Musika Quick Stats
23 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Lesson Special - Up to 20% OFF! Get Started Now with a Risk-Free Trial!
Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Guitar lessons in Gilbert . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Guitar Banjo Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I began teaching at the age of 15 at the Willowdale Conservatory of Music where I had the opportunity to tutor underclassmen as a way of paying my tuition. I managed to put myself through college as a single parent by teaching guitar and banjo out of my home and contracting with local community centers and schools for guitar classes. I moved to Arizona in 1987 to accept a teaching fellowship at ASU West while completing my Masters degree. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Trombone Clarinet Synthesizer Ukulele Recorder Euphonium Keyboard Acoustic Guitar
I feel like I've been a musician my whole life, starting when I was about 8 or 9 years old and singing in my first Barbershop Quartet and later joining the Chorus. My voice has been my main instrument and I have had the pleasure and challenge of singing in choruses and lead roles in musicals and operas, as well as many solos in major choral works, like the Bach Mass and Mozart's Requiem as well as works by Benjamin Britten. Read More
Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Euphonium Mallet Percussion Music Acoustic Guitar
For junior high and beginning students I like to go over proper embouchure, rhythm counting and creating a solid sound. After that's established I like to get started on technique exercises, scale practice and practice methods for their own benefit outside of lessons. The junior high students will continue to start learning the circle of 5ths, both student levels will work out of the Standards of Excellence Green book or Red book. Read More
Instruments: Guitar
The way I have always approached teaching is the same way i learned music, to try and make each concept make sense by breaking down and relating basic key points of playing and improvising to each other. For example, I like to emphasize breaking down chords and the related scales in an easy to undertand and logical way. I emphasize the importance of phrasing and shaping chords while using such shred techniques as alternate picking, legatto, sweep picking and tapping. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar
I'm a passionate and motivated instructor who loves working with students and sharing my love of music. In 2007, I graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Guitar Performance. I have performed all over the countryside with bands that play anything from jazz - pop - rock. I can teach any style of music. My primary instrument is guitar with a concentration in jazz. I have extensive knowledge in music theory, jazz theory, and music literacy. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Every student learns a different way and I always take the first lesson to evaluate what the student is passionate about. Some students want to get straight to playing songs and some want to learn sheet music first. I am comfortable with starting anyway they need. If the student starts to get bored after a few lessons I try and bring in new toys related to the instrument such as a new kind of cymbal or a slide guitar to try and spark some inspiration again! Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin
I do my best to tailor my style to each students specific needs and goals. In general, I am a very laidback and patient teacher. My students recieve clear and achievable goals at the end of each of their lessons to work on while they are practicing during the week. This enables students to be able to really see their own progress as the practice. I also believe in music lessons being an enjoyable experience for students so I include students in making the decision for what pieces they would like to learn. Read More
Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
For Classical Guitar, I use Christopher Parkening Books, Frederick Noad's books, my old teacher's song books, technique method books like Pumping Nylon, and A road to Virtuosity.
For Jazz I use the Real Book, Transcriptions of solos, actual recordings via cd and the interwebs, I have people make compositions for solos and analyze them, we utilize singing, fun improvising with me, and a host of other methods.
I also employ rhythmic study books, such as Polyrhythms: a musician's guide to learning polyrhythms, and many other books that have faded cover's but have you work on articulations which are generic but effective.
In general, there's a book for everything.
If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have two degree's, both in Music Performance; one held as an Associates, and then the other as a Bachelor's.
I chose them because I was genuinely interested in music as a field of study when given the option for career pathway's. After taking a few tests as well, they suggested that it would be a good fit for me. The rest is history so to speak, but that is really a cop out. I have fallen in love with the field of music. I am super passionate about it, and you will soon find out what I mean in person!
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most thankful for having an exception set of trained ears. It's funny, I don't have perfect pitch, but my sense of relative is so reliable that you give me one note and I can figure out the rest. I also have broken through very many barriers to being expressive with my instruments. This takes time to cultivate, and so I am thrilled that now I can transfer those skills to any instrument, or even ideas in general!
I know it sounds cheesy, but even getting my degree's is a wonderful thrill as well. When long term goals are achieved, I have found that those results propel me forward to reach even higher ground.
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
I think developing a real sense of musicality plus technique is the pinnacle of virtuosity. What I mean is that technique can take years to achieve, but what good is that if you can't express deep emotions through the music? Likewise, if you have lots of instinctive musical potential lurking about, and about 80% of your technique is unrefined and not serving you needs, your reults will suffer and this can serve a means of discouragement. It may sound odd at first, but the hardest things to master on any instrument, let alone an instrument such as a classical guitar in which you are the sole orchestra player, will be the things that are non-tangible: your mind, your ability to listen, your energy, your focus, and your joy. Without those, technique and musicality are but a lofty dream.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
Once again, this is an unorthodox answer, but it's true. I chose it because I wanted to move up to a more complete instrument after learning studying the drums in high school for 4 or so years. When asked to audition for a music program, I simply bought a guitar and did my best. The professors that were there just accepted me because of potential. Well, I ended learning how to sing with a striking keen aural accuracy, play piano, and then later saxophone and trumpet.
Suffice to say that I love being able to experience music in different ways. My next project will be to learn piano even better so that I can graduate from that into a a full fledged organ player. Bam, full circle with being able to use all 4 limbs again! Such exciting times!
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
This may sound slightly unorthodox, but I was inspired by my peers. When I saw them play fancy on the drum set and move me with their rhythms, or come up with amazingly fresh improvisations right off the cuff, to wowing me with their ideas and charisma, they were truly my first inspirations. When I got to college, my music theory professor made a huge impact on me. That theory professor, David Shaw, was so full of enthusiasm when he taught that he really helped opened the door for me to learn from subsequent teachers with curiosity to see how far in depth I could take things. Long story short, I still haven't reached the bottum.
23 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Guitar lessons in Gilbert to students of all ages and abilities.
We'll then reach out to the teachers for you.
Schedule the risk-free trial lesson directly with the teacher.
Continue with that teacher or try someone else.