206-535-2932
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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Guitar lessons in Sammamish . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Guitar
My experience teaching begins even before my college days and I have taken students on and off throughout the last 25 years. I enjoy sharing what I know and love being a part of someone else's learning experience. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Lap Steel Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Growing up in the Los Angeles area I started playing piano at age 8, guitar at age 11 and was working professionally as a musician by age 13 in local rock and acoustic acts. As a teenager I played in local college big bands, studied classical guitar at California Institute of the Arts and was invited to study at UC Santa Barbara to develop my other musical love, composing. Throughout my young adult life I studied classical and studio guitar, piano and composition at California State University Northridge and Javanese and Balinese Gamelan music at UCLA and Cal Arts. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
For just about any instrument, a key approach of mine is to teach students how to play the songs they love - and then the musical building blocks that make up said songs. Then, I teach the rudiments, patterns, and music theory behind those building blocks, and teach the students to be able to figure this all out on their own in the future through ear-training. I tend to like the Essential Elements series for band instruments, the Alfred books for piano and guitar, the Real Book for a wide variety of jazz repertoire. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion
No matter where the student starts from, I always spend a significant amount of time in the first lesson discussing with them what they want to gain, what they are interested in, and how much time and effort they want to put into this endevor. It is important to me to understand the student so that I can cater to their needs and desires, and hopefully encourage them to continue playing music. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Double Bass Keyboard Acoustic Guitar
For beginning to students I like to have them learn their notes on the bass guitar first and foremost. Once we have become familiar with the neck of the bass we introduce Hal Leonards's Bass Method Book 1. This will build our foundation for learning to read time signatures, notes in bass clef, rhythms, as well as playing complete songs. For intermediate bass students I like to gauge the level and tailor a program for that individual. Read More
Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar
For students who have played an instrument prior to our lessons, I try and shape a curriculum entirely based upon the specific goals of the student, and I rarely use text books although I use a lot of exercises and educational material when appropriate. I feel learning to play and transcribe songs and solos to increase a students self reliance and confidence is my most important job. Most students come to me looking for structure so I try and provide a clear path to their goals. Read More
Instruments: Guitar
I would describe my lesson style as fun, friendly, focused and goal-oriented. If you're a beginner, my goal is to get you up and running on the guitar as soon as possible. if you've played a while, but have reached an impasse as to how to get to the next level, then I zero in on the reasons wh, fill in the gaps, and provide the materials and instruction you'll need to improve. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Organ Lap Steel Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Jazz, because it’s highly creative. Like painting. When you improvise on jazz, you can incorporate everything that you have learned. Rock, country, blues, folk can all come out in it somewhere.
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
6 years old is usually old enough. Anyone can start regardless of ability as long as they can physically press fingers down on a piano or form a guitar chord
When will I start to see results?
That depends on the student. Also on home life/practice time.
Don’t expect things too fast. This is a new thing for them and it takes time. Kids excel at different rates and surprise you at the their growth. They make “ leaps”, it’s not always in even increments.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
My first guitar teacher took me from playing with friends- very basic ( where I did learn a lot) to going to Berklee college of music.
He was amazing and I was very lucky to have him as a teacher.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
My uncle played guitar in a band. I was hooked immediately. He bought me my first electric guitar and the rest is history. I came from a strong arts community.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I learned how to become a jazz musician. A very hard thing to do. It takes as much work as becoming a scientist or highly skilled profession to play jazz well.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
Some of my students played at their graduations. Also went on to have careers in music. Most have gone into other fields , but music played an important part. A few of my students were at the top of their graduating class. One was valedictorian
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Follow the lesson plan exactly. Don’t rush through exercises. Use a metronome. Play in a quiet room with no distractions. Have a goal that you want to achieve and go for it. Have fun!
If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I play piano because I absolutely love the instrument. It’s classic and a real piano is dreamlike. It’s a challenge to master. 2 handed superstition is why it’s so difficult. Bass guitar , drums, because I love those too.
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
3 hours a day , every day. Piano and guitar. Jazz mostly. I play with backing tracks
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Inner urge by Joe Henderson. Because the melody is extremely challenging and the improvisation over the chords is very modern.
It took me 6 moths to play it clean.
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
For guitar: my own handouts mostly. Hal Leonard guitar method.
Piano: piano adventures, Suzuki, scale books. The real book for both instruments. I also have random handouts that I have photocopied from students through the years
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
Doggy day care or astronomer. It’s hard to say because this is all I know . I’ve lived the musician life. Started playing at 8 years old
If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
Performance degree from Berklee college of music 1991. Graduated summa cum laude. I chose it because it was not an easy route. You had to prove yourself.
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
Around 15 years old. I was on the fence for a while, but at that point there was no turning back. Once I got paid for it after college, I didn’t want to do anything else unless I has to
Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
My uncle plays. He’s in mid 70’s now but has the same band as when he was in high school. He taught my first chords and songs. Friends were very important as well for learning
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Being able to accomplish all styles . It has to do with time. I can play rock, jazz, country , blues, fingerpicking, slide guitar, piano on a high level, bass guitar , drums ukulele. I also sing. They all took years of dedication.
25 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Guitar lessons in Sammamish to students of all ages and abilities.
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