Muisc Focus Student Schedule

FAQ's Q: How do I go about getting a guitar?
A: If you're new to guitar playing you might well wonder what you should do about
"getting a guitar". Let me tell you, it's a GREAT question!
1. At the VERY beginning, see if you can borrow a friend or relative's guitar!
This, for many reasons. First and foremost, if you don't know how
to play guitar yet, it is very difficult to know what to look for when
you want to purchase one. It's a bit like buying a car before you ever
learned how to drive. We don't normally do THAT right?
2. Have a good idea of the style you want to emulate.
Do you REALLY have your heart set on electric guitar or is
acoustic guitar more your speed? Interestingly enough, you CAN
eventually play BOTH styles with a little instruction (and a little time!). Both is good!
3. That said, know this, the "steel string" acoustic guitar style (James Taylor,
Mellisa Ethridge, songs like "Mexico", "Blackbird", "Dust in the Wind",
or "Landslide") is not an especially easy style to start on. But you CAN...
4. The guitar type that is easiest to physically play would probably be
the "nylon" or classical style guitar. That's because it causes the fingers
the LEAST amount of stress. We're talking about a fairly high amount of
tension on "acoustic steel" stringed guitars. Electric guitars are pretty
easy to play right out of the gate. But you need an amp and electricity with electric guitars...
5. I eventually recommend to anyone who's getting jazzed about guitar that
they acquire all three types of guitars: electric, acoustic, and nylon.
Those are the BIG three. Of course, there are MANY divisions, brands and prices ($$)
within the BIG-THREE as well...
6. If you possibly can afford to, get a DECENT first guitar (we're talking
$300-$500 or more). Like with anything, computers, electronics,
components, furniture, you pretty much get a higher quality with a higher price.
There's not TOO much to be "afraid of" in the respect of getting "hoodwinked"
at the guitar store. Ask around, ask your teacher!!! Ask a lot of questions. Better guitars are usually hung up higher on the walls!

Also don't necessarily have your "heart set" on some color of guitar. Usually, there are many
guitars the same brand at the guitar store of the same model. You might have a white one, a burgundy
one, a black one... Play a few of them, plugged in if appropriate. See if one of them somehow "feels" better
to you, NOT based on the color. I remember I helped a student pick out a guitar. He wanted a red one.
Now, in my opinion, the black one was "the one", and I told him so. He bought the black one and thanked me
many times later on... It just felt more solid I guess, I didn't think too hard about it... By the same
token, I bought a Mexican Strat once for myself, and, though I found it hard to believe, because there
were many "white ones" and "black ones" listed at the same price point, it was the pretty
dark burgundy Stratocaster that was "the one" that day! It seemed to play better... And what a beaut, too!

Here's a question people often battle with... What's the difference between a $199. guitar and a $900. guitar? They both LOOK the same to me? Well, the quality of EVERY component on the $900 guitar will be proportionately better! Then there's the issue of "where" the guitar was made. USA built guitars are made with the better stuff. Indonesian guitars, well, not as good. ALL the details of a guitar can be "rock bottom" quality (see #9 below), medium quality, or high quality. Then of course you get "boutique" quality. For serious, professional guitarists, you can "easily" spend many thousands! "Vintage guitars", as you can imagine, command 5 or even 6 figures occasionally though no one really can say that Jimi Hendrix' guitar from Woodstock is actually a better instrument than those being made today. Also, as with any "antique" type items, you have to be very skeptical about claims and "documented certificates of authenticity". "Hey, kid, wanna buy Hendrix' Woodstock guitar, it's the real thing, I swear, burn marks and all. Only $1,500!!!?" Yeah right. Really though, just being curious can help, check out Ebay, musiciansfriend, or guitar sites from Google or whatever. Learn, learn learn... That part is pretty painless!



