Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Thu, Apr 19, 2012 @ 08:36 PM
The guitar is the most in-demand instrument across the world, and especially among teens. Since most teens dream of being a rock star, it’s no surprise that a large chunk of the them want to learn to play the electric guitar.
While it’s easy to get the hang of playing the electric guitar, mastering it is another matter. In the guitar world, the learning never stops. In this respect, it’slike golf and forsome, this is the appeal of the electric guitar. You’re always learning, which provides ongoing gratification.
Given the vast amount of teaching material on the internet you can teach yourself how to play the electric guitar. There are hundreds of Web sites, online courses, articles, and videos dedicated to that purpose alone. Everything you need to know to learn to play the electric guitar, you can get access to with a single click. But if you’ve never played before, how do you know a good lesson from an inaccurate one?
As a beginner, it’s better to have someone teach you the “a” from the “e” and which fret you need for what song. It’s even better when you find a teacher who likes the same music as you do. They won’t be trying to convince you jazz is better than rock or country is better than metal. Even those who can teach you your favorites won’t be as passionate about it as those who love the same songs you do.
It’s true that having someone teach you how to play the electric guitar means shelling out some bucks. Yet the results far outweigh the costs. Kids in particular can benefit from professional instruction if they want to learn to play the electric guitar. In today’s “instant gratification” society you can’t expect a kid to sit in front of a computer in an effort to master the basic chords of his favorite song. Tween and teens especially need someone with “street cred” to show them how it’s done. Selecting the right guitar teacher is critical.
One challenge every guitar student faces is where to turn when they have questions. They can look up the answers in your favorite search engine, but it takes time and, again - if you’re a student, how do you know what you find is accurate?
On the other hand, when you learn to play the electric guitar with a teacher, you can be confident that you’ll get the answer - the right answer - at your next lesson. If you don’t get it the first time, you can ask him to explain the second time. If some part of the lesson leaves you feeling confused, you can ask the teacher to show you how it should be done. Under a trained and professional eye, your guitar skills grow much more quickly than doing it on your own.
Learn to play the electric guitar in a music school where the learning process is serious and fun. A good music school is one that not only means business in seeing its students succeed, but also knows how to have fun. Such a school exists. Let us take you for a tour.
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Sun, Apr 08, 2012 @ 11:15 AM
When your child expresses an interest in playing a musical instrument, consider the world's most popular instrument; the guitar. Just as the guitar is a great first instrument, a guitar music day camp in Minneapolis is a great introduction to learning to play.
As you’ve likely experienced, it’s easier to learn things when you’re younger so start your child early on the guitar and he’s likely to stick with it the rest of his life. The guitar is an easy instrument to learn (though challenging to master). When your rocker learns the basics of playing the guitar, she’ll be able to play songs that people recognize. That’s very rewarding for kids in our “instant-gratification” society. It also motivates young musicians to keep playing. A guitar music day camp in Minneapolis will teach your child the basics of playing songs he - and you - will recognize, thus minimizing frustration and creating a lifelong love of music.
Your child could learn to play the guitar on his own, of course. But with the help of a guitar music day camp in Minneapolis, your child not only learns to play the guitar, but enjoys the social aspect of camp. And when camp is over, she will have created friendships with kids with similar interests that she can “jam with”. How else will your child meet other kids to rock out with? As the founder of School of Rock once said, "Learning to play an instrument and never playing with others is like going to basketball practice every day and never playing a game..... after a while, what's the point?"
The guitar is a great investment if you want your child to learn to play a musical instrument. And you can enhance the value by enrolling your kid in a guitar music day camp in Minneapolis. When your child is taught how to play the guitar, he’ll enjoy it and keep playing. If you expect your child learn to play the guitar on his own, you’ll likely find your investment gathering dust in the corner of your child’s bedroom.
The camp you select should have a
great blend of fun and education so that your rocker comes out playing his guitar and saying he had a great time. Here's such a camp.
While most people love listening to music, not everyone can play a musical instrument. Those who can play one—especially the guitar, which is thought of as hip and cool—are often envied by those who can’t.
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Sat, Apr 07, 2012 @ 09:53 AM
Rock stars are made, not born. If your child dreams of sweeping people off their feet while playing rock and roll on stage, encourage that dream by enrolling them in School of Rock summer music camp. This MN rock n roll band camp has been teaching kids how to rock out for more than 14 years. Proof of its solid reputation is the fact it has three locations scattered around the Twin Cities and 80 locations nationwide.
