Guitar Lessons in South Alexandria, DC

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar

I have been playing andteaching in the Baltimore - Washington area since 1977,and have performed for the Smithsonian Institution, the Governor of Marylandand the White House. These experiences, along with my education courses, helped shape the way I teach. Every student is different, which is why I love customizing a long term plan that is right for THEM. Helping to fulfill a student's dream is a satisfaction that never grows old, and it is always a thrill when a student masters a musical challenge! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

Nothing is more enjoyable than seeing a music student climb the learning curve and self recognize and appreciate their progress other than, perhaps watching their passion grow over the long term as they successfully step into the performance phase and play a well practiced piece for their friends, family, peers, or others. Each student's lesson selection plan is always a collaborative agreement between the instructor and learner as well as the practice plan in terms of both frequency and repetition pattern. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar Organ Music Keyboard

Recently I was hired as piano instructor for Quartertonez Music, in Washington DC. Also, I have had experience teaching and studying music education under my high school mentor, renowned music teacher Tim Savage; I was his student-teacher for a semester course at St. Lawrence University. Additionally, throughout my experience as his music student, his teaching approach has infused music education and facilitation lessons within the musical instruction itself. My past teaching experience also includes being a Drill Instructor for the Italian Department at Vassar College for two years during my time as an undergrad (I not only "ran drills" for students who had already started learning the material, but also had to compensate in a variety of ways for the unsuccessful, dysfunctional, or half-hearted engagement that is typical in a foreign language class). Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice

Building rapport is vital in a student-teacher relationship. I encourage the student to make personal goals of progress in addition to the goals I have set for them. I give the student constructive feedback on progress and acknowledge accomplishments. I try keeping an inspirational and open-ended environment for exploration, for music making is fun! I love contributing to the education and growth of fellow musicians. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Harmonica Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Work on picking and speed and most importantly touch and feel. Learn to play in rhythm, with a metronome. Work on Finger picking as well, learn to use all 5 fingers on your right hand. or use the pick and 3 fingers, with me you WILL use your pinky or little finger, on both hands. Learn to read song charts, and notation and tab. Learn to work on speed, strength, stamina, play songs you like all the way from beginning to end. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning piano students, I use a combination of books from Alfred's, Faber, John Thompson's. At the same time, I emphasize proper finger technique, shape, and position. For more advanced piano students I prefer exercises from Hanon, Czerny, and Bartk. For beginning guitar students, I prefer Mel Bay books. However, for guitar students I also use a much more individual and custom approach for learning how to get a good sound out of the guitar through proper hand position, finger placement and pressure, and string picking. Read More