“Don’t practice the guitar”
Period.
The words came out of my mouth during a lesson with a student a few weeks ago. I found myself repeating them to other students as well. At first, I’d get a quizzical look – like I’m luring the student into a trap.
Then, I’d explain myself…
It’s Friday. Which means I’m feeling lazy (and hopefully you are too). So instead of bombarding you with words… you get some sweet sweet music.
If you’ve never heard of Django Reinhardt, I (and just about any guitar player) highly recommend checking him out. You’ve probably heard his music (in movies like Something’s Gotta Give or Sweet and Lowdown) – or the similar Gypsy Jazz style. And even if you don’t dig the sound, you can at least appreciate the skill.
This is a guy who lost the use of all but two fingers in his left hand. TWO FINGERS. Yet still, he could produce some of the most amazing sounds out of his guitar. Check out the video for the full effect (Particularly around the 19 second mark – it is unreal. Watch his left hand and listen to the sound it produces).
So I’m sharing this for two reasons:
1. I love the music.
2. Whenever I feel stuck (or a student feels stuck) – it’s an incredible motivator to see Django play and persist. And not only that – but play at a high (if not the highest) level.
If you want more, you can check out the excellent film: Life After Django Reinhardt (Streaming on Netflix).
That’s it. Enjoy.
Guitar cases… I own two. Both of them are gig bags (which are essentially soft/padded guitar cases made for gigging – or hauling your guitar to various gigs). They offer little protection – really just like a backpack for your guitar. I should also mention, that at any given time, I probably have about 4-6 guitars hanging around.
So why am I so against guitar cases?
First – the good thing about cases:
1. They protect your instrument. Hard cases especially.
2. If you get a humidifier – they can prolong your instrument’s life (and actually make it sound better).
There you go – two reasons. Now those are two BIG reasons. But there is another big reason that I hate cases…
…they make it so you NEVER PLAY and NEVER PRACTICE!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok. Well, they make it so **I** never play or practice.
The thing is… when I lock my guitar in a case (or zip it up in a gig back) I tend to forget about it (which is seriously bad since I have a guitar lesson blog and am a guitar teacher). Having a guitar in a case gives me one more step in the practicing process (which, since I am extremely lazy, is kind of a big deal). I have to make it so practicing is as easy and convenient as possible.
Cases DO NOT EQUAL Convenience.
So really – it’s about weighing what is important to you. If you have a really really expensive/nice guitar – yeah, you probably want to stow that bad boy in humidity controlled area in a nice hard cases. If you have a cheap(er) guitar, maybe leaving it out on the guitar stand in the living room isn’t such a bad idea.
Those are my thoughts – feel free to correct me if I’m wrong – in the comments below.
(Note: the guitar case pictured above looks so sweet. Mostly because of the leather, and the pockets. I like having a lot of pockets for stuff. I don’t personally have this case, because I don’t personally have $900 to spend on a guitar case).
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Should I learn to play the acoustic guitar or electric guitar? Which is better for a child to learn? Which is easier to learn – acoustic or electric? Where can I buy a good child sized guitar?
We get these questions fairly frequently. They’re good questions… with annoying answers…
Ok. Obviously, you should choose an instrument that suits your son or daughter’s style. For example: If your child wants to play heavy metal, a nylon stringed-classical-instrument probably isn’t the way to go… or is it?
No. Probably not.
So – all musical tastes aside – let’s break this down…
Can I learn to play the guitar by playing Rock Band or Guitar Hero?
No.
Ok.
No.
However…
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
So… oftentimes when new students approach me about lessons – they ask if their son or daughter is too young to start guitar lessons. Or they will ask “What is the best age to take guitar lessons?”
And the answer is….
Welcome! I’m Jake Posko and I am a guitar teacher in Annapolis, Maryland. I provide beginner and intermediate private guitar instruction for busy kids and adults.
I provide private guitar instruction in your home. Most of my students prefer this at-home method as it’s low-stress and convenient.
In addition to guitar instruction, I have been performing in the Baltimore-Washington area for over 15 years.
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You are busy. I know. Guitar is supposed to be fun. You shouldn’t feel bad. (Furthermore, your teacher shouldn’t make you feel bad).
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I have spent my entire life performing, and have over 15 years of guitar experience. I have been performing professionally in the Baltimore/Washington area for over 10 years – including local venues like Rams Head and Stan & Joe’s.
