What is "Foundations for Guitar"?

[Mark Wein]

Its my new book! You can get more information here:

http://www.foundationsforguitar.com/

and here at the publisher:

http://www.lulu.com/content/1252390

 

[MAB]

what age range is this geared for? I want to teach my 7 year old how to play.

 

[Mark Wein]

what age range is this geared for? I want to teach my 7 year old how to play.

Its probably a little too advanced for a 7 year old...I usually teach 7-10 year olds from the Alfred's Kids Guitar Course:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alfred-Alfreds-Kids-Guitar-Course-1-BookCD?sku=943504

Its laid out gradually enough that a younger student can build the motor skills necessary to play songs and also learn the guitar like its any other instrument...note reading as well as chords. I have had pretty good success with this particular series...

 

[Dalron]

Hi Mark,

Have you considered selling the book as a PDF download (I think Lulu has/used to have this option)?

I no longer buy books from Amazon or other US booksellers as the postal costs often exceed the book cost and I hate waiting for up to three months. (They should look at the UK's The Book Depository which not only sells books cheaply but sends by free air express mail anywhere in the world.)

Ron ...

 

[Mark Wein]

Hi Mark,

Have you considered selling the book as a PDF download (I think Lulu has/used to have this option)?

I no longer buy books from Amazon or other US booksellers as the postal costs often exceed the book cost and I hate waiting for up to three months. (They should look at the UK's The Book Depository which not only sells books cheaply but sends by free air express mail anywhere in the world.)

Ron ...

Hi Ron

I considered it but I was afraid that it would leave the book too open to piracy...If I'm convinced that its a secure option in the future I might offer it...where are you located? In about 6 weeks or so the book will be available from other online booksellers besides Lulu...there is a possibility that an online bookseller more local you to might have it at that point....

 

[Dalron]

I considered it but I was afraid that it would leave the book too open to piracy...where are you located? In about 6 weeks or so the book will be available from other online booksellers ...

You're right: I hadn't considered the piracy angle. I'm in Australia. Hopefully it will be available at The Book Depository in the UK or a local Aussie bookshop.

Cheers,
Ron

 

[SteveWoodward]

I'm not sure if this helps any, since I'm in the US, but I got the book about 10 days after placing the order with Lulu...

 

[Dalron]

Thanks, Steve. I'm going to place an order after next pay day (June 15).

Had a laugh when I looked at shipping costs to Australia: Standard $6.36 or Express $53.81.

 

[Mark Wein]

I'm not sure if this helps any, since I'm in the US, but I got the book about 10 days after placing the order with Lulu...

The biggest bummer about my publishing situation is that it is a "print on demand" company. It takes them 3-5 days manufacturing BEFORE they ship it :-[

I am hoping that once the book is carried by the other online booksellers that each company will physically stock a batch of books and cut down on the time between order and you guys receiving the book.

I am in California and if I order it "2nd day" I typically get the books in 7 days...

 

[Mark Wein]

Thanks, Steve. I'm going to place an order after next pay day (June 15).

Had a laugh when I looked at shipping costs to Australia: Standard $6.36 or Express $53.81.

I think shipping is one of the biggest rip-offs...I have a Fedex account for the school and I can find out what shipping should cost for most distances and it is usually much less than most companies charge...especially Ebay sellers who seem to use the shipping as an additional place to hide some profit...

You'll have to let me know how long "Standard" takes to get there

 

[Dalron]

Thanks, Steve. I'm going to place an order after next pay day (June 15).

Order placed one day early! I'm looking forward to getting the book.

You'll have to let me know how long "Standard" takes to get there

Cheers,
Ron

 

[Guitar1969]

what age range is this geared for? I want to teach my 7 year old how to play.

Its probably a little too advanced for a 7 year old...I usually teach 7-10 year olds from the Alfred's Kids Guitar Course:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alfred-Alfreds-Kids-Guitar-Course-1-BookCD?sku=943504

Its laid out gradually enough that a younger student can build the motor skills necessary to play songs and also learn the guitar like its any other instrument...note reading as well as chords. I have had pretty good success with this particular series...

I have that Alfred book to teach my kids(8 to 12 yrs old) , but have not used it much for them - what I don't like about it if I remember correctly is it teaches some strange "simplified versions" of open chord shapes, like a "simplified G", which seems to me to be counterproductive when starting out. Since the basic chords are crucial, it seems it would be better to learn the right ones from the beginning, since everything builds off of those. I'm curious what your thoughts are on this Mark - Do you teach young ones those simplified chords and then switch to the real shape after that.

Digging your site so far . . .

 

[Dalron]

You'll have to let me know how long "Standard" takes to get there

Looks like they're already behind. The website states, "Paperback books, calendars, CDs and DVDs must go through the print on demand manufacturing process. They usually ship within 4 business days after your order date."

Still in the 'fulfilling' stage after a week. I hope they ship soon.

(I'm not really that anxious but I do expect Internet businesses to stick to the claims they make due to the trust you place in them when you order and pay in advance with Internet companies you really know nothing about.)

 

[Guitar1969]

Thanks, Steve. I'm going to place an order after next pay day (June 15).

Had a laugh when I looked at shipping costs to Australia: Standard $6.36 or Express $53.81.

I think shipping is one of the biggest rip-offs...I have a Fedex account for the school and I can find out what shipping should cost for most distances and it is usually much less than most companies charge...especially Ebay sellers who seem to use the shipping as an additional place to hide some profit...

