GUITAR LESSONS - NJ and NY
Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn,
Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock,
Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah,
Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale,
New Milford, Oakland, Oradell,
Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey,
Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern,
Tallman, Upper Saddle River,
Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood,
Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff
BEGINNER • INTERMEDIATE
ADVANCED • AUDITION PREPARATION
KIDS & GUITARS
I get several calls a month from parents
of children who are looking for
information about guitar lessons.
Some children are great candidates
for guitar lessons and others are not.
The reason for this article is to inform parents,
relatives and teachers, so they can
avoid common mistakes when it comes
to kids and guitars.
AGE:
The EARLIEST appropriate age
for a child to begin guitar...
GENERALLY...is about 9.
But many 9 year olds are not yet ready
for guitar and there is a TINY number
of 7 and 8 year olds who are --
but it's a VERY TINY NUMBER.
Please read this carefully:
4, 5 and 6 year olds are
ABSOLUTELY OUT OF THE QUESTION,
although there are unscrupulous 'teachers'
who will gladly take your money
for 'teaching' your child.
Don't do it.
(I know there are Suzuki and
other guitar programs
for very young children,
but as an instructor who has had
to diplomatically 'undo' all the errors
children absorb from this early and
watered down exposure,
I strongly discourage you
from considering them.)
These ages may seem arbitrary to you,
and may even spoil a plan
you or a child you know has,
but I will elaborate.
I hope to enlighten you and save you
the terrible mistake of throwing a child
into a very complex and difficult challenge,
that may result in coloring the child's attitude
toward all music and musical instruction
for the rest of his or her life.
I hope I have your attention.
ABILITY:
So, you have this 9 or 10 year old
for whom you are seeking guitar instruction.
Before you even consider lessons,
here is a mental checklist
you owe to yourself and the
intended student to complete:
• Is he/she reading at least
a grade or two above their actual grade level?
• Is he/she very comfortable
with using a computer?
• Is he/she and aural or audio learner?
• Is he/she often singing a song
after hearing it just a few times?
• Is he/she intrigued by languages
and is it common for them to
repeat a word or phrase in a language
they do not know, with accuracy?
• Is he/she already bilingual?
• Does he/she have a long attention span
when engaged in something they enjoy doing?
• Does he/she have above average
eye-hand coordination,
including their non-dominant hand?
• Does he/she have average to above average
fine motor skills? (usually determinable by
penmanship, artwork, shoe tying and
other things that require small and
precise motions)
I know this is quite a list,
and you may have noticed that ability
in mathematics in not mentioned.
Let me dispel a misconception:
music is not mathematical,
although it can be explained mathematically.
The truth is that music is utterly and
completely linguistic.
The same part of the brain that processes
language and the ability to use a computer,
is responsible for processing heard and played music.
It has to do with the perception of
patterns and relationships that may
or may not be present in a child
who is adept at math.
Often a child with a vivid imagination
has the innate abilities to learn music,
but not always.
So, if you have a child who is learning
a language, other than what is spoken at home,
and they are doing well above average,
the child may be a good candidate for music.
If the child is already bilingual, they are
likely a good candidate.
(I once taught an 8 year old who spoke
5 languages fluently.
He was mentally ready to learn music.)
The issue of dexterity cannot
and should not be overlooked
when contemplating guitar lessons.
Children's hands are small and
are rarely strong.
If the intended student has
any difficulty with holding a
writing instrument properly
(most children don't and are not corrected at school)
or printing letters clearly and accurately,
I urge you to wait to have them
begin guitar lessons.
If they are very slow on the computer keyboard
or using the controls of computer or
video games, wait.
The technique necessary to play the guitar
properly consists of very unnatural hand positions and
movements, combined with strength and precision.
Keep it in mind.
DESIRE:
Who wants the child to have guitar lessons?
You or the child?
If it's the child, or you and the child.
that's good.
If it's you but the child is neutral
or uninterested, forget it.
There is a lot of work to learning
and practicing a musical instrument
and most particularly the guitar.
If the child isn't desirous,
it's neither the time nor instrument for him/her.
If the child is asking and asking and asking
for guitar lessons, they may be ready,
but they may not be.
Don't let their pestering wear you down.
Are they being influenced by
something they have seen, like TV
or a music video?
The idea and the reality of learning
to play the guitar are very different.
Is the child under the impression
they will be wailing on an electric guita
r for their first lesson?
A good instructor will not teach a beginner
on electric guitar, for a variety of reasons.
If the intended student does not wish
to pursue guitar lessons
because their first guitar should be acoustic,
he/she is immature,
and should probably not take lessons.
In fact, it is better for them not to take lessons.
They are not ready, if the equipment
is more important to them
than making music on the instrument.
If you know the value of music
in a child's life,
love music yourself and
know the Mozart Effect is real,
but the child for whom you are seeking an instructor,
lacks a lot of the qualifiers above,
seriously consider something
simpler than the guitar.
An electronic keyboard or
electric or acoustic piano are great choices.
They are technically easier to play
and they are visually understandable.
If a keyboard player, later embarks
on learning to play the guitar,
theory will be far easier to understand
than if guitar were their first instrument.
Electronic keyboards also offer a lot
of interesting sound effects
and that is sometimes enough
to keep a slightly reluctant child interested.
THE GIFTED CHILD:
When a gifted child is taught,
it is crucial that the instruction they receive
be given by an experienced
and accomplished teacher.
A gifted 10 year old, who is brighter
than a 16 or 26 year old,
can not and should not be taught
in the same manner
a 16 or 26 year old is taught.
