Guitar Lessons in Merrionette Park, IL

Instruments: Guitar

I encourage students to develop their ears, by giving them ample of exercises and homework that will eventually help in ear training. I help them to setup a realistic goals for each week so that students can see their accomplishment by themselves. Music is not only about playing alone, its get more interesting and creative when played in duet or trio or even in a band. Since, I always learned playing by looking at other people live in front of me and jamming with them, I encourage them to learn from the person in front of them rather than just play at home in front of their computers. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet

I have been singing since I was 6, playing trumpet since I was 10, and I picked up guitar in my early 20's. I am now 49 and have taught voice, guitar, trumpet for over 7 years from my cozy home. I have been part of many musical ensembles (in many genres) in my 30 year career and have session work that's currently located in the Seattle Rock Roll museum. I have performed in varying capacities over 2,000 times in my career, and my emphasis is to help musicians prepare for live performances. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I began playing the guitar at age 11. I was fortunate enough to learn from one of the best guitar instructors in the state from a very early age. That extremely positive and influential experience was a key factor in my decision to make a living as a teacher. My professional performing and teaching career began at the age of 16. I taught lessons at a few local retail shops in the Dayton, Ohio area for about 3 years before I began working on my degree in guitar performance. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe in setting clear goals so that progress can be easily seen. I also focus on the music that the students are interested in, and work on getting them up to a level where they are able to play (at least part of ) some of their favorite songs. Each student requires a slightly different approach. For younger students I generally approach it from a wide variety of angles and have them focus on method books in addition to learning more practical skills like rhythm guitar and tablature reading. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Violin Mandolin Electric Violin Fiddle

My preferred method for very young students has been the Suzuki method, as I believe a well trained ear continues to be our best musical learning tool later in life as well. When students progress to reading, the full line of Suzuki books can of course be utilized, but it is very advisable to incorporate additional materials and techniques. The Kodaly method is also useful and even more traditional 'reading first' techniques can be used if requested. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

Depending on the age group of the student, my methods vary. With children, I will usually start by trying to gauge their musical interest and develop a strategy from there. Usually, this involves learning basic chord forms and progressions, until they are ready to start learning a bit of theory, and therefore how to solo. For adults, I simply ask them about their musical interests and tastes, and ask them what their ultimate goal is, and then set shorter goals to help achieve the ultimate goal. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

As a student of acoustic guitar, I was never more excited to learn a new piece of music the day of my lesson. I was very eager to learn. So as a teacher, learning from your students is also very important because their approach has to be handled appropriately. There are many ways to encourage a student. But understanding how to tailor a lesson is crucial to the growth of the student and development of their sound. Read More