Years ago, if you had wanted to record your child playing the guitar, you would have reached for a tape recorder. Today, that technology is so outdated it’s almost impossible to find. Fortunately, it’s still quite easy to record your child playing during their guitar lessons at home. If you haven’t done so already, let’s take a look at the tools you need so your child can share their love of music with others.
Why Record Your Child’s Playing?
There are several reasons why you may want to record your child playing guitar. You’re likely very proud of how far they’ve come, and you want to record them so you can listen to them play whenever you like. Your child may want a recording to send to friends or family who don’t live close enough to come to a recital or other performance. They can share their music on social media, too. Your child’s private guitar teacher may want you to record them because listening to that recording can help your child recognize areas that need improvement.
What Hardware Do You Need?
Fortunately, if you have a computer, you already have one of the most important tools you’ll need. You don’t need a powerful computer with an incredibly fast processor or a ton of memory, either. You do need to make certain it has a USB port, though. These ports have become standard on just about every computer, including laptops, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Next, if you want to record very clean audio, you’ll need an audio interface. This tool plugs into the USB slot on your computer is used to convert sound captured by a microphone into high quality recorded audio. It’s not completely necessary to have one of these if you’re making a quick recording so your child can listen to themselves play. If you want better quality, though, you’ll need one.
Finally, you will need a microphone. If your child plays an acoustic guitar, you will want what’s called a large-diaphragm condenser. There are numerous brands out there, some of which are very affordable. If electric guitars that are connected to an amp, you’ll need a dynamic microphone. Likewise, there are many options and price points.
Next, Look at Software
The sheer number of different audio recording programs out there can seem overwhelming. Some of this software is quite expensive, while others are priced quite affordably or even have free versions. For example, if you have a computer made by Apple, it should have the Garageband software installed already. This recording tool works just fine. You may want to ask around for recommendations or do some online research to learn about this software and which options are good for beginners.
Other Accessories
Now that you have the tools you need, you can start recording your child when they play. There are a few non-essentials you can add, though, that may make the process a little easier. You may need a microphone extension cable and a stand to hold the mic. You might also want some headphones to help when editing the recording. If you already have a great pair, you don’t need to invest in anything new. You also don’t need the most expensive pair of headphones out there. You can always upgrade later.
Now it’s time to start recording! If you’re recording in your home, you’ll want to make sure everyone knows to be quiet while your child is playing. You may need to record later in the evening due to traffic or on the weekends. Try to find a time where nothing loud will get caught on the recording.
Ready to Start Lessons?
If your child is ready to begin learning how to play the guitar, we can help. Our teachers will come right to your home for every lesson, plus we offer virtual music lessons, too. However, our online music lessons are being taught by local music teachers with live lessons tailored to your child! Contact us today to learn more.
