Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with lessons

So I Wish I Could Dance

fogonlittlecatfeet — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:36:27 -0800

Where can I learn to dance in Tampa? I am a 29 year old female. I love to dance, but I have never had lessons or training of any sort.
If I am at a party or a club and there is a dance floor you can bet I am on it. All night. But I want to do more than just the stuff i have made up or imitated from watching music videos.

Does any one know where I could take lessons and learn to move like the people on So You Think You Can Dance??? In and around the Tampa, Florida area that is.

I am not harboring any fantasies that I will become anywhere near as amazing as those people, but the show has definitely inspired me.
I watch them dancing across my screen and i can barely hold still sitting on my couch.

Initially I would like to do solo type or group choreography type styles. Couples dancing isn't exactly what I am looking for at this point, but if a facility offered many different types of classes it would definitely be a plus.
Private or group lessons are fine. I just consider myself a complete novice with a good feel for a beat. That's about it.
Is it a pipe dream to want to learn to dance at this late date?

I'm just not sure where to even start looking... googling doesn't turn up much, and what I do get isn't quite what I'm looking for. Even though I am not quite sure what I am looking for.

Help for a musically challenged future guitar player

nokry56 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:25:56 -0800

Want to learn to play the guitar. Recently discovered the guitar I have is classical, not western acoustic. Can I still learn how I want? And other questions from a non-musical dreamer. I picked up a 1984 Garcia classical guitar. It was free so I can't complain, but I was somewhat disappointed when I realized it wasn't what I envisioned (steel string Western). I'd rather stick with what I have than investing money into another hobby I'm not fully committed to, but if I have to, I have to.

Here are my basic questions, which I haven't been able to find a solid answer on.

-Eventually I want to buy a steel string acoustic, but for now can I learn on this guitar then easily transfer my knowledge over to a Western style if I enjoy it as much as I expect?

-Should I use a pick? I know I COULD but is it proper?

-Do you strum on a classical or just finger pick one string or something?

-Will the beginners course located here work for learning how to play? The lessons seem oriented towards a steel string, and I'm not musical enough to know if it matters. What particular things should I look out for that I'll have to do differently with a classical?

-I plan to buy a kapo. Are there different kinds for steel strings vs. classical?

Any other advice/lesson sources, thoughts, explanations are welcome. I know nothing about music but am pretty motivated to learn the guitar.

I Need To Be Able To Get Down A Mountain

onich — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:08:05 -0800

Will Virtual Snow teach me how to snowboard? My friends have been trying to teach me to snowboard for a couple of seasons, but they have been unsuccessful because 1. I'm not fit enough and; 2. I just can't seem to get the technique.

Anyway, for this season, I'd like to take some lessons before making another trip to the mountains with friends. I just like to be able to get down without falling as much.

The closest lessons I've found from Pasadena, CA is Virtual Snow which is in Santa Monica.

Questions are:

Will these types of lessons competently teach me to snowboard down the mountain?
I didn't see rates on the site. Can anybody give me an idea on how much this will cost?
How fit do I need to be before attempting to learn? I'm not in shape at the moment.
Can you recommend other ways to learn that's not much of a drive from Pasadena, CA?

Thanks.

looking for drum instructor in dc

anya32 — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:38:00 -0800

i'm looking for a drum teacher in washington, d.c. i've been taking lessons for about five months in san francisco, and am moving cross-country at the end of the month. i'm looking for a teacher who can help me continue my progress on a basic rock/acoustic kit, and would love to have someone who teaches me real (ie, not songs for little kids about bears, but radio playable) songs, as well as drumming skills. are there any specific teachers you can recommend, or schools? i'm leaving a totally rad teacher behind, who plays in a few bands and makes the lessons feel like i'm already playing drums like a pro, and not like a semi-beginner. thanks!

Kids' musical instruments

cameronfromedinburgh — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:24:05 -0800

Musical instruments for kids. At Xmas this year my son will be exactly 7 1/2 years old. He is very interested in music, by that I mean that he listens to the radio intently and frequently asks for specific tracks/cds to be added to his MP3 player. He sings along in tune and tends to remember large amounts of the lyrics.

What would be the best way to take this interest to the next level and introduce an element of learning an instrument? And what instrument?

We live in the country so noise really isn't a factor but we don't have space for a piano.

