Interviews for
The Beat of Diablo
(June 2021)

DH: In your experience, what draws kids to wanting to learn how to play an instrument?

Sin Silver: They may have a real affinity with music and wish to explore music with a certain instrument. Perhaps they have seen or heard a great artist and it’s as simple as, “I’d like to do that!” Other times, it’s the parents who take the lead because they know how beneficial it is.

Nicholas Lyon-Wright: I think hearing some music that they enjoy and then feeling like they want to make some music like it I guess. Sometimes kids don't know what songs they like and they say they like music. I also think some kids just don't know the names of songs and artists that they like, which can make it tougher to find a song to learn, but yeah I think ultimately it seems like kids have heard some music or seen someone performing music and been inspired to learn some themselves.

Timmy G: Well, things have changed since I was a kid... I wanted to learn guitar to play like Jimmy Page and James Hetfield! I wanted to sing like Mike Patton! But alas... there are no more "guitar gods" in this climate ( or drum gods, bass gods ,or even cell gods for that matter), and I think that music is a bit worse off for it. I often get students that come in, in the pre-teen range, and I ask them, "what kind of music do you like"? And they don't have an answer! It's like they never thought about it. Many factors have probably contributed to this, principally the internet, but probably also the lack of physical media (the new Vinyl Craze is more of an adult hobby). Honestly, you want to know what music inspires young kids the most?? Video game music! I've gotten a lot of mileage teaching the Minecraft theme to younger students.

Vince Lay: For a while it was Guitar Hero nowadays it seems to be memes and YouTube or a parent relative or close friend that plays.

Nancy Lake: At the risk of sounding idealistic, there is absolutely no reason for a new student to want to learn and study music other than the wonderful feeling they get when listening to music. There is an emotional world that is expressed through music and opened up to when listening to music that is the entire reason anyone listens to music at all. It helps us expand past our immediate, tangible, logical world. This is not usually something a student would be able to describe, it's more of an instinct, a feeling. And then, of course, there's the part of being a musician that seems other-worldly, magical, larger than life, somehow "cool". It can appeal to our ego as well as our emotions. That doesn't hurt either.

DH: Do you think it's better for kids to start learning songs they are familiar with, or should the emphasis be on keys, chords, scales, and theory?

Vince Lay: I've always found it better for kids, especially younger ones, to start with learning songs they're familiar with. It keeps them more interested in learning the instrument. There are always exceptions but most of the children I've worked with totally lose interest once I start talking about scales or Theory!

Sin Silver: You definitely want to start with basic building blocks like keys, chords and theory but I try to integrate songs that kids like early on to increase engagement. Because I do one on one lessons, I’m extremely fortunate to be able to tailor my lessons to each child or adult’s needs. It’s not one size fits all.

Nicholas Lyon-Wright: I try to get kids learning songs that they like as soon as possible. Obviously to learn songs you need chords, and notes so some of that has to be taught to get started on a song, but as soon as a student is aware of a few chords, I try to get them going on a song using those chords. A lot of times I ask the student to tell me songs they like, and then as soon as I find one that uses G, C, Am, D(7) on guitar lets say, I get them working on that song, or it could be A, D, E or it could be Em Am B7, I don't really care which chords or what song they begin with as long as they are inspired and motivated to learn it. Same goes for piano, or any instrument, I always try to get any student going on some music that they enjoy as soon as possible. And then I sprinkle in as much chords, scales, theory as they can handle, because I think that stuff is important and can really only help you if you use it right. At the very least I try to make students aware of music theory concepts from the beginning like "hey there's 7 notes in a scale there's a chord based on each note, most songs you like only use 4 or 5 or 6 of these chords, that's not so complicated eh?"

Timmy G: No doubt - start them off ready, with things they know and enjoy. Music is a language... you don't start teaching a language to a kid with syntax and grammar, you simply... speak to them! Teach them simple melodies that build confidence and foster the joy of music. THe theory stuff can come later (although it is totally appropriate and correct to show them the major scale early on ... Do Re Mi and all that. Like learning the alphabet!)

