Guitar Lessons in Simsbury, CT

Instruments: Guitar Voice Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

The lesson concludes with an assignment. What will they focus on until next time. My students do exceptionally well! I give them a few items or techniques to practice. This could be tempo, theory, or a new piece of music to learn. Every session has a period of learning new music and practicing old music. My style of teaching is performance oriented to help the student to play the music that they desire to be able to play. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I use a combination of my own teaching curriculum, Hal Leanoards Method books, which are full of modern riffs by some of today's top Rock and Pop artists, Troy Stetina methods for my Hard Rock/Metal students, Musicians Institute materials, Guitar for Kids for the younger ones etc... While I draw from a variety of material the lessons are very focused. I learn what each students goals are along with how they best learn and we formulate a solid plan of attack. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I initially have a student work on a series of simple fingering exercises. This gets the student familiar with the feel of the instrument and helps to reinforce how the left and right hands work together when performing. Another benefit is that it helps the student to build speed/dexterity when playing. When these exercises/techniques have been mastered I then introduce the student to concepts such as notes, scales, intervals, basic chord structure, etc. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I use a variety of different pedagogical approaches from Music for the Classroom - Kodaly and Orff methodology, to series like Hal Leonard, the Music Tree (Frances Clark), Piano Adventures (Randall and Nancy Faber), John Thompson and Alfred's Piano Basics. In Voice, my approach is ecclectic but effective, drawing from traditional Classical approaches & vocal building techniques to some of the latest ideas and discoveries on developing a beauty of sound and a solid foundation in the control of the breath. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am an accomplished self-taught musician. I am classically trained in Piano, which made teaching myself guitar, bass, organ, and keyboards (multiples at once) that much easier, and then I took lesson in each to sharpen the skills. I am also experienced in arranging, recording, and mastering thus I bring a unique expertise in blend and improvisation. I am seeking a teaching position where my focus is assisting others in learning and/or honing a craft as opposed to my focus being on locating clientele or promoting myself. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Viola Ukulele

I typically start violinists with the Suzuki method books and I start my piano and guitar students with the Alfred and Essential Elements books. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp on fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first performance. However, if a student isn't learning effectively from the book they were originally given, I either change the method book or compose my own exercises that I think the student would benefit from. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trombone

I have been a music teacher since 1972, teaching classroom music, as well as being a Choir and Band Director, in Vernon, Glastonbury and West Hartford. Especially popular were my guitar and music of the theater classes. I have also directed various musicals on the Middle School level, such as You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Fiddler on the Roof, Babes in Arms, Oliver and others. At times, I even accompanied the shows on piano as I directed! Read More