Voice Lessons in Memphis, TN

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Discipline is the key to practicing effectively. In order to make good headway towards a goal, it is important to set an amount of time every day that this can be achieved. From there, it is important to set up an "exercise plan" within that time limit to be able to execute what you are working on. The ability to adjust your plan as time goes on based on life events or learning something new is also important. If you want to practice effectively you need to keep an open mind and be flexible. Focus on what you can do today while keeping short term and long term goals in the back of your mind but during the "exercise" it is important to stay present.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Your child is ready to start lessons if they seem to have an inclination towards music or musical instruments. I would say that if you notice that your child seems to gravitate towards different aspects of music then it is probably time to think about possibly getting your child involved in playing an instrument or singing. Whether that be different instruments, singing songs regularly, making improvised music with voice or objects around the house or simply just wanting to play a bunch of notes on a piano because they enjoy the sound it makes.

When will I start to see results?
If discipline is maintained, you will see results weekly. Sometimes results can even be seen on a daily basis depending on what is being worked on. The most important thing to keep in mind, however, is that music is a lifelong pursuit and that no "end goal" within the craft really exists. Instant gratification is not something that should be taken into account when playing an instrument. The process of playing an instrument is similar to any skill-based craft, you do it because you love it (through the good times and the bad times) and the rewards you reap will last throughout your lifetime.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I had a classical guitar teacher inspire me by showing me that success in the style is possible by making calculated steps towards your goals and establishing a good routine. Prior to playing classical music, I was self-taught and always pushed towards the goals I wanted to achieve but society taught me at a young age that playing classical music was that for the gifted. My classical teacher taught me that society is wrong and that success in playing in a classical style is for the people who persevere and challenge adversity. The military gave me the discipline and the ability to self-motivate during times of hardship and life taught me that sometimes your routine needs to be adjusted. All of these experiences in my life together taught me that as long as you keep realistic goals in your sights anything is possible.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I choose to play guitar because I love the challenge of it. I love the beautiful music that can be created from just a guitar by itself. I love the versatility of the instrument and the idea that you can play pretty much any style on it. I love the craftsmanship that goes into building a high-quality guitar. I love how much fun it is to play guitar either by yourself or with your friends. The guitar can be played by anyone from a complete novice learning open chords, chugging power chords to a seasoned soloist or a person overcoming a disability using open tunings.

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