Guitar Lessons in Galena, IL

Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For all beginning students I use use various method books, as well as work on the student's memorization skills. n my curriculum, students will start off by learning the basics of the guitar, knowing the parts,accessories and so forth. Then We will move on to Tuning and Perfect pitch. As we move on students will learn how to build and maintain a Rhythm. Learning how to play chords is essential, and we will be going through chord progress ions and how to recognize and memorize the various chords. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I taught my first private lesson during my first year at Berklee. I immediately knew it was something I wanted to keep doing from that point forward. Alas, private teaching was not enough teaching to satiate me, so I quickly found a summer job that would enable me to get as many hours teaching as possible. That job was teaching full length courses in Rock Performance, Composition, and Songwriting classes for a summer program located on Yale's campus. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar

My teaching style is that I set a plan for every student I have. For instance, I will apply reading notes, but that will not work for each student, each student is different and would prefer another style of teaching. That's when i would test their own level of memorization. I would teach each student chord structure of memorizing maximum 2 chords. Once each student fully has the 2 chords memorized I would hand them a sheet of paper, giving them instructions on top of the paper, stating Now that you have mastered memorizing the chords I would want you to come up with a small melody by building a staff with a time signature and writing the notes on the sheet of paper. Read More

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

I have been studying and performing music for nearly 20 years; this includes many styles ranging from classical to jazz, funk to folk, and jibaro to choro. I strive to be a versatile and compassionate artist and educator. I began my professional career at age 16, and I have performed throughout the United States in various touring bands, which has also included mandolin orchestra performances in Providence, Rhode Island; Lawrence, Kansas; and Santa Cruz, California. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am an instructor and performer who specializes in teaching drum set methods, rudiment training and independent mobility exercises based off of Hal Leonard's "Drum Set Methods" book. Not only do I teach the fundamentals but I cater to what each particular student wants out of a lesson. If a student wants to learn how to play a rock beat or a particular song, we will learn the necessary skills to get to the point to where they leave their lesson confident and capable of their abilities! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Violin Bass Guitar Harmonica

The first lesson is always partly an interview so I can understand exactly what the student's goals are. I typically establish good posture and breathing habits (or bowing and fingering, if violin) first and then move on to essential warm-up exercises. Those exercises then become their regular homework, to hopefully be practiced multiple times a week or if possible, every day. I remind the student of breathing and posture regularly - good habits are the goal! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

The students long-term goals shape the curriculum. Its important to keep them excited about the material, especially if theyre new to music. Ive found the most effective way to do so is to show how good technique and basic theory apply to music theyre already listening to. Eventually, students see common threads between different styles and genres. Ideally, students will walk away with more eclectic musical preferences. Equally important is to trace a style back to its roots. Read More