7. If you possibly want to get an acoustic guitar, ask specifically if the guitar has a
"solid top". (Hmmm, get it writing....? I can't go into exactly "how to tell" here...)
That puts you in a slightly better range of guitars that are much more
quality built as well as "appreciate" with age. There's nothing wrong with a "plywood" top,
per say, but you're not getting the "appreciative" value ($) as well as better sound over
the longer term: An electric-acoustic-cut-away-solid-top with on-board-tuner!! Now THAT sounds like a mouthful, but these guitars are what I'm talkin' about!!! Maybe 500 to 1,000. but SOOO nice!! It's 2005 and there are a LOT of makers that are trying to entice you with THEIR deal!!! I'm amazed at the new things coming out. On board tuners are incredibly convenient...
8. Brands I recommend:
Acoustic - Yamaha, Ovation, Larivee, Tacoma, Takamine, Alvarez, Martin, Taylor (big $'s), Goodall (even bigger $'s).
Electric Rock & Blues - Fender (Squire is a "cheap Fender"), Gibson (Epiphone is a "cheap" Gibson), Gretch (big $'s). Electric Heavy Metal - Ibanez, ESP, Jackson, Schecter, Dean, B.C Rich (pretty, but mostly crap, these...)
Nylon - Cordoba, Yamaha, Alhambra, Ramirez (big $'s), Takamine... (plus a LOT of cheap brands too...). I know a LOT about this category, ask me...
9. Low cost electric guitar brands and kinds. Fender Squire head my list, I actually have a "student" guitar available here at the shop that literally cost $99! It's made in Indonesia, has no "vibrato" bar (wammy bar) but actually sounds really good. That's amazing. It's a Fender Squire Bullet. There are a lot of other guitars from $99-$150 - Epiphone, ESP, Ibanez. I'd really suggest you NOT buy something from a department store or some brand that even an experienced musician has never ever heard of (parents, ask friends or relatives if you know NOTHING about this).All these companies have multiple ranges regarding prices as well as styles. I suggest a "Stratocaster style" guitar because it's so common (it's the kind Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn have been pictured with MANY times.)




It's a "good ole' boys" network of pricing on a lot of these guitars. They've got things pretty well sewn up as far as a lot of the better brands. If you know a brand or model (preferably both...) go to Google and just type that in, you'll learn a whole lot, for free. But, by the same token, sometimes you just are going to have to "buy" the darn thing, learn the guitar's personality and take it from there... And remember, guitars are not quite like buying a car. Guitars sometimes go UP in value because all the woods used are becoming more rare each day. Cars and electronics are on a steep decline in value the day you purchase them. Not so guitars. Think about doing your homework, and don't feel bad about getting a "good" guitar, you're worth it!!!

Q: Any other stuff I need?

A strap - Get a basic nylon, with an "easy to adjust" plastic "buckle". Do Not start off

with a fancy, leather, expensive strap. They're really difficult to adjust.

Get a decent tuner (eventually). DO NOT get a $20 tuner. Wait and get a $50 tuner. I

use the Sabine STX series tuner. They're pretty good.

Get a decent metronome. Maybe a cheap one will work but try to avoid metronomes that

"beep". You want a metronome that "clicks"! Ask to hear it (what a concept!).

Have good strings put on your guitar. The strings that came with your guitar are

not really very good. I call them place holders! You don't really know how good

your guitar can sound unless you put decent strings on it.

Have an extra set of stings available, preferably with the guitar. They break,

are you ready for that? String changing tools are nice to have too.

A music stand is nice...

A guitar stand for home is even nicer.

Anything else?

A guitar case to transport your instrument, a 3 ring binder for your music sheets. A small kit of tools - peg winder, 0000 steel wool, guitar polish, a polish cloth, Phillips head screw driver, small slot head screw driver, needle nose pliers, extra sets of your appropriate strings, extra "singles" of "prone to break" strings (usually the "skinny" strings...), a "guitool" or hex wrench set, batteries for your tuner or metronome... Get a CD player or computer that can play CD's, maybe an iTunes account, an amp for electric guitars, headphones can plug into an amp for "private" practice. The list goes on, want more...? A small CD wallet for your training trax or favorite CD's. Electric guitar players can start acquiring some "stomp boxes" - volume pedal, digital delay, distortion, overdrive, Wah Wah, compressor. Some "all in one" units are ok, but they tend to be "noisy"!

