John J
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Keyboard, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Electronic, Reggae, New Age, Avant-garde
John J
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Keyboard, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Electronic, Reggae, New Age, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
Graduated Winston Churchill High School Potomac Maryland Montgomery College Rockville Campus Music Program Classical String Bass Major
Over the years I've really come to appreciate being a music instructor. I've never found it boring. Its always interesting and a great opportunity to grow as well. I've been playing music in Bands, Orchestras, and Jazz Ensembles since 1975. I've recorded multiple albums of my own original music. Nowadays I spend most of my musical time teaching, composing, and recording original music. I have great passion for electronic music in particular and enjoy working with synthesizers, software, and other various analog and digital devices.
I started teaching guitar lessons in the Spring of 1982 while in my first year of college. Since then I've evolved from teaching at various independent music shops to teaching music lessons at my home studio. From 1982 until 1984 I was an independent traveling teacher while attending college. From 1997 through 2001 I worked as a lesson instructor for bass and guitar at Pete's Music Barn in Laytonsville Maryland until they went out of business. I then taught in home private lessons until the spring of 2003 where I went to work for Studio Music in Damascus, Maryland as a guitar and bass teacher until they went out of business in 2010. I then became an independent techer with in home lessons until the spring of 2017 I took a job as a guitar instructor at Victor Litz Music in Gaithersburg Maryland until I moved to the state of Florida where I now permanently reside.
The main points I always try bring home is playing a musical instrument is a committment but it doesn't mean its not fun. It should be. I try to get a beginning student to the intermediate one, up and running at playing some of their favorite songs (within reason of ability) quickly so as to keep things moving forward and keep the experience fresh. Over the years I've evolved and developed my own style of teaching that fits the aspiring student's needs. Whether they want to concentrate on technique or just learning songs that they love and bring joy and/or the joy of playing music. Many students have expressed to me how much just strumming the strings on the guitar is relaxing and their escape from the hassles of life.However again its a committment to the instrument and music. Practice is a virtue but it does not mean it won;t be fun.
I make every effort to get the basics down for a student and then to keep things fresh I introduce or ask the aspiring student to start thinking or picking a few songs that they would like to learn within reason of their abilities. Often times its harder to learn without proper practice time or a student's dedicated practice time not being filled to it's potential. I emphasize practice as where the talent comes from. Many people mistakenly think that talent is a super power which it does appear to be but it must be cultivated through hard work and dedication to your instrument(s).
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.