Guitar Lessons in Adams, WA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Synthesizer Keyboard

My teaching experience has been drastically influenced by changes in my life both as a student and a performer. My early education was heavily influenced by traditional teaching methods in classical music. So when it came time to study my first introductory jazz course I was rocked to my core. I began not only to enjoy the music I played, but became more aware of the relationships between keys, chords, scales and notes. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Music and teaching have always been an essential part of my life: This was true as a teenager and student, when I worked in dance music bands, played in a classical guitar duo, performed in a Rock musical or taught classical guitar and electric bass. This was true when I taught literature, philosophy and mathematics as a middle and high school teacher. It's still true today, when I play Jazz guitar in various Seattle based Jazz bands, or write and produce songs and film tracks. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For just about any instrument, a key approach of mine is to teach students how to play the songs they love - and then the musical building blocks that make up said songs. Then, I teach the rudiments, patterns, and music theory behind those building blocks, and teach the students to be able to figure this all out on their own in the future through ear-training. I tend to like the Essential Elements series for band instruments, the Alfred books for piano and guitar, the Real Book for a wide variety of jazz repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

And I definitely see music as being a hugely sacred and spiritual act that humans have been doing forever, and not just something that's taught in schools and done to win competitions or have careers, so I can relate to people's emotional connections to music and explore that side as well. Being able to express musically is a joy, and so my approach is to foster an engagement with it, and focus on your unique relationship with music, rather than forcing people to follow obligatory structures. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style can vary from student to student but I believe the most important element is that the student remains engaged and enjoys practicing their instrument, regardless of their individual level. If they are very young, I try to have them listen to as much music as possible when they are not practicing because listening to new music is just as important to musical growth as practice. If there is a particular song they are aiming to learn, we tackle it in class and have them practice it at home at least half hour a day. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe any student regardless of age has to learn the three fundamentals pillars of music to truly learn an instrument. Those foundations are: Harmony, rhythm, and melody. The way in which I go about teaching them or reinforcing them depends on the age, musical interest, and skill. Usually kids benefit the most from learning their favorite melodies, how to read music, and how to play some chords to play their favorite songs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums

I've been teaching music, in some capacity, since I was 17 and captain of my highschool's drumline. In college I taught drumset lessons to students of all ages and in graduate school I taught a music theory course for 5 semesters as well as classical percussion to 6th - 8th graders. Getting to know my students, what they like and don't like, what they read and listen to, is one of my favorite things and I think it really helps engender a life long passion for music when a teacher takes a personal interest in the students lives. Read More