John F
5.0
(4)
Instruments: Guitar, Ukulele, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Rock, Folk, Spirituals, Reggae, Punk
John F
5.0
(4)
Instruments: Guitar, Ukulele, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Rock, Folk, Spirituals, Reggae, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
played guitar with the Kingston Beat All Stars at the Roots Fest, 2023, L.A., California
I played guitar in the Kingston Beat All Stars as the back-up band for Greg Lee, vocalist of Hepcat
I played a ska festival in Mexico City with a Jamaican ska and reggae band.
I love music. I like to teach. So teaching music is natural to me . I got my first guitar for my 11th birthday. I started taking guitar lessons at a music story at age 13 and stopped taking lessons at about age 17. I enrolled in beginning band in 10th grade. A guitar role didn't exist in the program but I asked the band teacher if I could take the class anyway. He permitted me to, so I got an A grade for that class. I took some music classes at Pasadena City College. I had been in various bands since my teens. I was in the Kingston Beat All Stars. That band played mostly Jamaican ska and reggae standards. Currently I'm in a duo called Infinite Suns. We're just starting out. I'm a versatile player. I can play rock music, acoustic guitar instrumentals, etc.
I did freelance guitar teaching on and off a long time ago for a few months.. My clients were of various ages, from kids to adults. I have teaching experience outside of music. I was a 4th Grade teacher in a private institution in Mexico. Also, a was an English language instructor to clients of all ages at Tutor ABC (I did my work remotely, with a laptop and a stable internet connection). Tutor ABC is located in Taipei, Taiwan. I was a substitute teacher on off for about 9 years altogether.
My approach to teaching guitar is roughly the same to students of all ages. I start with the very basics, assuming they know nothing about guitar. So I discuss the parts of the guitar and their functions. I teach how to tune in various ways. I like to use Hal Leonard's Guitar Method book 1, which covers what I have already described. By default the book guides the student through learning how to sight read, basic chords, proper posture, sight reading practice, etc. Also I encourage students to pick a song to learn. I learn the song first by ear and then teach the song to the student.
My style is heavily influenced by how I was taught. My guitar teacher did show off his guitar playing chops at the beginning, so that's a must. I can be a strict teacher. However one must bear in mind that sometimes students digress into other issues outside guitar playing. That's fine (they're paying for it, so I'm flexible). However, it would be my job to bring the conversation back to learning how to play guitar. I believe in using a book and some basic tools, such as a player by which to play music (sometimes it's necessary to listen to a song in the moment to learn it myself on the quick and then teach it). So I was to cover the basic essentials of guitar playing, which includes scales, chords and techniques (ie, plucking techniques, 'tricks of the trade' like tapping, etc.) I believe in assigning homework. If my students are like me, homework is no burden. It's gladly borne for one reason, to grow and improve as a guitarist.
Leona Suegay
John was a very good teacher, very patient and skillful in teaching me the basic methods of guitar. I liked learning how to read music not just play the cords. I would recommend him as a teacher, he's very passionate about music.
Check out our A+
Rating from the Better Business Bureau
100% Risk-Free Trial Lesson
If you are not satisfied after your trial lesson, you will not be charged and we can match you with another teacher.