Frequently Asked Questions
In music there are elements like melodies, harmonies, chords, rhythm, tempo, dynamics. Sometimes a simple song can include a mix of these. Now, how long does it take to get solid technique? First, we have to define what this means using a specific qualification. I agree & concur that defining solid technique as being able to play includes naming all 13 Major Scales at 60-90 bpm, using sixteenth Notes and chord-on-scale-tones in root and 1st-inversion positions (for piano and guitar).
Does this mean you’ve mastered technique? Of course not, but you would have SOLID technique, meaning: you have the finger strength, dexterity, and coordination to play easy songs.
How long does it take to get there? It can take you about 12 weeks, IF, you diligently practice the scales and chords correctly while associating pitches with note names and location(s) while practicing for 10-45 minutes daily for 5 to 6 days per week. This doesn’t mean you can skip 5 days and practice an hour on the last day, before the next class. Anybody who has played an instrument knows that this practice doesn’t yield as much fruit.
Can you really get solid technique in only 12 weeks? Yes, yes you can. I’ll address exactly why a bit later.
Being able to play by ear utilizes skills that would allow you to learn a simple CCM song in about 10 minutes.
To get to that level there are basically two time-frames. If you can already play songs with both hands together it can take you about 4 months to get really good at playing piano by ear. If you’re a complete beginner and you’ve never played a song using both hands together before, it’ll take you about 6-12 months because you’ll need to learn some other skills first.
Of course, there are some caveats.
First, just like with technique, you have to practice 10-45 minutes a day, 5 to 6 days per week.
Second, you must use a systematic exercise, you cannot just wing it.
How long does it take to become good at learning songs? This is a tricky one to define because it depends on how difficult the songs are you’re trying to play.
There’s no real quantitative way to define this. You’re “good” at playing songs if a random person heard you playing or they could be able to recognize a song you are playing and could say “You’re good.”
How long does this take? About 6-8 months. This time, you’d need to practice about 20 minutes a day, 5 to 6 days per week. You’ll need very specific practice for this as well, breaking your songs into sections and really focusing on the sections that need work and will push you. Do not spend half your practice sessions playing the easy parts you already know – this won’t get you the results you want in 6-8 months.
Those who think it’s “too good to be true” to learn an instrument this fast make a huge mistake. However, the biggest mistake people make is they don’t follow the little details!
So many students come into my lesson, show me their scales, and they’re not where they’re supposed to be. They say they’ve practiced 20 minutes per day, 6 days per week, but when I dig deeper, I always find something out. You know what that is? That they didn’t follow the details. They really practiced 3 days instead of 6 days and didn’t realize how many days they had skipped.
Another thing that happens a lot is that people don’t actually use a stopwatch to time their practice sessions. I used to do the same thing and over time those 10 minute practice sessions shrunk to 6 or 7 minutes. It’s not the same.
If you stay diligent, consistent and really time it out, you’ll get the results I’ve been sharing with you.
Something else people say is that “everybody’s different.” Yes, that’s true, but they aren’t that different. Even if someone is a bit slower to pick up different aspects of learning piano they still won’t be that far behind over time if they’re practicing consistently, diligently focusing on the parts they don’t already know. Maybe they’ll be 2-3 months behind, but it won’t take them twice as long to learn with precision and accuracy.
For you, it might take a little longer or shorter, but it’ll be about the same amount of time as I’ve mentioned.
If you took 6-8 months to learn bass, keys or guitar, spending 15 minutes a day on scales, 10 minutes a day on play by ear drills, and 20 minutes a day on songs, you would:
- Have solid technique
- Be able to play by ear
- Be able to play songs where people would say, “Wow, you’re sounding good”
A total of 45 minutes a day for 6-18 months.
Don’t have 40 minutes a day? Let’s say you only have 20 minutes. Maybe you spend 3 months just focused on technique and play by ear. Another three months you may focus on playing songs. Then, you’ll cycle through both again and in about a year you’ll be good at all 3.
Remember, it’s all about the details, using the right techniques, drills, and strategies to accomplish a sense of precision and accuracy.
Since most people desire to learn instruments to play both covers and original music, I teach one-on-one lessons in a way that equips students with skills to be able to learn any song and have fun doing it! I specialize in helping students LEARN Bass/Keys/Guitar, LEVERAGE their gifts and skills to LIFT Jesus’ agenda! 2 study paths are offered: Sight-reading and Ear-Trained Improvisation. My aim is to facilitate a learning environment that prepares musicians to serve in the local church. Music theory and technique are super important, and it is incorporated into each lesson as we progress.
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Online lessons actually work much the same as in-person lessons, except you learn from the comfort of your own home! Once a booking is confirmed, a weekly online meeting is scheduled. We meet online in the same online portal and platform that provides class materials, worksheets, audio and video. Login and access links / code(s) are provided after purchase and instructor follow-up contact. Student instrument (not provided) is required before classes begin.
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I do not currently offer a regular in-person lesson option for several reasons. First, online lessons help keep the cost down for my students. Secondly, being online saves parents and students the stress and time of commuting and instead brings their extracurriculars to the comfort of their own home! And lastly, teaching online helps me work with amazing students from all over the world! I am able to help students who live in other areas and are on other time zones, that I would never get to work with them if I only taught in my town. Click here to inquire about booking me for an in-person workshop, camp/clinic event.
I appreciate a lot of the social media content released by: famstx, exministries, pentabint, joyannreid. I love watching live music productions. I like watching shows like S.W.A.T., and From Rust to Riches.