Advice & Teachers

Today we were privileged to have Patrick Duffy with us. Here are some links to connect with Patrick...

I get asked a lot about what equipment I use in my studio, so here's the list, along with some extra suggestions:

Penguin In A Floaty Practice Track

Here's the karaoke track for what just might be the cutest little music video you've ever seen...

Levi Saelua and Colossus
As promised, here's more from the great composer we interviewed...

The chords they use in this song are E, B, C#m, and A, but really…

A good musician is not necessarily a good teacher! Even a great teacher is not the right fit for each student. Sadly, a large number of teachers will not refer a student elsewhere either because they don't know they're not a good fit, or they just want the money to keep coming in. Far too often, teachers see their students more as customers than as musicians. Here's what good teachers usually look like:

THE PROBLEM:

Sadly, there is no way you can consciously process all that is required to play your instrument. It's impossible. Many students get frustrated with how slowly they feel they learn music. Especially adults! They think that it's because they're too old to learn.

No. Not any more than a screwdriver is better than a hammer. Each does a different job to create a similar product, but neither is a good substitute for the other.
Here’s what live online lessons for adults are great for:

*Beginning pianists – because the cost is SO much lower, students can take beginning piano lessons online and see if they like the instrument without sinking a ton of money into it.

There are no “sucky” musicians.  Many times in my live piano lessons, my piano students will mess up and then say things like “I suck” or “I’m not very good at this” or other negative things about themselves.  And even though it takes valuable lesson time, I always have to interject: “You’re not good at this…yet.  But that’s why we’re here.”

Whether learning from online videos or getting instruction from a private teacher in piano classes, all students who want to become piano experts need deliberate keyboard practice. This is different than just practicing hard to impress a teacher. For the best possible lessons, deliberate practice:

*Is designed specifically to improve performance. A mentor, teacher, or other professional instructor should create assignments for the student that is focused toward a goal, not just fun or nice to listen to. Because a student's learning needs change as they develop, teachers must be interactively engaged and in tune to what that particular student needs instead of just assuming the next song in the lesson book is the best assignment for the student.