Guitar Lessons in Fox River Valley Gardens, IL

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For young, beginning students, I typically start with teaching basic playing technique and note reading through simple songs, in order to ensure the student has a grasp of the fundamentals of playing and reading. After this point, I introduce chords and scales and more advanced songs, in order to further develop the student's playing and reading capabilities. From this point, I try to incorporate the student's personal musical interests into their lessons, fusing their own interests with methods of further developing their technical capabilities. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching experience dates back to 2009, as I began teaching private lessons part-time 11 years ago, and have been consistently teaching students in my home studio for the last 4 years. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the key points I like to emphasize for younger students, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for the instrument. I've also found that a combination of classical and modern music can go a long way in helping students enjoy the guitar and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

Lesson materials are customized based on each student's individual goals. I use a combination of tried and true books along with materials that I have created over my 16 years of teaching. Here is a quick list of some of the books I use: General Guitar Skills - Progressive Guitar Method, A Modern Method for Guitar, Melodic Rhythms for Guitar Jazz Guitar - Jazz Harmony on the Guitar, Approaching the Guitar, Jazz Conception for Guitar, The Brazilian Guitar Book Classical Guitar - Pumping Nylon, 100 Graded Classical Guitar Studies, The Library of Guitar Classics, The Solo Lute Works of J.S. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Ukulele Music Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I have loved teaching ever since I was young. Both of my parents were educators before retiring, and whether it was math or science, I’ve always enjoyed seeing the lightbulb go off in my students. I feel as a teacher, it is vital to focus first on the foundations that will later create more success, especially those that are necessary for truly understanding that instrument. Once those are established, I then focus on weaknesses, where practice and diligence become important. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Double Bass Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I got my start in the experimental Minneapolis music scene as an adolescent in the early 2000's, the spirit of which I carried with me to Oberlin, OH. I got my Bachelors of Music from the conservatory there, where I designed my own major in Contemporary Bass Performance. The major allowed me to pursue my interest in Jazz, Classical, Computer Music and composition, extended techniques, and historical performance. In addition to my studies, I have toured internationally with the Oberlin Orchestra and several other groups, and have released seven albums of my own material. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

The students long-term goals shape the curriculum. Its important to keep them excited about the material, especially if theyre new to music. Ive found the most effective way to do so is to show how good technique and basic theory apply to music theyre already listening to. Eventually, students see common threads between different styles and genres. Ideally, students will walk away with more eclectic musical preferences. Equally important is to trace a style back to its roots. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar

I would teach my students the basic notes of guitar reading. Once I have fully got my students into guitar reading notes I would then teach them the principals of chord structure and reading chord structure. I would also have them make a plan of what type of song each student would be into and how each and every one of them are going to apply it when playing it. Read More