Got a few Questions?
No problem.

• What are the benefits of learning to play an instrument?

  Music gives people a way to express themselves and unleash their creativity while also relieving stress and tension. Immersing in music learning is fun and has numerous benefits, such as contributing to the development of  language, maths, concentration and social skills.

  Learning an instrument fosters self-esteem as a student masters new skills.  It encourages in them a sense of responsibility as they take care of their instrument.

  For more information about the benefits of learning to play an instrument, follow this link from the Australian Government site, Learning Potential: https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/articles/musical-benefits

• At what age can my child start Infinite Sound guitar lessons at school?

  Infinite Sound guitar lessons are offered within schools to students from Grades 2 to 6. Younger students may be ready to learn an instrument but are usually better suited to private after-hours tuition than the small group guitar classes at school.  Online learning is available for students of any age, however parental supervision is advised for students below grade 2.

  Most schools have a waiting list for guitar lessons so please contact us ASAP to have your child’s name added to the program.

• When and for how long do school guitar lessons go for?

  Lesson are held once a week in schools, during school hours, for 30 minutes. Each group has a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 students. Currently the Infinite Sound Guitar program is offered at Gisborne, New Gisborne, Macedon, Mt Macedon, Romsey, Lancefield, St Mary’s, Newham and Kyneton Primary Schools.

• Are lessons offered outside of school hours?

  No, group guitar lessons are only offered within school hours, though the material for online learning is always accessible.

• Are private lessons offered?

  No.

• What are the benefits of having lessons taught in small groups in schools?

  Kids love it! They enjoy learning in a relaxed, fun environment around other kids at a similar level to themselves. They learn from each other, feel part of a group and this eliminates many of the nerves they may feel when in one-on-one lessons. Kids can practise performing in front of their small group and love playing songs together as a group.

• Is it worthwhile learning an instrument online?

  There are many advantages to participating in a music learning program online.  Unlike a class lesson which is held at a regular time and occasionally missed, online lessons are accessible at any time and can be revisited when convenient.  Videos and audio backing tracks give the learner an understanding of how each piece sounds and should be played, and presents opportunities for the student to play-along and ultimately improve their rhythm and feel.

  When replacing a face-to-face program with an online program, there will be students who are more suited than others.  While some will make vast improvements to their practice routine and skill development, others may find it more difficult. The aim of both face-to-face and online learning is to present a quality program that students will find fun and varied while allowing them to steadily progress.  To maximise the program presented, participation in both styles of learning are recommended and backed up with performance opportunities and regular self-recordings so that students can reflect on their individual playing.

• Do students need their own guitar?

  Yes, each student will need to have their own guitar and a case in which to bring it to school. Having their own guitar means they have the opportunity to practise what they learn in the lessons at home – that’s where the real improvements are made!

  Each week your child will need to bring their guitar and Student Workbook to lessons, however a limited number of spare guitars and workbooks are available in the teaching room in case students are unable to bring theirs on a particular day.

  Please ensure that guitars can be stored safely in your child’s classroom. While Infinite Sound School of Guitar and the school will do everything possible to ensure that instruments are kept safe, students and their families are ultimately responsible for the repair or replacement of their instrument if an accident occurs.

• Which guitar should I buy for a beginner?

  An excellent beginner instrument is a ¾ sized classical acoustic. The brands Katoh or Yamaha are fantastic for around $200; the brands Valencia and Suzuki are quite decent for around $100. A padded bag to protect the guitar should cost around $40. Be wary of cheap purchases as it may result in a guitar which doesn’t stay in tune or is uncomfortable to play. If you struggle for time to visit a guitar shop, several Melbourne stores offer free delivery for purchases over $100. For example: 5 Star Music in Ringwood – 03 9870 4143 and Mannys Music in Fitzroy – 03 9486 8555.

  Please contact Infinite Sound directly if you would like advice about which guitar to purchase.

• How often and for how long should you practise the guitar?

  Ideally, students should practise their guitar between 20 and 30 minutes, 5 days a week. However, even 10 minutes a day is beneficial. Regular practice is the key to improvement.

