February Student of the Month – Sachin Ravindran

This February, we’re excited to feature CCM guitar student, Sachin Ravindran, as our February 2023 Student of the Month! Sachin has been taking guitar lessons at CCM for around 4 years. He currently studies at CCM’s Redwood City location with Teacher Chris. Sachin is committed to daily practice and is always making consistent improvements!

Student of the Month – Pardis Aghatehrani
What is your name?
My name is Sachin Ravindran.

How old are you?
I am 8 years old.

Who is your teacher?
My teacher is Chris Mann.

How long have you been taking guitar lessons?
I have been learning guitar for almost 4.5 years.

What advice would you give to a guitar student just starting out at CCM?
Learning a new instrument requires a lot of practice. It might feel hard at first but keep practicing and you will see yourself getting the hang of it.

What piece are you looking forward to learning someday?
I am excited to start Suzuki book 5 soon and look forward to learning Allegro Vivace by Mauro Giuliani because it is a very long piece that has many eighth and sixteenth notes and I want to get better at playing faster pieces.

What is your favorite thing about playing guitar?
I really enjoy learning how to play arpeggios because they help me play a song faster and I find that fun. My favorite song is Allegro by M. Guiliani in Suzuki book 4.

What is your favorite food?
My favorite foods are tacos and pizza.

Do you have a pet?
I don’t have any pets but would like to have a dog.

Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?
In addition to guitar, I take swim lessons and play basketball.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be an athlete when I grow up, either a football or a basketball player.

What is your most memorable experience at CCM?
My first concert was my most memorable experience because it was on my dad’s birthday. I played Perpetual Motion from Suzuki book 1 and I remember being so nervous about performing in front of everyone. My dad sat with me until I performed and helped calm my nerves.

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Parent Spotlight – Madhavi Ravindran

Regarding guitar instruction, what are you most proud of your child accomplishing?
Sachin has gained a lot of confidence when he plays guitar and performs. I am proud that he has a positive attitude when it comes to tackling hard pieces and is always willing to put in the extra effort to fix his mistakes and perfect a song.

What advice would you give a new parent starting in the program?
I know getting your child to practice regularly can be a bit stressful and tedious, but it has been an additional way for my son and I to bond. Although I did not learn an instrument growing up, I love music and have learned so much about guitar through Sachin. So much so that I am equally excited about the next piece he is learning and that makes him more motivated to practice.

Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?
Music, in any form, has always been something my husband and I wanted our kids to learn since there are so many benefits to child development. When Sachin was a baby he always gravitated towards the guitar in his toddler music lessons or at home with his toy musical instruments. He really enjoyed being goofy on the guitar and serenading his sisters that we decided early on to start formal guitar lessons.