Twin Cities School of Rock offers four different summer music camps in each of its three locations that fit every type of student, regardless of one’s age or skill level. Two of the camps focus on playing with other future rock stars, while the other two camps are for beginner guitar players or more advanced students who want to write and record their own, original music.
ROCK 101 BEGINNER ROCK N ROLL BAND CAMP
For beginners who want to rock out with others, there’s Rock 101 Camp, the mn rock n roll band camp for beginners with one year or less experience playing guitar, bass, drums, keyboard or vocals. Campers learn to play their instrument better as well as gain experience playing with other musicians. The week culminates with a performance for parents and friends. This camp is open to ages 8 - 15.
ADVANCED ROCK N ROLL BAND CAMP 
For kids who already know how to play guitar, bass, drums, keys or sing, the Minnesota Rock and Roll Performance Band Camp is the perfect fit. Teen rockers spend two weeks learning a mix of rock music and then take to the stage at Triple Rock, one of the Twin Cities' hottest live music clubs, to deliver the performance of a lifetime!
If your teen has ever dreamed of a being in a Rock Band Experience under the lights, busting her moves in front of a crowd, plugged in to a professional P.A. system with a sound engineer at the board, THIS is the camp for your teen!
Ages 12 - 18 years old, with moderate playing ability are encouraged to apply to this mn rock n roll band camp by submitting a video/YouTube link playing their instrument or by calling the nearest Minnesota School of Rock to schedule an audition.
Students who are currently enrolled in School of Rock’s Performance Program will not be required to audition for participation.
If you have a future rock star in your home - be it a beginner or one who has already developed some chops, these MN rock n roll band camps are where they belong for fun, personal expression and learning this summer.
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Fri, Apr 06, 2012 @ 07:46 PM
It has been said it’s the music that makes the man. But for beginner guitarists who are serious about honing their craft, a few guitar accessories won’t hurt. With the right kind of tools, the guitar-playing skills of neophyte guitarists can step up a notch or two, and can even deepen their dedication to the instrument. That being said, here are the seven must-have guitar accessories for beginner guitarists:
1. The most important accessory for an electric guitar is the amp. There are two types of amp. Tube amp and Solid State. Big time rockers use tube amps but they also have techs that travel with them. You do not want to buy your beginner guitarist a tube amp. They are high maintenance, finicky, and expensive.
You want to go with a solid state amp with about 15 watts. I recommend the brand “Line 6” and the model “Spider 3” practice amp. It’s loud enough to practice with and has a lot of effects beginning guitarists will enjoy playing with.
2. You need a tuner. I recommend a Korg tuner. It’s about $20 and lasts forever.
3. You’ll also need guitar cables. Monster cables are the best. They have a lifetime guarantee, so if you do get one that quits working, you just take it back to Guitar Center—or wherever you purchased it—and they replace it; no questions, no hassles.
4. You’ll need a pack of picks too. There are many shapes and thicknesses of picks. Start your rocker with .88 millimeter Dunlop picks and then let them experiment from there.
5. Straps are more difficult to select than you would imagine. You definitely want your son or daughter to try the strap on the guitar at the store. In terms of length, the top string of the guitar should be at the level of his or her belly button. It should also feel comfortable both over the shoulder and across the chest. Straps come in different materials which have different weights so be sure to get something that is comfortable. The strap is NOT just for looks.
6. The guitar will come with strings but you’ll need to buy replacement strings. When strings no longer hold their tune, it’s time to replace them. Like straps and picks, strings come in a lot of different brands and sizes. I recommend you start off with 9 gauge D’Addario strings. Anything heavier will be difficult to play until the muscles in the fingers strengthen and the finger tips toughen up.
7. Finally you need a guitar case to protect your investment. You can choose between a soft shell, a semi hard shell or a hard shell. I don’t like the soft shell because all it protects from is dust and scratches. I love the semi hard case because of its lighter weight combined with its rigidity for protection of the guitar. The most protection will come from the hard shell case but they are heavy for kids to carry.
In picking the seven must-have guitar accessories for beginner guitarists, quality must come before anything else. The most expensive accessory doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best out there. But that doesn’t mean neophyte guitarists should make a mad dash for the cheapest accessories either. Look up all pertinent information and reviews on guitar accessories. Ask the opinion of professional guitar players. These guitar accessories are an investment, so they should be chosen with the utmost care.