Private table tennis lessons in Boston

sleevener — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:16:33 -0800

Recommend a teacher for private table tennis lessons in Boston. If you or someone you know has studied with somebody great, please let me know. I'm interested in studying privately with a table tennis instructor on a regular basis, probably weekly. I would love recommendations for someone specific. Lessons can take place anywhere in or near Boston, preferably accessible by T or bus. Thanks!

I need help spicing up second grade.

HotPatatta — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:40:03 -0800

Since I don't necessarily care if I get fired at the end of the year, what can I do to make this a memorable and completely awesome school year for my second graders? At this point, I'm planning not to continue teaching once the current school year ends in June. Since I don't want another teaching position after this, getting a stellar end-of-year performance review isn't a concern (I also have former supervisors who can vouch for me). I want to end this part of my life on a high note, so what are some kick-ass short- and long-term projects, crafts, songs, lessons, books for story time, and field trips (New York City) that are low-to-no cost and that will make this one of the most memorable years of these kids' lives? I'll have to cover all costs myself--the kids all live in abject poverty--so anything that requires very little capital investment and parental involvement would be preferable. Supplies I already have: two computers, a laser printer, a stereo, an overhead projector, rolls of butcher paper in a wide assortment of colors, basic craft supplies, and a switchblade I confiscated.

I'll give you extra credit and a scratch 'n' sniff sticker if you can think of a way to turn all the boogers under the desks into art.

Thanks!

Voice lessons in NYC?

learn to read — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:10:29 -0800

Can anyone recommend a decent voice coach in New York City? I'm a newbie to singing, but I'd like to learn. In case it matters, I'm a male baritone. Stylistically, I'm most interested in singers like David Bowie and Scott Walker.

Maybe I do really want to direct.

miss lynnster — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:57:51 -0800

I want to teach myself to be more professional at digital video production. Are there any classes/seminars (online or in L.A.) that you'd recommend? If I could live in my dream world, I'd get to take the Travel Channel video course but without spending $2000 I don't have and having to drive to Santa Barbara for it. Thoughts? Yes, my questions have had a theme lately, but you guys have been helping me so much with making my new web site better that now I'm just goin' to ya for everything! :)

Piano teacher recommendation in Washington DC?

medpt — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:35:19 -0800

Can you recommend reasonably-priced piano lessons for an adult beginner in Washington DC? Ideally centrally located or on a metro line. Thanks!

help me learn to drive a car

FunkyHelix — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:07:22 -0800

I don't drive and I need to figure out how. I'm in my thirties and have never had a license. I failed the driving test when I was 16 and just never found a reason to try again until now. I'm looking for recommendations of driving schools in the Middlesex and Monmouth County who welcome late-to-life drivers or just advice for the same.

That sounds "Polly Wolly Crappy!"

hector horace — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:17:16 -0800

Guitar teacher filter: What's the best contemporary guitar method book for beginning (younger) guitar students? I'm gearing up to give pro bono guitar lessons this summer to elementary through high school aged children. Now, I imagine that most of the time I'll be teaching practical applications, (ie how to play such and such a song), but it would be great to have a method book that provides interesting and contemporary examples of techniques and musical theories for students who are interested in pursuing that route.

Nothing against the Mel Bay etc books of the world, but I know I got bored really fast learning the tunes in those books when I was coming up and I imagine that someone must have authored a more up to date, fun, and practical instruction book by now.

Can you recommend the book that you use for your lessons? Or alternatively if you're a student, a cool book that your teacher uses.

thanks.

PS Online resources are great but I'm looking specifically for a physical book.

East Coast Surfing

gonadostat — Sun, 24 May 2009 07:37:42 -0800

Where is the best place to learn how to surf on the east coast? I have no significant experience, but three days of vacation at the end of next week and would like to go somewhere warm to take some surfing lessons in the eastern time zone. Any recommendations for geographic locations and/or instructors?

ESL Textbook Recommendations

sdis — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:22:37 -0800

ESL Textbook Recommendations, anyone? I'm starting to teach English to some private students and to a few classes. With my private student, I'm going through my teaching resources relatively quickly, and I'm going to need some new resources relatively soon. I'm in the states for a couple of weeks and figure that this is a good opportunity to buy a textbook or two and use it to help build lesson plans.

