Steve O
Instruments: Guitar
Styles: Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Electronic, Punk
Steve O
Instruments: Guitar
Styles:
Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Electronic, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
BA, University of New Haven, Music and Sound Recording
2006-2010 - Presidential Scholarship, Dean's List, College National Honors Society
2009-2010 - Music Department Tutor
I am a passionate musician whose love of guitar is infectious. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Haven in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Sound Recording, and have taught privately in Nashville and now Denver. I play locally in several bands and projects, and encourage my students to come see me live to watch the lessons I teach put to use on stage.
In college I began as the Music Departments tutor, and after graduating started teaching private lessons which I have continued for 4 years. In my experience both as a teacher and as a student I have learned that people progress through lessons much quicker if they are having fun. My first guitar teacher never made me feel like I was "practicing," as much as learning new songs I loved and discovering bands I had never heard. I use this experience to specifically develop lesson plans around the student and their goals, as well as their favorite style of music to keep them engaged and excited about progressing.
The student is not responsible for purchasing any books or material, as I provide everything to them. For children I love teaching simple 1 finger versions of two chords, to give them an instant gratification and the knowledge that they really can play guitar. For older students, I am able to completely design a lesson plan around their interests and favorite styles of music. I like to ask the students during the first lesson to name a few songs of any difficulty that they would eventually like to be able to play, and the lesson plan we follow will inevitably reach one of those songs, providing the student with a great benchmark for their success and inspiring them even more. I also incorporate light ear training into my lessons, as your ear is your strongest asset as a musician, and I am able to break down the musical genre barriers to show students that all music truly is the same, and it is all attainable.
My approach to teaching is very non-intimidating and I have a great personal interest in how all of my students are progressing. Beyond that, I make sure to cultivate a love of guitar and music in general within the student. Formal lessons eventually end for all students, and it is important to me that my students have enough passion to expand their abilities further once we are through. When you love playing guitar, there is no cringing before practice, no dreading facing the teacher next week if you don't. I do not give my students minimum practice times every day, while I do present them with a recommended schedule. Instead, I teach them how to make time during the day, how to adjust their attitude towards practicing, and exactly what obstacles they will need to overcome in disciplining themselves to practice. In turn, my students get more out of their practice than they would by me simply telling them to do 30 minutes a day.
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.