Guitar Lessons in Northwood, MD

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Clarinet

I find that the most important thing about teaching, especially teaching music, is finding what your students are interested in and getting to know them on a personal level. As a teacher, I have to learn about the unique learning styles my students have, their individual needs, and their goals and dreams as a musician in order to best teach them. Praising accomplishments and encouraging public performances is also very important as a teacher, as for the student, that positive feedback will drive them towards more success in the future. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Bass Guitar

I have several tools that I use to get students playing music.  One of my favorite tools is the Music Flashcards made by Bastien.  Rather than teaching notes using an acronym like "every good boy deserves fudge" to teach notes, I use landmarks which get students to see the relationship between notes and allow them to read music with fluidity and ease.  I pair these flashcards with Music Tree book 1 and feel that they compliment each other very well. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar

Lesson style is fresh, fun and includes an objective of what the student can expect to accomplish by the end of that lesson. I am enthusiastic and like students to come away from every lesson feeling like they have something to show! When lesson begins, we get right down to it. After older material is reviewed, we begin on the current lesson. Afterward, I ask my students to write down their assignment in their Assignment Log. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar Organ Music Keyboard

Later on, students will learn to read music in-depth--not merely replicating what's represented on the page exactly as-is, but with a broader and deeper understanding of the movements and relatativities taking place within the music, while building an ability (and feeling of mobility) to experiment with re-harmonization, substitutions, and alterations of all sorts. Especially at beginner levels, students often are flooded with an endless stream of lifeless representations, scales, formalities, technicalities, and special names, and as a result, their interest becomes stifled. "Music" comes to mean a drab exercise with an authority figure instead of the rich, profound, imaginative, vibrant, feeling, potent, and meditative social being that it can be. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Cello Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Every lesson plan I make is customized to a student's interests, learning needs, and age. I combine a combination of technique focus and repertoire learning in each lesson. As students progress, their plans are updated to reflect their growth as a musician. I like to involve students directly in the goal planning process and keep them regularly updated about where they are on meeting their goals. Furthermore, teaching sustainable, healthy, and effective practice techniques is a core part of how I teach. Read More

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

Children often encounter obstacles with regard to motor-skill development issues (i.e., usually their hands don't work well enough under the age of ten to develop many of the skills required to play the guitar) so a more general musical exploration is often called for. This can involve singing when the child is open to that. With teenagers and adults, I like to discover what their interests and goals are and tailor the lesson in accordance. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar

In addition to teaching in the public schools, Mr. Jesse W. has been playing guitar and bass professionally in the local funk band Tha Funkahol-x, and has performed for audiences with George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars. In undergraduate school, he studied composition and arrangement with Ricky Ford, internationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist, at Brandeis, and performed in the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble under his direction. He Currently studies piano under world-renowned concert pianist Reynaldo Reyes at Towson University. Read More