As the coronavirus sweeps across the United States, public schools in twelve states including Oregon have shut down. As a result, all Portland Public School after-school activities have been canceled effective March 12th through April 13th. Educational Activities for Kids As the public school systems are shutting down, it’s more critical than ever […]
Author: Brian Parham
Meet the Rock Dojo Student of the Month | February 2020
At the Rock Dojo, we love celebrating our students’ hard work in the practice room, leadership skills in the classroom, and their musical progress on the guitar. That’s why we choose one student each month who rocked the hardest! Meet the Student Who Rocked Hardest this Month | Zoe Zoe was […]
The 750-Hour Guitar Practice Challenge!
If you follow this blog, then you know there is only one sure-fire way to improve your guitar playing: practice. In fact, your guitar playing skills are directly proportional to two factors: the quality of your focus as you practice and the quantity (or the total number of hours) of your guitar practice. Since […]
Your First Five Guitar Chord Progressions for Kids | Power Chord Progressions
Over the last three weeks, you learned some classic rock guitar chord progressions using the open A, D, E, & G chords. This week, you’ll learn the most mighty chord shape of all: the power chord! Buckle up because this rides about to get bumpy! What’s a Power Chord? What’s a power […]
Your First Five Guitar Chord Progressions for Kids: I bVII IV
Over the last few weeks, you learned how to play the most popular chord progression of all-time on the guitar: The I IV V chord progression. Then, we taught you how to play a common variation, the I V IV chord progression. Combined, those are the two most common chord progressions in all genres of […]
The Looong-Term Benefits of Guitar Lessons for Kids
Most parents agree that extra-curricular activities and creative outlets are healthy for our kids. Did you know that guitar lessons and music training, in general, go a step further? When you give your kids guitar lessons now, they benefit all the way through their senior years. The Other 90 Percent of Your Brain Unlike any […]
Rock Dojo Students of the Month | January 2020
Each month, we highlight one or two students who rocked the hardest during our after-school group guitar classes in Portland, Oregon. Think of it as a digital fist bump to those students who practiced hardest, helped others the most, and set a positive example for their classmates. Student of the Month Criteria Academic […]
The Ultimate Guitar Practice Guide for Kids and Parents
Your child’s guitar skills are a result of the quantity and quality of their practice routines. For that reason, we put together the ultimate practice guide for kids & parents to help you and your child establish a rock-solid guitar practice routine! QUALITY OF GUITAR PRACTICE Let’s begin with deliberate practice. According to James Clear, […]
Your First Five Guitar Chord Progressions for Kids | I V IV Chord Progression in A
Last week, you learned your first guitar chord progression, Congratulations! The I IV V chord progression is probably the most common chord progression of all-time! The I IV V chord progression is found in all styles of music including country, folk, blues, rock, and even classical. It’s the foundation of famous songs including “Louie […]
Your First Five Guitar Chord Progressions for Kids | I IV V in A
Welcome to our latest series of free guitar lessons for kids. Over the last five weeks, you learned how to play a handful of guitar chords including the E, A, D, G, & C chords. Over the next five weeks, we’ll teach how to combine those basic chords with common rhythmic patterns to create […]