In addition to my background in music, I have a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from The University of Maryland College Park, along with professional experience in higher education, in an advising and counseling capacity.
My favorite artists include Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Black Keys, Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Mason Jennings, and the list goes on. But as I mention in my teaching philosophy, I’ll teach you what you want to learn (I’ve played/taught everything from Taylor Swift to Frank Zappa)
I specialize in teaching beginning and intermediate guitarists who want to play rock, pop, blues, or folk music on the acoustic or electric guitar. Some of my students want to be the next Taylor Swift or John Mayer, others dream of strumming Beatles tunes with their family by the campfire (or impressing the rest of your office with some sweet blues licks).
Kids learn differently than adults – this is fairly obvious – though many instructors/schools teach adults and kids in the same way, and with the same material. I take a different approach (in other words, if you’re over the age of 10, I’m not going to teach you “Mary had a Little Lamb”… unless you want me to).
In addition to guitar technique, I incorporate performance and/or recording if my students are interested. One of the biggest motivators in learning the guitar is having something to look forward to – a tangible goal. At least once a year, I try to provide performance opportunities (typically at a local coffee shop or other venue) if my students are interested. Additionally, many students enjoy having their music recorded so they can share with family and friends. I can do both.
It’s really important to teach/learn material that is engaging (and actually interesting) – I want to do what I can to help you stick with it. This approach is a little unconventional, but really effective, and really fun.
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A lot of guitar teachers/lessons run for 30 minutes. I don’t believe that this is enough time to learn, practice, and develop (that’s why my lessons run for forty five minutes to an hour).
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Before our first lesson we will talk about your goals, skill level, and musical tastes. This will help give me an idea of where to start with an organized and tailored plan.
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[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’What Can I Help You With?’ type=’textarea’/][/contact-form]
Click here to e-mail me directly or give me a call: 410-215-7574.
You can also checkout my posting on thumbtack.com: Guitar Lessons that You (or Your Child) Won’t Quit
Every so often here at Severn River Music, we’ll get questions about other guitar schools and/or teachers in the area.
If you’re looking for in-home lessons… of course I think Severn River Music is the best game in town. However, I understand that some folks would rather travel to a music store or studio for lessons. If that’s the case, I’ve compiled a list of local schools and teachers who do a great job!
This is a great area, with a lot of music history and talent. Never ones to shy away from being blatantly honest with respect to our competition and colleagues, here is a list of some of the guitar schools and teachers that have a solid history and reputation in the Annapolis and Baltimore area:
1. Bay Tunes Guitars.
In addition to guitar lessons, Bay Tunes offers bass guitar, drums, and vocal lessons. In addition to providing lessons, you can take your guitar for repairs and setup – they have a great reputation and philosophy when it comes to guitar repair – this is where I take my guitars for repairs and setup that I can’t handle myself.
2. Tempee Warmack.
Tempee provides both guitar and bass lessons. Tempee has an extensive musical background including: attendance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, completion of the U.S. Army School of Music, and a Bachelors of Arts in Jazz Guitar Performance from Towson University.
3. EW Guitar Lessons
Earle Wood provides private guitar lessons in the Baltimore and Annapolis area. Earle has more than 12 years of playing experience. Earle holds a a Master’s Certificate in Guitar from Berklee Music, a division of the Berklee College of Music.
4. School of Rock
School of Rock is a franchise operation, but they do have Annapolis and Baltimore locations. School of Rock teaches guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, drums and combines weekly private music lessons with group band rehearsals.
5. Naptown Sings!
Naptown Sings is quickly becoming my go-to recommendation for anyone who is interested in guitar, piano, or singing lessons or classes. For those who want to go to a studio for lessons, you can’t beat Naptown Sings!
So there are four schools/teachers to consider when selecting guitar lessons. Check out this article for more information about tips and things to look for when picking a guitar teacher (or any music teacher).
Got another recommendation? Leave a comment below!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
So you want to know how much guitar lessons cost?
Short answer, expect to pay anywhere between $25 – $100 depending on the length of the lesson.
If you’re worried about cost, you may also want to consider these less expensive alternatives to guitar lessons. Services like JamPlay are a nice way to get your feet wet with lessons (without spending a lot of money).
If you’re ready to take lessons, hopefully we can clarify some things here to help you make an informed decision…