Why take lessons from a teacher, aren't there a lot of websites that can teach me?

First is, a "real" teacher can interact with you very quickly. The time YOU spend is just as valuable as the money you spend, why waste it, especially if you're not sure of YOUR ability level? A good teacher can assess your level of understanding and tailor make a study plan for YOU. That's why at Music Focus we have MANY levels of instruction, from goldfish (the VERY easiest - mostly for little kid beginners) to junior versions all the way up to VERY challenging custom arrangements, not to mention 1,000's of "off the record" versions of songs. I'd always heard that you've really become a teacher if you have many versions, or arrangements, that service many different ability levels. All our arrangements are additive arrangements, that is, what you learn in a "goldfish" edition will carry you to the next "junior" versions which in turn takes you to the "off the record" edition. A good teacher can make the transitions to the "higher" levels seem painless. The next real reason to be wary of anything other than a real teacher, is veracity. I cannot tell you how many times I've had students bring in something printed out from a website that has "errors" if not TOTALLY wrong... I usually have to get out my red "teacher's pen" and start correcting this "document" only to realize that we probably shouldn't have wasted our time...

My favorite song SOUNDS so easy, why is it so HARD to play?

You're probably hearing a number of things... How well it was recorded belies how easy it is to actually play, more often than not. Of course you are hearing a "professional" play the song, that's why you like them. Sometimes songs that sound HARD are actually easier than you think as well

What if I need to "take a break" from my lessons, how does that work?

Sometimes, especially, with smaller kids it is a good idea to take a break from guitar, especially if it's getting to be a struggle practicing or if lessons seem too stressful. I know you want to come to your lessons prepared! If a break is in order, your "sig card" will be simply put in a little file I call the "dorm", ready and waiting for future use. Adults often need to take a break just because of work changes, school schedule "settling in" periods, etc. Same thing - your card gets put in the dorm. If you want to "keep" your time slot (say, during a trip to Europe...) you'll need to pay for the times I can't book. That might be all the lessons for that time period... I can't afford to keep your time slot idle. Check with us.

How can I learn to sing AND play, I have a lot of trouble with that?

I like to think that you can teach someone to sing, or you can teach someone to play. Teaching them to do both is a difficult proposition. I have many tips for people having trouble with this. One is to sing the same verse over and over, don't keep adding new verses! Another is to make SURE you are tapping your foot. Seems strange but that one unifier can really make a difference. Try this, play your guitar and tap your foot, then just sing and tap your foot. Not too bad right? Well, if you keep doing that eventually that foot tapping will "bind" the two "upper" event together. Trust is important here too.

Why can't I play rap music?

You CAN! It depends on if there was a guitarist in the original recording though. Some rap uses "samples" of actual guitar music. There was a Puff Daddy song not too long ago that used a Police song sample of "Every Breath You Take". Sometimes it's the "bassline" that is the cool thing. We can always play bass lines on guitar... They just sound "up and octave"!

Is it OK for ME to choose my own songs, or should I let the teacher choose for me?

Once again it is probably both choices. Your teacher needs to know your tastes in music are, for you to get the most out of your lessons. The Music Focus Songlist is a great way to start looking around the world of guitar oriented songs. From there, your teacher should be able to "gently challenge" you toward those tastes in music. However, that being said, one of the best things you can respond with when asked, "What would you like to learn today? - is - "Anything that makes me better!" That open minded attitude is golden for a any teacher to hear!

One of my friends says I'm doing my song wrong, what's with that?

Your friend probably does the song "differently". Remember, the guitar is loaded with duplicate ways of note production. I could show you no fewer than 7 different ways to play "Smoke On The Water". The friend just doesn't know how to express this fact correctly. Also, your particular way of comfortable fingering may be contrary to what his hand seems to naturally gravitate to. Now, remember this, and don't tell your friend that HE'S the one doing it "wrong"! If you both actually have different notes for the same song, you'll BOTH have to go back to the recording and settle the dispute that way. That, or consult your teachers, then the whole thing begins again! Teachers tend to do the SAME thing! The best way is to explore the various ways to produce the CORRECT music, come up with the most logical way for you to play it, and practice THAT.