My lessons have currently been broken up as follows, which has turned out very nicely so far:
A. 10 minutes: Review of previous lesson
B. 20 minutes: Lesson on English in some new context: How to talk about locations of objects, how to do introductions, how to talk about your family, etc. Currently using http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/Teacher/sectiontwo/sectionII.html lessons
C. 10 minutes: Accent elimination work, etc (My private student is Korean)
D. 20 minutes: Grammar lesson: working on some verb tense

I need good source material primarily for topic B. Any ideas or recommendations?

Rock voice lessons in Western MA.

abcde — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:39:34 -0800

Rock voice lessons in Western MA. My mom has been saying that she wants to get singing lessons for a long time, so I'm looking to get her a starting lesson or two for her birthday.

I'll probably do the first couple sessions with her, either serially or together. We're both into 90's and 2000's indie and alternative (Radiohead, Arcade Fire, My Bloody Valentine, etc.) though her tastes range into loathsome adult alternative like Sarah McLachlan and Dave Matthews Band as well (the subject of much teasing by me). All the people I've been able to find so far are either teaching the wrong tradition (classical or jazz) or their background is in evil genres like New Age and commercial R&B.

She's a complete musical neophyte, barring lessons in high school that she's totally forgotten, while I'm musically literate, have decent relative pitch, etc.

We're in the Pioneer Valley, but I guess we'd be willing to travel for up to an hour. Any suggestions?

"I see only the eye.""Then shoot, Arjuna, shoot!"

shoebox — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:45:18 -0800

I want to take up archery. Does anybody know any places in Southern Ontario, specifically in or near Toronto or Hamilton? I don't have a car, but I live in the former city and attend university in the latter, so any places would have to be accessible by transit from either one.

Also, I am a complete beginner without any experience or equipment, so any advice would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Rites of passage and the requisite advice

drea — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:55:23 -0800

Any advice for a fresh graduate jumping from a world of possibility to a world of potential naysayers? Help me tone down the naïveté, or whatever else needs to be done. I'm about to graduate and head off into the real world and from the looks of it college was merely an incubator of impossible ideals and untested ambitions to "change the world". I have so many ideas but was advised to work quietly instead of splashing around without much result. Maybe I just watch too much TED or read too many can-do books on social change. In any case, I need to balance out this idealism so I won't get burned out quickly and/or be tempted to give up at every setback.

Books for fresh graduates would be great, real-life experiences would be great, I just need to be more informed about super big dreams and getting there. Thanks a lot.

Can I teach music lessons?

greekphilosophy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:21:11 -0800

How much musical experience/ability does one need to teach music lessons? I've played the flute for at least 15 years now. I'm no slouch. I know the repertoire and keep up with my playing even to this day. I was accepted to my college's music program, and stayed active in performing both vocally and instrumentally, but academically pursued poli sci and law school. I'm by no means a professional. But I am a very high level amateur. I am also proficient on a number of other instruments and have a decent quality Clavinova. I currently sing tenor in a semi-professional a cappella chamber choir.

I always assumed that I was ill-qualified to teach music lessons - probably by virtue of my respect for the skill of my "real" musician friends who followed the curriculum in college, and who have high level music theory knowledge, and who are now eking out a living as professional musicians by night and servers by day.

But today I find myself looking for a decent part-time job, and I'm wondering if I might actually be qualified to teach some music lessons. I feel pretty damn capable where music is concerned. But I'm not "credentialed" for it.

Can the hive mind reach a consensus here on what constitutes the skill level necessary to teach someone else music lessons? Or is it a strict matter of credentialing? Or is it somewhere in the middle where someone like me who is a fully capable musician could potentially do certain things and not others - like teach kiddos and adult beginners how to play "Lightly Row" but probably not coach a high school student auditioning for Juilliard?

LEARN FRENCH!

Lemon of Byzantium — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:15:31 -0800

I have some money saved up, I am a Canadian citizen, and I have a strong desire to learn French properly. But how? I'm thinking I should do some sort of immersion program followed by living/working in Montreal. I could go to Quebec for an immersion program-- I could even go to France. What, in your opinion, is the best way to go about this? Any particular programs to recommend? Any tips?

Thanks, as always, in advance.

Help me learn piano on the cheap!

scarello — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:21:57 -0800

Help me learn piano on a budget. I have always wanted to learn, and now I am 31 and tired of just wishing! Problem is, money is tight, so I am looking for suggestions on how to teach myself on the cheap (if that's possible). So, if you are able to suggest some affordable equipment (I own no piano), that would be great. Preferably a keyboard I could connect to my computer, as opposed to a full, traditional piano (space is tight as well). And any resources for learning, would be much appreciated.

