Introduction: I am a performer, singer songwriter, producer, audio engineer, and guitar teacher and work out of my own music studio and practice space, so no matter what my students want to achieve, it's a grand musical experience.
"I want to make good citizens. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart." -- Shin'ichi Suzuki
I love and enjoy teaching acoustic, electric, and bass guitar and have been doing so for over 10 years. I also teach classical fingerstyle for classical sheet music for the guitar. I have taught many children and adults toward a level by which they are able to express themselves musically and reap the beautiful reward of creating music with their guitar and voice for a lifetime.
I have the equipment to get any student started (if they want to try a lesson or two before purchasing their instrument) and will come to your home.
I will charge an appropriate and feasible rate depending on a few factors -- driving distance, experience level of the student, and length of the lesson. I have lots of experience giving private lessons, and the optimal time range with respect to a student's attention is 30-45 minutes. I am willing try one-hour lessons, but students usually reach a "wall" around the 45-minute mark. We can surely discuss this prior to beginning the lessons.
There are several pathways that I lead my students along with respect to their learning the guitar.
I provide some of my students with instruction in sight-reading of classical guitar sheet music. The student and I focus on classical fingerstyle techniques as well as all aspects of each piece of classical guitar sheet music. This includes adhering to the pieces' given key and time signatures, dynamics, accents and ultimately executing the given piece of music with precision and distinct feeling.
Notable compositions studied include those of Bach, Sor, Tarrega, Carcassi, Guliaini, Carulli as well as pieces composed and arranged for other instruments from Mozart, Pachabel, Tchaicovsky, and more.
There is certain flexibility that is tailored towards the student's choice of music he or she would like to learn.
I also provide students the opportunity to learn songs of their choice. This can include reading guitar tabs, chord charts, lead charts, and still, sheet music. It is really up to the student, for I am able to teach one or all of these methods of learning songs. I have had students learn a vast array of styles, including Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Ed Sheerin, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Outkast, Macklemore, Bob Marley, Jonie Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Rascall Flatts, Earl Scruggs, Olde Crowe Medicine Show, Nirvana, Elliot Smith, Led Zeppelin, Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, The Beatles, just to name a few. Honestly, it's up to the student.
I have truly enjoyed teaching all kinds of music, and my students and I have had lots of success learning fun, easy, and challenging songs. This also includes the option for the student to learn the vocal melodies of these tunes!
Lastly, I am able to provide students the opportunity to write their own songs. This also includes writing vocal melodies and lyrics. This is the most popular mode of learning for my students thus far. Even my beginner students have been able to compose their own tunes using a few simple chords and some basics in rhythm and meter that I have taught them. Moreover, it is their idea for lyrical content and the mood of the song that really pushes their learning into an accelerated pace. From what I have observed in my students, songwriting, which includes singing, playing, and keeping time seems to be the most enjoyable, immersive, and rewarding avenue of learning music.
I look forward to future inquiries! I am extremely grateful to broaden students' intellect, creativity, and social skills with the gift of music.
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"Some people think music education is a privilege, but I think it is essential to being human."-- Jewel
"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something that we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." -- Billy Joel
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." -- Plato
"It is in music that many youthful hearts learn to love." -- Ricard
