For beginners (and others): Listen Up!

Here is a link to my student web site, which has some important beginner information.  Most important for students to understand in the beginning is not even the need for practice.  Although that is essential it is most important to listen to the music you are trying to play and listen to it often.  Listen to it actively; we will learn how to listen as a student and a player and improve our listening skills but the student must know what the music they are playing is supposed to sound like.  Most students do not know that it is reasonable to have to listen to what they are trying to play at least three times before they try and play it, and, as they build up their listening skills, 10 times for a difficult passage or more is not unreasonable.   At first, we will likely focus on the "listen 3 times and play" method.  It is helpful to be able to hum or sing what you are trying to play.  This is essential for an experienced player.   The ear is sometime the only method of input for some players, sight reading is recommended for student learning the language of music, but good ear skills are critical for everyone.   Ask me how to listen as a player, or how to do it better.  Just getting our practice time in consistently is an important start but often the right kind of practice can make the biggest difference over time.   Listening is what we do.  I will post some video with some examples of songs we can play but start learning to choose for yourself!   Being able to play guitar, and play it well is a fun thing to be able to do, good listening skills open up a whole new world.