Customer Reviews

The Secrets of Successful Practicing for Guitarists

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the best things about Kevin Downing's book is that, although it is called "Secrets of Successful Practicing for Guitarists" the techniques and advice it contains are relevant to all musicians. This is not a "Learn to play guitar in six easy lessons" manual, it's a book that deals with the issue of how to learn, and understand, a musical instrument properly. It makes the point that there are no shortcuts to success, but there are things that can be done to make the learning and practicing process easier, and more effective.

The book is written in an easy to read, conversational tone, and the chapters are reasonable short. This means that what is in the book is the essential information, without unnecessary padding. And all of that information is relevant, practical, and above all, effective.

This is a book that concentrates on the much neglected area of how to practice and learn. The combination of the author's wide musical experience, teaching experience, and understanding of the psychology of learning, means that this book is as much about training the mind as training the fingers. Included are chapters about setting up a practice room, establishing a practice schedule, motivation, memory techniques, dealing with nerves, and many more.

While all of this information is relevant to playing the guitar, it is also just as useful for those learning any other instrument. For that reason it should be an essential part of the collection of any music student, musician, or music teacher.

Every teacher would be doing themselves a favour by buying a boxful and giving them out free to their students as a thank you for their business. And to acknowledge the effort their students make to succeed under their tutelage.

Kevin's book would their quiet, unassuming, 24/7 assistant teacher, adding value to their teaching.

This valuable book will help both the teacher and student lift their game, enrich their relationship and get more results for the guitar student.

Sheesh! I paid thousands of dollars to learn these secrets at two overseas music schools!

Kevin's book works because it talks to the student where they most need it. Not in the comfort of a lesson with a teacher but in their solitude at the coal face of indecision and doubt that is their ... drum roll .... practise room.

In simple, straight forward, direct, unpretentious, no bs language, Kevin walks you through ALL stages of practise: from setting up your work area, making sure your have a life, that your remain healthy, how to set up a practise schedule, how to remain on course, what content to practise, when to practise, how not to practise, how to get a gig, how to sightread and train the ear, how to talk to other musicians and a wealth of tips that are so common sensical that they are indeed, secrets!

So you're guitar player who struggled with reading at school? Welcome to the Secrets of Successful Practising for Guitarists!Kevin makes this book so easy to read. It's like he's there talking with you.

If you want a highly organised manual of helpful guitar practise tips, that you can refer to again and again, put this one in your guitar case.

Kevin writes not just like he knows! He write like he cares.

Kevin's book comes with my highest recommendation. And no! You can't have my copy...

The secrets of practising for guitarists is the book I usually have with me when I play my guitar. When I feel like a bit of inspiration, practical ideas pour out of its pages. It's like having my own mentor sitting on the bookshelf. Within a few days my practise became more focussed. I now monitor my own progress and have noticed a marked improvement. I listen more to my favourite guitarists, read more widely and find it easier to apply my guitar lessons to everyday playing. I recommend you plug yourself in to this book. It's worth its weight in Fenders.

Response to author's own 5-star self-review (10/01/2008):
I just have to say that I find it very unprofessional of an author to 5-star rate HIS OWN book and try to discredit a reader's personal opinion of his book. First, I was not unkind in my review, only honest. You can read the original review below, completely unaltered. No one has to agree with me and obviously from all the 5-star ratings (including the author's, of course) most people don't agree with me. My review was simply my honest opinion to which I have full right. Let the product stand on it's own merit and allow people their own opinion. You don't reallly need to defend your product against what was a relatively positive review, do you? It is the absolute first time I have EVER seen an author review a REVIEWER of his product and top it with a 5-star rating of his own product. I would have thought that a comment on my review would be far more appropriate. I posted an unaltered copy as a comment to this review for your convenience.

I made no personal assumptions of the author in my original review and don't think it very professional or polite of him to assume what I am "oblivious to" and what I "don't realize." I also don't need manipulated redefinition of words such as "secrets."

