Posts Tagged ‘Drums’

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a TakeLessons Gift Certificate

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

vday site imageIt’s February 8th, which means Valentine’s Day is only 6 days away!  Are you still looking for the perfect gift for your Valentine?  Before you buy the traditional flowers (yawn) or candy (boring!), we’ve got a better idea…

This Valentine’s Day, give a gift that will create a lasting impression (and will last longer than a week) – give your sweetheart a TakeLessons gift certificate, good for music lessons at any of our 3,000+ locations across the country (including Best Buy Lesson Centers)!

Is your girlfriend an aspiring singer looking to hone her craft?  Has your boyfriend always wanted to take drum lessons and embrace his inner rock star? Music lessons provide a great outlet for learning new skills, relieving stress, and most importantly – having fun!  From guitar lessons to piano lessons, TakeLessons gift certificates are valid for any type of music lessons that we offer and never expire, so recipients can use them at their convenience.

Gift certificates are available in any amount, and can be printed at home or sent to the recipient via email.  Simply call one of our student counselors at 877-231-8505 or click here to share the love by purchasing your certificate today!

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Top 10 Reasons TakeLessons Gift Certificates Make An Awesome Holiday Gift

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Holiday adThe holiday season is in full swing, and if you’re looking for the perfect gift for that hard to please musician or music lover in your life, look no further.

Presenting….the Top 10 Reasons Why TakeLessons Gift Certificates Make an AWESOME Holiday Gift!

10.  Our gift certificates NEVER expire!

Whether the recipient wants to start lessons right away or a few months down the road, a TakeLessons gift certificate provides a flexible option that lets them start lessons when they’re ready.

9.  Gift certificates are good for any type of lesson we offer.

With more than 30 types of lessons to choose from, there’s something for everyone!  If you know what instrument the recipient is interested in learning, simply give us a call and one of our student counselors can check our database of teachers to confirm availability at the time of purchase, or you can do a search on our site and find a teacher yourself!

8.  Location, location, location!

TakeLessons gift certificates can be used toward lessons at any of our 3,000 locations across the country – including our Best Buy and Learning Care Group (Childtime, Children’s Courtyard, La Petite and Tutor Time) lesson centers.

7.  More convenient than fighting the crowds at the mall…

Gift certificates can be printed and mailed to the recipient – or, if you’re a last minute shopper, email delivery is also an option.

6.  Lessons for any age or stage in life.

Old or young, beginner or advanced – everyone can benefit from music lessons.  Our instructors help their students set goals and create a customized curriculum to help them achieve those goals!

5.  A first class experience from start to finish.

Nothing is more important to us than keeping our customers happy.  When you purchase a TakeLessons gift certificate, you can be sure that you are making a risk-free investment.  Should the recipient not be satisfied with their lessons for any reason, we will gladly set them up with a new instructor to ensure that they have a wonderful lesson experience.

4.  A great addition to music instrument gifts.

Planning to buy Junior that guitar or drum set he’s been begging for?  A gift certificate for lessons with one of our TakeLessons Certified™ Music Teachers will make sure he starts his music career off on the right foot.

3.  A fun and unique gift option that will be remembered.

Chances are the recipients on your gift-giving list have all the neckties and kitchen appliances they need.  This year, why not give a gift that will make an impact and potentially change a life?  Which brings us to our next point…

2.  Forget Rockband and learn to play for real!

Sure, video games are fun – but learning to play an instrument provides many more physical and mental benefits, including improved memorization skills, increased self-confidence, and enhanced creativity.

And the number one reason to purchase a TakeLessons gift certificate this holiday season?

1.  It’s better than fruitcake.

Enough said.

Call us at 877-231-8505 or click here to purchase your TakeLessons gift certificate today!  Happy Holidays!

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Posted in Drums, Music for Adults, Music for Children, Piano, Practice Tips & How To's..., Singing, The TakeLessons Team | No Comments »

How to: Practice the Drums When Time is Limited

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

drumsEvery musician knows that practice is an essential part of learning and progressing as an artist, but busy schedules and other commitments often limit music students from practicing as much as they would like.  Our instructor Jason M., who teaches drums and percussion in St. Paul, Minnesota, submitted this blog post to share his tips for how to make the most of practice when time is limited.

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What Should I Practice With Limited Time?

I am often asked this question by beginning and intermediate drum students. The following is a suggestion for a ‘down and dirty’ practice regimen for folks with little time to spend at the kit.

- Practice/prepare for your gig. You have to take care of business first, so if you have a bread and butter gig (or are looking for one), make sure you are prepared.

- We can all use a little work on rudiments; even Jim Chapin practiced rudiments until his last days. Try to get in a good 10 minutes a day and mix it up on a daily basis.

- Work out some drum kit coordination issues with some exercises that force you to get out of your comfort zone. Try doing some single paradiddles with your feet and play the same thing with your hands, only at half the speed. Try that for 10 minutes and move on to something else. After a week you will have spent 70 minutes on this grueling task, but you will probably have it down (or be close to it) by then.

- Lots of folks might need a break by this time (about a half hour into practice) so you might consider listening to a song you want to learn. Check out the drums, bass, full band – then try playing along. I use a PA to accomplish this, but others might consider headphones. Either way is good, but the speakers provide a more “live” feel.

- Jam out for a few minutes to end your session. We have to stay psyched; a good “chops” session usually works well for this.

So there you have it. This practice routine will probably take the average drummer 40 to 60 minutes to complete.  It is action packed and most drummers will get something out of it.

Until next time, keep groovin’.

-Jason M.

Jason M

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TakeLessons Rock Star Teacher of the Week: Matthew P.

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Matthew P.Our latest Rock Star Teacher of the Week has only been teaching with TakeLessons since January, but he’s already making a big impact with his students.  Meet Matthew P., who teaches several subjects including drums, guitar, and singing in the Los Angeles area.  Matthew specializes in pop and rock performance, and works with students who want to learn how to express themselves in a live environment, as well as aspiring songwriters and composers who are learning to write their own music.

Matthew’s enthusiasm for music is infectious, and his students certainly agree; they say he is “easy to work with” and “gives great feedback.”  In addition to teaching, Matthew is an award-winning composer and songwriter with many film and television credits, including the new Starz series “Gravity” which premiered on Friday, April 23.  Awesome job, Matthew!

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Posted in Drums, Performing, Singing, TakeLessons Rock Stars, TakeLessons Teachers | 1 Comment »

Featured Teacher Will Retains and Motivates his Students

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Will PJuly's Featured Teacher is our very deserving Midwest teacher Will P.
We selected Will because he can nicely balance being a performing
musician, being a good teacher at successfully retaining and motivating
his long-term existing students, and actively pursuing more new
students. Some of his students have taken over 50 lessons with him
through TakeLessons!

Here is what Will had to say when asked how he continues to motivate and retain students:

"I've been really lucky to have some really wonderful students. The
key is to let the students direct their musical experience. When I get
a new student I ask them to list 10 songs that they would like to learn
at some point. When they set and meet their goals, they get really
excited and motivated. It's really important to keep them interested
and direct the lessons toward their goals and desires. Listening to the
students is really important. As a performing musician, it's really fun
to share that part of my life with them, and they really get a kick out
it when they come to my shows. It's also a fun way to motivate people."

Will Phalen and the Stereo Addicts

Will's band is called Will Phalen and the Stereo Addicts, and is now featured on iTunes. Check out their music either on their website, watch their video, or directly on iTunes!

Congratulations on being named our Featured Teacher of the Month,
and thank you for being such a great role model to your TakeLessons
Students!

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