CONTRERAS MUSIC
  • Home
  • Guitar Lessons Sydney
  • Drum Lessons Sydney
  • Singing Lessons Sydney
  • Piano Lessons Sydney
  • Bookings & Timetable
  • Online Courses
  • Meet our Founder
  • Recording Studio Sydney
  • Meet our Team
  • Blog Articles
  • Vocal Practise Tracks
  • Annual Concert
  • Reschedule Requests
  • Pricing
  • Studio Policies
  • Contact Us
  • Compositions
  • Rank Ads Page

​​​

​Welcome to
Contreras Music Blog Articles

May 2020

Email the Author!

Buying or upgrading to the perfect instrument: Part 1

5/14/2016

Comments

 
Picture

Ever wanted to know what the right instrument was for your or your student? Perhaps your first instrument is now a little old and needs upgrading. If so, follow these easy suggestions for a hassle free shopping experience.

1. Research before you shop
Impulse buying can be the biggest wallet and self-esteem killer for novice shoppers. Shiny lacquer coats, extra buttons, and smooth talking sales people can soon have you parting ways with your hard earned cash. There is nothing wrong with spending a little more than usual when buying a quality instrument, however you need to make it a conscious and deliberate decision based on your or your student’s specific needs. So before you even think of walking out the door, jump online and look for at least 3 retailers or shops that sell what you are looking for. Find their highest and lowers priced instrument in your category of interest, then write down the price range. Repeat this for each retailer, and definitely make sure you have this on you on the big day. I generally recommend Guitar Factory, Allans Music and JB HI Fi as these offer a wide scope and variety of brands, prices and accessories for music students of all levels.
 
2.  Think about your specific needs
So you have researched the market and you have a rough budget; but what next? Now it’s time to think about you. What do you need the instrument for? Is it for general practice and fun, or are you planning on joining a band someday? Will you use it to write your own music, or will you be competing in shows and talent quests? All of these questions will help you to determine if you need an entry, intermediate or professional level instrument; and which features are important to you. For instance, a young beginner piano student will not need a full sized 88 key grand piano. They may however benefit from a small portable digital piano with some fun features like songs and sound banks. An intermediate guitar student may need to purchase an electro-acoustic guitar with a built in tuner and accompanying amplifier for those school band practices. An advanced percussion student will certainly need a solid acoustic drum set with decent cymbal packs, brushes, mallets and an adjustable throne. Every instrument and student combination will be unique, so take the time to think about what your specific needs are.
 
3. Bank or Budget?
You may have found the Fender or Steinway of your dreams, however your wallet may have other plans, hence it is important to know how much of an investment is appropriate for your level and circumstance. I would always recommend purchasing a quality instrument for a little more cost as it will last longer and perform better than a cheap alternative. That being said, you can find some very good quality second hand instruments at bargain prices from people who have sadly lost their passion or simply need to sell their 9th guitar to pay for rent. Try looking in classified ads such as www.gumtree.com.au or other similar sites as you may be surprised at the bargains you can find. However be careful of scammers and fake goods, and remember to always do your research first.
 
4. Try it out
You would never purchase a car without first test driving it. The same goes for your next instrument or upgrade. No matter how expensive it is, or how smooth the salesperson may be; there is never an excuse for purchasing an instrument without first trying it. All decent retailers will have display floor stock set up and ready for you to play. Remember that you are the customer who is about to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars and bringing business to them. So be brave, play and listen to the instrument then take your time before you make the final decision. If it does not live up to your expectations then ask to see a comparable substitute or simply walk away. Trust me on this, you do not want to take home a lemon, experience bitter disappointment, and then come crawling back to the store only to be offered an exchange or store credit. Love your instrument or leave!

5. Care and maintain it
​Depending on your practice routine and general care, your instrument cam last a long time. However even the best instruments need a tune up and clean after a while. So I recommend that you purchase a decent case (soft or hard), and after each practice, cover or place the instrument properly. Avoid leaving it in humid or wet areas, and definitely not in the garage or boot of your car. Handle it with care and take it to the shop whenever you need a maintenance or you notice a loss in the quality of the sound.

