Adult Learners: Do You Need To Learn To Read Music To Play The Guitar?

There are many folks that decide at mid-life to learn to play the guitar. It’s something they’ve always wanted to do, and they may find themselves with a little extra time on their hands. But what turns a lot of them off is having to learn to read music. It’s tedious and requires a lot of practice time; but is it really essential for an adult learner to learn to read music? The answer is NO!!

Adult Learn To Read Music

Adult learners do not need to learn to read music to enjoy playing the guitar!

When teaching younger students the guitar, learning to read music is an important component of their lesson. These students may become more serious with their instrument academically, and the school jazz band, which many students end up joining, requires them to read music. And who knows… if they decide to make music their career, reading music is absolutely essential to them. So, we work reading into a younger student’s lesson plan.  But most adults simply want to learn to strum and play songs, and for this reading music is not important. You can play just about any song without having to learn to read music at all… not one note!
Adult Learners: Do You Need To Learn To Read Music To Play The Guitar?

Guitar great Eric Clapton… playing, not reading!

It may surprise you to know this, but many famous ‘rock stars’ and guitar icons cannot read a note of music! There is a long list of many famous guitarists who never learned

Learn To Read Music

Guitar great Jimi Hendrix didn’t read music!

to read: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Slash, Angus Young; even Eddie Van Halen!

So, for adult learners, we focus on two key areas outside of reading music: chords, and strumming. Learning just three chords (C, D, and G) will allow you to play many, many classic rock songs: Brown Eyed Girl, I’m A Believer, Sweet Home Alabama, and many, many more! We work with adults to learn some chords, learn to strum, and begin to play songs as soon as possible; because for adult learners, playing songs is what it’s all about!
You can learn more about our guitar lessons HERE. Ready to try a lesson? Schedule your first lesson below with NO registration or sign up fees. Our private half hour lessons are just $29.50, and you can schedule a single lesson, in-studio or online, with no further commitment!

Understanding A Compressor’s Threshold Setting

A compressor is a valuable tool in regards to achieving professional sounding mixes. Why? A compressor is a tool to achieve dynamic balance, and mixing is all about achieving balance, from both dynamic and frequency perspectives.

There are a few key controls on a compressor; this tutorial discusses the threshold setting. The threshold setting controls which audio gets compressed (whereas the ratio controls how much compression is applied to the selected audio).

The diagram below illustrates how the compressor threshold setting works. The audio that is over the threshold (the dotted line) will have compression applied.

To set a compressor threshold, follow these steps:

  • On a track where you feel the need to constantly adjust the fader control to achieve a dynamic (volume) balance, call up a compressor as a channel insert. Note that because of their dynamic variability, almost all vocal tracks could use some compression.
  • Set the compressor’s ratio at 3:1.
  • Turn the threshold all the way up to 0db. In your mind, you see an imaginary, dotted ‘threshold’ line rise above the top of the waveform. 
  • Begin lowering the threshold. In your mind, this dotted line will start to come down towards the tips of the waveforms; the more you lower threshold, the more it comes down, closer to the peaks.
  • You’ll start to see Gain Reduction (GR) happening when the waveform peaks hit our imaginary threshold line. This means the volume level of our source is being reduced, because it’s triggering the compressor to start working.
  • The more you lower the threshold, the more of the source is going to be compressed.

If you use a conservative ratio, say 2:1 or 3:1, you should be able to adjust the compressor threshold so that both the louder and softer passages now sit well in the mix without any noticeable compression artifacts; no more volume issues!

Want to learn more? Check out “Home Recording Need-To-Know Essentials To Improve Your Mixes“. Or better yet, learn more by taking our Audio Engineering class… see details HERE.

 

How do you teach Music Performance Skills? Manchester’s NHTunes has it figured out!

It’s no secret that performance skills are a critical component of a well-rounded musician. But how do you go about teaching performance skills? Is that something that can even be taught? The answer is YES, and the method is by doing. With proper coaching, and lots of opportunities, students quickly learn to enjoy and excel at performances; and best of all, this service is provided at no additional cost to our students.

