Learning music needn't be hard. It may sometimes appear that way but that's more to do with how it's presented than anything else. I'm proposing a series of blogs to help demystify the study of music using methods that I've found effective over many years. The learning can be summed up in two essential premises

Premise no 1 -  Words are only useful when they can describe what you are hearing.

All the blabbering on in the world won't make a scrap of difference…

In response to a question on the Forums, here's one way to convert 6 string tabs into 3 string, tuned to a dyad chord, also called 1-5-1, "power chord" or perfect fifth.  (For example, tuned GDG)

Before you start

1. This is likely to do your head in until you get to the example, then…

After a recent forum discussion got side-tracked by an online vs face-to-face teaching argument I thought I'd present some actual evidence. Some may not be interested, if that's you then I'd suggest you move on, it may get a little dry. If not however, or if you think I've just got a barrow to push.......

I've studied this for a number of years now, it was a major focus of my undergrad music ed degree and since then I've learned a whole lot more, through studying the research…

In my last blog we had a discussion about learning and how the brain makes it all happen. Iit’s good to know this stuff because it has implications for how we practice. If we can do it smarter it'll not only be easier but we'll get better results.

Much of our practice is simply repeating a particular set of movements, in the process engaging nerves and muscles in a specific order. Initially these movements take some conscious effort but once the neural conections are established they…

“You’re never too old to learn” said Fred,

“You can’t teach on old dog new tricks” replied George.



Well they can’t both be right, or can they? Of course as children we were sponges, everything was new and learning was as natural as eating and sleeping. What happens as we get older? Is it different for some than others? Is there something about getting older that makes it harder to learn, or at least different?



Generally people…