With a little planning and prior thought, your next instrument or upgrade will be a memorable experience. Why not take it a step further and speak with our musical experts at Contreras Music. Our teachers are not only educators but active musicians who perform in the real world. We can point you in the right direction, give you insider tips and even find great deals for your next instrument or upgrade. If you already own your dream instrument but are sick of mediocre YouTube lessons, then visit www.contrerasmusic.com and book in a free face to face lesson with our professional teachers, and start learning the right way today!

If you have your own tips for buying the perfect instrument, why not share them below?

© 2016 Cristian Contreras.
www.ContrerasMusic.Com

Comments

5 tips for making music lessons fun!

5/9/2016

Comments

 
Picture
The difficulty with music educators working as private tutors is that they may need to compete with other extra-curricular activities that students and parents choose to do on top or regular school work. The majority of these are fun, challenging and engaging. Music encompasses all of these elements, however is not as easily noticed by parents or students. We as musicians have a passion for our subject and for the practice of it. However put yourself in the shoes of an average 10 year old.
What would you rather do?
  • Attend your Karate lessons at the local dojo where you will jump, scream, punch and kick butt!
  • Play footy or soccer on the weekends as part of a team, running, scoring goals, and hearing cheers from the crowd!
  • Dance as part of a performance group with lights, loud music and motivating physical exercise!
          OR
  • Sit in a chair for 30 minutes listening to your music teacher telling you what to do. Attempt to learn scales and random songs you may not like, then be told you need to go home and practice this or else you won’t get to do the FUN stuff!

Do you see the context? Do you feel what the student feels? Can you empathize with a parent who also sits in on your lesson and observes the above?
Now let’s get some credit musicians. We are not child ENTERTAINERS, we are not CLOWNS, we are not DAY CARE CENTRES, we don’t work for PLAY SCHOOL, and we are certainly not APPRECIATED enough for imparting the wisdom we have acquired through relentless decades of practice. We are however expected to make music enjoyable, even if our personal background or musical upbringing was not so stimulating. Students today are different to when we were children, they are far more active, far more restless, and need far more to keep them fully engaged. This is when quality teachers rise above from the rest. Quality 21st century teachers understand this and thus make an effort to engage each and every one of their students on a personal and musical level. It is their job to impart wisdom and skills to their pupils, but they must do it in an engaging way for it to have any success.
So here are 7 ways for any music teacher to make their lessons more enjoyable. Feel free to adapt them and make them your own in your next lesson:

 1. Say G’DAY! 
Greet each student and parent as they walk in by their name. Remember that these are not just walking cash flow tickets or client numbers, they are people just like us. So ask the student about their day, or about something interesting they did during the past week. Keep the topic on non-music related subjects and be sure to listen to what they have to say. Perhaps you can share something interesting you did as well so that the student sees the other side of their music teacher.
 
2. SMILE & BE HAPPY
Remember that your personality can be just as important as your performance skills when dealing with students and parents. To illustrate, would you rather pay money for your child to learn to cook from a happy, smiling, caring Jaimie Oliver who will nurture and support your little one, or would you prefer a grumpy and arrogant Gordon Ramsay yells abuse you every time a mistake is made? Teachers, put on your fun teacher hat and enjoy the lesson with your student. You are helping a person to develop, grow and achieve milestones in their lives. If you can’t enjoy the lesson, how can you possibly expect them to enjoy it and return?
 
3. CHILL
Seriously teachers….chill. Music may be your life, but at the start it will only be a fun hobby for students and parents. They have not spent the many years you have studying, practicing and developing a passion for it. So don’t be too strict or disappointed if they don’t take it all too seriously at first. Relax, be friendly, be positive, and eventually they will come around. You would not want to have scared off a potentially great musician because your lessons were too strict at the onset, thus putting them off music altogether.
 
4. EASY DOES IT
At the very basic level, start with a healthy ratio of more songs than scales. Even though they do need scales and technical exercises to develop their technique, the best way of motivating a student to practice is by getting them to learn songs and enjoy their music. When they see that they need to get better in order to learn that new song, you can stress the importance of more scales and technical work. My personal favorite is to make the scales themselves a song. I simply play some accompanying chords (usually 1, 6, 4, and 5) then ask the student to join me with the matching major scale. Not only do I get a great cycle of fifths transposition work out, but I also engage my student in actual music making. This is an important role in the development of great musicians, especially at the early beginner’s level.
 