Nancy Lake: Definitely starting with the songs that ignited the students' passion is always the way to begin. Without the original spark, no theory or music technique has any way to feel relevant to the student. But in a context that is relatable, theory has a purpose and meaning that feels useful, even important.

DH: When a parent is unsure if their kid is going to "stick with" their instrument, they often buy "starter" instruments at a lower cost. Would you say this is good practice, or is there something the frugal-minded might not be considering? Is renting a good alternative?

Sin Silver:This is a good idea. You want to make sure the child is going to “stick with it” before you invest. A little keyboard is fine as an introductory instrument but needs to be quickly replaced (after 6 months or a year) with an electronic weighted keyboard or piano because of the touch and to develop correct technique. Also, keep in mind, there are often free pianos looking for a home on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. I think renting is too expensive an option for piano students.

Vince Lay: I have primarily taught guitar and do think it is a good idea to start with a starter instrument. Guitars cost a lot of money especially when you get into ones that actually play and sound really good. I've usually been able to tell when it's time for them I take it up a notch with a nicer instrument. When it comes to renting a guitar I don't think anybody should ever do that for their kid because you can buy a guitar for less than fifty bucks all over the internet.

Timmy G: My first guitar was a rental. That said, it's totally appropriate to buy your kid a starter guitar, as long as it's playable and comfortably sized for the kid. Other instruments (horns, string, etc) tend to be pricier and are easily rentable from most independent music shops which specialize in school band instruments.

Nicholas Lyon-Wright: In my opinion it's better to buy a decent instrument to start with. If you start with a really crappy guitar, you literally can't even make it sound nice, and that is not inspiring to play. Same with buying a really cheap keyboard with no touch sensitivity, no sustain pedal, and a harsh tone, it's not inspiring to play. I thinks it's better to at least spend 200-300 bucks and get something that can actually make a nice tone, and then even if the kid doesn't stick with it, you can always re sell the instrument on craigslist and get some of the money back, but I think it's very important that the instrument a kid learns on has a tone and feel that is inspiring.

DH: What's been the most challenging aspect of distance learning from a music teacher's perspective?

Sin Silver: It can be more challenging to keep kids engaged but it certainly can be done. When you’re one on one, in the room, you can read every visual cue, every little nuance. That can be tougher online. I also teach vocals and I miss not being able to accompany my students on piano. We do work with recordings and vocal tracks though.

Nicholas Lyon-Wright: Hmm I think it's challenging to not be able to play simultaneously with the students, it's challenging to not be able to play along with my voice students, it's challenging to just not be able to write something on a sheet of paper and hand it to a student, it's also challenging to not be able to show them something in person on the keyboard right next to them where they can see really clearly. Also obviously technical issues with Zoom are a problem at times. And there is something more cold and lonely about not being able to share the musical energy in the same room with someone.

Nancy Lake: My least favorite part of distance learning in the last year is the lack of human connection. As a singing teacher, the instrument IS the body: the flesh, the lungs, the throat, as well as the mind and emotions that are connected to the body. It's "The Human Instrument". Simply matching notes and mimicking tones (which you cannot do with a time lag online) is not the full picture. There is a lot of nuance when it come to style, technique, breathing, and, again, emotional content, that simply does not translate online. Music is an innately connective experience.

Vince Lay: The biggest challenge I have faced is not being able to play live with the student. The back-and-forth of showing them and then waiting for them to be able to do it has really taken a toll. It's especially hard with a completely new student who doesn't know anything about the instrument.

Timmy G: Voice lessons. Took some getting used to. But now I've grown pretty adept at it - I can play the warm ups on the piano with my left hand, and hear the delayed response of the student, and am able to analyze it fairly well and make corrections.

