My love for the guitar started at an early age and it has been my life’s work to compose, play, and teach the many wonders of this instrument. I’ve taught private guitar lessons for 14 years. I judge my success by the success of my students. Seeing my students grow, master a difficult passage, write a song of their own, graduate from esteemed music schools, play on world class stages in front of full audiences, and move on to great things in music and beyond has given me the greatest happiness.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
My philosophy is to teach the application of the guitar, and its role in various music styles. Students learn by exploring real musical examples which includes music they’d love to play (based on their level), and also by artists like The Beatles, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, to 100% guitar oriented music like Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore in hard rock/heavy metal genres. As students become proficient in the performance of the material, they are then exposed to analytical skills such as harmony, note choice and characteristics of each style.
Using a self-authored textbook which is privately published, my students learn the valuable skills necessary to bring their talent new possibilities. Students who fully apply themselves, will be able to play guitar in a variety of different genres, and will also be able to write and arrange music on the guitar.
FAQ:
In what geographical areas do you teach?
I offer guitar lessons in Newton, Wellesley, Weston, and suburbs just west of Boston. I also offer lesson online via Zoom, Skype or FaceTime. Please feel free to contact me and we can discuss the possibilities of working together.
Who do you teach?
My students range in age. Some are as young as 6 while others are in their 50s. I adjust my style to the student, regardless of age. As long as you have an interest, you’ll be able to learn guitar. A certain level of maturity, patience and determination is required to learn any new skill. Younger students can do very well; they just may need a bit more parental support to get there.
Why play the guitar?
The guitar is the most versatile instrument ever created. Students often express an interest in playing the guitar for a variety of reasons. From wanting an outlet for emotions or creativity, to wanting to challenge themselves to do something they’ve always admired, and sometimes so they can play a cool “portable” instrument :). Parents often request lessons for their children to open them up to music and provide a different way of thinking that can be applied to other areas of life. It’s also a great hobby kids can share with others as they grow. Whatever the reason, I’ll work with you to set goals and help you accomplish them.
What if I already know generally how to play the guitar?
Great! We’ll focus on more challenging aspects of guitar – composing, chord progression, solos, genre characterization, etc. There’s more to the guitar than just learning a few chords and we’ll focus our time towards fine tuning your musical skills to give you the knowledge to break away from stock chord forms, and give you the guitar chops to fully utilize the instrument.
On what days and times do you teach?
Guitar lessons are typically Monday through Friday between 4:30pm and 9pm. Limited weekends are also available. All lessons are scheduled on a first come, first served basis depending on availability.
Where are lessons?
Guitar lessons are typically at your home, and online via Skype, Zoom or FaceTime. For children under 10, I request that a parent be present for the lessons. Parents are also welcome to pick up a guitar and learn as well for no additional fees.
Do you have any referrals?
Absolutely! Upon request, I’m happy to connect you with current and past students to help provide a more personal understanding of the guitar lesson experience.
How do I get started?
You may email me using the contact form with the subject, “Interested in Guitar Lessons” and we’ll get started! The first lesson is an introductory lesson to give you a chance to experience what a lesson is like. If you’re happy with the session and would like to move forward with the lessons, we can then discuss a more regular schedule as well as the details of payments.
What makes for the best guitar students?
The best guitar students, and those that see the most success, are those that:
- Take the time to practice as part of a regular routine.
- Complete assignments as discussed so we can build on new skills each week.
- Maintain appointments despite not having had a great week of practice (we can a lot done together).
- Practice the parts they like equally and the parts that are hard (they’ll get easier if you do!).
- Are patient with themselves. Rock stars didn’t become stars overnight.
- Come prepared to their lessons
- Are willing to challenge themselves.
- Practice, practice practice:) The more time you spend practicing, the more noticeable your results will be.
10 Life lessons you learn by learning guitar
- Nothing truly challenging was ever achieved quickly.
- Time matters. If you don’t put time into something, you’re saying it doesn’t matter.
- Hard work pays off. Cliché? Maybe. Truth? Absolutely.
- There’s more than one way to interpret what you hear. Listening is half the battle.
- Greatness is developed by looking beyond the basics. Attention to detail is a skill that can be learned when you know what to look for.
- Communication is two-way and doesn’t always require words. When you express yourself via guitar or words, understand that others are experiencing your message in their own way.
- Just because someone makes it look easy, doesn’t mean it didn’t take a lot of work.
- Hours of frustration can turn into moments of delight. What was once hard becomes easy, and then you move on to the next challenge.
- The level of difficulty increases as you keep going. In music and in life, it’s important to know that you’ve overcome challenges to get where you are so that you can have confidence to overcome the next hurdle.
- Failure is not an end, but a chance to dig deeper.