Gifted children require a more perceptive instructor
who can lead the child's curiosity,
mete out accurate, thorough lesson material,
but also remain atuned
to how the child is thinking.
A gifted child requires more dialogue
than many other students.
The child must be heard and guided accordingly.
THE INSTRUCTOR:
There are a few guidelines you should use
when searching for a guitar teacher for a child.
(You should also read the Find a Teacher link)
The instructor you choose should
have a lot of experience
working with children and
should want to speak
with you and the child
before scheduling lessons.
An astute and experienced teacher
can converse with an intended student
and by asking a few questions
and interacting with the child
in particular ways, can usually determine
if a child is ready and able
to begin learning to play the guitar.
Don't shop by price
because the lessons are for a child.
Good quality is good quality.
Good children's clothes cost more
than crummy children's clothes.
Good instructors are worth their fee.
Realize you are making an intangible investment
in the richness of a child's life
when you choose any private instructor for them.
PRACTICE:
Regardless of the age of a music student,
they must practice.
If you think there is the slightest
possibility
that the child
for whom you are seeking a teacher,
will balk at putting in
30 minutes a day of practice, look no further.
The practice can be two 15 minute sessions,
and in fact, at the beginning,
that is more beneficial than
one sitting of 30 minutes.
Practice is not optional, it is essential.
The guitar is a complex
and difficult instrument.
Without practice, the student
will be unable to advance.
The child must understand what is expected.
Also, consider the child's weekly schedule.
If they are already participating in sports,
religious training, scouts, art or dance lessons
and or school clubs, there may not be
sufficient time in the child's schedule,
for lessons and practicing.
As the adult, you have to be the realist
and possibly the bearer of bad news to the child.
During my career, I have seen too many children
who were over scheduled, depressed and
worn out by the age of 11.
A schedule like that is untenable
and unhealthy.
Don't add to it,
even if the child wants music lessons.
When there is a time of year
when decisions have to be made about re-enrolling in clubs,
classes and sports,
that might be the time to consider
eliminating an activity or two,
in order to fit guitar lessons
into the child's schedule.
You and the child must understand
that a person cannot do everything.
THE GUITAR:
A first guitar should be acoustic
and is should fit the person
who is going to play it.
If you do not play guitar and
don't know what buy, seek the help
of a friend or the child's intended instructor.
If the instructor will not counsel you
about what to buy,
you have chosen the wrong instructor.
Most of the time, I accompany my students
to buy guitars, whether it's their first or fourth.
A savvy instructor will guide you
toward good value and away from
guitars
for which you will not get your money's worth.
A guitar 'fits' when it can be balanced
on the lap, solely by the weight
of the right arm coming over the lower bout.
If the neck has to be supported,
to keep the guitar on the child's lap,
the guitar is too big.
The other aspect of 'fit,'
is the ability of the left hand fingers
to curl over the fretboard
so that all the fingers
can reach across the neck.
There are a few guitar makers
that offer smaller profile, full size guitars.
I highly recommend them for children
and petite teens and adults.
DO NOT PURCHASE A 'HALF' OR
'THREE QUARTER SIZE' GUITAR
that costs less than $170.
(This was last updated in August of 2011,
so take that into consideration
when you read this.)
Most half and three quarter
size guitars are pieces of junk
that cannot be tuned.
They sell because people want
their small children to have guitars.
Of course, there are exceptions.
In the 1960's Epiphone, which was still making
their guitars in Kalamazoo, Michigan,
offered a three quarter size guitar
that was made to the exacting standards
of their full size guitars.
When I bought one, it was approximately
the same price tag as a full size guitar.
I kept that Espana (model) until
a very tiny student of mine needed a "good"
guitar.
There were none that fit her
in the guitar stores around
the NY metro area,
so I swallowed hard and sold it to her.
But that Epiphone Espana was an older,
used guitar. I doubt that you will find
a factory made half or three quarter
size guitar of sufficient quality for
a beginner in ordinary guitar shops.
If the child is a good candidate,
but extremely small, you may consider
a travel guitar.
These are small models, made by
established guitar makers.
The necks and bodies are compact.
They will not be inexpensive.
The good thing about a travel guitar
is that when the child outgrows it,
if they still enjoy playing,
it will be the guitar they can stow
in the overhead of an airplane
or take on overland vacations.
Good quality travel guitars are made by
Martin, Boaz, Taylor and some other makers.
If you have a lot of money to spend
on a really good small guitar,
check out the Larivee Parlor guitar,
but only if you have a very serious,
but diminutive student.
THE COST:
Setting a child up with guitar lessons
is a financial undertaking.
Do not ask nor expect an instructor
to teach your child for three months
and think your child will have
all the training they need.
In addition to a weekly lesson fee,
you will need to borrow or purchase a guitar.
If you purchase it new, expect to pay from
$195 to $300 (in 2011) as a minimum.
I know it's quite a spread,
but I am taking into consideration
the price fluctuation from city to city
as well as that you may find
a clearance guitar for sale
that suits your needs and is worth
much more than what you pay for it.
Then, there will be a case
(hard or soft, it's your choice),
a humidifier
(unless you live in a consistently humid region),
a tuning fork, picks (if the guitar is a steel string),
a spare set of strings or two
and a music stand.
(If your budget is tight,
a book stand on a desk or table top
is acceptable for a music stand.)
Just remember, you want to create
a practice environment in which
your child will be sitting upright and
able to breath and be comfortable.
That will not happen if they
sit on a bed, sofa or the floor
with their music laying next t
o or in front of them.)
If your child is big enough,
you might want to consider making an investment
in their posture by getting the Guitar Chair.
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© 2012 D A Arlaus, all rights reserved
Sunday, January 1, 2012