Music Performance Skills

One of NHTunes’ Monthly recitals

Our performance training begins as soon a student starts their lessons. Simple things, such as posture, looking forward as they play (and not at their instrument), and singing along in their lessons will begin to ease their performance anxiety and prepare them for their first recital, which comes sooner than most students think. We continue to coach them along through their lessons as they become more proficient musically, working towards their first performance recital.
Music Performance Skills

NHTunes’ student Kara performing with the Sonic Boomers at Shorty’s in Bedford NH

Speaking of recitals, NHTunes offers free monthly off-site music recitals for our students. Students will become competent (and confident) on their selected piece. We also teach the importance of song selection, and work with the student to select an appropriate piece for their audience, as that connection is important. Our goal for the recital is that the student will feel good about their performance. A positive experience means more recitals, furthering their performance experience and boosting their confidence.

Experienced students are also offered the opportunity to perform with the Sonic Boomers acoustic duo in a local venue. Imagine the thrill for a student of any age as they play their first ‘real’ gig! This experience can have a huge positive impact on a student’s musical aspirations!
Lastly, on several occasions, our students have been invited to perform live, ‘on the air’, on Manchester’s “Cail and Company” radio program (The Pulse, 107.7). Again, another fabulous opportunity for a student of any age; performing live on the radio!! We look towards continuing these live radio opportunities.
Music Performance Skills

NHTunes’ student Holly is interviewed on The Pulse after her live performance!

 

With the coaching, recitals, live ‘gig’ performances, and the radio program, we feel we offer our students incredible opportunities that you won’t find at very many music studios. I think you could say that NHTunes ‘nailed it’!

 

Are you interested in finally becoming a better and more at-ease performer? Please fill out and submit the form below for a no-obligation customized plan. We’ll e-mail you within 24 hours. You can then decide if you’d like to begin your journey to become a more relaxed and competent performer – the performer you’ve always wanted to become.

So You Don’t Play The Ukulele But Want To Join In On The Fun? No Problem!!! How To Get Started With The Manchester Ukulele Club!

As of August 30th 2018, we have found it necessary stop our weekly MUC sessions. A big thank-you to those who have supported the group, it’s been a great couple of years!
For those interested in continuing to learn, we are still offering private ukulele lessons, and would love to continue to see you at the studio!

Would you like to join the fun with the Manchester Ukulele Club but you don’t play the ukulele and you don’t know where to start? Getting started is easy, and we’ll here to help you do it! Within just a few weeks, you can be confidently joining in the fun!

Manchester Ukulele

The Manchester Ukulele Club is fun!!

First off, if you don’t own a ukulele you’ll need to acquire one. We sell beginner ukuleles at the studio for very reasonable prices (between $70 and $85), or you can order one online, or better yet borrow one from a friend! If you purchase one outside of the studio, be sure to get one with geared tuners, as some lower priced beginner models have friction tuners which are hard to tune and keep in tune.

Once you have a ukulele, you can take a few private lessons to acquire the basic skills that you’ll need to feel confident playing along with others in a group setting. With just three or four private lessons, you’ll learn the basic chords and strumming skills needed for the next step. See more on our lessons HERE.

Manchester Ukulele

The Manchester Ukulele Club

Once you’ve taken a few lessons and feel comfortable playing a few songs, it’s time to join us on Wednesday evenings at 7 pm for the Manchester Ukulele Club! You don’t necessarily need to join the club, we allow paying ‘at the door’ if you’re unsure of your commitment.
That’s it!! In just a few evenings, and for well less than $200, you’ll be ready to join in the fun with the Manchester Ukulele Club!!
To recap, you’ll need to purchase a ukulele,  and take three or four private lessons; that’s it – you’re ready to go!playing-guitar-clipart-Guitar-clip-art-10
If you’re interested in getting started, call the studio at 603-660-2208, or e-mail HERE.

NHTunes is the fastest growing music school in Southern New Hampshire!

music school

NHTunes Music Studio

Just three and a half years ago, NHTunes was a small music school that had just three instructors, and offered instruction on only guitar, voice, and piano. Since then, we’ve more than doubled our studio size, we’ve added more instructors (we’re up to eleven!), and we’ve expanded our offerings to include many other instruments as well as group classes! In that short time, we have more than quadrupled our student base!

What has fueled this music school’s phenomenal growth? Here are a few of the factors we feel have made NHTunes the fastest growing music school in Southern New Hampshire:

  • Our policies: we do our best to be flexible and accommodate our students, because life happens. Our instructors work for the studio (they do not rent teaching space, as with many studios) and as such teach according to studio policies. We offer convenient on-line tuition payment, and discounts for families with multiple students, and referral discounts. We offer free bi-monthly recitals for our students.

    Manchester NH music school

    Piano lessons is one of NHTunes many offerings!

