Guitar Lessons in Ellicott City, MD

Instruments: Guitar

I utilize every instruction manual possible as well as my own experience from 15 years of teaching in the classroom. I am able to differentiate for students with special needs that include developmental delay, accommodation, honors, and gifted. I specialize in classroom instruction as well as private lessons. Depending on student needs and wants, I tailor a specific learning plan to help students progress beyond current skill levels. I make every effort to give students experience in new genres and reinforce knowledge in familiar genres. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar

Students are taught basic reading,fingering technique, and rote memorization, but are also encouraged to learn to play by ear. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Firstly, I teach the student the anatomy of the guitar and how to tune it, along with how to hold a pick. After that, I start teaching students how to identify notes on the fretboard. When they have a good grasp on that, I start to teach the basic modes, such as the major, minor, pentatonic, blues, lydian, mixolydian, and dorian modes, and while they are learning these, I give them exercises that use these modes to increase the student's mechanical skill, such as going up and down the scales in patterns of three/four/etc. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar

I find my greatest joy in sharing music! I'm currently working on a Professional Jazz Guitar Certificate from the Berklee Academy of Music Online, but I have been studying as many genres as I am able to over the years. I love performing and having jam sessions with my friends, and I love meeting new musicians! I was performing in Southern Maryland but recently moved around the D.C area to begin my professional teaching career. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I never want to pressure or overwhelm a student with too much information or expectation, because instead of the instruction being seen as a challenge, it is interpreted as an unenjoyable command, and that discourages the student from practicing to meet their goals, instead of motivating and inspiring them. What I find works best is relating lessons to popular current music, further exploring the bridge of dynamics that make up the songs that the student enjoys. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Acoustic Guitar

I had an opportunity to start teaching early as a student leader in my high school music program and continuing into college. I've found that my students have a much higher level of success when they are encouraged to practice regularly at home. I use classical repertoire to build techniques across styles and modern music to keep students engaged. If they aren't enjoying themselves, I'm not doing something correctly. I encourage students to enter recitals and competitions as well as create their own original material. Read More