How Keys Work

…this time, you won’t be taught to learn “your” keys, but to understand “the” keys. I believe that a big source of the aversion to studying music theory has to do with an excess of pedantry. There seem to be a hundred ways to explain what keys are without actually disproving simpler explanations. And while I enjoy diving deep into music theory, what I don’t enjoy is seeing a beginning student frustrated because the information they are being given is unorganized. In other words, I like to teach the rules before the exceptions, which is the same way I like to learn.

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Chord Switching Exercise

Because one of the first hurdles for a beginner is learning how to play chords, this particular lesson is one of my most frequently taught. Some of the most common problems that can arise when learning how to play guitar include dead notes (that toneless plunk! sound), poor memorization, and lack of adequate speed. To tackle some of these issues, the following exercises can speed up the process of learning chords.

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The Musical Genie: Three Rules To Make Your Wish Come True

If a musical genie appeared and offered to grant one music-related wish, what would you wish for? Don’t even try the “I’d wish for a thousand wishes” answer because you don’t need more than one: to be able to play whatever you want.

Isn’t that what every musician is striving for? Creating at the speed of inspiration is what makes “flow” happen. I slyly declare to my students that their ultimate wish has been answered: we simply need to practice playing our instruments without making mistakes.

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The Uninterrupted Performance

Several years ago, one of my students struggled with a song that was by no means beyond her technical level. And so, as she played through the piece, I repeatedly stopped her at each error to point out illogical interpretations of the music. Her long sigh, not out of frustration or anger, but what seemed to be sadness, occupied a space in my mind throughout the next week, reflecting similar frustrations with other students. It was clear that they wanted a chance to perform what they had been working on, even if it wasn’t perfect.

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