This is my first article on the website and the first article since my life changed. Why is this moment so important to me? Currently, I am writing in a language that is unfamiliar to me, or perhaps, given that it has been two years since I arrived in Canada, this language may no longer feel new. Who knows? But the reason is that it is valuable and exciting when someone does something for the first time.
I wrote many articles in my past life, but they were usually in the language that surrounded me. At this moment, I am writing these lines in a language that accompanies me everywhere, enveloping me eighty percent of the time and has given me a new vision of the world - English. So, let's begin.
I've decided to write my first article not about music, but about something more important. I want to start with the most significant aspect for every musician, and indeed, for every person on Earth: the ability to make ourselves better. It's called focusing. Even though the focus isn't something you can touch or catch, understanding why music, like guitar lessons, matters is key. Let's explore some examples from my life together!
Why Focusing Is So Important
Let’s delve into the definition of focus. Focusing entails directing your attention and efforts toward specific goals or tasks while avoiding distractions and prioritizing what's important to you.
Now, let’s explore how we can redefine focus in the context of guitar lessons and practice. Focusing in guitar lessons involves concentrating solely on practicing, understanding theory, and enhancing playing skills, rather than allowing oneself to be diverted by other subjects.
From these statements, we infer that focus is instrumental in achieving goals. Some may wonder why we're addressing this topic on a website dedicated to learning the guitar. The reason is simple: when people learn how to play the guitar, they should understand what contributes to their success in education. It requires continuous focus and discipline. Here, we acknowledge that successful learning necessitates skills like focus.
However, we encounter a dilemma, as we often say, "Every coin has two sides." On the one hand, we must focus on achieving goals; on the other hand, we must develop them. Let's proceed to the next section and examine examples of how guitar lessons, including live online guitar lessons, have aided people in becoming more focused.
Teaching Across Generations: Guitar Skills for All Ages
When I was teaching in my homeland, I had a lot of students. Every day, I taught twelve face-to-face sessions, six days a week. Students were of different ages, and genders, and even had disabilities. Over thirteen years, I gained strong experience in helping people achieve their goals in guitar playing. Now, I will highlight three categories: kids, adults, and elderly people, all of whom wanted to learn how to play the guitar.
Kid-Centric Sessions: Nurturing Concentration in Guitar Lessons
I always asked parents to leave us alone during guitar lessons for kids. Kids behave differently in guitar lessons with and without their parents. When kids learn to play the guitar without their parents present, they often exhibit behavior more akin to adults, showing independence and a greater openness to learning new information.
Let's review one episode from my guitar teaching life
I remember when a 7-year-old boy came to me once. His mother told me that the boy was very restless, but he wanted to learn to play the guitar. For about a month, during the first ten minutes of each lesson, he always touched my equipment and asked various questions, and then, when he quelled his curiosity, we began to learn the guitar. Sometimes the lessons lasted only twenty minutes, but it took time for the child to feel more comfortable and natural.
Then our lessons became full-fledged. I established a strong, organized structure for guitar lessons that catered to everyone. So, what happened with the kid? His mom mentioned that thanks to the guitar lessons, he became much better at focusing, which really helped him do better in school. Her words were the best reward I could ask for!
Tuning Focus: Overcoming Challenges in Adult Guitar Lessons
Adults encountered additional challenges during their guitar lessons, with one of the main difficulties being maintaining focus. Adults have various duties and tasks, such as managing work commitments, household responsibilities, and personal obligations.
When adults attend my guitar lessons, the first thing we do is spend some time learning warming-up exercises. These exercises help them transition into the mindset for the guitar lesson. Then, we move on to learning note placement and understanding the relationship between the guitar fretboard. I create short exercises consisting of four to eight bars, designed to help individuals develop memory and focus.
As we progress through the initial stage of learning to play the guitar, focusing on developing technical skills and reading music notation, we tackle complete pieces of music. An interesting new finding suggests that individuals should fully immerse themselves in concentrated attention while playing a piece.
Let's review the second episode from my guitar teaching life
I was working with a person, a rather busy businessman. He had been in meetings all day and rushed to class. When he started to play a piece we had recently learned, he began to lose his place and forget entire sections. He expressed frustration, saying that his mind was filled with various thoughts, making it difficult to focus.
Then I asked him to play a piece of music he knew was perfect. Interestingly, despite losing focus during the familiar piece, his muscle memory kicked in, allowing him to play through to the end. This experience appeared to uplift him, and he returned to the lesson with renewed focus. After the lesson, he expressed gratitude, saying, "Guitar lessons and music are truly extraordinary. Thank you!" Now, let's transition to the next group of individuals.
Elderly Enthusiasts in the World of Guitar
An administrator approached me regarding a woman who expressed interest in learning to play the guitar but felt she was too old. Although other teachers were available at our school, I decided to handle this matter personally.
I vividly remember that scene as if it unfolded yesterday: an elderly lady came to the guitar lessons, clutching a guitar case in her hand. She asked, "Do you teach people like me?" I responded, "I teach all people who desire to learn to play the guitar."
I focused on studying the notes and sounds on the guitar neck. This task wasn't easy because, at first, the person forgot everything. But after a while, she learned the sounds in the first position on the guitar. She could easily find any sound, and we also learned how to read notes. Then, we moved on to the first musical composition. The work on focusing began again, but she found it easy to play and read notes. Playing by memory became a test. We started practicing two measures, then four, gradually adding more measures until we were accustomed to playing the whole piece.
It's hard to describe her total concentration when she played, but a smile appeared on her face when she played the last chord or note. I understood that my mission was accomplished. This woman was very grateful to me for the work we did together, and I gained incredible experience.
So it's time to conclude.
Focusing is such an important skill in our lives. I could provide countless examples from my own experiences of how people have learned to play the guitar while simultaneously developing their focus. Without teachers, it would be challenging because they follow a process to organize lessons and provide motivation when you feel like giving up. I always recommend that if you want to improve the quality of your life, find a hobby for yourself.
We all run, work, and sometimes pause when on vacation or sick. When you have your favorite hobby, your life is filled with joy, and, most importantly, it brings benefits. If you have a desire to learn to play the guitar, we can do it online at a time that suits you best. Just write to me, and we will embark on our musical journey together.
Wishing you harmony and happiness,
Serge