Original 2005 Review:
Okay, I went through quite a bit of trouble to get this book. Originally, I ordered it from Amazon and they could not deliver, so I bought it from the author. By the time shipping was paid, it cost a fair amount for what it is. Had I gotten it for ten bucks, it might have gotten a higher score.

If you have been playing for any time, most of what is in this book will be obvious to you already. If you have read any other books on practice techniques, almost ALL of it will already be obvious to you. There are no "Secrets" revealed here. There is no magic about guitar practice. It is about focus and putting in the time.

If you are a relatively new player, this is a good place to start. As the author points out, many people don't know how to practice efficiently. Keeping a log is one of his suggestions. See my other reviews on Amazon where I review a really good practice log that you can buy.

Mr. Downing makes some really good points about having goals and writing them down. Again, if you have been playing an instrument for a while, you probably already KNOW what your goals are. The only missing element is that you may not have written them out. Writing them DOES help you to clarify them to yourself. It also provides something of a reality check.

All and all, "The Secrets of Successful Practicing for Guitarists" is a good purchase. If you have to buy direct, it is a little pricey, in my opinion.

I learned a number of good tips and will be referring back to this book for some time for ideas. I guess that the price, combined with the claim of revealing "Secrets" just turned me off a little. He offers a money-back satisfaction guarantee and I could have taken him up on that, if I were truly dissatisfied. I kept the book...

The bottom line is that the more experienced you are as a player, the less you will get from this book. That being said, I still think that most ANY player will get useful information from it. You just have to decide if it is worth the money.

Roadhouse Blue

In reply to Roadhouse Blue's ambiguous review of my book below it seems apparent that the writer is oblivious to what really goes on in music education and thought his statements needed some clarification.

First of all it seems the writer is motivated by saving money. Education of all kinds does not come cheaply, but let me warn you it is more expensive to be uneducated. This book is approximately the price of one music lesson with a learner/intermediate level teacher, maybe two if you include shipping. A small price to pay for the information provided.

[...]

Roadhouse Blue is correct in that the book is a good place to start. I originally wrote it for beginners and intermediate level players, however, that is not where the most response has come from. What he does not realise is that it has been from advanced players and teachers who say they wish they had this book 20 years ago, and that it is great to have all the relevant information in one publication they, or their students, can refer back to. This publication is now being used by many universities and private guitar teachers worldwide, not just beginner guitarists.

Keeping a practice log is essential and in the book you can access my website where you can download them for no cost. If there is something not in the book that you want to know about, an email link is there to contact the author (me), again at no cost. How many authors provide that service?

The main point that Roadhouse Blue does not realise is that what might be common sense to him is not for others. For example, 99% of people coming into my teaching studio (which includes learners to advanced level) do not have any goals, do not have any idea about how the music learning process goes, don't know what it takes to be a great player, overestimate their abilities and underestimate the time it takes to achieve results, and most do not even know what they want to learn. Worst of all, most players have been told misleading information by other illiterate players who think they know it all. What most players of all levels need is "direction" and this book gives that.

As far as the word "secrets" goes, not many people understand what it means. Dictionary.com describe the word "secrets" as being; a mystery, kept hidden from knowledge, not frequented, beyond ordinary understanding, as well as many others. You can see all definitions refer to the 99% of players in the previous paragraph. "Secrets" was not put in the title to help sell books; it concisely describes the majority of guitarists.

Many people ask "How do you tell a good book?" My reply is, "If you get one really good idea from it, then it is a good book. If you get many quality ideas from it, then it is a great book". I am glad that Roadhouse Blue got some good ideas from it.

The bottom line is "Do you want to stay like the 99% of players who are frustrated and eventually quit that I described earlier, or do you want to move ahead and experience the great fun that good players enjoy?"

Kevin Downing.

Has everything you need, based upon the author's years of experience and thought; well written with no extranea. You'll want it at hand to return to again and again.

So why are you reading this review? Get the book and get practicing!

This book is must read for peoplr thinking about playing guitar and a great book for those already playing. Mr. Downing's book is a well thought out map for those interested in the guitar. If you listen to what he is trying to put across, you will, no doubt, steadily improve on the guitar.