  • Our instructors:  Our instructors are the best in the area; qualified professionals who love their students and love teaching. Most have many years of teaching experience, and all have the educational background necessary to excel as an instructor.
  • Our Offerings: NHTunes is proud to offer private instruction on voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, trumpet, saxophone, flute, euphonium, and more. We also offer group ukulele classes, as well as training in audio engineering and voice over.
  • Our Students: Of course, growth is not possible without our students. We are blessed to have so many new and long-term students at the studio; many that have been around long enough to see us grow along with their talent. That tells us we are doing it right.

If you’re interested in becoming part of our story, we would love to be part of yours!! Read more about music lessons HERE, or feel free to call the studio at 603-660-2208.

 

Voice Recording in NH – Maybe you really are that good!

VO_MicAre you one of those people who loves to sing when nobody’s listening? Do you sometimes wonder if you have a talent for singing? What about your family members? Hear any of them singing a lot? Chances are that if you have music in you, express it vocally and sound pretty good to yourself, you probably sound good to others as well. A quality voice recording is the best way to find out how good your singing truly is.

 

Obtaining a high quality voice recording in NH can be difficult. Unless you know someone with a professional grade studio vocal recording booth, you may end up settling for whatever microphone and recording equipment you can find in your circle of friends. In many cases, the end result of using an amateur audio setup is disappointing because high quality vocal recording requires special equipment, the right acoustical environment and a unique set of skills to record and mix.

Here’s where NHTunes can help. If you’re looking for an affordable solution to getting a broadcast quality voice recording, complete with backing soundtracks, you just found the best place in NH to record your singing. We make it fun and easy for you!

NHTunes works with singers of all ages in our professional studio which includes two separate vocal booths. These booths are separated by soundproof glass for better visual communication.

Producing a high quality recording of your singing is fun and the results will amaze you! Listen to an actual session sample: 

 

Here are 3 easy steps to make it happen:

  1. Select your backing tracks.

We usually work with karaoke-version.com where you can select great sounding background music tracks to go with your vocals. They have a great selection of songs which are only a about $2/each. We can help you with selection or you can provide backing tracks of your own. What’s really great about these digital tracks is you can change keys on most of the songs to match your vocal range. Just remember to bring in the tracks on a USB stick or a playable CD when you arrive for your session.

  1. Schedule your recording session.

Voice recording sessions are just $60/hour with a two hour minimum. Here’s what you can expect: Work closely with an experienced musical audio engineer in-studio, producing a labeled CD. Most customers are able to finish two or three songs in two hours, and will leave with a professionally recorded, great sounding CD! To schedule your voice recording time, please call our Manchester NH studio at 603-660-2208 and allow at least two weeks lead time.

  1. Practice, practice, practice to your backing tracks!

Making the most of your studio recording time means being prepared and having a healthy singing voice on the day of your appointment. A prepared vocalist leads to a smoother session and a better sounding mix. Any experienced vocalist will tell you: Practicing against your backing tracks and having a prepared voice will pay off big during your session.

voice microphoneIt’s easy and affordable to record your best singing voice so just call us at 603-660-2208 and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.

Keep in mind, a 2-hour voice recording session makes a great gift for the singer in your life. If it’s you who love to sing, maybe it’s a gift you can feel good about giving yourself!

Are you ready? Go ahead and book studio time below. You can select a day and time that works best for you with our online scheduler. Looking for a full band recording session? Click HERE.

The Manchester Ukulele Club FAQ Page

Manchester Ukulele Club

Here’s some FAQ’s regarding the Manchester Ukulele Club.

 

Do I need to join the club to attend a meeting?

No, you can pay at the door if you’d like to join us but are unsure about joining the club. The cost to attend a Manchester Ukulele Club meeting is $10, and we accept major credit cards.

 

How do I become a member?

You can sign up HERE.

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When are the meetings?

We meet each Wednesday from 7 to 8pm.

 

Where are the meetings?

The meetings are held in our Manchester NH studio, which is located at 250 Commercial St (the Waumbec Mill), suite 2017, Manchester NH 03101.

 

Is there parking available? Elevator access?

Yes, there is plenty of free parking in our front lot. And there is elevator access to the 2nd floor, which is where our studio is located.

 

Is there a book required? 

The club book is the fantastic “The Daily Ukulele”, and can be purchased in the studio, or online HERE. We strongly suggest that you purchase your own copy of the book, and bring it with you to club meetings.

