Guitar Lessons in Santa Western, CA

Instruments: Guitar

I began teaching ten years ago and enjoy it very much. I teach what my students want to learn, by asking them what music they listen to, and their favorite artists. To me, there's no point in teaching types of music the student has no interest in. I generally like to teach my lessons on a per-song basis, meaning we'll focus on a number of tunes, and can extract techniques and theory from those songs which in turn improve his/her playing. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Double Bass Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been playing bass and guitar since seventh grade. I have played in schools jazz band, wind ensemble, string ensemble and chapel band. I have also been the bass player for St. Pauls Lutheran church since my freshman year of high school. I have taught young beginners the basics of playing guitar and bass at St. Pauls Lutheran school. My goal is to inspire students to do great things and be performers. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I began playing guitar at the age of 15 and have been writing and performing ever since. I was a professional touring musician for 12 years and I had the great privilege to share the stage with Bon Jovi, Kid Rock, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Big Boi, Cage the Elephant, Candlebox, Theory of a Deadman, Marcy Playground, and many others. Music is a major part of my life, and I remember being surrounded by it at an early age. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students I typically teach using Frederick Noad's Solo Guitar Playing I. We eventually progress to Andres Segovia's Diatonic Major and Minor Scales then Scott Tenant's Pumping Nylon. For more advanced students we would often jump into simple pieces by Ferdinando Carulli followed by Opus 60 by Matteo Carcassi and Estudios Sencillos by Leo Brouwer. Students who are dedicated and consistently practice are playing pieces by Sor, Guliani, Tarrega, Villa-Lobos and the like usually with in six months. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Perhaps we could make up a new song with the note names. Or for example an older adult who is having memory problems for learning a new piece, but is very good at associating the sound of music with a feeling or image. Perhaps we could take the music in smaller chunks with an image association for each new musical chunk. It makes me very happy to watch each individual begin to understand and harness their own personal strengths during the learning process. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I try to adapt my teaching style to however I see the student (or peer) is most effective in learning. Some people are more chart based, and like the bars written out in time so they can follow it in a more technical manner. Some have a hard time reading music, so they go off of feel. This is more of an intuitive approach to learning. Both are fine for me, but depending on how the student is, one may be better than the other. Read More