Mary Lord

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About

Knowledgeability. I studied not only the guitar and lute at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and at the Richard-Strauss-Conservatory in Munich Germany, but lots of Ear Training and Harmony as well, in fact I got highest achievements in those, because I didn't want to be just another guitarist who can't see past their own instrument. I also did lots of masterclasses with guitarists and lutenists. Versatility. Although I'm classical trained, I love teaching the basics for folk guitar too. I love what I do and want my pupils to do the same. Seeing pupils flourish. They come with so many misconceptions, but I haven't met a hand or fingers that couldn't play guitar well. You just have to follow the basic rules, and off you go! To know is to love, and you will learn all about technique so you can play fast and furious, or slow and gentle, or anything in between - whatever the music dictates. I'm all about expression, and knowing what it is in the music that you want to express, and having the technique to do it. And ensemble guitar playing: I've published some transcriptions that got very good write-ups.

Overview

Hired 47 times

Background checked

1 employee

35 years in business

Business hours

Sun8:00 am - 9:00 pmMon8:00 am - 9:00 pm

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Top Pro status

Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

2018

2017

2016

Services offered

Music types

Band

Vocals

Guitar

Piano

Event type

Wedding ceremony

Music genres

Covers

Other

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, responsiveness, and professionalism.

Excellent 4.9

34 reviews

91%

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Chien H.

Jul 6, 2017

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Hired on Thumbtack

I have been taking lessons with Mary for 5 months now, playing classical guitar with her once a week. When I was looking for a teacher, I wanted someone who could help me understand music theory and technique better, since I'm like a lot of guitarists (self-taught) with a lot of folk songs and pop songs under my belt. I've always had a dream of playing better. So when I came to her, I had high expectations about progressing past my current talent level. What I like most about Mary is that she seems to remember why I picked her in the first place. She never lets me slack on my technique, and she is always teaching me something new about reading and interpreting music, music theory, and she has a way of making her love of music infectious. Whereas I originally started to see her in order to fill a void in my knowledge, she regularly expands past where I'd expect, teaching me about what was popular in the Renaissance, how different famous masters play, and just generally being a great way to get exposure to various ways to prepare for and play classical music. I am a working adult, and she has also been a perfect teacher for me from a convenience standpoint...she has been extremely accommodating of my busy life, she's flexible, and understanding and can usually reschedule me. She lets me film her play, she listens to my recordings, she wants to hear what I'm thinking about when I play. Mary lives up to her billing, she is a knowledgeable teacher, who more than anything, always helps me learn something deeper about the music than I expected. She expects me to work and learn, and has the patience and sense of humor to make it fun and enjoyable, despite the challenges that come with a hard piece and forming new habits. She is certainly making me a better player, and I always look forward to my time with her.

Guitar Lessons (for adults)

Michael P.

Apr 2, 2016

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Hired on Thumbtack

I’ve been studying guitar with Mary for about two months now, and I can’t say enough good about her. tl;dr: Mary will understand and support your goals for guitar playing, and she is beyond capable of helping you reach those goals. First, Mary is very supportive and cognizant of my goals as a musician. If I had a song in mind that I wanted to learn, I’m absolutely sure she would help me learn it. As a beginner, however, I don’t have anything in mind and happily play the tunes she gives me. Speaking of tunes, she has so many on hand. Every week she gives me new sheets with songs that cover the technique we work on. Mary’s extensive lesson repertoire certainly helps fulfill my goal of expanding my musical vocabulary to more artists and genres, all while developing my skills on guitar. Similar to her supportiveness, Mary is also very understanding yet insistent. As a busy young adult, on average I work eight to ten hours a day and follow a daily workout regimen to boot. While my goal is to practice guitar at least 60 minutes per day, on many days I don’t have time and fall short. Despite less-than-ideal practice, Mary accommodatingly works around the progress I make (or don’t make). At each lesson I can consistently expect help with last week’s trouble areas in addition to new material — Mary sure likes to press on. Can you blame her? There’s technique to master and songs to learn! :) On her teaching style, Mary is very creative. She customizes her lessons to the individual, and — I really like this about her — she tells me exactly what she wants to cover at the next two or three lessons. This way I know what she’ll teach, and I have the opportunity to discuss what I want to learn (e.g. scales, barre chords, etc.). With decades of guitar study under her belt, she can teach anything. By “teach” I mean make you really understand. She has countless analogies, anecdotes, and demonstrations for helping you learn or improve any technique. She’ll try things until it “clicks” for you. Teaching creativity like Mary’s is an invaluable skill that will undoubtedly help any student she has. To end on a light note, Mary truly is a spectacular musician. Her playing is effortless and always a joy to hear. She makes even the beginning things I’m working on sound musical and fun to play. Mary is a gem of a teacher, and I can’t recommend her enough.

Guitar Lessons (for adults)

Weiping Q.

May 6, 2018

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Hired on Thumbtack

Mary is absolute a guitarist with passion. Profound music background and sincere attitude made her stand out among all the other guitar teachers. My 9-year-old daughter is pretty introverted, but Mary made her feel comfortable. In my daughter’s words, she is “nice, funny and good at guitar playing”. And she is not just “nice” to young student, she is strict. She wouldn’t let go her standards, which makes me, as a parent, feel assured. Very happy that I found her as my daughter’s very first guitar teacher!

Details: 6 - 9 years old • Yes, can read music staff • No formal training • Acoustic • Classical • Yes, the student has an instrument • 30 minutes • As soon as possible • Ready to hire the right teacher now • I travel to the guitar teacher

Guitar Lessons

Mikhail T.

Nov 3, 2019

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Hired on Thumbtack

I am an absolute beginner with guitar and music in general and Mary is exactly what I was looking for. She does an excellent job identifying bad habits in my technique as soon as I start exhibiting them and provides plenty of directions on how to rectify them. It appears, that she genuinely cares about my long-term progress since she does not let me get away with even seemingly minor mistakes in my technique that will cause problems for me later. She provides me with plenty of exercise notes that give the direction to my practice sessions and teaches me how to read sheet music notes. After meeting her I quickly realized that I was dealing with a person who dedicated her whole life to music and I feel very lucky to have come across a professional of such caliber as Mary.

Details: 26 - 44 years old • No formal training • No, cannot read music • Acoustic • Classical • Yes, the student has an instrument • 60 minutes • At the pro’s location

Guitar Lessons

James L.

Nov 25, 2018

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Hired on Thumbtack

Mary is one of the best guitar teachers I have tried out. She has rigorous guitar training and meticulous attention to details. She is kind and fun to work with. All these reflect in the classes I had with her. She corrects my posture and hand positions constantly, and writes down all things I need to pay attention to during the classes. She has oceans of knowledge in guitar and music. Two thumbs up for Mary!

Details: 45 - 64 years old • No formal training • No, cannot read music • Acoustic • Classical • Yes, the student has an instrument • 30 minutes • I travel to the guitar teacher

Guitar Lessons

Credentials

Background Check

Maria Lord

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
$1 a minute for lessons, first three lessons $5 extra,solo only, if more than one pupil (e.g. myself and sister), must be included in your original request under messages and be for 60 minutes, no discounts, $125/hr for performing background music, $300 for wedding ceremonies
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Getting to know them and what they want to learn, then supplying them with the knowledge and music.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Many masterclasses and concerts. Performing and teaching degrees from the Richard-Strauss Conservatory in Munich, Germany. Royal Academy of Music, London: Renaissance Lute: Div. V With Distinction, Guitar: Div. V With Merit, Harmony and Aural Training: Div.V

Mary Lord

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