Online guitar instruction?

daisyace — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:26:50 -0800

Is there a great, free website where a child with no prior experience can learn to tune and play her new guitar? The girl who I mentor was just given a new acoustic guitar for her 9th birthday. (This Hannah Montana 3/4-size one, I think.) She can read at or above grade level, she's comfortable using a computer, and she's enthusiastic about the guitar. On the flip side, she has no guitar experience at all, she doesn't like things that are difficult for her, and she only has a long attention span for things that are pretty fun and active. She can't afford instruction, not even a low-cost option like learning from a music student. So, is there any fun, free, guitar instruction website out there?

WOOOOSH

Bakuun — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:50:41 -0800

Would you happen to know someone (or be someone) who offers poi or fire-staffing lessons around CA's south bay region? I'm dying to get back into the hobby, but driving from Redondo to Santa Monica (where most instructors I've found are located) is not appealing at all. Hate the 405. Hatehatehate. Er. Doesn't have to be a professional performer, either - just someone who's familiar enough with most tricks to be a good teacher. Anyone? Anyone?

Horseback riding for big kids

Meifa — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:43:32 -0800

I want to take horseback riding lessons. I'm 24 years old. Oxymoronic? Details follow. Way back when I was... Oh, I don't know, 8 or 9 or something, I took English riding lessons. It went on for awhile, probably closer to two years than not. I'm not sure why I stopped; my mother says I got spooked from falling while learning to jump. I beg to differ, but who am I to say?

A few days ago, for whatever reason, I thought "Man, I wish I could take horseback riding lessons again." Soon thereafter, however, doubts came a-knockin':

1) I would be starting pretty much from scratch. It's been ages since I've been on a horse. 2) I live in suburban south Florida, so there aren't a lot of stables around (there are some "horsey areas," but they're a bit posh); cutting to the chase, while adult group lessons seem really attractive to me, I don't think there are many around here. So it looks like if I follow through on this, I would be going for private lessons.

My sticking points: Is 24 too old to learn how to ride seriously? Am I going to stick out like a sore thumb, an adult among children? And something I haven't mentioned: I'm not in any great shape. Can I hack it?

Drawing me on are a few big pluses, though. One, I really want to do it. What's more, I really need to develop new hobbies and meet new people. I think this might help me there.

Any tips, suggestions, advice? Help me get over my horse fright!

Piano on a Budget

Fairchild — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:02:16 -0800

Our children are taking piano lessons. They need a piano. We don't know what we're doing. Our kids, ages 5 and 8, started piano lessons this week. We need to buy them an acoustic piano for practice at home.

My partner and I have no idea what we're doing. We don't know how to shop for a piano. We have never played a musical instrument. We would like to buy something used, with a price tag of $500 dollars or less. Is this reasonable or realistic?

I know to avoid stuck and chipped keys, but what else?

I saw an ad today for "BALDWIN PIANO Acrosonic. Excellent condition. $500" Another ad stated, "Kimball upright piano, good condition, $150" I have no idea what this means. I know nothing about brands. If I went into a home to see these pianos I wouldn't have a clue as what to look for.

We aren't considering electronic keyboards because the instructor is against them. We aren't against upgrading to a nicer piano in the future, but for now, we need something adequate for them to practice on.

Also, what are your views on children learning and loving music if their parents don't know diddly? We listen to a wide variety of music and we sing (poorly), but that's where it ends. We have never played an instrument and do not know how to read music. We (I) have some anxiety about our kids being able to practice and learn effectively when we don't know the first thing about music. We did sit in on the first lesson ,and we'll probably sit in on a few more (the instructor prefers it this way), so we do feel somewhat comfortable helping them with posture, finger placement, etc., for practice at home.

Any advice appreciated. We need a piano and we're clueless!

Guitarfilter

kjl291 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:39:56 -0800

Guitarfilter: Looking for the best online guitar instruction sites. By the best I mean any and all of the following: Multimedia, Comprehensive coverage of styles and skill levels, Lots of material and lessons, Professional presentation, availability of tabs.

Would expect to pay, but don´t have any problem with free if such an animal exists.

In the last few months I came across a couple of very impressive sites that meet the above criteria (also with downloadable tabs/sheet music - copyrighted stuff required a small fee each) but I cannot remember them or find them now. Any help would be much appreciated.