Entries by Dennis Winge
Find Your Unique Musical Voice on Guitar, part 4
In parts 1 to 3 we explored ear training, rhythm/ timing, technique, music theory, sight-reading & emotional expression. Now for the final part in the series we will address the remaining important skills necessary to achieve a clear expression of your unique voice on the guitar. Collaboration and Ensemble Skills Musicians often play with […]
Find Your Unique Musical Voice on Guitar, part 3
In parts 1 & 2, we addressed the skills of ear training, technique, & rhythm / timing. We will focus on music theory, sight-reading, and emotional expression here in part 3. Music Theory Understanding music theory provides a framework for comprehending how music is structured and allows musicians to make informed choices in their playing, […]
Find Your Unique Musical Voice on Guitar, part 2
In part 1, we discussed how, in order to develop your own unique voice on guitar, it’s actually good to imitate your heroes. This is because, in the process of copying them, you will inevitably come across nuances of rhythm and technique that you have to study more deeply. What are some of the other […]
Find Your Unique Musical Voice on Guitar, part 1
Once I heard the singer Jai Uttal respond to a fan who had said “I want to learn to sing like you.” Jai said (paraphrasing) “oh that’s too bad, I think you should learn to sing like yourself.” How do you teach guitarists to sound like themselves? How can you help them find their own […]
Once You’re In, You’re in for Life, part 2
Practice opportunities follow you everywhere you go. Do you notice them? Last month we discussed the ‘when’ part of musicianship and discovered that opportunities to practice music go way beyond the confines of the practice room. We explored practicing The Big Three: melody, harmony, and rhythm. This month discover versatile methods to practice music theory, […]
Improving Your Musicianship Beyond the Practice Room
Improving your musicianship is a quest that permeates nearly every aspect of your life. This is our fourth article in the series. The first, “So You’ve Got Talent, Now What?” was about ‘what’ musicianship is. The next, “Who Cares About Your Musicianship Anyway?” was about ‘why’ to develop it. The third, “You Can’t Hear What […]
You Can’t Hear What You Can’t Hear: Making Progress on the Guitar
As a guitarist, it’s good to think that you’re good at what you do. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have the courage to face all the obstacles that come your way when it comes to performing, recording, writing and all the other things musicians do. It’s also good that you work on strengthening your weaknesses. […]
Who Cares About Your Musicianship, Anyway?
Who cares about musicianship? While non-musicians might prioritize entertainment, developing musicianship is crucial for the artist. Here’s why: I. Who cares? The average audience doesn’t care how much technical prowess you have on your instrument. Only other musicians do. Even then, unless the musician listening plays that same instrument and in that same style, […]
So, You’ve Got Talent. Now What?
What really is musicianship and how do you develop it? Musicianship is defined as the knowledge, skill, and artistic sensitivity in performing music. How can you really know how much you have? How do you develop it? How do you use it real life? I. A Contradiction? When I was 15, I thought I had […]
Welcome to the Guitar Lessons Ithaca Blog – Unleash Your Guitar Potential!
Hello fellow guitar enthusiasts and aspiring musicians. Welcome to the Guitar Lessons Ithaca blog! We are thrilled to launch this platform and provide you with great guitar content that will not only elevate your playing but also ensure you have a blast along the way. Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate player, or looking to […]