 

What does my membership cover?

  •            Four or five hour-long meetings per month, depending on how many Wednesdays are in the month.
  •            Bi-monthly off-site recitals; participation is not mandatory, but is encouraged.
  •            Parking & room fees; we have free parking in our front lot, with elevator access to the studio. Room fees are included in the tuition.

 

What if I have no experience playing the ukulele?

We accept all skill levels in our meetings. However, if you have no experience whatsoever, you may feel more comfortable taking a couple of private lessons beforehand. We can help with that…see our lesson page HERE, or call the studio at 603-660-2208.

 

Why join a club?

There are many, many reasons to join…. here are just a few:

  • Share your common interests with others in the group; keep learning fresh with ideas and new techniques from those who share your passion for the ukulele.
  • For many, the dynamics of learning in a group environment can be less stressful & more fun than private lessons.
  • Group membership is less than half the cost of private lessons, with double the play time!
  • Share your music along with other group members at our free recitals; you’ll be amazed at how welcome the group is, and how well the music is received!
  • Receive a consistent stream of new material to master, along with expert instruction to help smooth the learning process.
  • Oh… and the Manchester Ukulele Club is a lot of FUN!!

 

Do you rent or sell ukuleles?

Yes, you can rent a ukulele for a meeting for just $5… and we often have used ukulele’s for sale at very reasonable prices.

 

 

Introducing the Manchester Ukulele Club!

Manchester Ukulele ClubPlaying the ukulele is FUN, and it’s even more fun with a group who shares your musical interests! NHTunes is proud to be the home of the Manchester Ukulele Club! The club meets every Wednesday in our Manchester mill yard studio. The club’s goals are:
  • To HAVE FUN learning the ukulele in a dynamic group setting!
  • To welcome all skill level ukulele players (if you’ve never played a ukulele before, you may be more comfortable taking a few private lessons first – we can help you with that!).
  • Learning new songs and expanding your song repertoire!
  • Learning new chords, strumming patterns, and other techniques.
  • To perform at NHTune’s bi-monthly recitals, which are generally held at nursing homes & similar venues (these recitals are free to club members!).
The club meets each Wednesday 7 to 8pm, at the NHTunes Music Studio, 250 Commercial St. suite 2017, in Manchester NH. The club is lead by NHTunes instructor Bill Godwin. Bill has been sharing his passion for playing music since the late 1970’s and has been playing even longer!  He earned his degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music in 1980, and teaches ukulele, guitar, and bass guitar at the studio. Bill will teach you how to play the ukulele the right way!
How do you join in on the fun? Just show up to one of our meetings! We welcome walk-ins. Meetings cost $10 at the door.  We have free parking in our front lot, with elevator access to the studio. Room fees are included in the tuition.
Subscribe to our newsletter to keep informed of all MUC happenings! (you can opt out at any time!)
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Manchester Ukulele Club

Join us for the FUN!

The club book is the fantastic “The Daily Ukulele”, and can be purchased in the studio, or online HERE. We strongly suggest that you purchase your own copy of the book, and bring it with you to club meetings.
Why join a ‘ukulele club’? There are MANY good reasons why the Manchester Ukulele Club may be for you; some reasons are:
  • Share your common interests with others in the group; keep learning fresh with ideas and new techniques from those who share your passion for the ukulele.
  • For many, the dynamics of learning in a group environment can be less stressful & more fun than private lessons.
  • Group membership is less than half the cost of private lessons, with double the play time!
  • Share your music along with other group members at our free recitals; you’ll be amazed at how welcome the group is, and how well the music is received!
  • Receive a consistent stream of new material to master, along with expert instruction to help smooth the learning process.
  • Oh… and the Manchester Ukulele Club is a lot of FUN!!

Music lessons in Bedford, NH? Find them in Manchester!

music-lessons-in-bedford-nh

When we look at our roster of students past and present, we notice that quite a few travel from outside of Manchester to take music lessons at NHTunes. There are several reasons for this and convenience is one of them. Bedford NH, for example, is a short hop from Manchester’s attractive and bustling Millyard district. The same is true of Goffstown, Hooksett, Auburn, Candia, Hooksett and Londonderry.

