Guitar Lessons in Paradise Valley, AZ

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

The most effective teacher is a friend. As a friend, I can use the most effective teaching techniques to help them progress. Every student is different in their pace, goals, and passions. I love learning my student's musical dreams and fighting with them to accomplish them! Setting realistic goals to both encourage and challenge a student is a core to my teaching. Without those goals, learning to play an instrument remains an overwhelming task! Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I like to see where each student is in terms of what there level and understanding of music is. I like to know what your goals are and adapt my style to help you achieve them. I will usually break up each lesson into 3 parts. Chord theory, scale theory, and technique. The technique section can cover several different playing techniques as well as an emphasize on the ones your most interested in. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

For beginning students, I would like to start with knowing exactly where they are at with guitar; how to hold it, how to tune it, how strum it. Once the student understands those fundamentals, I like to start on open chords with easy fingerings (usually learning chords is very exciting since you can hear what you are accomplishing). With that, I would like to get to know the student and understand what the student wants out of the lessons; what they like to listen to, what they want to learn, what is difficult for them, etc. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Cello Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Double Bass Music Keyboard Djembe

I have worked with students aging from 6 with no training to 55 with 30 years of training. Every student is different and presents unique challenges. I find that the less a student know the easier it is to see improvement. Often with older players there are fundamental basics that are working against them that need correction. You can not unlearn something, only learn something knew. The most important thing in music education is starting them right because muscle memory is extremly hard to change. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

With young students, I allow myself to be a bit more comprehensive in that I can start from the very basics from the beginning and even come up with simple games with rhythm, basic ear training and reading notation. The big challenge with young players is the actual act of physically playing the guitar and I encourage parents to invest in a quality instrument that is easy to play. I try and get my older children and teenagers to try and play as early as possible to develop a passion for the instrument, but not before building an understanding of the basics. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Keyboard

Originating from East Chicago, IN, I've known since 3rd grade that I wanted to build a career in music. Over the years I've been able to find my niche, and focus on engineering, composing, and playing live. I've recently come to really enjoy teaching. I find pure joy in watching students make even the slightest improvements (provided they practice :). Everyone that I've taught has walked away with a better understanding of music, empowering them to advance in ways they would otherwise not be able to. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Banjo Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am passionate about students not only exploring musical styles but really understanding every aspect of the music they are learning, including the history of the musical style, the composers and the more well known performers. It is important to me that each student comprehends the details of each new piece they learn including, the specific fingering required, the details of the rhythms, dynamics and composer's directions and markings. I also encourage every student to explore various musical styles, even when they claim to have a special favorite, this way their music world is expanded. Read More