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
SCHOOL OF ROCK
A lot of people ask what I think
about School of Rock (SoR)for their kids.
I'm sure they're a lot of fun
but if what you want for your guitar playing
or guitar aspiring child is
to spend your hard earned cash
on them learning to play the guitar,
read and write music (
which is what all "musicians" do),
understanding and using correct technique,
well, then, I'd advise you to look elsewhere.
These storefront operations are not
beacons of education or consummate technique.
They're going to "teach"
by tab (which is an oxymoron)
and/or they are going to "show how to play"
cool riffs and gimmicks.
Frequently, pick technique and timing
will be ignored.
Just because you're in a
contrived performance setting,
making rock sounds with your guitar,
it doesn't mean you're a guitarist
any more than being in a garage makes you a car.
At SoR, the entry age
for beginners is 7 years old.
With rare exception, 7 is too young
to begin learning to play the guitar.
If you have a strong-willed 7 year old
who plays guitar hero and
thinks they can play the guitar
and are begging you for SoR,
you risk that child
never learning to play correctly.
If you have that rare 7 year old
who is ready to learn to play guitar,
you need an experienced instructor
who knows how to teach a child of that age,
size and development
about music and the guitar.
A good instructor will easily assess
if your child is capable
of learning to play guitar.
Over the past decade,
I have accepted one 7 year old as a student.
I suggested many others wait
at least until the age of 9.
SoR's focus is the illusion
of rock concert performance.
Deceiving a child into thinking
they are more skilled than they are
is never a good thing.
The rock emphasis is something
that parents need to consider seriously.
If you're cool with your kids
emulating the rock "leaders"
(don't want to use the word teachers, here)
at the venue, great.
If you are not comfortable,
think long and hard before you
send your child there.
People make deep connections
when they are brought together
by an affinity and you will be
introducing your child to someone
after whom they may model themselves
and with whom they may make
or desire a close relationship.
Be certain that's what you want.
In addition to those concerns,
the arrogance factor of the child
frequently increases by a few hundred percent
when a beginner or intermediate guitarist
attends venue of this sort -
and that is problematic for any genuine
instructor the child may have in the future.
My experience has been
that the time it takes to reign the student in
and fix bad habits picked up
was an unpleasant experience for
both the student and me.
There is also the issue of
the child being able to distinguish
between reality and fantasy.
I've never encountered so many
elementary school through high school age kids
who didn't have an accurate grasp
on reality as I have recently.
Putting a kid on stage to perform
what they've been shown,
may further contribute to
blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
That's just not healthy.
The truth is, that becoming skilled
at something requires work and
practice and dedication.
That's why success in music
as well as many arenas, is so illusive.
I have a problem with the "teachers" too
(okay, I used the word but didn't like it.)
They are all reputed to be working musicians.
It's probably true.
But it doesn't mean they have
any capability to teach.
That's a separate skill set.
Just because you can play doesn't necessarily mean
you have a clue how to train someone
to become a great or even adequate guitarist.
Basically, what you have at School of Rock,
is a mill.
They are not set up to give your child
the personal care necessary
to teach the instrument correctly.
Their goal is to enroll and be paid for
as many "students" as they can schedule.
They want to put your kid on stage
so you will think SoR is amazing
and tell your friends.
They're selling the sizzle,
but there isn't any steak.
Email Me if you'd like to submit
a Question of the Week or
suggest an additional segment topic.
If I use one you submit,
I'll send you an official
Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.
Tell a guitarist friend who might also have questions.
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© 2012 D A Arlaus, all rights reserved
Sunday, January 1, 2012