Are you challenged with the task of finding interesting curriculum to keep your students motivated during their lessons?  TakeLessons guitar teacher Lisa T., who is based in the Chicago area, has some tips for fellow teachers who want to create an engaging and fun lesson experience for their students.

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If you’re looking for a unique approach to teaching your students and you don’t want to use store-bought materials, you always have the option of creating your own curriculum. The advantage of creating your own curriculum is having the freedom to enhance or modify what you are teaching as you go along. Once created, the curriculum can be used over and over again, tweaking where needed.

So how can you develop a good curriculum? The first thing you should do is define your objectives for your student. Once your objectives are clear, you can start thinking about how you will get there. Measuring your success through defined goals such as tests, practice charts and student feedback is also important.

When defining your objectives, ask yourself the following questions:

–What will the student accomplish during this lesson?
–To what specific level (i.e. 80% accuracy) will the student be able to perform a given task?
–How will the student show that they understood and learned the goals of your lesson?
–Are there any specific modifications that need to be made in order for your student to be successful?
–What tools (both formal and informal) can be used to assess the student’s progress?  These can include practice charts, motivational charts, skill builders and recitals.

These are just a few suggestions for successful lesson planning. Start with a clearly defined goal and track your progress along the way to ensure you achieve the desired results for both yourself and your student. Good luck!

-Lisa T.

Kristi’s journey began when she came into contact with a 9 year old battling cancer, and her heart was immediately inspired to do everything in her power to help that child’s family. Since then, Kristi has helped over 15 families and brought smiles to each of their faces through the gift of music. A musician and songwriter herself, Kristi wrote the song “Already an Angel,” which was inspired by the children she helps on a daily basis and brings about a message of hope through tumultuous times. The song can be purchased through the Music 4 Miracles website, and all proceeds are used toward helping more families and bringing music to children’s lives.

TakeLessons is happy to be able to help set up piano lessons for Bella, one of the Music 4 Miracles children, with our rock star teacher Karen J.  This coming July, we will also help set up another Music 4 Miracles child named Shiloh with in-home guitar lessons! Our thanks goes out to Kristi and the sponsors who make in-home music lessons possible for these children, while also offering hope and the gift of music education that can last a lifetime. To learn more about Music 4 Miracles and how you can become a sponsor, please visit www.music4miracles.org.

I was excited to find out more about the Loog because I took guitar lessons when I was 8 years old, and it proved to be easier said than done. The guitar was added to the list of instruments that were uncomfortable for my tiny hands (which I thought would grow eventually, but never did – to this day, I still struggle to reach the octave on the piano!).

I became discouraged and quit after about 6 months, and eventually took up the ukulele many years later – which has been much easier for me to maneuver but even now, the ¾ size guitar is problematic for me.

Many of our TakeLessons instructors prefer not to teach guitar to young children for this very reason.  Now, with the Loog Guitar in the picture, instead of teachers having to focus on finding alternate fingerings and keeping a frustrated student focused on the difficult task of mastering an adult-sized instrument, they can focus on teaching the child to make music!  And isn’t that really what it’s all about?

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview Rafael Atijas, the creator of the Loog Guitar, who provided insight into how his concept came about and what the benefits will be for children who want to learn the guitar.

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When did you realize that there was a need for a guitar made especially for kids?

I saw my 6 year old niece trying to make music with one of those $30 guitars when I thought “There has to be a better way.” It was then that I realized that kids’ guitars are usually just cheap, scaled-downed replicas of classical guitars.  They are not really designed with kids’ needs, comfort or even safety in mind.

Where does your knowledge of guitars come from?

I studied guitar and was in different bands during high school and college (as was almost every other kid I knew). I was very much into rock music and at some point I just fell in love with guitars – especially vintage electric guitars.

What age group do you feel would benefit the most from the Loog Guitar?

Time will tell, but I think kids ages 6 to 9 will be the ones that will get the most out of the Loog Guitar, since this is the guitar that allows them to build chords without the need to form complicated shapes with their little hands.

Where did you get the idea to call it the “Loog?”

It is my subtle but very meaningful homage to Andrew Loog Oldham, the first manager and producer of The Rolling Stones. I always found him to be a fascinating character (I’m a rock nerd, as you can see) and back when I had a band, I had a chance to meet him and he was super kind to us.

What types of learning materials are you planning on coming out with to assist with the learning process?

