Guitar Lessons in Wellington, CO

Instruments: Piano Guitar Synthesizer Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

With beginning students, and even with advanced students, it is important to first agree on a common vocabulary, and asses the level of fluidity in reading musical notation. Next are some basic written exercises to correlate notation and playing in the mind of the student. This initial theoretical tie-in allows for a more substantial expansion in understanding in the long term, as well as a strong basis for the development of one's improvisational capacity. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin

For beginners I press through Hal Leonard's Guitar Method #1, laying a foundation of skills as well as approaching notation reading on the guitar. From there we begin to specialize based on the student's interest. For more advanced students, we'll focus on goals such as live performances, audition preparation, and repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar

I like to focus on songs that students are interested in. I also recommend certain books to be used as supplementary learning. For children guitarists I recommend Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course. For older guitarists I recommend Hal Leonard's Guitar Method. For children pianists I recommend Faber Piano Adventures. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching experience goes all the way back to when I was in high school. I was teaching my peers outside of school, giving them lessons, helping them with music theory, etc., and I have helped more than one of them go on to music school with me. Ive been teaching guitar lessons on their own for 10 years, starting by teaching beginners and working my way up to more advanced teaching about 5 years ago. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

To me it is one of the greatest rewards to see my students understand a concept or play a difficult passage. I believe it's important for each student to progress at his or her own pace because everyone has a different mindset. I often tell my students to just work on the first and second staff of the music so they don't overload themselves with work. Setting reasonable goals fuels the students desire to progress and gets them excited to continue learning more. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice

As stated above, I believe that emotion plays an integral role in the mastery and performance of any instrument. Consequently, my teaching style revolves around the use and application of emotion in play. A simple example of this would be a simple discussion of the differences between major and minor chords and the relative emotion conveyed by each, as interpreted by the student. Positive reinforcement also comes into play as each step the student takes towards applying their emotional self to their instrument is recognized and acknowledged. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Organ Synthesizer Ukulele Recorder Euphonium Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

Whatever instrument private studies we are working on, a balanced approach of performance, literature, theory, and technique are studied. Once the groundwork is established, we even work through composition on their chosen instrument. Students work at their own pace. I have some students who move quite swiftly through their levels, and that is great. Others may need more time, and that is fine. I do find that students who utilize regular and purposeful home practice will tend to get through levels a fair amount quicker. Read More