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Mon, Apr 02, 2012 @ 08:18 PM
Children have a natural affinity to music. For parents in Minneapolis who would like to enroll their kids in music lessons, you’re in luck. Music lessons in Minneapolis aren’t hard to come by at all. Most parents, though, wonder what the right age is for their children to begin music lessons. Here’s the answer to that from the folks behind ChildrensMusicWorkshop.com.
Parents, listen up:
“3 and 4 Year Olds
Programs for 3- and 4-year-olds are now readily available. This is really the ideal age for kids to start their music experience. Most of these programs are about 30 – 35 minutes in length, and involve props, movement and singing. Some even integrate arts and crafts and free play with rhythm instruments and props to music. Parents typically are not required to participate in these classes.
Ages 5 and 6 Years Old
You can also begin to consider private individual instruction. Piano/keyboard lessons are sometimes easiest for children ages 5, 6, and even older. One year of instruction on the piano or keyboard provides a great foundation as children learn basic music theory concepts such as the music alphabet, what a quarter note, half note, whole note is, what the music staff does, and the location of the keys on the keyboard.
Ages 7 and Up
Around age 7, instruments such as the guitar, drums and other string instruments can be introduced. The same concepts are covered, but children who have had at least six months to one year of piano under their belt (and thus already know the basic elements of music) find it easier to make the transition between instruments. Consequently, they are able to engage with the new instrument a lot faster.” Read the original article here.
Music lessons in Minneapolis aren’t just for little kids. They're for preteens, teens and parents too. Have fun with rock music lessons at every age. Learn more, based on your stage in life:
Ages 4-5
Ages 7-18
Ages 18+: Call the School of Rock nearest you.
Burnsville: 952-898-7625
Eden Prairie: 952-934-7625
St. Paul: 651-292-1917
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Tue, Dec 13, 2011 @ 05:48 PM
Why should the kids be the only ones to have fun? The guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments in the world and for some it’s actually quite easy to learn to play. For that matter, you can even learn to play it yourself, what with the many guitar tutorials provided in books, DVDs, and Web sites. However, it’s a lot easier to learn if you take lessons from an instructor. As a beginner, it helps to have someone take you through the process step by step. If you’ve always wanted to learn to play the guitar, or want to brush up from when you played as a teen, now's the time because the School of Rock is beginning adult guitar lessons in Minnesota.
“Going it alone for a beginner guitar player can be tough simply because you don’t get your road map through the musical experience that a instructor can provide. It’s harder to educate yourself about intermediate and advanced guitar methods when you don’t develop the basic principles down first. I am going to provide you with a check-list of guitar techniques every guitarist ought to learn, along with the order you should master them in for the most effective progression. To begin with, just a few strategies. Don’t try to handle all these issues at once. Music is really a cumulative study. Think about the manner by which you’d study math concepts. You can not master calculus until you’ve already got algebra under your belt.
Second of all, do not only just learn all these principles in a vacuum. As much as you possibly can you want to understand all of them in the context of a song. You will understand the techniques better and find they stay in your head alot more if you are using them within a real world context. Plus, it’s simply more pleasant to learn in that way!” Ultimate Guitar
If you think being an adult is reason enough to put a stop to your dream of playing rock and roll, think again. School of Rock now offers guitar lessons in Minnesota for adults. With our laid-back approach, you’re sure to have fun le
arning to play the guitar. The adult program, for ages 18+, includes one-on-one lessons with a professional rock musician, and a jam session with the other adult students every month. The adult programs kick off in February, and there’s no greater way to mark the start of the year than by signing up for those long-overdue guitar lessons. Come on; you know you want to!
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Sun, Nov 27, 2011 @ 05:09 PM
If you aren’t a musician yourself, you may think your child, when talking about what he’s learning at School of Rock, is speaking a foreign language. You nod your head “yes” and you’re thinking, “I have no idea what she’s talking about.”
One of those “music words” you may not understand is dissonance. What is dissonance?
"Dissonance, according to the dictionary, is “an inharmonious combination of sounds; discord; any lack of harmony or agreement.”
When we listen to music, certain notes sound pleasing when played together.
Dissonance is when we create a sound that is not harmonious. There are degrees to how harsh the dissonance can be. If you were to play a C (5th fret, G string) and a C# (2nd fret, B string) together, it would sound as if the notes are clashing.