We plan to include a manual on how to play with three strings, and we will also offer video tutorials on our website.

What does this product mean for kids who have an interest in learning guitar?

Kids will have a friendlier instrument that will stimulate them to make music and get creative with it. What I like about the Loog Guitar is that it works whether you already know how to play guitar or not. And that’s what I hope it means to kids who have an interest in learning guitar: a fun and easy way to play music.

Anything else you wish to add?

I am truly humbled by the response the Loog Guitar project got on Kickstarter (the website that helped raise the money to launch the product), and one of the things I like the most is that so many people from the education field have reached out to me and had very positive things to say about the Loog Guitar. I know TakeLessons.com reaches a lot of music teachers, so I want to use this opportunity to extend my thanks to all of them.

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There you have it, folks.  I’m personally thrilled that there is now a product out there that will make learning guitar simpler for young children.  For teachers, what have you experienced in teaching guitar to young children? Parents and students, what are some of the challenges that you’ve faced learning guitar yourself or watching your child learn guitar?  I’d love to hear your feedback, so please leave comments below if you feel so inclined!  Now if only I could travel back in time and learn to play guitar on the Loog, maybe I would have stuck with it! To learn more, visit www.loogguitar.com or check out the Loog Guitar in action below:

The Loog Guitar in Action from Loog Guitars on Vimeo.

Monet Payne is the Community Manager for TakeLessons.com. She is dedicated to providing the latest on music education and technology to those who seek it. By night, Monet is a professional singing actress, starring in musicals, operas, and everything in between. Monet has her Bachelors in Music, with a concentration in Vocal Performance, and enjoys teaching voice, involving herself as Vocal Director in several productions. She proudly co-founded a non-profit organization for Voice Education and her next venture will be to start her own theater production company.

The following post comes from TakeLessons teacher Jeremy R. in Hudson, Florida. Jeremy has been a professional performing musician for over 10 years and has taught hundreds of students during that time.  Below he shares some of his favorite tips for beginner musicians who are learning to perform.

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As a beginner musician, learning to perform a song is a challenging obstacle. After all, you spent countless hours learning modes and chord progressions and now you must take what you have learned and translate it into a successful performance.  Below I will share some methods that have worked for me.

Clear your head.  Each time I pick up the guitar, I go through the same mental exercise to prepare myself to play. I pick up the guitar, tune, and play a couple warm up exercises. It’s important that your warm up piece is something that you have to really concentrate on and think about to be able to play. It’s perfectly fine to play these pieces verbatim with little or no deviation. In fact, a piece that challenges your abilities that you have worked hard to master is a great candidate for a warm up piece. The point isn’t to play the piece to perfection; rather, the point is to get the other songs out of your mind and focus your thoughts on playing.

Phantom play.  If you have ever played at a large venue or in front of an important audience then you’ve undoubtedly had the issue of nerves clouding your head and distracting your focus. Before you play your song for anyone else, play it in your mind. Maybe even just finger your fret board quietly. Again, the point isn’t the perfection of the song – it’s the mechanics of your mind while you play.

Emotional focus.  You’ve tuned your guitar, played your warm up exercise and gone through the song in your head. Now you’ve got 4 minutes before you go on. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a guitar player play the correct notes in the correct rhythms in the correct key but the performance is as flat as rice paper. I look for the emotion that is communicated by the song and then I think about things in my life that bring out the same emotion. A great example of this is “Crying” by Joe Satriani. This song is so sad it should come with a warning label saying it could cause depression. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the song “Baba O’ Riley” by The Who is an extremely upbeat and energetic piece.

Believe.  A great personal friend of mine is a phenomenal song writer and performer. You will often hear my band playing and recording his material for the public. He is an amazing talent but doesn’t share it with anyone. Don’t be afraid to get up and play. It doesn’t matter if you’re the next Celine Dion or William Hung – both have their place in music, and you do too!

-Jeremy R.

