Guitar Lessons in Emerson, NJ

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I began learning classical piano when I was around 9 years old. By the time I was 15, in addition to learning guitar and drums, I was the musical co-director, along with my sister, at the church my family attends. At 17 I switched focus to Jazz which I continued to study through university, Jazz piano being the concentration of my music major. In addition to this I've written and recorded several guitar compositions, as well written and music directed for musical theater productions both at school and professionally. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Violin Fiddle Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I'm a determined instructor in violin, guitar and composing and I love to write music as well as teach students to write. I believe firmly in positive reinforcement and a gentle approach. As a violinist I have played with the Hoff Barthelson Festival Orchestra and have played in venues such as a Purchase College Theatre and Carnegie Hall. As a singer songwriter and producer I have played at Bitter End, Sidewalk Cafe etc. Read More

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

Depending on the students goals, current aptitude, and innate abilities I'll select exercises, etudes, and methodologies from a variety of materials. I work from Hal Leonard's, and Berklee's libraries primarily, but most often use a smattering of tools, exercises, and excerpts that have worked for me and past students; creating a lesson plan over time that is better tailored to the student as an individual. One of the major obstacles when learning the guitar versus, say, the piano, are the immediate physical demands. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Student Favorites (for both piano and guitar): Pop Rock, Folk partial list samples: Star Wars themes Somewhere over the Rainbow (ukulele too) We Are the Champions Mission Impossible Classical Gas Star Spangled Banner (National Anthem; Jimi Hendrix electric guitar with distortion) The Entertainer (Ragtime) Taylor Swift Series Classical and Flamenco partial list samples: Malaguena Leyenda, Albeniz Spanish Romance J.S. Bach: Air on a G String Bouree, from Lute Suite No 1, Carl Fischer Prelude from Cello Suite #1 Minuet Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring Sleepers Awake Beethoven: Fur Elise Fifth Symphony Moonlight Sonata Ode to Joy Djorak: Largo (New World Symphony) Study in Am Carcassi Hall of the Mountain King, Edvard Grieg Christmas Carols and Hymns, e.g., Silent Night, Carol of the Bells GUITARS: Classical Acoustic Steel Electric Ukelele PIANO Guitar Techniques and Skills: Posture Sight-reading Standard Notation Treble Clef; note values, dotted notes, rests, syncopation Tablature Names of Strings and names of notes of entire fretboard Open Chords vocabulary and fingering Chord Vocabulary: Minor, Major, Diminished, Augmented, 6th, Seventh, Maj7, 2nds, 9ths, Flat5, Flat9, 11th, 13th Arpeggios Octaves, Fifths, all Intervals Barred Chords (Full, Half, Two-Thirds, One-Third Bar vocabulary and Left Hand Fingering (All Keys) Cross-over fingering Finger per fret rule Finger per string rule Ladder Principle (Left Hand fingering) Positions (1-10): Strumming patterns for 2/4, , 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8 Time Signatures Fingerpicking patterns for 2/4, , 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8 Time Signatures Right Hand 3 and 4 finger simultaneous chord strike Rest strokes Free Strokes Flamenco Strumming variations Rasgueado Flat and plastic fingerpicking Harmonics, false harmonic, ping harmonics Tambora Snare sound Bongo effects String bending Left Hand damping Vibrato Tremolo Palm muting String snapping Left hand chord muting Righthand fretboard slapping percussion effects Glissando Hammer-ons, Pull-offs (Slurs) Power chords (Rock) Major, Minor, Pentatonic Scales, sharps, flats, accidentals Pizzicato Vocal accompaniment Chord progressions, deceptive cadence Improvisation Music Theory Songwriting Producing Concert/Recital Performance Presentation Skills/Mike Techniques Pro Tools Recording Software. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe that it's important to have heard a wide breadth of the kind of music that you might be interested in learning. As a jazz guitarist, and as a student of classical composition, it has been drilled into my head by scores of teachers (no pun intended!) that careful listening is the first (and most important) step in the process of learning. I would go home from guitar lessons in high school with handfuls of CDs, and feel that it is important to pass on a knowledge of the history of a given kind of music, whether it's afro-cuban jazz, R&B, classical, western swing, or prog rock! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I teach with a positive attitude and lots of encouragement. Why? Because this is meant to be a safe space for learning your instrument, whatever your age or current skill level. I am trained to find any area where you feel uncomfortable playing or learning and find new and better ways to help you get exactly what you want to play under your fingertips. I make sure that no matter what we do or where we go in the lesson, you get a playing victory every single time you show up! Read More