More challenging has been my rock band course. I have 4 such classes. When we met in real life, it was very straightforward - pick a few songs, teach the kids how to play their parts and make it happen. This can't happen over Zoom or Skype! So, I've adapted...

-First, a component of the online class is the creation of video projects, similar to what most musicians have done during lockdown. The kids don't have the tech or the production knowledge that adults might, but by having them play along to a reference track and send me their video, we've come up with some pretty great vids that they'll have around forever!

-Second, I needed to find a way to fill the hourly meeting that we'd normally have each week. I've increasingly found that kids today know next to NOTHING about music history, and what's even sadder, often they can't even tell me what their favorite artists or songs are! I find this absolutely unacceptable! So, I've been using the hour to give little seminars on an element of rock and roll history.... of course I've done the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen (right before Eddie died!), I've done eras (50's, 60's, 70's, Motown, etc), I've gone thru 80's hair metal and 90's grunge, and I'm pleased to say... my students have learned! They're much better able to identify bands and individual band members, and I think this is SO important, as kids need inspiration and heroes, and I can't be their only guitar hero!! They need to know about Jimi Hendrix, about EVH, about Randy Rhoades. Hell, they need to know about Jack White. They need to know about old bluesmen like BB King and Buddy Guy (foundational to rock music). They need to know about how rock and roll evolved from the blues, and how guys like Chuck Berry and Little Richard innovated and created the style and attitude of Rock and Roll. This has been an unexpected treat, and I'd love to keep something like this going in our post pandemic society.

DH: Is there a "sweet spot" age-wise for learning an instrument?

Vince Lay: It really differs to the individual. I've had kids that were five and six years old that instantly took to it. Generally I'd say for guitar specifically eight or nine would be the earliest I would try. Occasionally I have someone who is around 6

Sin Silver: I don’t think there’s a sweet spot. I don’t like to start kids too young because I want them to feel super empowered and confident. However I would make an exception if the parents thought it would be a great fit. I like to wait until 6 years old. Sometimes I will start at 5 if the maturity and concentration level is there. Ultimately you want this to be a really positive experience.

Timmy G: I think so. 5 seems a good age to start piano and drums. 7 seems like a better age to start string instruments (guitar, ukulele, etc). But every kid is different! I've had 5 year olds start on guitar and they've done great - it depends on the kids attention span and ability to focus. Honestly, I myself might not have been ready at 5!

Nicholas Lyon-Wright: I think it depends on the kid. In general I think 6 -7 years old can be a good age to start, but for some kids that's still a bit early for them to really have the inspiration, motivation and attention span to really get into it. On the flip side some kids get going at age 5 and it’s great for them. I think it's better not to force it if a kid is not really motivated to do it. I really believe that the quality of learning is better when there is true inspiration. If you try to force someone to learn music, they may develop a negative association with it, which is not what we want.

Nancy Lake: For singing, I think the "sweet spot" varies. A student can never be simply forced to take lessons, they must be interested and ready to pay attention. Sometimes this means the student is 8, and sometimes it means they are 48. It's always best when there's a real love and enjoyment of singing on the students' part, while also having a way to perform or share the music (whether in theater, choir, church, band, etc). Sometimes having time to develop the singing voice without performing can also be extremely useful, depending on the student. In all cases, having other people to share the musical experience with is essential. This can mean parents, siblings, friends, clubs, groups, activities, etc. Music is meant to be a shared or collective experience, it's meant to be fun!

DH: What's more true: "You're never too old to learn an instrument" or "The younger you are, the faster you're likely to learn?"

Sin Silver: Certainly the former. I am so lucky to teach adults and they adapt just fine. Plus, they are deciding to do this for themselves. It’s a beautiful thing.

Vince Lay: I find that neither of those is true. It all comes down to how much time you have to practice.