5. LURE THEM IN WITH FAMOUS RIFFS
Picture a student walking in for their first music lesson. They sit down and their teacher says “Right, you need to start by developing fundamental techniques which will strengthen your physical dexterity and fine motor skills, thereby allowing you to attempt harder and more challenging aspects of the instrument which eventually will lead you to performing difficult and challenging repertoire. Let’s start with scales”. How motivated would you be?

But what if that same student walked in to their very first music lesson and their teacher said “You are about to learn the most awesome instrument in the world! I’ve been playing it for the past 20 years of my life and I never get bored of it. Want to see why?” INSERT AMAZING BRAIN MELTING GUITAR RIFFS AND SOLO HERE!!! Which of the two will inspire, engage and excite? The point is simple, start with the easy but Fun basics and ensure that the student is engaged with the material. How about teaching them a few riffs from ACDC, Star Wars, Jaws, Another one bites the dust, James Bond Theme, or Seven Nation Army? Why not some easy jazz licks or a walking bass line? How about the melody from Beethoven’s Ode to Joy or 5th Symphony?
 
Whatever your instrument or teaching style, you can be the best teacher for your students. To do so, ensure that you say hi, smile, relax, be positive and outgoing, and keep it simple at the start. Your students will admire you for it, and then parents will recommend you to others for being the amazing teacher that you are. So teachers, don’t see your next lesson as another day at work, instead see it as an opportunity to engage and shape the next Miles Davis for tomorrows music industry.

​These are just some of the techniques our professional teachers utilise to engage our students here at Contreras Music. We believe that finding a teacher with the right balance of experience, knowledge and skills is the key to a quality music education. This is why we are proud of our teachers and our pedagogy. Why not come in and experience our difference for yourself? Book in a Free trial lesson now and start your musical journey!
 
© 2016 Cristian Contreras. 
www.ContrerasMusic.Com
Please share with anyone who loves good music!
Comments

Music Practice, The 5 steps to ensure you are doing it right

4/30/2016

Comments

 

What is effective music practice?

Picture
...But mum, I’ve already finished my scales. Can I have my phone back now?
How many times have you heard a similar phrase to that? There are a lot of variations to it, however they all seem to follow a similar path. Now, whilst some parents might know the difference between an arpeggio and a scale, not all of us can tell if the little ones have truly finished their ‘musical veggies’ before demanding their dessert. So what can parents do to ensure that their hard earned tuition dollars are not being flushed away as your child eagerly practices their Clash of Clans strategy instead of their instrument? The answer might surprise you.

​What is good music practice?
First you have to know what good practice is. Most people are led to believe that practice is having your child sit at their instrument and go at it like a child prodigy for a set amount of time. The more the better right? Or perhaps your notion of good practice is sitting at your instrument until you complete a particular song or section. Some might consider good practice to be 1 hour daily with no breaks in between. So instead of good, let’s talk about effective music practice
 
What effective music practice actually looks like!
Effective practice is simply personal improvement based on routine and sound technique. The key words here are routine and improvement. You need a set of principles to guide you through your musical journey, one which will hopefully lead you to wherever your musical horizons lie. So don’t worry if you don’t know much about music theory or how to play an instrument. With these 5 steps, you will be able to identify effective practice, then ensure that your little one is keeping to it.
 
Step 1 – Set Goals
I base my teaching philosophy on a number of principles. One is goal centered practice. You need to know where you are heading in order to know if you have succeeded or failed. Your first priority should be to determine a simple A and B trajectory. A) Where are you now in terms of your musical abilities? B) Where would you like to be? By setting a goal at B, you have already take the first step to effective practice. Think of B as a long term goal, possibly a few years down the track. For some that might be learning how to play their favorite song on an instrument. It may be to perform in front of an audience with confidence, or maybe it’s earning a grade certificate or enter a competition. For others it might just be to enjoy learning a new instrument. Whatever the goal, start by setting it in your mind, then writing it down and adding today’s date next to it. If your children don’t have one yet, then sit with them and ask them why they want to learn their instrument. Guide them through this and help them find a meaningful reason, one that can transcend through the years to come.
 
