Guitar and Improvisation Lessons in Kingston, NY

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Introduction: I'm a composer, guitarist, and educator with a strong presence in the NYC jazz and creative music scene. I run a record label (Iluso Records), and have had album releases and concerts positively reviewed by specialized media multiple times (Jazzwise, Avant Music News, etc). I strongly believe that music has the power to transform, to enhance the social, cultural and spiritual lives of people, and serve as a profound medium of personal expression. Apart from applying the pedagogical approaches common to standard music education, I also employ my own personal teaching philosophy that focuses on helping each student find his or her voice on the instrument, enabling them to question everything they learn and think for themselves. By dissecting the fundamentals of music and guitar into small reachable but challenging goals, I make learning an engaging and rewarding process. I am also regularly adapting my approach based on students progress. I believe this is a role to which I could bring great value, exercising and broadening my music teaching experience, and helping students develop their talents while nurturing their passion for music. Throughout my teaching career, I have been driven to help students achieve their very best. I take pleasure in inspiring my students to share my excitement and enthusiasm for guitar and music. I am very passionate about helping students achieve their goals and aspirations.

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Hired 8 times

1 employee

20 years in business

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Reviews

Exceptional 5.0

7 reviews

100%

Kenneth S.

Nov 3, 2015

I have been extremely fortunate to have found Alvaro as a guitar/music instructor. Within 2 minutes of meeting him you can see the passion for life and music flowing out of him. He has a natural gift of meeting you wherever you are on the path of your musical journey, and inspiring you to move forward. For years I have been stuck in the same old rut practicing the same old things, getting better, but it seemed so slowly. Within 3 lessons my playing, and understanding of music grew faster than 6 months of practicing on my own. Alvaro molds your lesson around who you are. He has a way of coaxing emotional content out of your playing. If you are looking for a guitar/music instructor look no further. Teachers of this caliber, talent, and demeanor are few and far between.

Gastn N.

May 30, 2015

I have received lessons from Alvaro in technique, improvisation and harmony many many times. In person and via skype. He goes directly to what its important and you never feel wasting your time in unnecessary subjects. An absolutely pro-musician an amazing teacher. You wont regret it. Cheers!

Rafa R.

May 30, 2015

I have been attending to Alvaro's lessons for more than a year by now. He is a hard worker, and also really talented. I've progressed a lot thanks to him and developed my skills to a point I never thought possible. I am Spanish and live in London. His Skype classes are really convenient for me. Totally recommendable. ----- Llevo yendo a clase con Álvaro por más de un año. Estoy encantado con su plan de trabajo, se esfuerza mucho por hacerme progresar, y la verdad es que he notado una gran mejora desde que atiendo a sus clases. Soy español pero vivo en Londres, motivo por el cual sus clases por Skype me vienen fenomenal. Totalmente recomendable.

Diane A.

Jun 5, 2015

Alvaro is an amazing teacher! His intuition and intellect are beyond measure, and he combines them to create an individualized approach for each student as an individual. The lessons I took from Alvaro were more productive than 99% of the other music lessons I have taken over my lifetime. And, he makes the lessons fun. He knows how to listen to you as his student, and he cares about your unique learning style. You could not go wrong choosing Alvaro as a teacher.

James L.

May 28, 2015

Hired on Thumbtack

I cannot say enough about Alvaro. First of all, I have been practicing on my own for about 4 years and have had experience with other teachers. I chose Alvaro to give me a strong musical base to become a professional musician, because he is by FAR the most knowledgable and experienced teacher I've ever encountered. And I shopped around with several teachers for a while! Alvaro is simply the best teacher I've come across for many reasons. First of all, his playing is sublime. But what makes Alvaro so exceptional are his personal attributes, especially his genuine care and passion to make you a better player. I came to him with goals, and not only did he meet me fully with my ambitions, but he encouraged me to go beyond them! He immediately began charting out a logical roadmap of HOW he will work with me to get there and also go beyond. He is someone you can absolutely trust to give you correct information and constructive, purposeful feedback. He cuts through the BS and conflicting information/opinions you find in the guitar universe, and tells you very simply WHAT is correct and WHY it is correct. If you are interested in guitar as a hobby or as a profession, you, like me, will want to be able to have faith in the instructor; otherwise, you could be wasting time learning from a teacher who could be making your playing worse! I wish I had found him sooner. The last thing I'll say is that he is extremely positive, down to Earth, supportive, and fun. You can tell big time that he loves to teach! He treated me as an equal, and I got none of that arrogant, superior, overly critical demeanor you find with so many teachers. Even when he gave me feedback, I felt confident and reassured in my ability. He is simply awesome. I highly, highly recommend Alvaro! -James

Guitar Lessons

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What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
- 4 lessons per month (1 hour per lesson) = $200 - Other lessons are: 30 minutes ($35), or 1 hour ($60).
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
On a first lesson, I like to get to know the student well enough so I can create the perfect lesson plan for him/her. I start by asking a series of questions about the student's background, taste in music, experience, and goals. Then I like to hear and watch the student play, so I can give well formed feedback to then proceed with the training.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
- BA (Honours) Jazz Guitar and Performance. Middlesex University, London, UK. - Music Production Diploma from Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA. - Certificate Degree in Guitar and Performance. 21st Century Music, Madrid, Spain. - Jazz Studies at Escuela Popular de Música, Madrid, Spain. Studied with Elliott Sharp, John Stowell, Jonathan Kreisberg, Chris Batchelor, Carl Orr, Nikki Iles, Stuart Hall, among many other fantastic educators. Worked with: Briggan Krauss, Michaël Attias, Jim Black, Joe McPhee, Ches Smith, Josh Sinton, Teun Verbruggen, Mike Pride, Ben Goldberg, Mike Bisio, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Karl Berger, Ingrid Sertso, Kim Cass, Chris Corsano, David Binney, Brandon López, Sarah Manning, Marc Urselli, Devin Gray, Lukas Koenig, Rick Parker, Andrew Drury, Rosie Hertlein, Eric Person, Lindsey Horner, Salomé Limón, Michael Caratti, Álvaro Pérez, Chris Packham, Matteo Pastorino, among many other remarkable musicians. I currently direct and teach the guitar program at Wingspan Arts.

Guitar and Improvisation Lessons in Kingston, NY

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