Timmy G: "The younger you are, the faster you're likely to learn?" is certainly true, but "You're never too old to learn an instrument" is more important to emphasize. People are so varied in their skill sets and ability, and I've had dedicated adult students that have been with me for years and have made great strides in their playing. Kids are more intuitive and fearless than adults (and less worried about mistakes), so they tend to progress faster, plus their neural pathways are supple and ready to be formed. Adults are certainly more "hardwired", but they are (generally but not always!) smarter and have more life experience than children and grasp advanced concepts more quickly. Additionally, many studies show that instrument learning at an older age is great for memory and general brain health, much more so than Luminosity or similar products. So there are advantages in each case!

Nicholas Lyon-Wright: You're never too old to learn an instrument" is more true for me. I didn't start seriously practicing music till I was 18 years old because that's when the inspiration really hit me. I learned music because I loved it. And again I think that is when the best quality learning happens, when you're excited and inspired by what you're learning; that, to me, is the best time to start learning music. Starting young is great if the inspiration is there because you get ahead of the game on some things, but I don't think it's great to force it too much. Sometimes a teacher can help bring that inspiration and passion out of a student, but ultimately that inspiration has to come from within the student I believe.

DH: What's the first thing you teach a kid who's essentially picking up (or sitting down at) their instrument for the first time?

PIANO: First we learn where and how to sit (posture) Then we learn how to curve our hands correctly.(Hand shape) Then, it’s time to learn good old Middle C.

VOICE: With regards to voice, we learn how to breathe correctly and consciously for singing.

VOICE: The first thing I teach younger (and older students) as a singing instructor, has to do with helping them learn how to trust their innate talent and ability that they already have within them. I believe, especially with singing, that we all have musical ability and instinct within is, and that we have adapted as a species to be musical beings. With a little belief in ourselves, it's possible to learn all the other things we need to learn as singers :)

GUITAR: How to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and “Row Row Row Your Boat,”... and that's just to learn tablature. I also teach the A D and E chords.

GUITAR:Generally I explain a few basic things about how you push down on the space between frets and pluck the string and the pitch gets higher as you move up the string and then I try to get em doing a couple easy chords like maybe Em, Am, C, show them the basics of how to strum a bit, and then I try to find a song they like that has easy enough chords to start on.

GUITAR: #1 - how to tune! It's never been easier with apps and what not, and kids learn to use the tuning apps extremely quickly. I have inherited students from teachers who would tune the guitar for their students, and I find that this robs the student of the opportunity to learn self-sufficiency AND ear training, never mind the ability to play on a nice sounding, tuned instrument, which in my experience is infinitely more listenable!

Oh, and also, “Smoke on the Water”. A classic! :)

DH: If there's one piece of advice you'd give to a non-musically inclined parent raising a kid who has expressed interest in learning an instrument, what would it be?

Sin Silver: Go for it! If your child has a good teacher, they will keep the lines of communication open with you about how to help and what’s expected. You absolutely do not need to be musically inclined for your child to learn.

Vince Lay: They need to listen to more music. All of my students who do better than the average listen to music regularly.

Nicholas Lyon-Wright: Hmm, I guess just maybe just listen to what your child is telling you inspires them and try to help guide them toward that. Maybe do a little research and learing yourself so you can find the right instrument and teacher for your child to get going toward what they want to learn.

Nancy Lake: For parents with musically inclined kids: become interested in music as well! Listen to your kids' music, play more music that you like, make music a part of daily life. And help get them into musical activities that they enjoy. There is nothing more positive and beautiful than sharing music with other people, especially your kids!

Timmy G: Are you signing your kid up for music lessons because you want him to explore his musicality, or because you are trying to check a box for college admissions? I am not interested in teaching the latter, and in fact you will crush your child's natural creativity and talent with such an approach. Your kid may or may not be the next Mozart, but that's not what's important. Let your child explore music and develop their skill at their own pace - if the talent and interest is there, the passion will take over. The BEST thing you can do is listen to a lot of music at home and teach your child about the kinds of music you like! Inspire them - don't make music a chore!

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