Guitar Lessons in Sun City, AZ

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

At a very young age I was fascinated with hearing guitar solo's and listening to guitar parts by all the legends. Eventually after working with a classical guitar that my sister had, I purchased a Harmony guitar from a friend of my dad's (John "Hollywood" Bridgewater). Whenever I would meet musicians in school that played we would get together and trade licks. That eventually turned into me teaching all my guitar playing friends licks. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

The way I have always approached teaching is the same way i learned music, to try and make each concept make sense by breaking down and relating basic key points of playing and improvising to each other. For example, I like to emphasize breaking down chords and the related scales in an easy to undertand and logical way. I emphasize the importance of phrasing and shaping chords while using such shred techniques as alternate picking, legatto, sweep picking and tapping. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Keyboard

Most of my students (who don't already know) start off with basic theory (Major Scale & Major and Minor Chord Formulas). Whatever their ultimate goal for learning would determine where I would take it from there. If your goal is to play one song for your significant other we can do just that. If your goal is to perform we can cater to that as well. Maybe you're goal is to learn enough to write your own songs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I feel I explained a good amount of my teaching style in the last column. I really like to go with what the student will benefit from the most, not necessarily what is the cookie cutter "next step" I learned to play by trying things a couple levels above me and I loved it. I know not all students are the same, and sometimes the parents input is a big factor depending on if they are musicians themselves! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Harmonica Lap Steel Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Conga Latin Percussion

I currently teach music part-time at two Montessori elementary schools in the Southeast Valley which include after-school music classes and private lessons. I am the Worship Pastor at RPFChurch in Tempe, AZ where I play guitar and direct the worship team. I love to share my passion for music with every student and encourage them to enjoy playing their chosen instrument. I am also involved in reforming music education by writing methods and curriculum which make music fun, accessible and relevant to all ages. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Cello Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Double Bass Music Keyboard Djembe

I began playing electric bass at 14 and started a band at 15. We won 1st place in NMHS Battle of the Bands and at 16 we recorded out first album and had our first performance on the radio. By 17 with busier schedules and our drummer leaving the band fell apart and I began looking into ways of doing things solo. I invested into a loop station and got into Jazz and Classical music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet Bass Guitar

For all students, I teach them exercises to strenghten their fundamentals and skills in the given instrument, and each lesson we practice the exercises to focus on improving their sound production, pitch finding, placement, and more.  We also learn songs that both the student and I choose and prepare for performance (when necessary).  Here are the books I work from for each instrument, but please note that I don't necessarily use these for every student, only when appropriate: GUITAR:  Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method (books 1 through 3) VOICE:  Master Vocal Exercises by Horatio Connell, and Sightsinging (Hal Leonard) BASS GUITAR:  Bass Method, (Hal Leonard, books 1 through 3) TRUMPET:  Essential Elements 2000, (Hal Leonard, books 1 through 3) Read More