Guitar Lessons in Seven Trees, CA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

When I first meet a student I ask them to tell me what kinds of music they love to listen to and what strikes a chord in them about this particular music. Then I assess their level, if they have played for awhile. If they are a beginner, I start with correct posture, hand position, and elbow position as these are very important ergonomic considerations any of which can cause stress on the joints and additional tension in both the hands and wrists. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am an experienced trombonist and teacher with degrees from the New England Conservatory and California State University at East Bay (MA in Music anticipated Fall 2020). I have been teaching since the 1990s, and performing all over the world since the early 2000s. My primary instrument is on trombone, but have had students on tuba, euphonium, and beginning trumpet as well. My performance experience is primarily in the jazz, pop, and rock genres, but am conservatory-trained and well-equipped to prepare young students to enter the classical world as well. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

Whether you want to dig into learning the history of the blues or you want to get starting on learning some jazz standards or even just picking up some Metallica riffs/solos, I can get you started from whichever starting point you choose. From there I always make sure to assess a student's needs and tastes, then try to apply music theory along with nudging the student into new musical territory. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin

These books are designed to have students start off with easier pieces and gets harder as we move on. It is up to the students to practice in order for them to get better! From here, the next part is to find songs that students want to learn. Many people prefer teaching students classical music, because it is rigorous, well respected, and will allow them to excel. However, I am a person that prefers a student to pick songs that they enjoy or a songs that they are motivated to practice! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice

I like to teach lessons that move step-by-step, with each lesson building on the one before, so that the student can see the improvement as they move ahead. If they are children beginners, they can begin with simple chords, a strum and a C scale. Over time more chords, fuller strumming rhythms and understanding how chords come from scales is introduced. With more advanced players, depending on the style that they want to play, they can learn more advanced chords and progressions, licks and fills, and creating intros and endings and generally sculpting the songs. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I discuss with you what you want to achieve; playing your favorite songs, writing your own, improvising, playing with others, etc. and then we build a plan to develop the supporting skills to accomplish this goal. I focus on imparting clear instruction and advice, paying close attention to what is or isn't working for you to help you refine and improve your playing. Together we'll ensure you understand the fretboard up and down, filling in any gaps in knowledge and connecting all of the dots until you feel confident moving around it. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My methods for teaching are very adaptive depending on your experience, skill level, and what you'd like to learn. For beginner students, I usually go over basic knowledge of the guitar and a bit of music theory, and guitar finger exercises. For students more interested in playing songs, I will aid them in reading guitar tabs and also how to set up an amplifier to achieve the right tones, i.e. reverb, distortion. Read More