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Christina L. from Carrollton, TX

Inspirational, professional and friendly are all words that have been used to describe Christina, who teaches piano & voice lessons in the Dallas area. Christina has been teaching with us for just over a year and has worked with 24 students in that short amount of time!  She grew up studying music & knows how to keep her students on track while also making their lessons productive and fun, which is why they love working with her!
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Mark H. from Osseo, MN

Mark has been teaching music for over 20 years, and specializes in a variety of subjects including guitar, bass guitar, singing and acting.  He loves what he does and his passion and enthusiasm for his students and his music shines through in every conversation we have with him. In addition to teaching, he has done his fair share of performing and touring. He has even composed songs for many local bands and produced musical scores for local theatrical productions.
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Dorothea G. from Sherman Oaks, CA

Dorothea has been teaching piano lessons with us for over a year. Her students love her because she is great at challenging them and encouraging them to keep setting goals.  In addition to teaching, Dorothea has experience composing and has even composed for movies! She is currently working with some of the other TakeLessons teachers in her area to create a TakeLessons recital down the road. If you get a chance, check out the amazing introduction video on her profile!

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Scott F. from Rutherford, NJ

Scott has been teaching voice lessons with us since 2008 and comes with the highest recommendations from all of his students, who say he is patient, charming and talented. He helps them gain not only vocal skill, but self-confidence as well.  Here’s a quote from one of his students: “There is nothing worse than a teacher who’d rather show off the entire lesson than teach; thankfully Scott is nothing like that.  He is a very fun, energetic and uplifting teacher who, still after eight months, leaves me waiting for my next lesson with fervor.”  What a gift!

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Congratulations to all of our outstanding Teachers of the Week for the month of March!

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Jim P. from Wheaton, IL

Jim has been teaching guitar lessons in the Chicago area for over a year, and in that time has worked with eight students. Jim is proficient in a variety of styles (everything from rock to jazz to blues) which his students absolutely love – check out his profile videos to see him show off his skills! His students have also found that he is very patient and is a pro leading them in the direction they wish to go with their lessons, which keeps them excited about coming back for more.

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Dena C. from Horsham, PA

Dena teaches music lessons in the Philadelphia area and has worked with over 30 guitar, piano & voice students in the nearly two years she has been with us. In addition to teaching with TakeLessons, she also has experience performing professionally and working as a music therapist.  We love working with Dena because she is committed to providing a First Class Experience for every student we send her way! Her students say they have learned more from her than they ever imagined they would when they began lessons – which is music to our ears!

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Jackie R. from Elkridge, MD

Jackie teaches piano and singing lessons at several of our Best Buy stores in Maryland, and has worked with a total of 16 students since the program launched last fall.  Jackie’s students love her because she is so positive and encouraging.  She even calls and emails her students throughout the week to remind them to practice and see what kind of progress they are making between lessons – talk about dedication!  We applaud her for her positivity and commitment to excellence.

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Steven B. from Las Vegas, NV

Steven is a piano, bass and guitar teacher in Las Vegas.  He is incredibly proactive, responsible and genuinely committed to providing a stellar experience for each of the students he teaches. His students describe him as charismatic and praise his ability to cater lessons toward their individual needs.  He’s an expert at developing not only their skills, but improving their confidence as well.

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Congratulations to all of our outstanding Teachers of the Week for the month of February!

Adjoa S. – Singing Lessons in South Pasadena, CA:

Mike G. – Guitar Lessons in Dublin, CA:

Scott M. – Guitar Lessons in Denver, CO:

Jason W.  – Guitar Lessons in Burbank, CA:

Gianni D. – Guitar Lessons in Denver, CO:

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!

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!

Research has proven that children experience many benefits from learning to play music, including increased brain activity and development, improved memorization and small motor skills, and increased self-confidence that carries over into schoolwork and other outside activities.  Music lessons also help to keep children engaged in school, thereby increasing academic achievement.

Unfortunately, tighter budgets have forced many schools to cut funding for music programs, which means that many children no longer have the opportunity to study music as part of their regular school curriculum.  In order to provide an alternative environment for these students to continue their musical education, TakeLessons is proud to offer music lessons at our new lesson centers located at over 75 Childtime, Children’s Courtyard, La Petite and Tutor Time schools across the country.

Beginning this month, students ages 5-12 in cities such as Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Seattle will have the opportunity to take voice, piano or guitar lessons after school at one of these lesson center locations. The program also offers piano lessons for children as young as three, as well as the option for students to take in-home lessons with other family members.  By enrolling in this program, parents can feel confident that their children will continue to receive the music education that is so important to their development.

Of course, our regular in-home or in-studio lessons are always an option for students looking for one-on-one musical training in a variety of instruments, from the flute to the ukulele.  Working with a TakeLessons Certified Instructor allows students of all ages to expand their musical knowledge and develop new skills at the same time.  Call us at 877-231-8505 or visit www.takelessons.com to schedule your fall music lessons today!