You'll have to let me know how long "Standard" takes to get there

Mark:
do you carry it on the shelf at your school, as I might want to come by and pick it up.

 

[Mark Wein]

what age range is this geared for? I want to teach my 7 year old how to play.

Its probably a little too advanced for a 7 year old...I usually teach 7-10 year olds from the Alfred's Kids Guitar Course:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alfred-Alfreds-Kids-Guitar-Course-1-BookCD?sku=943504

Its laid out gradually enough that a younger student can build the motor skills necessary to play songs and also learn the guitar like its any other instrument...note reading as well as chords. I have had pretty good success with this particular series...

I have that Alfred book to teach my kids(8 to 12 yrs old) , but have not used it much for them - what I don't like about it if I remember correctly is it teaches some strange "simplified versions" of open chord shapes, like a "simplified G", which seems to me to be counterproductive when starting out. Since the basic chords are crucial, it seems it would be better to learn the right ones from the beginning, since everything builds off of those. I'm curious what your thoughts are on this Mark - Do you teach young ones those simplified chords and then switch to the real shape after that.

Digging your site so far . . .

Thanks!

It depends on the kids, but I've found that working with the simpler chord shapes gets them playing time better and its less frustrating. The second book starts getting them into bigger chord shapes.

I'm a stickler for kids learning to read music as well as as tab and chord charts...if they were playing any other instrument it would be expected of the instructor to use these methods to teach them about music. This book gives them the same education that they would get if they were taking piano or sax lessons. I also try to include fun stuff along the way to keep them from getting burnt out, though...

Gradually I get them into the bigger chord shapes and their motor skills are a little more capable of handling the chord changes and they are actually feeling and counting rhythms while they are playing.

I guess what it comes down to is that I try to give the younger students more manageable chunks to digest before doing the 5 and 6 note chords.

 

[Mark Wein]

You'll have to let me know how long "Standard" takes to get there

Looks like they're already behind. The website states, "Paperback books, calendars, CDs and DVDs must go through the print on demand manufacturing process. They usually ship within 4 business days after your order date."

Still in the 'fulfilling' stage after a week. I hope they ship soon.

(I'm not really that anxious but I do expect Internet businesses to stick to the claims they make due to the trust you place in them when you order and pay in advance with Internet companies you really know nothing about.)

I usually get them in about 7 days from ordering...they are printed (or at least shipped) on the east coast of the US and I'm in California although I usually get them 2nd day air. I sent a coipy to a friend in Canada and it took about 3 weeks with the cheaper "media Mail" postage option.

In a few weeks the book should be available on Amazon and I am hoping that there will be "stock" for them to ship from more immediately. I'm sorry about the slow service...the joys of the self published author, I guess... :(

 

[Mark Wein]

Mark:
do you carry it on the shelf at your school, as I might want to come by and pick it up.

I do have them in the store...please feel free to stop by and say hi!

 

[Dalron]

... I'm sorry about the slow service...the joys of the self published author, I guess... :(

Sorry if I made you feel bad ... definitely no need to apologize. This is my first experience with Lulu or with self-publishing (from a buyer's perspective*) so I'm keeping a sharp eye on it.

Good news, anyway: just received an email to say the book has been shipped. I'll let you know when it arrives.

Cheers,
Ron

*I've been on the other side many years ago and it was not a good, nor cheap, experience. Lulu is POD whereas I had to pay for the production of a quantity of books upfront.

 

[Mark Wein]

... I'm sorry about the slow service...the joys of the self published author, I guess... :(

Sorry if I made you feel bad ... definitely no need to apologize. This is my first experience with Lulu or with self-publishing (from a buyer's perspective*) so I'm keeping a sharp eye on it.

Good news, anyway: just received an email to say the book has been shipped. I'll let you know when it arrives.

Cheers,
Ron

*I've been on the other side many years ago and it was not a good, nor cheap, experience. Lulu is POD whereas I had to pay for the production of a quantity of books upfront.

No problem!

I'm glad it finally shipped. You'll have to let me know when you get it...

I like the self publishing thing so far but I'm hoping that its not a drag for the buyers....we'll see how the "Amazon.com" experience goes in a month or so.

 

[Guitar1969]

Mark:
do you carry it on the shelf at your school, as I might want to come by and pick it up.

I do have them in the store...please feel free to stop by and say hi!

Cool - I'm interested in it for the music theory side of it and filling in any missing foundational pieces in my self-taught playing(Which I am sure is full of holes), as I agree what you said above that you should be able to read music and not just Tab. I'm one of those who's relied just on tab for many years and now I see it hindering me, so I have been starting to learn how to read music and looking for an all encompassing book from a guitarist perspective. What book do you usually recommend after Foundations?

At some point I hope maybe I can take some lessons under you(I am local) as I feel I am at the point where I really need some direction on learning(I have a lot of bits and pieces) but I am afraid it will be like starting all over again due to some bad habits. What do you normally charge for Privates or semi privates, and do you do anything other than weekly visits- Unfortunately, its hard for me to justify the cost right now as I have 2 girls in ballet and they are at the point in training where they dance 5-6 days a week(3-4 hours a day), which is costing my wife and I a small fortune(The cost of a nice guitar every month). I also know that lessons are only as good as the amount of practice I do in between.