Chords are the basic building blocks of all songs, so once you’ve learned a handful of chords and a few simple strumming patterns, you can easily play thousands of songs! In this lesson, you’ll learn the I IV V (A, D, & E) chords in the key of A major. What is a Chord? A chord […]
Year: 2018
Rock Dojo Guitar for Kids with Anytune
Rock Dojo is proud to be a Music Education Partner with Anytune. You can download the songs and any of these Anytune markers files for Guitar for Kids: Rock Dojo The Complete Belt System. Interstellar Overdrive Interstellar Overdrive Anytune File Heavy Riffin’ Heavy Riffin’ Anytune File Sunny Day Sunny Day […]
Guitar Lessons for Kids: How Much and What to Practice?
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ―Aristotle If you want to extract the most value out of your child’s guitar lessons, then you’ll need to know what and how much he/she should practice. Before we dive in, there are some basic rules of thumb to follow: […]
A 12-Bar Blues Study for Group Guitar: Frosty Ice Cream
Frosty Ice Cream is a 12-bar blues written in the style of ‘Green Onions.’ It’s the perfect guitar study for kids, beginning guitarists, or guitar teachers teaching group guitar classes. In this blog post, you’ll learn the bass part. In the next installment, I’ll add the organ part, the chords, and the guitar solo. The […]
Music is the Ultimate 80/20
If you’re familiar with Pareto’s Principle, then you know that 20% of your efforts produce 80% of your results and vice versa. However, you may not know that 20% of the 20% of your efforts produces 80% of the 80% of your results. Pareto’s Principle: also known as the law of 80/20 80/201 = 16:1 80/202 = […]
After-School Group Guitar Lessons at Forest Park Elementary
The Rock Dojo is now offering group guitar lessons at Forest Park Elementary! About Forest Park Elementary Serving 450 students from kindergarten through fifth grade, Forest Park Elementary School is located in the heart of Forest Heights neighborhood in NW Portland, OR. In addition to its core academics, Forest Park Elementary School also offers classes […]
Rock Dojo The Complete Belt System: Get Started Teaching Group Guitar Classes
Guitar for Kids: Rock Dojo The Complete Belt System is NOT your granddaddy’s guitar method book! In fact, The Complete Belt System is probably not for you if: You think Old Susanna rocks harder than a runaway Crazy Train! You believe modern music predates the Civil War! Your idea of hard rock is a roomful […]
Squeeze More Life Out of Your Guitar Strings | 3 Easy Tips
A fresh new set of guitar strings feels better, plays better, and sounds better than a set of rusty, old strings. Unfortunately, the time and money it costs to routinely change strings can quickly add up. That’s why I put together a list of three easy tips to help you extend the life of your […]
1 Must Know Musical Formula for Guitar: The 12-Bar Blues
If you want to rock your guitar, you got to learn to play some blues! The History of the 12-Bar Blues The blues was born in the Mississippi Delta and made famous by legendary guitarists like Robert Johnson, Son House, and Mississippi John Hurts. It’s hard to overestimate the vital role these early bluesmen played […]
The Rock Dojo is a 2018 RACC Grant Winner!
I am so proud to announce the Rock Dojo has been awarded two Regional Arts and Cultural Council (RACC) grants! Who is RACC? Based in Portland, OR, RACC raises money and awareness for individual artists, non-profit arts organizations, and schools who share their core mission to “enrich communities through arts and culture.” Programs and Services […]
