Guitar Lessons in Hayes Valley, CA

Instruments: Guitar Voice Ukulele Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style flows from my teaching philosophy: Whole-heatedly meet a student where they are, and THEN, respectfully lead them to where you as the educator know that they need to go...Establishing a true RELATIONSHIP with a student, where they know that you have THEIR best interests in mind is absolutely fundamental. As in any relationship, trust and respect are essential, and establishing a firm foundation in those areas should be just as important as the academic and skill development aspects of teaching. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Hi everyone! My name is Cole and I've always had a great passion for music. In elementary school, I played violin and trumpet, later switching to baritone and euphonium in middle school. It wasn't until high school that I finally landed on guitar after my best friend bought me a cheap Stratocaster for my birthday. I graduated from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and a minor in Psychology back in 2022. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Organ Ukulele Electric Violin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar

I always start a lesson with a new student by assessing their current skill level. If the student already has a certain curriculum they are working on, I usually have them pick up from where they left off so I can see where we're at. Taking things into consideration like intonation, posture, dynamics, form etc., I either assign a new curriculum or continue on. My lessons usually consist of 3 books: a scale book, an etude book, and a leveled song book like the Suzuki method. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it is 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. By trying to find out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

There are many great method books out there for young students. Typically, I use whatever material the school provides, be it Standard of Excellence or Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. I like to incorporate other methods for more advanced students, such as the Conservatory Method by Jean-Baptiste Arban, Michael Davis's many offerings, and/or any of the great etude books out there. I feel it is best to use a well-rounded approach, especially considering the students needs as it pertains to their goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin

I like to start by teaching all of the students music theory before we play any instruments. In the real world, you cannot read a book properly if you do not know the "ABC's". I strongly believe the same goes with music. Once we learn the fundamentals of music theory, learning songs, and other instruments will become a lot easier. Once we have the music theory settled down, we will play books. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For the last thirty-plus years my passion has been music. I read magazine articles and books on music theory. I compile lessons from various sources, to create personalized lesson material for each individual student. Im currently taking advanced lessons myself, and teaching 2-5 students weekly. I have been writing, recording, studying, and performing music consistently, for over twenty years. I have intermittently taught private guitar lessons over the same time period. Read More