Guitar Lessons in New Britain, PA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I have an open approach to teaching guitar, and encourage students to utilize knowledge obtained through my lessons in whatever context they prefer as opposed to gearing them towards a certain style of playing. Much of my own teaching was based in jazz, but I have managed to find myself utilizing much of what I was taught playing in a heavy, shoegazey rock band. The preferences of my students are important to me, and while setting goals for progress is important, it is important to me that students learn at their own pace and move forward on their own initiative. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Synthesizer Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I like to set realistic goals for students to achieve. The most important thing is that they develop a love and passion for the language of music and learn to communicate through it! This takes a lot of time and can be frustrating at first so I often have students focus more on completing tasks than on how long they're playing every day. This helps them maintain a healthy relationship with music where they feel like they're achieving something right from the beginning! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar

My strategy generally is to focus on fundamentals as well as effective strategies for practicing at home. I have found that most improvement happens at home in your living room on your 3rd or 4th practice session of the week, which is one of the most fulfilling feelings in the world. Lessons then become a pit stop for encouragement, updating goals and strategies, and learning a little of the why behind the what (music theory). Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Music Keyboard Electric Guitar

As I said above, my biggest priority is to guide the student on their journey to discovering the music that they would like to play and create. When I was first learning, it was a struggle to unlock my own creativity and become daring enough to play my own music in front of others. Luckily, I had amazing instructors who helped me break out of my shell and find my confidence. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Synthesizer Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Acoustic Guitar

For my beginning piano students, I emphasize the twelve major and minor scales with proper fingering, first one octave and then two octaves. These exercises strengthens fingers and create more familiarity with the keyboard. I use the book, Level 1 The Older Beginner Piano Course by James Bastien and the companion book, Musicianship for the Older Beginner. I have seen results when these books are used in tandem. The student increases in technique and start to master music theory simultaneously. Read More

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

I don't think there is any one method book or instructional DVD that will give you everything you need. Even if an educational resource is extremely well done, it will still need to be tailored and digested in a certain way for each student. I generally use Mel Bay's Guitar 1 - expanded edition. While working with this book, there are additional materials such as exercises, concepts, and musical ideas often inserted at key moments. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

For any student that I teach, I always start by finding out the student's primary motivation and interests and then I develop the teaching style appropriate to their needs. Often times, beginning adult learners are simply interested in learning some songs so beginning with chord progressions to build up confidence and have them playing something recognizable within a few short lessons. For beginner students that are interested in theory, I typically start with the Major, Minor and Pentatonic Scales and then go into Chord Progressions in various Keys. Read More