August 2008 Archive

Learning how to play the guitar: Choosing the Best Songs to Play the Guitar with

August 18th, 2008
Choosing the Best Songs

Choosing the Best Songs

Learning how to play the guitar is not only based on learning how to strum the chords it also includes learning to play the songs. Here are some tips for beginners in choosing which songs to play the guitar with:

1. The best time to choose songs and play a song with a guitar is after the beginner has mastered the basic skills of guitar playing. He should already know how to hold a guitar, strum and tune the guitar.

2. The beginner should already be familiar with the chords before he chooses a song that he can play. He should know the basic chords as well as the more complicated ones before choosing a song.

3. He needs to practice shifting chords before he can play a song. He should practice by continuously moving the fingers to learn the different chords. This will make the fingers more flexible when changing chords.

4. When choosing a song, he can first choose songs that use only the basic chords; start with songs that use only 2 or 3 chords for the rest of the song.

5. The songs that he chooses should not also be too up-tempo so that he can easily follow along with the chords and the speed of the song. A beginner may have a difficult time following the chords and shifting his fingers if the song is too fast - start with the slower mellow ones.

6. The beginner may check out the songs like “As Tears Go By” by the Rolling Stones, “Day Tripper” by the Beatles, “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees and “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones. He will find these songs easy to play with the guitar since they have simple chords and they are not too fast for beginners.

It is important to remember that beginners need not rush and jump into playing songs immediately. They should be patient and learn the most perfect time to play a song with a guitar.

Learning how to play the guitar: Choosing the Best Songs to Play the Guitar with Video

Misconception about Singing School Offer

August 8th, 2008
Singing School

Singing School

Some people have the misconception that a singing school produces great singers as if it was an assembly line of talent. A singing school (as it is with any school meant to hone a craft or art) exists to provide its students opportunities to enhance their skills in singing and in performing.

The level of innate talent differs from each student. It isn’t the job of the school to segregate “average” singers from the great ones. Its job is to develop each student’s skills to the best of his or her capability and, most of all, passion for singing.

What kind of musical styles are taught in singing schools?
Before, only classical music was taught in a formal setting. Nowadays the range spans across the board. From the blues to pop, from country to world music – almost all musical styles are covered so the student has a greater understanding of diverse musical expressions.

The levels of expertise vary from novice to advanced but at every level, consistent exercise will be required.

Will it teach me to overcome stage fright and make me into a singing star?
Some singing schools specialize in public performance and to some extent will train its students to get over stage fright. But that is not the purpose of a singing school. While it can help you start your professional singing career, it won’t teach you how to be a star - that is all up to you as a performer.

What if I don’t want to be a performer, and I just want to sing for myself?
Going to a singing school doesn’t necessarily mean you intend to be an entertainer or recording artist. Just like a painting or sculpting class, sometimes the ultimate objective of its students is to simply master the art for its sake. And so it is with singing.

A singing school helps its students use their love for singing with vocal technique mastery to develop them into the best singers they can ever be.

Singing School Video

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