Music Lessons with Ruger

11/09/2023

Can't stress this enough!

The holidays are coming up, so here's some advice that you didn't ask for...

Before you buy that Keith Urban, Randy Jackson, or Estaban guitar for your child, niece or nephew, or *yourself*, STOP.

These "instruments" are built as cheaply as possible to maximize profits. That's all they're for and they're no better than a cheap toy. They play terrible, don't set up correctly, and literally fall apart. If it's uncomfortable to play, Little Johnny isn't going to take to the guitar, period.

Visit your local music store and talk with someone who knows what they're doing. They can suggest something in the same price range that will set up and play correctly, hold some value (helpful for when Little Johnny wants to upgrade), and won't be just a generally disposable piece of trash.

Remember, inexpensive doesn't HAVE to be bad, but inexpensive CAN be terrible. The folks that put their names on these "instruments" should be ashamed, especially being players themselves.

10/25/2023

The Portnoy carries on!

We are thrilled to announce the return of drummer Mike Portnoy to Dream Theater! We will be going into the studio to begin working on our 16th studio album and the first with MP since 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings!

“I understand Dream Theater’s decision to get Mike Portnoy back at this time. As was said from Day 1, my place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. I was to play the drums in order to help the band carry on. My main role of keeping our live show working tightly on a nightly basis was an intense and rewarding experience. Thankfully, I got to experience playing music with these iconic musicians, as well as some fun times laced with humor. I also really enjoyed spending lots of time with the crew. And then there’s the GRAMMY® win, which was amazingly satisfying. To the fans: thank you so much for being amazing to me. I cherish the pictures I have of you all losing your minds and having fun. Finally, I really love the band, crew and management and wish them and the entire organization all the best.” Mike Mangini

“Mike Mangini’s drumming is otherworldly and I’m extremely grateful for the time he spent with us in Dream Theater. I’m very proud of all the amazing music we made together that culminated in our first GRAMMY win last year and the countless magical moments that we’ve shared on stage over the past 13 years. I wish him all the best of success in his future musical endeavors. I’m incredibly excited to welcome Mike Portnoy back into Dream Theater! As an original founding member, longtime friend and incredibly talented and creative drummer, I know that his return will bring a renewed spirit, passion and energy into DT that all of us, including our fans, will joyfully welcome. I can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get back into the studio together!” John Petrucci

“It's great to be back true to form with our original drummer Mike Portnoy. We started playing together as Majesty almost 40 years ago and I am excited to see what this next phase of Dream Theater creates for the future. I wish nothing but the best for Mike Mangini for all the blood, sweat and tears he put into DT during his 13-year tenure with the band” John Myung

“Having Mike Mangini with us all these years has been, quite simply, a terrific ride. He is one of the most amazing and naturally gifted drummers I have had the pleasure of working with. Thank you Mike. Life is a very strange ride and I guess that’s what makes it all the more interesting and forever engaging. Having Mike Portnoy back in the band is exactly where we and things should be. Things have a way of going full circle and in this case, it makes perfect sense. I am excited with the prospects of this classic DT lineup being reunited. I can say with absolute confidence this will be the final incarnation of DT with many chapters still to be written well into our future. Onward and upward guys!! Welcome back MP”. James Labrie

“Mike Mangini is one of the most exceptional drummers on earth and I feel privileged that we got to create a whole body of work with him. I will always be grateful for the time we shared in the Dream Theater Universe. We are so excited to reunite the core Dream Theater family. There is a resonance of spirit and vision that is unique and goes beyond words within our relationship with Mike Portnoy. On the stage and off there is no denying the magic that happens when we are together. I’m thankful we have the opportunity to work together again as Dream Theater and am looking forward to sharing our excitement and passion with our amazing fans for a long time to come.” Jordan Rudess

“I am overwhelmed with joy to be returning home and reuniting with my brothers! There is so much shared history between us all…so many memories, so much music…to think we’re coming up on 40 years since this journey began! The idea of creating new music together is so exciting and I absolutely cannot wait to hit the road and get to play live for a whole new generation of fans that weren’t ever able to see this lineup before…There’s no place like home!!” Mike Portnoy

05/09/2023

☀️Summer is just around the corner and there's no better feeling than playing guitar outside on a beautiful day. If this sounds right up your alley then text or call 812-830-8795 to sign up for private music lessons today! Evening spots are going quick so don't miss out. Let's make some music this summer! 🎸

02/23/2023

Here's an example of how the Dorian mode can be used in the key of C Major (flubs included). I'm basically just noodling around with the notes of D Dorian, which can be done by playing the notes of the C Major scale starting from and ending on the second scale degree, D.

D Dorian contains every note of the C Major scale, but starts and ends with the note D. This is useful for creating a certain "feeling" that can be much more colorful than playing straight pentatonics. Each mode has a different characteristic "feel"; in this case Dorian feels melancholy, yet hopeful.

02/14/2023

Coils! Here's a great practice method to really get to know your scales inside and out. Coils can be applied to any scale, but E minor pentatonic is a solid place to start. ⬇️*TAB in comments*⬇️

Play 3 notes of the scale, then start back at the second note of the scale and play 3 notes. Keep it going all the way up and back down the scale.

(I didn't mention that you can also play coils in groups of 4 and groups of 5)

02/08/2023

https://youtu.be/R0JKCYZ8hng

I came across this short video talking about how learning an instrument is essentially a full body workout for the brain. If you're struggling to develop a daily practice routine, hopefully this can help give you a push in the right direction!

Check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/tededView full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-playing-an-instrument-benefits-your-brain-anita-coll...

02/06/2023

Here's some clips of me struggling to set up my new camera. While I didn't end up with a new tutorial video just jet, I did manage to make whatever this is. Enjoy😅

02/01/2023

Quick tips for bar chords! I see a lot of people struggle with bar chords, so I wanted to share these 2 tips to help you build strength and confidence.

01/30/2023

Know someone who wants to take guitar lessons? Show them this flyer and have them give me a call!

01/28/2023

Finished up the outside wall of the studio, and I got pretty decent at running a sawmill while we were at it!

01/25/2023

Look for similar shapes within chords! This is a follow-up video to the last one about chord switching practice.

Take 2 chords, strum the first and as you move into the next chord, look for any two fingers that stay in the same shape for both chords.
For instance, the 2nd and 3rd finger of the C chord stays in the same shape as you move them to the D chord. Same thing with the 1st and 2nd finger in the chords C and Am, where the two fingers don't need to move at all.

01/23/2023

Ever heard of Ableton Live? It's a music recording/production software and I want to show YOU how to use it! Maybe you've tried it out and found it too complex? Do you have tons of ideas for songs but struggle to make them sound the way you want?

In just a single hour I can show you exactly what you need to know to start making music with Ableton.

Lessons are offered online and in-person, so call me or message my page to book your spot today!