One of my friends says he's studying "guitar theory", what's THAT?

Guitar theory is the study of how chords, notes and scales work on OUR instrument, the guitar. The terms - CAGED, fragments, unison, octave, chord forms, 5th, 3rd, triad... - are just a few that might be included within the study of "guitar theory".

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LESSON SCHEDULE

current as of 5/8/2008 - 8:30 pm

Lesson rates are $36 per 1/2 Hr. Lesson

1 month of lessons (4 weeks) = $144ºº (5 weeks = $180)

you may now check Band Rehearsal times online - REHEARSAL

HOME - TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

MUSIC FOCUS Songlist (this is a big page, fine with DSL, too slow with dial-up...)

Directions

Holiday Schedule

Letter to Parents & Students - FAQ's Lesson Schedule If you are a prospective student please "click" for availability on the Student Schedule "day" listings. CONTACT US with E-mail AT:

I do ALL booking on the computer, so it makes sense to use e-mail!

Why don't I just type in my e-mail address? Because, this way, a scavenging web-robot can't glean an e-mail address from my site and spam me.

You'll actually have to type it into your e-mail software... Sorry!

310-379-4454

Lessons are $36 per half-hour. ($72/Hr.) We work on a "one month in advance" pay schedule - $144 per month (or $180 if 5 week/month...). If you find a time that might work for you or if you have a question about the schedule or your lesson plan - Please call or e-mail

STUDENT SCHEDULE BASICS TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

Directions

New!! - - FAQ's Click on "your" day or any other day to check availability. Or, you can just scroll down. It's all "one big page..."

Saturday's are now open!!!!

Also - please check below for our lesson rates...

I do ALL booking on the computer, so it makes sense to use e-mail!

Why don't I just type in my e-mail address? Because, this way, a scavenging info-robot can't glean an e-mail address from my site and spam me. Sorry!

Lesson rates are $36 per 1/2 hr lesson

1 month of lessons = $144ºº (or $180 if 5 week/month...).

Thank you!!!

Concepts of the Day

Bookmark this page for future reference It will read...

"Music Focus Student Schedule"

...in your browser

...please CHECK the page often...

Call us at 310.379.4454 e-mail at:

I do ALL booking on the computer, so it makes sense to use e-mail!

For all lesson questions and adjustments! THANK YOU!

THIS schedule is for regular lessons. Special "future" lessons can be arranged via e-mail.

PLEASE!

DO THE RIGHT THING! IF YOU FORGET TO CALL IN TIME AND I CAN'T BOOK YOUR TIME, PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO "SIGN OFF" ON YOUR MISSED LESSON... RESPECT MY TIME!! I HAVE PEOPLE CALLING FOR EXTRA LESSONS ALL THE TIME. MUSIC FOCUS THANKS YOU!!!

Scroll down . . . .

BASIC SCHEDULING ROUTINE

I do ALL booking on the computer, so it makes sense to use e-mail!

Why don't I just type in my e-mail address? Because, this way, a scavenging info-robot can't glean an e-mail address from my site and spam me. Sorry!

CANCELLATIONS are noted as follows-

example 1: Fri 3.00pm - z-Jimmy Stewart (av.8/21/09) (available Aug. 21st, 2009) = A lower case "z" denotes a legitimate cancellation for Jimmy that week. That time is open and available to you for an EXTRA lesson - or, as a MAKE-UP lesson if you've already canceled legitimately.

Legitimate Cancellations:

I do ALL booking on the computer, so it makes sense to use e-mail!

Why don't I just type in my e-mail address? Because, this way, a scavenging info-robot can't glean an e-mail address from my site and spam me. Sorry!

Make Ups & Extra Lessons

I do ALL booking on the computer, so it makes sense to use e-mail!

Why don't I just type in my e-mail address? Because, this way, a scavenging info-robot can't glean an e-mail address from my site and spam me. Sorry!