The highway and road infrastructure surrounding Manchester, Bedford, Londonderry, Auburn and Hooksett is second to none. A couple of quick turns off one of the 1-93 or 1-293 exits drops you right onto Commercial Street. Then you’re at NHTunes’ doorstep in the historic Waumbec Mill.

piano-lessons-in-bedford-nhIf you’re from Bedford or one of Manchester’s surrounding towns and want to find the best music lessons instructors close by, we invite you to call or visit our studio & classrooms at NHTunes. We’re always happy to connect you with one of our friendly voice, piano, guitar, brass, woodwind or ukulele instructors.

As much as we love our team of music teachers and can extol their talents, it’s always best for our music students to get briefly acquainted and feel comfortable about who will teach them to play an instrument or sing. Learning to play music well can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable pursuits for any person of any age. Your life changes with the gift of song, so choosing the right place for your music lessons is an important decision.

Playing is one thing. Teaching is another!

The fact is, your choices for learning to sing or play musical instruments from highly talented musicians – who are also great teachers – is limited here in mostly rural New Hampshire. Our connections in the music education business run deep. Having completed a degree program from Berklee College of Music, and established strong relationships in the New England music industry, our network of music and teaching talent allows us to find the best music instructors in the region.

If you live near Manchester and have always wanted to play music, or have your child learn to play, there’s no need for you to search for “music lessons in Bedford, NH.” Thankfully, theguitar-lessons-in-bedford-nh Manchester Millyard district was redeveloped specifically for easy access in and out for job commuters and business patrons. NHTunes’ students from Bedford and other adjacent towns enjoy the short ride and free parking at our beautifully refurbished mill building.  Don’t want to travel? We offer convenient online lessons via Zoom for ALL types!

Should you have questions about music lessons or directions to our studio, feel free to give us a call at 603-660-2208. If you like what you read and want to book music lessons online, you can schedule a single lesson below – either ONLINE or in-studio. Our private half hour lessons are reasonably priced, and there are no sign-up or registration fees! Please click HERE if you’re not seeing the options you need.

 

Music lessons at NHTunes make stage performance dreams come true!

Entertaining a local audience of music lovers was one of Lisa’s goals when she started guitar lessons two years ago. Fascinated and delighted by live musical performances since childhood, Lisa had always wanted to participate in the local live music scene.

music-lessons-lisa

Londonderry, NH is home to the Tupelo Music Hall, a local venue that draws some great music talent including many famous names to the area. To Lisa, learning to play well enough to be on a stage always seemed like such huge challenge. She thought, however, that in time she could learn to play well enough to perform live at “The Tupelo,” a great music venue right in her own backyard. So, she made that one of her musical performance goals.

Just under two years ago, Lisa started guitar lessons at NHTunes with her dream of playing on stage. She was prepared to dedicate several years of lessons and practice to make it happen. What she didn’t realize was how effective her lessons would be and, with enough practice, how quickly she would develop her talent at a quality entertainment level.

By choosing the Tupelo where, “that’s a tough act to follow” is a common refrain, Lisa set her goal pretty high. Tupelo Music Hall regularly presents highly talented nationally-recognized musicians such as Stanley Clarke, Dave Mason, Marshall Tucker, Robben Ford and countless others. Great bands come from all over to perform in a friendly, attractive and intimate setting here in southern NH.

When Lisa started guitar lessons at NHTunes two years ago, she was essentially a beginner. She explains where she was technically. “I really didn’t play but I knew three basic chords and could strum a little.” Lisa’s guitar lessons quickly helped her to more than “strum a little,” but learn to play entire songs. Since one of her musical goals was to perform as a singer/songwriter, we recommended that she add voice lessons with us to develop her vocal as well as instrumental talent. Combining Lisa’s fine singing voice with her guitar playing proved to be a great pairing, or “duet” if you will.

Last summer, Lisa started playing recitals with NHTunes. Playing in recitals before live audiences is one of the best ways to get past any “stage fright” and gain the confidence to entertain people with your music. This is one of the many benefits our students receive by taking their music lessons at NHTunes. Three successive recitals over several months really helped Lisa hone her skills, both playing guitar and singing.

Lisa recently decided it was time to make one of her goals a reality. She would play the Tupelo Music Hall to a live crowd at their open mic night. And so, on the evening of December 10, 2015, Lisa realized that goal. There she was, on stage at the Tupelo Music Hall, playing guitar and lead vocals before an appreciative and lively audience!

If you’ve ever wondered whether you could play in a band or sing on stage to a live audience, perhaps Lisa’s story will inspire you to finally go for your dream! Music lessons at NHTunes can be your key to unlock the door to a more fulfilling life that includes sharing your musical gift with others.

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