Guitar Lessons in Fort Collins, CO

Instruments: Guitar Voice Harmonica Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Practice Practice Practice! and wanting to practice. Probably the most important thing in music at first. The biggest problem is method in itself. There is not just one way to teach everyone. Music is a lifelong study. It never ends. So learning should be the encouragement of accomplishment. Which has to involve learning some theory but focus on mechanical and listening skills as well. Whether we practice the same drum beat over and over or strumming the same chords its here that we find what we call music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Recorder Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn

I ask all of my students to be prepared for their lessons with a notebook and pencil for lesson notes and assignments. I ask them to bring any materials they have and will often recommend books and supplemental material I have had success with. I believe in writing down notes that help students understand what they are learning, exactly what students should practice, and setting goals for their practice and overall progress. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice

I would describe my methodology as strength-based but rooted in patience and enjoyment. As each student brings with them characteristics that are physical, mental as well as emotional, learning these characteristics allows me insights which form the creative process. For example, I had a student years ago that had a finger anomaly (he had been bit on the finger by his wife's cat so we called it "cat scratch finger") and this prevented him from laying his ring finger flat on his fretting hand. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar

I like to focus on songs that students are interested in. I also recommend certain books to be used as supplementary learning. For children guitarists I recommend Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course. For older guitarists I recommend Hal Leonard's Guitar Method. For children pianists I recommend Faber Piano Adventures. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

It is one of my teaching philosophies that it is better to practice a few times a day than once a day because it re-familiarizes all the work and information obtained in lessons.It is one of my greatest passions to share my knowledge and help others play the guitar with confidence and joy. A little practice each day can result in great rewards musically for the musician(s) and the audience! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

It is important to me that each student learns at their own pace when I teach. I dont want to force things upon students that they arent ready for, or dont want to do. Because of this, most of my curriculum is based around music of the students choosing, so they keep engaged and wanting to keep learning. Through this, I will teach the theory aspect of the music they are learning to help give a better understanding of why things work the way that they do, and the why the way they sound that way. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Synthesizer Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

What keeps one interested in playing music, in the long term, is the ability to realize melodies one hears in one's head. In my experience, this is the most joyous aspect of one's musical practice, and is the underlying goal in my teaching strategy. Some aspects of one's practice, like repertoire, are geared towards performing for other people. Others are muscle and mind building exercises that increase the fluidity of one's motions while sounding their instrument. Read More