disadvantages:

1. The Neck is a bit wider which makes it tougher to fret some chords.

2. Strings are thicker on acoustics so it takes some more push to produce clear 

notes.

3. Can't use it to play in a band or with a drummer.



Electric guitar:

Advantages:

1. The Neck is a bit smaller which can make it easier to fret and produce 

chords.

2. Strings are thinner, which can help make lead guitar parts using those 

wailing bends easier.

3. You can plug into an amp and play along with a band or ensemble.

4. If your main musical influence is rock or metal, you can reproduce the tones 

of your favorite artists.



Disadvantages:

1. Have to lug an amp around with you. You can bring acoustics anywhere, out of 

town, or to a friends house.

2. Have to spend more money on equipment.

3. Due to smaller neck and strings, your fingers may not develop as strong or 

fast as an acoustic beginner. 



My opinion is a beginner should learn the basics on acoustic guitar. I think 

it's the best way to build good finger strength early, develop good rhythm and 

strumming habits, and people tend to enjoy the sound of a acoustic guitar around 

the house..even if your just starting out.



If you are a rocker, and you really want to approach that electric style, I 

would say start on acoustic and after a few months then maybe switch to 

electric. Here at the Music Factory in Costa Mesa, we have some electric house 

guitars available to try. So once you get the basics down, your instructor can 

have you do a few lessons on the electric to get you prepared and consider 

before buying one.

 

In the end it's up to you. Do your research and follow you're instinct. If you 

have your heart set on a shiny new electric cause you envision yourself rocking 

out with your friends, go for it! That might just be the motivation you need to 

practice more and improve. 



When you come to the The Music Factory for a free trial lesson, it's a great 

opportunity to talk to a professional, weigh out your options and try out both 

types of guitars. 

Bryan Karijanian is an accomplished guitar player and instructor at the Music Factory School of Music in Costa Mesa ( Orange County) California.

www.themusicfactoryoc.com

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