Guitar Lessons in Upton, MA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I have been teaching bass and guitar for 10+ years. Even in high school I had several students part time. For me, spreading my passion and love for music to others has been a source of great joy. In the last several years I continue to have a small roster of private students while I am actively gigging and rehearsing for projects. I find that meeting new students and getting to know their goals as a musicians is incredibly inspiring. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

Now the student has the expectation that, at whatever point of progress, we will be playing songs through, in steady tempo, clearly and with proper technique. Thus the student/teacher relationship becomes a microcosm of playing in a band! The student is empowered by concrete success, and I, the teacher, am rewarded by the affirmation of getting her/him to play successfully. Further on, I use my sense of what sorts of music the student likes and is interested in, to direct our process in a direction which they will enjoy and which will motivate them. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students, I use the Hal Leonard Basic or Kids Guitar Method because it is such a good introduction to the instrument. For bass and ukulele I also use the beginner Hal Leonard Method books. For more advanced students, I first get a sense for what they want to learn and where they want to go, by asking them some questions about their previous education, what songs they like to listen to, and any problems with practicing or grasping the material, that they may have experienced. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

After the first lesson, I will break up lessons into warmups (stretches and fretboard exercises), the study of repertoire (learning melodies and chords), and the relevant technique (scales, picking approaches, etc) for which the music calls. Time spent discussing theory will likely emerge from the teaching of the song, but can be approached with a variable level of depth - students less interested in theory will still come away from a lesson with some awareness of what's making the music work; students more interested in theory are welcomed to dig deeper - with the awareness that theory may function as a useful tool to understand a piece of music, or even generate new material, but that the end-goal, ultimately, is to produce a piece of music; not a theorem. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

A total beginner will usually start by learning chord progressions that are specifically in a major scale progression (ex. C-Dm-Em-F-G-Am-Bdim). Using chord progressions allows my students to grow accustomed to the feel of the guitar and the fundamental hand strength needed to play, as well as the finger dexterity needed to play certain chords. This fundamental also introduces them to major scales, and the sound of chord progressions in the major scale. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Banjo Ukulele

I am a guitar, banjo, and ukulele player who has been teaching and performing musicfor the past 17+ years. I am a graduate of the Berklee College of music. The music styles which I am most passionate about are the blues, classic rock, pop, funk, and country. I have had the opportuninty to perform with several bandsfromtheMA area,and wehave goneon to perform thoughout the eastern United States. I have been influenced by artists such as B.B. Read More