THE BEC TAYLOR SCHOOL OF MUSIC
the goin’ solo program
We listen to what types of music our students want to learn and use it as a foundation.
Based on our flagship school instrumental curriculum - The Challenge Chart - we teach our students using a mix of contemporary and traditional teaching resources from books, online and teacher-composed. Most importantly, we listen to what types of music the student wants to learn and use it as a foundation to structure around the technical work, performance and musical development needed for musical competence. Our teaching pedagogies are based on contemporary teaching methods identified by John Hattie, such as use of self and teacher feedback, using technology, goal setting and musical analysis.
All private lesson students are given two performance opportunities a year - a live video recording session and a gig at a local music venue.
We pride ourselves on our excellent teachers with real-life music industry experience, who are brilliant at connecting with how best to engage each student.
PIANO
After your first two lessons on piano, you can expect to be able to play two songs, such as “In the Jungle” or “Stay With Me” for adults and teens, or “Old MacDonald” or “Pirates of the Caribbean” for children. If you have some piano experience, we will use the first lesson to fully assess where you are at, and then tailor the course to challenge you at your optimal level, in line with your personal musical goals. We use a mix of learning resources from books, the internet and teacher-composed. Most importantly, we listen to what types of music the student wants to learn and use it as a foundation to structure around the technical work, performance and musical development needed for piano competence.
DRUMS
After your first two drum lessons, you can expect to be able to play a basic rock beat and a two-step beat, complete some basic rudiments and learn about the basic rhythm elements on hand drums. By the end of your first term, you can expect to be able to play along with a rock song on drums, and be able to play in time with the teacher accompanying you. If you have some previous drum kit experience, we will use the first lesson to fully assess where you are at, and then tailor the course to challenge you at your optimal level, in line with your personal musical goals.
VOICE
After your first two singing lessons, you can expect to understand how to breathe properly while singing, sing a song safely within your vocal range such as “Hallelujah (Cohen)” or “Stay With Me”, and warm up your voice using vocal exercises. By the end of your first term, you can expect to be able to sing a whole song of your choosing, read basic musical notation and incorporate basic singing techniques to optimise volume and vocal quality while singing. If you have some previous singing experience, we will use the first lesson to fully assess where you are at, and then tailor the course to challenge you at your optimal level, in line with your personal musical goals.
GUITAR
After your first two guitar lessons, you can expect to be able to play two guitar riffs from rock/pop songs (such as “I Love Rock and Roll” or “Ode to Joy”, play a scale and read basic tablature on three strings. By the end of your first term, you can expect to be able to play along with the teacher in a song, read basic musical notation and tablature and be able to play both chords and melody on the guitar. If you have some previous guitar experience, we will use the first lesson to fully assess where you are at, and then tailor the course to challenge you at your optimal level, in line with your personal musical goals.
BASS GUITAR
After your first two bass lessons, you can expect to be able to two bass riffs from rock/pop songs (such as “Smoke on the Water” or “Ode to Joy”, play a scale and read basic bass tablature. By the end of your first term, you can expect to be able to play along with the teacher in a whole song, read basic musical notation and tablature and play with other students on the bass. If you have some previous guitar experience, we will use the first lesson to fully assess where you are at, and then tailor the course to challenge you at your optimal level, in line with your personal musical goals.
SONG WRITING
These lessons will develop your songwriter skills and your ability to work consistently at being an original songwriter.
By the end of the first term, you can expect to have written at least two original songs, have workshopped their structures and lyrics, and arranged them for all instruments in a rock band. By the end of the second term, you will have at least one of your songs played by a rock band of students. This course can also offer singing training to develop singer-songwriter and performance skills.
MUSIC PRODUCTION
In your music production lessons you’ll be guided through technology that can help take your music to the next level. The lessons cover concepts from recording, layering, sampling, beat-making to mixing. Our teachers will tailor one-on-one lessons to what you want to learn.
By the end of a term, you can expect to produce at least one track you could put online.
MUSIC THEORY
In your music theory lessons you will master major and minor scales, intervals, pitches, and clefs, understand basic notation, time signals, tempo, dynamics, and navigation. By the end of your first term you will be able to employ melodies, chords, progressions, and phrases to form music as well as compose harmonies and accompanying melodies for voice and instruments.
We offer private lessons in our Goin’ Solo and Combo Lesson Programs. Learn more about these here.