8 year old and guitar lessons...?
914256
Check out this website:\n\nhttp://www.musiciansfriend.com/\n\nThey have all kinds of guitars ranging from the very inexpensive starter guitars (including starter kits) to the very expensive ones.  I've never seen a place where you can rent a guitar, but if you find one you should compare the cost of renting one with the cost of buying one.  You may be surprised to find that buying one is a better deal.  Best thing to do is borrow one from someone if you can.
809385
http://guitargeek.com/chat/showthread.php?threadid=75576\n\ntry talking to these guys,,,
545885
I'm not sure I understand exactly - because of the wording of your question - but if your son wants to start a band (and you don't mind the rehearsals at your house), let him.  Encourage him to learn an instrument - maybe with a band in mind.\n\nIf he does not want to start a band or has not brought up the subject, don't force it on him.  Suggest it, if you'd like him to do it - but don't nag - he'll be considering it from time to time.\n\n... But not Rap ... encourage him to do something more versatile. \n\nPeace.
229805
It is too complicated to explain here, and you need hands on, or you wouldn't understand.\n\nGo to your full-service music store and ask about guitar books for beginners that come with a CD or video.  Also ask the price of lessons.  Once you learn the basics, you can teach yourself the rest.  You want to learn how to read notes AND chords, and how to actually read music off the page.
759444
As far as recorders & piano go, I don't know. But as far as dynamics for kindergarden kids go, you can teach them fast & slow. Using the "Old Macdonald" song. Ask the kids what animals go slow & sing the slow slowly, then ask them what animals go fast & they can sing it faster. Example: turtle (slow) and rabbit (fast). With fast & slow you are teaching them the tempo. Also, for dynamics (loud & soft) they can sing "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" [one of my faves!]
599658
First of all let me say it is very admirable of you to endeavor to teach music.\n\nMusic is a very subjective matter- what one calls "good" another regards as "noise".  The same can be said for teaching, and teaching technique.  Everyone teaches differently, and more important- everyone learns differently.  The best teachers are the ones who can recognize how his or her students learn and tailor the lessons for them.\n\nThat said, with inexperience comes the inability to accurately gauge what it takes to connect with someone in order to teach them.  You may be well suited for teaching and so may not require much experience to pass on what you know.\n\nI would say 10-15 dollars an hour is fair, however- you need to establish confidence within the parents of the children that you are worth their time and effort.  \n\nMore important than what you charge is making your credentials known.  If you have very little in that regard, then I suggest making a package deal beneficial toward you and the student- instead of saying you charge 10 or 15 dollars per hour, say that you charge 10-15 per HALF hour, but want to make certain that you can be a good teacher, so you'll throw in an extra half hour for free.\n\nYou can imagine what the response would be, and you're not really giving anything away for free.  Parents would be more likely to accept you as a teacher- you're offering more bang for the buck.\n\nI also suggest asking for payment for one lesson in advance- the reason being that you need to schedule your day around your lessons, and if someone cancels on you, you can't always find a student to fill that slot, so thus you've wasted an hour of your time.  If everyone pays for one lesson in advance, you will still be paid in the event of a no-show, and then you can simply arrange for a make-up lesson at a later date. \n\nMake certain this are clear: You will not refund for a missed lesson unless given at least 24 hours notice.  That's only common courtesy, and most understand.  It will also make you seem as if you have more experience and are very professional regarding your business.\n\nGood luck
350727
I would suggest you take time to share part of your childs life. Enjoy their music with them. Dont make it a negative experience at all this will most likely back fire. If you start sanctioning what your child listens to they are likely to rebel. Guide your child by his or her tastes, and even share your own. Discuss things you find objectional with your child in a constructive way. Suggest music you think is appropriate, get them excited about it! Positive only! You have been warned! Take them to a concert even!\n\nThe point is share positive experiences together -- this is the best influence you can have on your child.
185888
If you take the same lesson plan that was devised for older students and simply resolve to spend more time explaining and demonstrating to the younger kids, will that work?  I hate to think there's anything the younger ones can't do, although grant you they won't do it with the polish of the older kids.  Please tell me we are not talking about the idea that safety is a major factor in the difference; having to use blunt-end scissors, no small parts they can swallow, and all that garbage.  A major problem when I was a kid was too boring, so the idea of working on something originally designed for older kids would have thrilled me no end.