In a sense, they are – you feel that this combination of notes wants to turn into something else. It’s almost as if you’ve caught them in mid-metamorphosis. Play these notes again and now slide your finger on the C down to B (4th fret, G string) and at the same time slide the C# up to D (3rd fret, B string). Can you hear how the dissonance completely disappears? It’s the interplay between dissonance and harmony that helps to add a dramatic, almost dynamic aspect to a song.
But the thing to remember is that not everyone hears the same sorts of dissonance. It’s a matter of what you’re used to." Read more about dissonance.
The next time your rocker starts talking about dissonance, look at her and ask, “Did you try taking the C sharp up to D? That might help eliminate the dissonance.” Or “You know, a little dissonance is good. It adds drama to a song.” :-)
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 08:55 PM
At some point in every rock guitar student’s life, he wants to play F-A-S-T. The faster the better. Playing speed guitar is a combination of technique, finger strength and focus.
One way to learn to focus is to put a time limit on your exercises. Say to yourself, “I am only going to give myself 15 minutes to work on this.” Simply by putting a time constraint on yourself you tend to focus more.
Once you have the ability to focus you’re ready to work on finger strength and speed guitar techniques. These techniques will get you started.
"Here are some technique exercises to help you get faster. When practicing them, play at the maximum possible speed at which you can hit every note with an even, consistent volume and tone. Play along with a metronome and record your maximum, relaxed, perfectly played speed in BPM.
Example 1) The Ultimate Finger Workout
This one will work out every finger and fretting combination possible and can be used to practice either alternate picking or h/o & p/o style. This one will take some time, so only do it every so often.
In this excercise, you will use all finger combinations possible for each variation, going all the way up the neck. It's a very intense workout so much sure to take breaks.
Figure i) Play this first with index and middle, then middle and ring, then ring and pinky.
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-----------------
|------------------1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2---------------------------------
|-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2--------------------------------------------------
|-----------------------------------1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2----------------
|------------------1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2---------------------------------
|-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2--------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1--------------------------------------------------
|------------------2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1---------------------------------
|-----------------------------------2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1----------------
|----------------------------------------------------2-1-2-1-2-1-2-
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you get the idea, all the way up the neck and back down again, 3 times (one for each finger combination). So you first play it using index/middle, then middle/ring, then ring/pinky.
Figure ii.) Variation
Now, instead of playing the minor second interval, you will play the major second interval.
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------1-3-1-3-1-3-1-3-----------------
|------------------1-3-1-3-1-3-1-3---------------------------------
|-1-3-1-3-1-3-1-3--------------------------------------------------
Hopefully you get the idea, same deal as before but with a different fret distance in between the fingers. This one will be hard but rewarding to play with the ring and pinky. Great stretch exercise, just don't push yourself too hard.
Figure iii) Variation 2
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|-1-4-1-4-1-4-1-4--------------------------------------------------
Make sure to go back down as well as going up, I didn't draw it out but it's equally as important, it sucks to be really good at going up the neck and have no way of coming back down.
I wouldn't play this one using ring and pinky on the lower frets, but you may try it if you wish.
Example 3) ThunderStruck Timing Exercise
|--0-4-0-7-0-4-0-7-0-5-0-8-0-5-0-8------0-1-0-2-0-3-0-4-0-5--------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a cool type of lick to learn how to play really fast, but it is also a great timing practice tool. Try doing this one with hammer ons and pull offs as well as strict alternate picking. It is meant to exercise your left hand right hand timing coordination. Always use a metronome for this one.
Example 5) Right Hand Workout: Do this for 5 minutes every day. Metronome only. Eighth notes, if they are too slow raise the metronome rate, instead of going to sixteenths (double met rate instead of halfing note length). This will help timing more accurately.
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|-------------------------------------0-0-----0-0-----0-0----------
|---------------------------------0-0-----0-0-----0-0--------------
|------------------------------------------------------------------
|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------------------------------------
To learn more speed guitar techniques, visit Ultimate Guitar for the complete lesson.
While speed guitar techniques definitely help you play faster they also strengthen your fingers, which improves all your guitar playing, no matter the speed.
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Wed, Nov 16, 2011 @ 07:31 PM
Are you thinking about buying your child her/his first guitar for Christmas, Hanukkah or a 
December birthday? If so, there are a few accessories you also need to buy or the guitar may end up more of a disappointment than a joy.
