Books and Supplies
Piano Lessons
Items you will need...
Piano -- Metronome -- mp3 Player
- Piano -- Obviously, a student will need easy and ready access to a piano. A keyboard may work temporarily to start out on (and make sure, for example, that a student is committed to learning to play), but has a very different feel than a piano, and the technique is a little different. Keyboards with "touch sensitivity" or "touch response" do not adequately mimic the dynamic response of a piano. That doesn't mean that a traditional piano is necessarily the best option -- somtimes a digital piano may be more ideal. A digital piano will have the same number of keys as a traditional piano, the key size and shape will be identical to that as a traditional piano, and will simulate the feel of a traditiona piano, using "weighted keys" or "hammer-action", etc. Sams Club and CostCo both sell digital pianos for less than $500 that would be suitable for a beginner. Digital pianos do not require tuning. When deciding between a traditional piano versus a digital piano, think about where the piano can be placed in the home, and if the sound of the piano will cause problems with other activities in the home. Although I love traditional pianos, I find that sometimes I would like to play piano if I am up late at night, and that doesn't work because it would wake my husband! Likewise, I have had students who report they have missed practice because the sound of piano playing in the living room interfered with siblings watching TV in the family room. If the cost of a traditional piano is an obstacle, check out the ads on http://phoenix.craigslist.com -- many people will sell a piano for just a few hundred dollars. Pay a piano tuner to come out and evaluate a piano if you are not sure what it is worth, or what condition it is in.
- Metronome -- Beginnin Fall, 2011, a metronome is required for piano lessons. A metronome can be very useful when figuring out rhythm. It does not matter whether it is traditional or digital, although listen to it before buying -- some digital metronomes may be un-pleasant sounding. Digital metronomes also may provide multiple meters, counting, and other features.
Guitar Lessons
Items you will need...
- Guitar -- It is very important that the guitar is sized for the person playing it. Take the time to go to a music store and sit with various sizes of guitars. The right arm should be able to comfortably fit around the body of the guitar and play the strings; it is important with an acoustic guitar that the body not be too deep for the guitarist. If you have a guitar that you or your child wants to play, but does not fit, get an inexpensive guitar that does fit to start with. Likewise, especially for children, I encourage starting with a nylon string (classical) guitar. This is because it is a painful to press the strings down onto the fretboard until calluses develop on the fingertips; the pain is not as great with nylon strings as it is with steel strings. (FYI: it is not a good idea to put nylong strings on a steel-string guitar and vice versa, a guitar designed for steel strings will likely break nylon strings, and a steel strings on a guitar designed for nylon strings will break the guitar neck.)
- Picks -- Have a few picks; they are easily lost. I will teach a beginning student to both fingerpick and use a pick regardless of they type of guitar being used, classical, acoustic, or rock. I find that beginners are more successful with hard or medium picks.
- Footstool -- I encourage beginners to adopt a classical position of holding the guitar as I find that it promotes good posture and good technique. To do this properly, the student will sit to practice and and need a stool or something similar to lift the left foot a few inches off of the ground. There are guitar stools made for this purpose that are collapsible, may fit inside the guitar case, and are very convenient to use and take a long.
- Case -- I suggest a hard-shell case rather than a soft bag for storage and moving the guitar from place to place. It does not need to be an expensive, plastic-molded case -- a paperboard case is sufficient -- but it will protect the guitar from many potential mishaps, and also help prevent the tuning pegs from getting bumped during the week.
- Music Stand -- The student will need a place to set the music while playing the guitar. A music stand will do this best; otherwise, looking at the music is likely to compromise posture and technique. And inexpensive stand, such as those used by band students, is sufficient.
- Tuner/Metronome -- Some sort of tuner is essential. Get a tuner with a metronome built in. During lessons I will teach the student how to tune the guitar using whatever tuner the student brings.
- Books -- There are several I may choose to use, but right now I am primarily using the Essential Elements for Guitar method. The first book is Essential Elements for Guitar: Book 1, Comprehensive Guitar Method.
Where to buy books and supplies...
I can now order most any type of music book for the same cost as getting it at the music store, plus there is the added convenience of being able to pick up music and supplies at the lesson. Currently, I can accept cash and checks for these products, please make checks payble to Alisa Phillips or to GTS. Many piano, guitar, and singing books are also stocked at Central Music, Camelback & Central Ave. They can order if a book is not available, however, that can take a couple weeks. They carry a limited selection of instruments, as well as guitar picks, strings, accessories, tuners, metronomes, etc. The We Hear and Play piano method books and materials are available at www.wehearandplay.com. Used guitars are available at Musicbrokers, on Central Ave, near Indian School. I do have students who purchase music online. Many music stores geared toward modern music (such as Guitar Center) will have a great selection of instruments and supplies, but have a very limited selection of music books.