JD Creative, Inc.

Introduction: My name is J. Howard Duff. I have been playing guitar and performing for 47 years and teaching the guitar for 12 of those years. My main focus is for the students to have fun while they learn the instrument. Most people, both young and old, have more than enough things that they have to do. Playing an instrument, especially the guitar, should not be added to that must-do list. When that happens, the student is not receptive. Learning the guitar and taking lessons should be on the "I want to do" list! My teaching method is based upon teaching basic, easy-to-learn skills and then tailoring the direction of the teaching to the musical likes of the student. People tend to learn faster if they are learning to play something that they like! I do not teach proper musical theory per se; meaning, I do not teach the music staff, reading music, etc. In the world of guitar teaching today, the chord chart and the identification of where the notes are on the guitar, not the staff, is what is important. Lessons are given in my studio which is located on Buckingham Plantation Road, Bluffton (the street that Haverty's Furniture is on the corner of by the Moss Creek light). Lessons are once a week, last 30 minutes and are $25 per lesson. Payment can be made each week or paid in advance for however long you wish. Rather than send the student home with just written diagrams and /or verbal instruction as to what to practice, I go a step further. If need be, I will record what the student did in the last lesson. I play and talk their way through it. I send these audio files via an email attachment to the student or the student's parents'. I do this because that list of "must dos" gets pretty long sometimes, and when the student picks up the guitar a couple of days after the lesson, they have forgotten what we did or what they need to practice. This takes a bit more time out of my evenings, but the results are well worth it to both the student and the instructor. Lastly, all the student needs is a guitar and the desire to learn. If in the case that the parent is concerned that the new student will want to continue lessons and does not want to go out and purchase a guitar until they are sure, I can provide a loaner guitar for two or three weeks. In addition, if a student or a parent needs help in picking out a guitar to purchase (as there are different sizes, types and price ranges of guitars), I am happy to help recommend what I think would be the best for the student.