CAROLE PELLATT FREELANCE GUITARIST/GUITAR INSTRUCTOR
GUITAR LESSONS
ABOUT CAROLE'S LESSONS
One-On-One Guitar Lessons Are The Most Effective Way To Learn
It seems that EVERYONE wants to learn to play the guitar. The guitar is an incredibly popular and accessible instrument. It runs deep in our cultural history, and is the icon of our pop culture. While there are many sources to learn how to play the instrument; the internet, books, videos and dvds, nothing can replace sitting one-on-one with an experienced musician showing you the way. It’s the interaction, the reaction, the development of aural skills, and the interplay, that make guitar lessons the most effective way to learn.
Students come to see me for a variety of reasons:
•New students want to learn to play from scratch •People who used to play are looking to get back into it again •Some guitarists are experiencing technical issues, plateaus, problems with technique, inadequate musical vocabulary, physical limitations or creative dry spell. •Some people want to learn to play in order to write original songs •Some students are learning so they can play in church or in their youth or social groups •A common reason that players come to see me is that they’ve been playing for a while and they don’t know what they know, or what they don’t know, so they don’t know how to move forward.
Customized Lessons For Students Of All Ages/For Professionals, Hobbyists, and Students
When students come to see me, we do an evaluation of their goals and skill level. It’s really more like a comfortable conversation about what music you like to listen to and what you’d like to be able to play. We’ll start learning to play on your first lesson. If you can already play, we’ll play a little together, and in no time I’ll know what you need in order to move forward. From there, we’ll make a plan. Here’s some of my guidelines for good teachers: • They want to know what your tastes, interests and goals are • They create a comfortable, creative environment free of daily stresses • They will make you the focal point of the lesson • They will write things down. They’ll help you to organize your notebook, study tasks, and your practice habits. • A good teacher never stops being a good student. So they don’t forget what it feels like to be learning something new, and teaching it becomes a new experience each time.
I teach many styles of Guitar:
Acoustic Steel String
Acoustic Nylon String Fingerstyle
Acoustic Electric Blues
Electric Rock Electric
Funk
Foundations of Classical
Foundations of Jazz
Music Theory
Improvisational Theory
Songwriting/Arranging
Creative Musicianship
GUITAR LESSONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Do I have to learn to read music?
A: Not necessarily.It depends upon your goals.I recommend that my students learn the language, but that can be done at any point in our journey.
Q: I’m an adult with no prior musical experience,can I still learn?
A: Absolutely. No one is born playing an instrument. All players feel A LITTLE awkward at first, just don’t dwell on it!
Q: How do I know if I have any talent?
A: Let’s define talent. I believe that talent is the ability to recognize and appreciate creativity, whether it’s in yourself or someone else. Couple this with a desire to express your own ideas and you have started your journey.
Q:How often should I have a lesson?
A: Consistency is important. Once a week on a regular basis is a good place to start.
Q: How long should my lesson be?
A: I recommend an hour. It’s important to have time for review, questions, and of course, lots of playing.
Q: How often should I practice?
A: I’d say as often as you have the time and energy. PREFERABLY EVERY DAY. Your teacher should pace you according to your progress and practice schedule, as well as give you short term goals for each week.but you’re going to have to do some work.-UNDERSTOOD! Be prepared to make practicing a part of your daily schedule. The sooner after a lesson you practice, the more information you will retain.
Q: I need to buy a guitar, how do I do that?
A: There are many types of guitars.The most popular are the electric guitar, the acoustic steel-string, and the acoustic nylon string guitar. Each of these guitars lends itself to a certain style of music. The type of guitar you choose should be consistent with your musical goals. The most important thing to realize is that the guitar does not have to be expensive. It just has to be easy to play. That is something that a sales person can help you with when you are at a music store.
One more thing about guitars......
Just about all of them have adjustable necks. This means they can be made easier to play. Not knowing that, you may pass up a great deal because a guitar felt “too hard to play”. The place of purchase should offer the first guitar “set-up” (neck adjustment) for free. If you already have a guitar,treat yourself to some new strings AND A NECK ADJUSTMENT.
Q: Are there other accessories I may need to buy so I can get started?
A: If you decide to get serious about playing and practicing, you might want to create an environment at home that will foster your creative spirit. All you need is the corner of a room and a few tools of the trade:
•A music stand (preferably a sturdy one)WITH A LIGHT.
•A guitar strap, to stabilize the guitar on your body
•A comfortable yet supportive practice chair with no arms. I use a drum throne, but any comfortable chair will do. •Good lighting
•A metronome
•A guitar tuner
•A CD or music player with speakers, preferable a stereo
•Paper pencils and spare picks
Contact Me
If you have any questions, please contact me!
