Guitar Lessons in Mercer Island, WA

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Acoustic Guitar

When working with younger children, I use the Children's progressive method for guitar and for the older students I use the Hal Leonard guitar method books 1, 2 and 3. As my students progress, I supplement the lesson with songs that my students enjoy and want to learn. I also focus on ear training to help students musically hear what they are playing. Whether it's voice, guitar, ukulele, trumpet or recorder, hearing the music inside and being able to internalize the music is very important to becoming a well rounded musician. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have honed my skills as a player, a composer and an arranger during my time there, especially in the fields of Jazz, Latin Jazz, Rock, Pop and Funk. I have been taking on students for the past five years and have developed a fun and yet thorough approach to the world of music, whether you just want to learn a specific song, better your technique or you want to further your develop other skills like sight reading and musical theory. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

As a teacher there's not a greater gift but to see students, specially younger students, progressing on their instruments and get better over time. To see younger students develop a passion for music is truly one of the greatest gifts you can give them. I believe the student receives the most value when their instruction is effective and rapid in helping them attain their goals. As a result, I formulate individual lesson plans tailored specifically to each student to help them reach their goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Bass Guitar Euphonium Tuba

Beginning piano students who are children will begin with the Faber and Faber lesson books which slowly progress the student through techinque and rhythmic exercises built into easy memorable songs. After building a strong base of fundementals I will the begin to introduce and teach songs the student wishes to learn alongside traditional literature to continue the technical progress. Brass lessons of all ages begin with Emory Remmington's Warm Up Studies and initially focus on production of tone, and slide/valve techinque. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My motto is my students create their own lesson. I formulate lesson plans off of the styles of music you are most interested in. If my student has a more "just for fun" attitude, the lesson will inevitably be a more light hearted feel. If the student would like to focus on more technicalities, that as well is a different approach. However, I do have a more structured plan for younger students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums

I am a very hands-on teacher. We do lots of improvisation and call and response games and sometimes I turn on a record or even bring a guitar to jam with the student. Playing drums is a very visceral, tactile excersize, and I often tell students, "That right there,that is how it's supposed to sound! Memorize that feeling and try to recreate it everytime." I am also a huge advocate of having students listen to as much music as possible. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method introducing them to simple single string melodies that aid in teaching them how to read in open position. Once the student has progressed and has a good foundation with the basics, I begin to incorporate more intricate rhythms and chords and eventually move them on to learning riffs and short songs that will help them meet their own individual goals. Read More