Step 2 - Scaffold
Next, you need to set some supports or scaffolds to help you reach that distant point B. These are sub goals, which all contribute to you reaching the final target. It is important that these are directed towards your main objective and that they push you further, not on a tangent to your point B. For example, if you want to play in a rock band someday, then your scaffolds would be learning guitar technique, rock related repertoire, timing and ensemble skills. If your goal is to win a music competition the your sub goals should be to earn some grade certificates, develop a high level of technique, learn a concerto, find a high level teacher, and go for gold! For those choosing to enjoy the journey rather than the destination, sub goals would be to find a teacher you connect with, fitting your practice around your existing schedule, picking songs you like then sticking firm to your routine. Start by setting 3 sub goals which should take a third of the time of your long term goal, then ask yourself ‘are my sub goals pushing me towards point B?’
 
Step 3 – Monitor
Now that you have your structure sorted, it’s time to stick with it and give it some time. Learning an instrument is not easy, and it cannot be rushed. Over each week, month and year; monitor how you are going in relation to your goals and if you are actually getting closer to achieving them. If your child is on the same level 1 piece for over a month, then ask your teacher what needs to change in order to improve. Perhaps it’s a lack of effective practice, or maybe the difficulty has not been adjusted. Whatever the case, monitor your progress then speak to a professional if things don’t improve over time. I personally suggest keeping a diary with logged weekly practice time, topics studied and songs covered. This will show you where you have come from and where you are heading towards.
 
Step 4 - Compare
Once significant time has passed and you achieve either your sub goals or major goal, start looking back at your journey and compare where you are to where you were at the start. Only by comparing the distance traveled will you be able to see the true progress. Can your child play that scale faster than before? Have they learnt new songs? Have they attempted grade examinations? Do they now have the confidence to step on stage and perform in front of others? With enough time and effective practice the comparison should be evident.
 
Step 5 - Improve
What happens after I reach my ultimate goal? Does it end there? The good news is that it does not end… ever! Now that might sound daunting however think of it as an opportunity to improve instead of an eternal death sentence to the practice dungeon. Your child can always improve! That is the beauty of being human, we can always get better, reach further and strive for more. Reached grade 1? Aim for Grade 2! Won a piano competition? Try going for a state or national title! Learned how to play that song you like? Learn all the songs from that artist! Enjoy playing your instrument? Learn to play it better and your joy will increase as a result! Whatever the ultimate goal is, think big, plan, set goals then go for it.
 
How to stick to effective practice?
The most crucial aspect to all of this is sticking firmly to your routine then finding an experienced teacher to guide you along the way. Regularly consulting with a professional mentor who has been there and done that is essential and cannot be replaced by YouTube videos, books or online courses. At Contreras Music we have spent over 2 decades perfecting our skills as mentors, teachers and instrumentalists. Our main priority is to structure a tailored practice routine to suit your needs, then helping you achieve your set goals. Visit ContrerasMusic.com to book in a free lesson with your professional mentor and experience our difference for yourself.   
 
 © 2016 Cristian Contreras.
www.ContrerasMusic.Com


    Want to stay up to date and get free access to tons of music practice content and videos? Sign up to our free e-newsletter today!

Subscribe to Newsletter
Comments
Forward>>
    Picture
    Meet The Author


    ​Crtistian Contreras

    An international music educator, performer, composer, and producer with over 2 decades of experience in the arts and education sector.

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    December 2017
    October 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Guitar Lessons Sydney
  • Drum Lessons Sydney
  • Singing Lessons Sydney
  • Piano Lessons Sydney
  • Bookings & Timetable
  • Online Courses
  • Meet our Founder
  • Recording Studio Sydney
  • Meet our Team
  • Blog Articles
  • Vocal Practise Tracks
  • Annual Concert
  • Reschedule Requests
  • Pricing
  • Studio Policies
  • Contact Us
  • Compositions
  • Rank Ads Page