339470
Did you try this??\n\nhttp://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLR,GGLR:2006-09,GGLR:en&q=Learning+how+to+improvise+on+guitar
898509
Please let me know if he actually gets to learn to play the guitar from a book. I´d like to learn as well but have no much time and I have an erratic shcedule that won't allow me to take lessons.(P.S. You must really love your husband to be willing to endure constant headaches for the next few months; my wife would probably recommend I take painting lessons instead)
962975
haha wow you must be very talented. i just started playing guitar and am totally addicted. will you check out my last two questions and give me some advice? :) thanx
270553
Get real. but of you are serious, I suggest teaching him/her the order of the keys on the home row first. then have them type words using only those letters. It may help if you play some soft Mosart in the back ground. it's proven that classical music clears the brain and produces better reasoning. Good luck!
1075476
Hi Bill,\nMy son was exactly as you describe. He's 22, now, and a successful chemical engineer. I'll "second" everything Fortunato wrote. The problem is with the lack of challenge in your son's classroom, not with your son. My son first experienced challenging math work in 9th grade, and since this was a new experience, it took some getting used to and his grades took a dip for awhile. But he turned himself around and finally had reason to see why working through homework problems was important. If your school system isn't going to change, there isn't much you can do at this point. Except I heartily endorse the suggestion of music education. I can honestly tell you that learning how to play the trombone was my son's best form of MATH enrichment he could get before high school. Besides learning how to work hard in SOMETHING, music is a logical language like math. I'm sure it kept my son's brain from shriveling up all those years.\n\nDon't treat your son as though he needs EXTRA math practice. It's really, really difficult to find appropriate math enrichment for young kids. They mostly just need to progress ahead at their own rate of learning, but few schools let them do that. Offer your son some math and logic puzzle books and see if he takes to those.\n\nFeel free to contact me. Good luck.
1071840
Welcome to the family, Little Sister. I hope you have a very long and happy stay with us.\nTo start off, there are NEVER stupid questions, especially when discussing music. If anyone refuses to answer your questions, or gives you attitude, remind them that someone was kind enough to take pitty on their sorry souls at one point, and that they were not always the "gods" that they feel they are now.\n\nAnyhow, to answer your questions:\n1.) Do i have to use a pick while playing bass?\nNo. I usually do not use a pick, and many "professional" players do not use them. Many players do use them. It all boils down to which is most comfortable for you.\n\n2.) Do i have to play bass with an amp or is it ok to do with out for a little while?\nIt is definately OK to do without for a tiny while, however it will more than likely impede your learning at this point in your career. I very rarely use an amp; however I have been playing for almost 20 years and can feel when I made a mistake. There are many decent beginner amps on the market for $100 or less. I would recommend getting one as soon as possible so you acn hear what you are playing.\n\n3.) I am not exactly sure on how to tune it correctly and i don't wanna break a string so any advice on tuning bass would be great. \nMy best advice is to buy an electric tuner. They can be purchased for almost nothing, and will help you out immensel;y. Barring that ,there are a few online tuners that are available. Here is the one I usually send people to- www.guitarforbeginners.com/onlinetuner.html\n\n4.) and if there are any websites that you know of that can help me as a unexperienced begining bass player can you let me know them?\nhttp://www.activebass.com\nhttp://www.basstabarchive.com\nhttp://www.basslessons.com\nhttp://www.visionmusic.com\n\nOther helpful advice:\nPractice EVERY day. Not for long periods, but rather 15 minutes or so at a shot. By practicing for that short amount of time, you are able to learn in small doses, which is best, and it doesn't really give you a chance to get bored, which will kill your desire to play.\nDon't EVER let anyone get you down by telling you anything negative about you or your playing, or your desire to play. If someone tells you that you suck, think about who they are and what they hyave accomplished. If they are not musicians themselves, simply hand them your bass, agree with them, and ask them to show you what a "real" bassist sounds like. If they ARE a musician, and they talk trash, explain that you forgot that they were born being a great musician, and very quietly hand them your bass and ask them to show you how to be better.\n\nIf you ever get discouraged, or want any more information, contact me through here, and we'll see what we can do to make you the best you can possibly be.
51362
There are loads of cool online guitar courses. The website below has got some decent reviews if your interested.
808627
I had the same problem when I was learning, just stick to right handed books, and mirror the image!\nEven better get a right handed guitar and learn on that, it freaks right handed players out...............lol
96640
i think that this question is pretty subjective to have just one answer. You would get different answers as to what is the most important instrument is. But if you want to know you have to know what genre of music you are aiming at playing. Guitars are always a good instrument for any genre of music, Drums would be hard to learn at an earlier age because of rhythmic comprehension but would be kick-ass if mastered. Pianos are pretty versatile as well and would be easier to learn. It really depends on your musical tastes as to what your children would be learning.\n\nIf your child has interest i'd say that bring them to music schools as early as possible, maybe at around age 7 would be good