When you go to the music store, in addition to the guitar, be sure to buy:
- A few different thicknesses of guitar picks. Everyone has their own preference, so buy a selection for your rocker to experiment with.
- Guitar strap. Especially if you’re thinking about getting a “flying V.” No way to balance a flying V on your knee. You have to stand up to play it. Even if you get a traditional body guitar, your rocker is going to want to strike the pose in front of his/her bedroom mirror and will need the guitar strap to help hold the guitar.
- You need a tuner. It’s impossible for a beginner to tune by ear. I recommend a Korg tuner. It's about $20 and lasts forever.
- You'll also need guitar cables. Monster cables are the best. They have a lifetime guarantee so if you do get one that quits working, you just take it back to Guitar Center - or wherever you purchased it - and they replace it; no questions, no hassles.
- Cables are no good without an amp. But you don’t need a mega amp like you see on a stage. A solid state amp with 15 watts will suffice.
- The guitar will come with strings but you'll need to buy replacement strings. When strings no longer hold their tune, it's time to replace them. I recommend you start off with 9 gauge D'Addario strings. Anything heavier will be hard to play until the muscles in the fingers strengthen and the finger tips toughen up.
- A guitar case is a MUST to protect your investment. They come in three types: soft shell, semi hard and hard shell. The hard shell will provide the most protection but they are heavy for kids to carry. I like the semi hard case because it offers protection to the guitar while not as heavy to carry as the hard shell. I’m not a fan of the soft shell. It gives a false sense of protection. All it really protects the guitar from is dust and scratches.
There’s one more item that you really want to complete the fun; a few lessons to get your rocker started. Imagine the excitement of getting a first guitar and having no clue what to do with it. Mom starts calling around for lessons only to find most teachers are on vacation the week between Christmas and New Year. And the guitar sits in the corner.
Not exactly the memory you intended to create.
If you have a friend or family member who will be at your home during the holidays they’ll be able to provide enough direction to get your young rocker going. But if you don’t know anyone who can show your child how to hold the guitar, tune it, strum the strings or play a chord, then do you really think your child will even pick up the guitar for the rest of the holiday?
That’s why the School of Rock is offering the Beginner Guitar Camp. It's 12noon - 3pm for three days; December 27, 28 and 29. (We know you don't want your child to spend the entire week away from the family, at a guitar camp.) Your new rocker will learn the basics so they can enjoy their gift and still have time to enjoy other aspects of their break from school.
That's nine hours of instruction for just $99. Ages 7 - 16 welcome.
Call your local School of Rock to claim a spot for your son or daughter.
Burnsville: 952-898-7625 Eden Prairie: 952-934-7625 St. Paul: 651-292-1917
Posted by Stacey Marmolejo on Wed, Nov 16, 2011 @ 06:22 PM
It happens to every musician and many musicians say how you handle it is what separates hobbyists from professional musicians. “It” is the rut; the creative block; the inability to get into your instrument. You don’t feel like practicing. The hobbyist puts the instrument aside until they feel like playing again. The pros work their way through it.
Here are a few tips from Guitar World on how to work your way through the rut.
First off, NO, it doesn’t matter if you know how to play them or not. Knowing how to play an instrument other than the guitar is not my point at all. The beauty of not knowing how to play them is that you are going into this exercise without any prior knowledge, constraints or theory. Embrace this. Make noise. I’m an absolutely world-class suck on the drums, for example. Terrible. On a good day, I can play the opening to “Paradise City,” and that’s being generous. Still, the experience of fumbling around on the drums periodically alters my guitar playing when I pick it up again. As guitar players, we tend to innately lock into the guitar sounds when we play or are listening to others play. Spending some time on another instrument helps spread out that focus. Embrace technology. One great new development in particular are the new apps for hand-held devices like the iPhone or Android platforms. Really fun moog-like keyboards or even virtual guitars are available for free. Perfect when you’re stuck someplace lame or inconvenient and can’t have your guitar in your hands: airports, subways, dates, family reunions, etc.Being in a rut sucks, but it doesn’t have to be hard to get out of. Simply adopting another form of noise-making can pay huge dividends while still giving you the musical/creative outlet you crave. Read the entire post here.
School of Rock students remember, you are always welcome to "make noise' on the instruments whenever the rooms aren't in use for lessons or rehearsals. So if you're in a rut and need to bang on some drums, hang out after your lesson or rehearsal and go for it.