Student Reward Scheme
The student reward scheme is designed to encourage and reward students that show enthusiasm, determination, commitment and perseverance.
​
How it works...
If you choose to take part, you will be given a series of 12 challenges which are categorised into the three pillars of learning an instrument:
Technique
Knowledge
Repertoire
Technique: Challenges in this category are designed to improve finger dexterity, chord changes, hand synchronisation, speed and creative techniques.
Knowledge: Challenges are designed to improve your knowledge of music theory and fretboard knowledge.
Repertoire: This is all about building a catalog of songs that you know how to play. You will be learning ONE song progressively throughout the challenges which you will perform as the final challenge.
You will recieve a new challenge in a different category once the previous one has been completed, it should take you around a week to complete a challenge. Check out the table below to see how the 12 challenges are structured:
Every exercise is personalised to you and you alone. They will be difficult enough that you have to practice, but well within reach of your playing ability.
The last and final challenge is to perform the song you have been working on in the repertoire category. The performance will be recorded and marked, then your scores for all 12 challenges will be added up and your final score given.
Rewards
Upon completion of the 12 challenges, you will receive 1 of 3 rewards based on your final score percentage. (Get 90% or above and you will receive a free lesson in addition to the gold reward!)
60%
BRONZE
£15 E-Voucher
​
Pack of strings
​
​
80%
GOLD
Effects Pedal
​
​
Pack of strings
​
​
70%
SILVER
£20 E-Voucher
​
​
​
Pack of strings
​
​
Benefits of the Reward Scheme
-
One of the main benefits of the reward scheme (aside from getting free stuff) is that it incentivises you to progress fast. The challenges are uniquely designed to improve your weaknesses but also to let you have fun with your strengths.
​
-
If you are studying grades it can provide a great way to get comfortable taking similar exams in a more relaxed environment. The material in the challenges will be closely linked to your current grade and will further enforce the concepts...you'll be ready to sit that grading exam in no time!
​
-
Upon completion you will receive a CD recording of your performance to keep as a memento of your progression and a score card. The score card will reveal your strengths and weakness within the three categories.
​
​
​
Eligibility
​
-
You can only opt into the scheme after your first eight lessons with Dean. As every challenge is specific to you he needs to gauge your abilities in order to write purposeful challenges.​
​
​
FAQ
​
​
1. How are the challenges marked?
​
-
Both Technique and Repertoire categories are marked per bar. You get a maximum of 2 marks per bar. 1 mark for note accuracy and 1 mark for rhythm accuracy.
-
Theory you will either get marked per correct answer in a written exercise or correct answer in a fretboard knowledge practical exercise.
-
The maximum total mark attainable will vary depending on the exercise.
-
For the final challenge you are marked on song sections, two marks for each section. 1 for note accuracy and 1 for rhythm accuracy.
-
Your final score will be total of all achieved marks against the total of all attainable marks.
​
​
2. What pedal do I get?
​
That will depend on what kind of guitar you play, what your needs are and what you want. This can be discussed throughout the duration of the challenges.
​
​
3. I play acoustic...aren't effects pedals only for electric guitar?
​
Nope. Some pedals work better with acoustics than others, but even thats down to personal preference. If you look around, a pedal board is a common sight in front of acoustic players. If you don't have an electro acoustic then we will sort you out an acoustic pickup instead!
​
​
4. What do the challenges look like?
​
-
For technique you will usually get an 8 bar exercise (could be 4 bars repeated) which will focus on a specific technical aspect of your playing. You will receive MP3 file with exercise slow medium and actual tempo.
​
-
Knowledge will either be a written test or a practical test where you will be given a task to show your fretboard knowledge for example: "Find all the locations of the note "B" on the fretboard", you will then proceed to play all locations of the note "B". You will receive an info sheet for a particular theory concept to study prior to the test.
​
-
Repertoire will be one song broken down into more manageable sections over the course of the 12 challenges. Challenge 11 will be connecting the sections together so you can play it fluently from beginning to end ready for the challenge 12, the performance. You will be marked for both challenge 11 and challenge 12 on the same day. You will receive MP3 files for each of these challenges to practice along with at slow medium and actual tempo.
​
​
5. Do I have to do this?
​
Nope. It's entirely up to you...but its nice to get free stuff just for doing something you love to do isn't it?
​
​
6. What if I don't feel ready to complete a challenge?
​
You don't have to complete the challenge until you're ready, but the quickest way to progress through them its to complete one challenge per lesson.
​
​
7. Do me and my friend get to take part if we're taking Duet lessons?
​
Yes. You are both eligible to take part, however you will each have to complete challenge 12 during a Solo lesson.
​