Darby Music

Some of the lesson materials include books (methods, theory, song books), sheet music to songs of the student's choice, plenty of blank staff paper, and a plain notebook. All students are encouraged to keep all of their loose-leaf pages in one folder or three-ring binder. A half-inch or one-inch three-ring binder is ideal. You may opt to use three-hole punched clear sleeves that contain loose-leaf paper.

Additional materials that you can use in lessons will be determined after you come up with short-term and long-term goals and after Dr. Darby establishes your general learning style. This generally occurs during the early stages of lessons. Updates, including new materials, will be added as lessons progress and after fine-tuning your goals and objectives.

When it is necessary, you will be informed of which method books or additional source material you will need in lessons. If you come across any materials on your own that you would like to use, you are welcome to bring them to lessons. If Dr. Darby finds them beneficial for use within lessons, then they will be worked into the lesson process.

Several materials often cover any of the following topics:
1. Various styles of music.
2. Techniques (particularly those that benefit the music of your interest).
3. Reading notes and music in general.
4. Methods of coordination specific to your instrument.
5. Playing alone (solo) and with others (ensembles).

You will need all of the lesson materials - specific to your instrument - that are listed in this site. Please bring these materials to lessons.

There will be additional materials that you will need later on in lessons after you have achieved some of your goals.

You will need to obtain your own print or copy of sheet music. Please do not bring poorly transcribed internet-based sheet music to lessons (especially "TAB-only" transcriptions (for guitar/bass)).

You can find most sheet music at either a local music store or available for purchase on a reliable website. Amazon.com is a good online source. Some local music stores in the Champaign, Illinois area include The Music Shoppe, Corson Music, CV Lloyde Music Center, Skins & Tins Drum Shop, Samuel Music, and often times you can find materials at book stores, including Barne's & Noble and Borders.

You might occasionally read off of sheet music that is written for other instruments. In these cases, you can either adapt what you play to accommodate for the music notation or you can use that sheet music as a general reference to what you are playing (as with chart reading). If that occurs, Dr. Darby will show you ways of reading that type of sheet music.

Extra materials might occasionally be made available through a website, though you will need to obtain your own printed copies of that material.

The following pages provide more specific lists of materials needed for lessons on your particular instrument.