Guitar Lessons in Jackson Heights, NY

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginners to the guitar, bass or banjo I usually start with the basic notes and chord shapes. When they progress and for more advanced students, I introduce reading tab, music, scales and basic chord progressions. For advanced students I generally work with modes, finer technique and advanced sightreading, chordal and modal melodies. To work in practice exercises I typically bury them in pieces the student enjoys to better get the hang of them. 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 Drums Bass Guitar

As students all have different tastes and skill levels, it is important for me to really be perceptive to their specific needs and teach them only what I feel they will be able to digest but at the same time present a new challenge to them that can be fun. It is my priority to make the lessons relaxed and most importantly, enjoyable. Music is difficult, and takes a lot of work, but it can also be so gratifying and liberating at the same time, and that's what I want my students to understand. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My goal as a teacher is to avoid any type of dogmatic "one size fits all" curriculum.  I always want to know what music the student enjoys and build my lesson plans based on their tastes.  Chords can be physically challenging for beginners so I like to work with single-note melodies early on so that the student isn't quickly discouraged.  Learning chords becomes the medium-term goal.  As for the long-term, I will then use specific songs as examples for how music theory works in the context of their favorite bands. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Classical Guitar

New York city composer and guitarist Juan is a native of Ecuador raised in Colombia. He immigrated to Miami at age 20 to escape the political climate of the late 90’s, and resides in Manhattan since 2008. Juan’s music blends elements from his unique life experiences, having been raised as an only child by a single mother in a bohemian environment. He was a recording and touring rock guitarist in Colombia, and he has studied East Asian music extensively, inspired by interaction with musicians and artists in China, Japan, and Indonesia. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

MUSIC EXPERIENCE The Last Class, Cover Band, New York, NY September 2021-Current ● Lead and rhythm guitar and backup vocals ● Co-founded and manage gig booking, practice scheduling, setlist creation, general operations, and social media ● Played several venues across New York City including The Bowery Electric, The Delancey, Chelsea Music Hall, City Winery, and Red Lion ● Sold out every venue and nicknamed Guitarden by the people Union College Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band, Schenectady, NY March 2018-June 2019 ● Lead and rhythm guitar ● Played classic jazz songs as well as modern classics The Cutoffs, Originals/Cover Band, Baldwinsville, NY September 2014-August 2015 ● Lead/rhythm guitar, bass guitar, and lead/backup vocals ● Wrote and performed several originals Guitar Lessons, Instructor, Baldwinsville, NY September 2014-August 2015 ● Taught a novice guitar player and took him from simple chords to complex melodies and reading tablature ● Lead him through songs of his choosing while instilling core guitar fundamentals ● Taught in-home, one hour per week as an independent instructor MUSICAL COURSEWORK ● Music Theory 1: Diatonic Harmony - Traditional harmony and modulation through writing and listening ● Music Theory 2: Chromatic Harmony - Composition and performance of intermediate music theory ● Seminar: Early Music - Listen, analyze, discuss, and write the music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance ● Baroque Music - Study of opera and sacred and secular music by Bach and Handel ● Music and the Holocaust - Analysis of music writing during World War II and its impact ● East Asian Music Cultures - Live performance, discussion, and composition of East Asian Music Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele

For every student, I initally assess why they are taking lessons and what their goals are. Together we create a plan to acheive those goals.  For young beginners, I like the FJH guitar series. It was written by guitar educators. I also teach the student to play fun songs and tunes to supplmement the books.  For teens and adults, the path depends on their goals, which aren't always in a book. Read More