I do ALL booking on the computer, so it makes sense to use e-mail!

Why don't I just type in my e-mail address? Because, this way a scavenging info-robot can't glean an e-mail address from my site and spam me. Sorry!

Alternating Lessons

I do ALL booking on the computer, so it makes sense to use e-mail!

Why don't I just type in my e-mail address? Because, this way, a scavenging info-robot can't glean an e-mail address from my site and spam me. Sorry!

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

HOLIDAY Schedule

Please note: Music Focus Lesson classes will not meet on the following days:

YOU ARE NOT CHARGED FOR HOLIDAYS

(rehearsals can still be booked though...)

New Years Day

Memorial Day

4th of July

Labor Day

Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve (whole day)

Christmas Day

New Years Eve (whole day) -

CURRENT MUSIC FOCUS SCHEDULE Monday - May 5, 12, 19, 26 - 2008 TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

-

-

-

- Tuesday - May 6, 13, 20, 27 - 2008 TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

-

Wednesday - May 7, 14, 21, 28 - 2008 TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

not currently available:

- Thursday - May 8, 15, 22, 29 - 2008 TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

-

Friday - May 9, 16, 23, 30 - 2008 TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

Saturday - May 10, 17, 24, 31 - 2008 TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

Sundays - 2007 TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun

current as of
5/8/2008 - 8:30 pm

Letter to Parents & Students - FAQ's
Lesson Schedule
If you are a prospective student
please "click" for availability on the
Student Schedule "day" listings.

CONTACT US with E-mail AT:

Lessons are $36 per half-hour. ($72/Hr.)
We work on a "one month in advance"
pay schedule - $144 per month (or $180 if 5 week/month...).

If you find a time that might work for you or if you have a question about the
schedule or your lesson plan - Please call or e-mail

STUDENT SCHEDULE BASICS

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

New!! - - FAQ's

Click on "your" day or any other day to
check availability. Or, you can just
scroll down. It's all "one big page..."

Bookmark this page for future reference
It will read...

Call us at 310.379.4454
e-mail at:

For all lesson questions and adjustments!
THANK YOU!

THIS schedule is for regular lessons.
Special "future" lessons can be arranged via e-mail.

DO THE RIGHT THING!
IF YOU FORGET TO CALL IN TIME
AND I CAN'T BOOK YOUR TIME,
PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO "SIGN OFF"
ON YOUR MISSED LESSON...

RESPECT MY TIME!!
I HAVE PEOPLE CALLING FOR EXTRA LESSONS
ALL THE TIME.

MUSIC FOCUS THANKS YOU!!!

example 1:

Fri 3.00pm - z-Jimmy Stewart (av.8/21/09) (available Aug. 21st, 2009)

= A lower case "z" denotes a legitimate cancellation for Jimmy that week. That time is open and
available to you for an EXTRA lesson - or, as a MAKE-UP lesson if you've already canceled legitimately.

New Years Eve (whole day)

-

CURRENT MUSIC FOCUS SCHEDULE

Monday - May 5, 12, 19, 26 - 2008

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

-

Tuesday - May 6, 13, 20, 27 - 2008

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

Wednesday - May 7, 14, 21, 28 - 2008

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

-

Thursday - May 8, 15, 22, 29 - 2008

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

Friday - May 9, 16, 23, 30 - 2008

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

Saturday - May 10, 17, 24, 31 - 2008

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun - Holidays

Sundays - 2007

TOP - Basics - mon - tue - wed - thu - fri - sat - sun

Sun 9.00am -
Sun 9.30am -
Sun 10.00am -
Sun 10.30am -
Sun 11.00am -

-Dorm

"Upgrade" your talent!

Tell someone about your dreams...

Trust your future self...

Slow ramp of progress...

Don't equate "volume" with "intensity"...

Can you honestly say, "I'm better
than I was yesterday..."?

Don't forget to breath! You BODY may not seem to need
extra oxygen but your BRAIN does!!

There is so much more to "performing" than "perfection".