Guitar Lessons in River Grove, IL

Instruments: Guitar

I am a passionate and encouraging music instructor specializing in guitar, music theory, and songwriting. I graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2013 with a Bachelor of Music in Songwriting Guitar Performance. I have gigged extensively in the Boston area and Midwest as a singer/songwriter, performed on various studio sessions, co-written songs in several genres, and played guitar for other musicians. My music has been featured on college radios and online blogs, and I have been fortunate enough to play the Berklee Performance Center, Faneuil Hall, and Harvard Square. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Violin Bass Guitar Harmonica

The first lesson is always partly an interview so I can understand exactly what the student's goals are. I typically establish good posture and breathing habits (or bowing and fingering, if violin) first and then move on to essential warm-up exercises. Those exercises then become their regular homework, to hopefully be practiced multiple times a week or if possible, every day. I remind the student of breathing and posture regularly - good habits are the goal! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I personally really enjoy the Hal Leonard series of method books for guitar and bass. I find them comprehensive, but not bloated, and very easy to understand without being dumbed down at all. I plan to use the Guitar Method and Bass Method books, both Complete Edition (comprised of Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced method books), in combination with the Hal Leonard Music Theory book, which is aimed at stringed instruments. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Coming back to goal setting, each student will want something a little different out of it from the next. So I find it helpful to ask and figure out; if there's a specific song they wish to learn, what some of their favorite artists are so we may get a grasp what style they are into, or just want to learn about music in general so that one day they may be able to create their own original work. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I try to give each student an idea whats coming next, every few lessons or so, while practicing what their on currently. This idea is not for every student so it is a selective process I use with the brightest ones, or fast learners and good practicers.When I see a student really start to play well I gain confidence in my teaching style...but when needed I can dial it back a notch or two. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar

I have been teaching for 10+ years via traveling to students homes and via my private drum studio. Most of my students often say that lessons with me are VERY FUN and VERY PRODUCTIVE. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a working professional or if it’s because I just love to teach, but lessons are fun for me too. I love to teach my students the basic tools of what it takes to be a professional musician, whether or not they are into music as a hobby or as a serious profession. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Clarinet Bass Guitar Synthesizer French Horn

A very important aspect to my enjoyment of all of these pursuits is the degree to which they actually connect and overlap with many other topics and disciplines- science, mathematics, visual art, language and sociology all intersect with music at one point or another. This indiscriminate enthusiasm that I have for all music and all topics is something that I am very excited to share with and impart upon my future students- and that I have every intention of carrying with me into each lesson that I teach. Read More