Acoustic vs. Electric Guitars
We give lessons exclusively on acoustic guitars, which produce sound through subtle wood vibrations. These instruments don't require electronics or amplifiers, although they are sometimes added if the guitarist performs in a large venue. (If you're interested in electric guitar lessons, we can provide referrals.)
Our philosophy of teaching is based on the fact the the acoustic guitar has a very rich, colorful and varied tone. It is also has a warm, natural sound that is pleasing to the ear and psyche as it matures in adult life. Furthermore, it is an ideal instrument for plucking strings with four right-hand fingers (fingerstyle). This allows a guitarist to easily to play complete songs or solos with melody, i.e. a "one-man band". It also offers the most musical power because non-adjacent strings can be plucked at the same time.
As a result, fingerstyle guitarists can play beautiful works written for piano, violin, cello, and even orchestra, like the beautiful solo "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring".
In comparison, solid-body electric guitars are most appealing to youth, and interest in the instrument often diminishes beyond the teenage years.
These guitars typically perform the separate roles of melody (lead), bass, or chords (rhythm). As a result, the most satisfying solid-body electric guitar playing occurs in the context of a group or band. Therefore, students' opportunities for musical fulfillment are based largely on the availability of other musicians to perform with.
Learning solid-body electric guitar is certainly worthwhile for the future professional or serious amateur who wants to play in a group, but most solid-body electric guitar students don't pursue this path.
Acoustic-electrics or "jazz" guitars with a shallow, hollow body and steel strings are more often played solo. They naturally offer greater tonal possibilities than solid body electrics because subtle wood vibrations contribute to the sound produced by electronic pickups. This instrument is not taught at Apple Valley Guitar Academy because its technique and associated styles are outside our expertise.
Purchasing a New Guitar
Some beginning students have a relative or friend with expertise in guitars, and feel most comfortable obtaining advice on a new guitar from someone they know.
Many others we encounter purchase a guitar without this expert assistance. Often, the guitar is not suitable for their age/body size or desired style of playing, or is of poor quality.
We cooperate with local retail stores to obtain the best prices, and also assess the needs of each student regarding instrument sizes and types. Therefore, we recommend consulting with us first, as our expert advice is free unless we accompany you to a retail store to make a purchase, or provide it a 45-minute introductory lesson.
Standards for Existing Guitars
If the student already owns a guitar that cannot be tuned, is damaged, or produces a poor tone/dynamic range, it must be repaired or replaced before lessons begin. This policy ensures that the student will:
-- thoroughly enjoy learning the guitar
-- be motivated to practice
-- sound their best and realize their full musical potential
-- develop the tone and volume control required to become a musical artist.
Some students or their parents may feel that their instrument is fine for a beginner, or are unwilling to pay for repairs. In reality, a poor-sounding or defective instrument represents a substantial learning barrier to the beginning student, and is often the cause of quitting lessons before the beginner phase is completed.
When given a proper instrument which sounds beautiful and is easy to play, they instantly understand this requirement--especially when the student's playing improves dramatically.
Nylon vs. Steel-string Guitars for Beginners
Nylon string (classical) guitars have three strings made of clear nylon (the treble strings) and three strings made from nylon threads wrapped with metal windings (the bass strings).
Steel string guitars have two strings made of pure steel and four strings made from a steel core wrapped with metal windings.
It is very easy to switch to steel strings once the basics of classical guitar playing are learned. When starting with a classical guitar, many discouragement factors are eliminated for beginners. Specifically, we encourage beginning students to learn on classical guitars for the following reasons:
1. Some of the most prestigious guitar programs in the country, including one in the Hopkins, MN school system, teach beginning students on classical guitars. As cutting-edge guitar instructors, we see the value in paying attention to what nationally-known experts are doing with beginners.
2. We often see students with steel-string guitars play a classical for the first time and sound considerably, if not amazingly better. In part, this is because entry-level classical guitars have a better tone than the steel-string counterparts that new students bring to us. (More expensive steel-string guitars have a good tone, but present other problems for beginners listed below.)
3. Nylon strings are easier to press down. In contrast, it takes a considerable amount of time to develop the strength to play chords on steel strings. In some cases, there is pain in the fingertips during this adaptation process. (An action setup can lessen this problem, but can cost up to $100.)
4. Classical guitars have the most space between each string, allowing beginner fingers to easily avoid muting adjacent strings. On steel-strings, beginners often produce a thumpy sound when strumming or fingerpicking chords. Again, it takes many frustrating months to overcome this difficulty. For students with large fingertips, it may initially seem impossible.
5. Classical guitars are more sensitive to subtle changes in finger pressure on the right hand. Therefore, they can be played more expressively in terms of dynamics and tone. This fact was confirmed by fingerstyle virtuoso Muriel Anderson in a recent guitar magazine interview. She converted from steel-string to classical after taking college classes from classical virtuoso Christopher Parkening.