Student Recital Performance – Julia
May 15, 2015 Leave a Comment

Student Recital Performance – Julia

Julia is one of our talented students who can sing beautifully and play guitar at the same time.  This is not as easy as it sounds. Songs are often memorized and then practiced until you can focus on singing and playing together. As a student Julia works hard at each song she learns.  Some of these include this song I See Fire (Ed Sheeran), Blackbird (The Beatles), The Bed I Made (Allen Stone), Father’s Father (The Civil Wars), Dust to Dust (The Civil Wars), The One The Got Away (The Civil Wars), Stolen Dance (Milky Chance) and many more.  Here is a video of her performing at one of our guitar recitals.  

At Jammin’ Music Studios students are given the opportunity to perform in the Olympia and Lacey area at coffee shops, Lakefair and the like.  At this particular recital a full band stand band was used for the performances.  All the students did very well and we are proud of them!

http://www.jamminmusicstudios.com/guitar/ for more information or contact us today to sign up.

Filed Under: Guitar, Guitar Lessons, Student Blog, Students, Voice Lessons
Student Blog | Megan – Stupid G
January 15, 2013 Leave a Comment

Student Blog | Megan – Stupid G

Stupid, stupid, stupid, STUPID! Stupid. Stupid.
When Joey first told me about “Stupid” G, I failed to grasp its power. I walked out of the studio thinking, “Great! Another way to play ‘G.’ I like variation.“
Ha!

It wasn’t until I got home and started practicing that I tried getting from a “C” to a “Stupid G.” That’s when I realized that the “stupid” in the title wasn’t referring to the simplicity of the chord, but to me- or more accurately to my left pinky finger.

I’ve always considered myself dexterous. Years ago I used to interpret sign language and I was a crazy-fast finger-speller. Now my fingers just feel fat and well, stupid.

I’m frustrated because I want to be able to play the chord easily NOW. I’m frustrated because I like the song I’m working on and I just can’t play it. I’m frustrated because the only things that are stopping me from being able to do it are time and effort.
I am learning something about myself. I am not a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of student. I rarely just sit and work through one phrase for 20 minutes until I get it. (Unless it really is just mindless repetition in front of the TV.) I work better when I try seven or eight times, move on to something else and come back later. I play a different section of the piece I’m working on, practice my scales, or play old songs for confidence. Sometimes I even leave my guitar out of the case, picking it up in 10 or 15-minute increments every few hours during the day.

Right now, for example, I’m taking a break from my frustration to write. It’s probably not a highly acclaimed study technique, but it seems to be working. Something happens when I walk away and come back. My fingers and my guitar seem better prepared to peaceably work out their differences- and I am less likely to call anything- or anyone- “stupid.”

instructors comment…..a long time ago a student of mine, fed up with a certain fingering of the G chord (seen below), called it “stupid G”. Then knowing it would make me laugh, called it that every time we worked through it. So the name has become an inside joke. If you’re not sure why we would call it that, try the fingering and it will probably make sense. It’s that darn pinky stretch. 🙂 Joey

 
 

Filed Under: Student Blog
Student Blog | Megan – Why did it take so long
October 10, 2012 Leave a Comment

Student Blog | Megan – Why did it take so long

For Christmas in 2007, my husband bought me a guitar. Four and a half years later I am finally starting to take lessons. Why did I take so long?!

That, friends, is a really good question.

I have the time to learn guitar. I have kids, but they nap. I don’t work outside the home. I’ve made time to take up running, sewing, furniture building and voice lessons. I read. I waste time on Facebook. I have free time.

I also had motive to learn guitar. My family is musical. My mom played piano. My sister played viola. My father-in-law sings in a local group. My boys rock out on pots and pans. And my husband? He plays anything on the piano. An. Y. Thing. He’s the one who encouraged me to take up guitar in the first place- so we could play together at home and so I could one day play with him at our church.

So why have I stalled for so long?

I used to ask guitarists how long they had been playing. The answers varied: 6 years, 7 years, 10 years, 20 years. But I can do slanted math. I figured that if I started “now”, I would be at least 35 or 40 before I was really good at playing- or good enough to not embarrass myself and garner unwanted criticism.

The truth was that I believed musicians needed to start young to ever really be good. I thought I had missed my chance.

So what changed? Why do I now spend 3 or 4 cumulative hours a week practicing the change from Am7 to G (among other things)?

It was mostly running. I faced my mid-twenties with a history of awkward, embarrassing anti-athleticism. And then I ran. And I loved it. And I didn’t mind much that I wasn’t the best. I was having fun.

At some point I realized that taking guitar lessons wouldn’t be just playing catch-up to all the guitarists who had been playing for a decade. It would be about me…and having fun with my family…and learning a new skill….and being able to sing and play my own worship to God.

And it’s fun!

Filed Under: Student Blog