Guitar Lessons in Clearing, IL

Instruments: Guitar

I taught my first private lesson during my first year at Berklee. I immediately knew it was something I wanted to keep doing from that point forward. Alas, private teaching was not enough teaching to satiate me, so I quickly found a summer job that would enable me to get as many hours teaching as possible. That job was teaching full length courses in Rock Performance, Composition, and Songwriting classes for a summer program located on Yale's campus. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been teaching for a few years now and playing professionally for 7 years. I've been playing guitar for over a decade total, and over the years I have not only learned how to play any style of music, but how to teach each style individually as well. I started learning guitar on a nylon string acoustic and playing songs from my favorite punk or grunge bands. Eventually I got myself an electric guitar and amp and things really took off for me. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

In my curriculum, students start off by learning the basics of the guitar. This includes understanding the various parts, accessories and so forth. Along with those basics we work on tuning and pitch so that the student is comfortable with all aspects.As we move on students  learn how to build and maintain a rhythm. Learning how to play chords is essential, and we begin to go through chord progressions, as well as how to recognize and memorize the various chords.I then show students how to read tabs and write music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have developed a semi-structured method for beginning students, taking material from different books and then combining them. For advanced students, I trust they know more about what and how they want to learn than I, and can certainly help them work out their kinks! Regardless, I feel it's vital that students are exposed to a variety of different musical styles. Focusing solely on one hampers creativity, pigeon-holes you as a musician, and, at least in my travels, makes you an EXTREMELY boring individual. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I am passionate about music and its ability to change the lives of its players and listeners, and I aim to inspire this passion in my students by creating a positive, welcoming environment where students feel comfortable to ask questions and make mistakes, and are encouraged to push themselves to be the best players and writers they can be. I work with my students to help them reach their own goals as musicians, and act as a friendly, encouraging support system to aid them in their learning process. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Ukulele Recorder Euphonium French Horn Tuba Electric Guitar Djembe

The approach, overall, is to drive toward the student's goal. When someone wants to learn how to play an instrument well enough to play in a band or orchestra, I usually consider two needs - playing music and interpreting written music. These are basic parts of education, literally easy to define by achieving pages in etude books. In addition, though, there is a third component to meeting the set goal: writing music - a sensibility that you can create. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My first job at the age of 16 was as a beginning guitar instructor, and since then I have been a teacher for over 1000 students. My students have ranged from pre-literate 4 year olds learning the ukulele, to the middle aged working man looking to pick the guitar back up, to the retiree looking for a new hobby. I currently instruct over fifty students, in addition to my pre-k music classes of which I have over 100 students. Read More