   

  Finger muscles have to be trained to have the coordination and strength required to play the guitar with accuracy.  If a person practices half an hour daily, it will take them approximately two years to develop decent skills as a musician.  Mastery of an instrument has been estimated to take the devotion of about 100,000 practise hours!

• Why do you need to practise?

  Practising the guitar is essential in order to reinforce what has been learnt in the lesson, improve on it and perfect it! Guitar playing is a skill which requires muscle memory in the fingers. Much like learning to touch type, the more you practise, the more fluent you become.

• I am a parent of a student. How do I encourage my child to practise?

  Assist your child to make guitar practice part of their daily routine. Provide them with a comfortable space and time to practise, regularly ask them to show you what they have learnt, encourage and praise their efforts.  Making practise a habit and receiving encouragement motivates students to keep progressing and most students are inspired by the prospect of showcasing what they have learned.

   

  Try to avoid punishing your child for not practising as this tends to make them feel resentful and pressured into learning music.  Giving rewards for practise can often motivate them.  For example, instead of telling your child that their lessons will stop if they don’t practise, try telling them you will take them to the movies if they can finish learning a particular song and perform it for your family by Friday!

• How much does it cost to take guitar lessons at school?

  Lessons are charged per school term at $200.

• How do I pay for lessons?

  Payments are made quarterly by automatic direct debit.

  When you receive the first invoice, you can enter the details of your nominated bank account and select ‘auto-pay’.

  Payments are then debited from your account on Feb 7th, May 7th, August 7th & November 7th, or until you decide to discontinue lessons.

• Do you do make up lessons?

  No. We do not charge a per-lesson rate and as such do not give credits or make-ups for missed lessons. It is anticipated that students may miss several lessons each year due to school excursions/incursions, sports days, camps, sick days or curriculum.

• What if we are going on holidays during school term or my child is sick for a number of weeks and misses their lessons?

  If students are going to miss an extended number of lessons due to illness or holidays, contact Infinite Sound directly to discuss.

• Do I need to buy a guitar book?

  No, you will not need to buy your child a guitar book.

  Our Student Work Books are available as an online PDF which you will be given access to. You can then choose to print the book at home or simply use the online book when needed.

  As students progress through the program, progressively more advanced Student Workbooks are provided to students.

  Each Workbook has an accompanying link to a ‘Student Song Book’ which contains sheet music and video lessons for contemporary songs, which can be accessed via a laptop or tablet at home.

   

   

• Will students learn to read music in the lessons?

  Students are given exercises and songs presented on both a ‘stave’ and on ‘guitar tablature’. Understanding both notations provides a student with the ultimate goal – the skill of being able to self-teach. In lessons, students are also encouraged to memorise their pieces so that they can play them without the aid of sheet music. This develops the ability to ‘hear’ the music rather than only seeing it, and helps students become fluent, confident and have more feel in their guitar playing.

• Do you publish photos/videos of students online?

  We have a wonderful Facebook page that shares guitar learning moments with our parent and student community. Written permission is required to use any visuals of your child. Please sign the ‘Child Photo/Video Consent form’ attached to your child’s enrolment form or let us know if you would prefer not to have your child shown in any images.

• What does the online guitar learning program look like?

  Lessons are available on the Infinite Sound Website and progress students through a series of written instructions, video lessons, PDF songs sheets and play-along backing tracks to master guitar skills.

  The website includes a ‘Student Community’ section which is accessible via a secure password. In this section, students click on their specific level to find out what they will be learning each lesson. Each weekly lesson includes the following:

  • PRACTISE INSTRUCTIONS – a 5 – 10-minute video with PDF song sheets, explaining what they should be practising over the week, available for students to watch any time.
  • STUDENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES: Student / teacher conferences – via the Zoom app, 20 mins allocated per group of students working at each of the levels. Look up the timetable on the website.
  • ONLINE STUDENT PERFORMANCES: Students can book themselves into the weekly performance schedule to show everyone what they’ve been working on that week across the Zoom app.
  • FEATURED SONG OF THE WEEK: An additional video lesson and PDF song sheet released on the ‘Student Community’ page each week for students who want to extend their learning.