Guitar Lessons in Harwood Heights, IL

Instruments: Guitar Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar

I always ask my students what they want to learn; I then fit the program to their needs.  If they want to be a rock lead player, than we learn the scales, theory, techniques needed.  If they want to play finger picked folk music, then we focus on those techniques and songs.  I always recommend a strong background in theory and reading but I introduce it when the student is ready for it.  Nothing is learned in a vacumn.  There is always a purpose to anything I teach. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

Almost immediately after starting to play music, I began teaching my friends and family members how to play. I became the guitar teacher at my high school, teaching beginning guitar students for the last semester of my senior year. Then, when I went to college, I continued teaching friends and starting picking up students who I did not know at all for the first time. These experiences taught me how to deal with all age levels, and different styles of student learning. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar

I have been teaching for 10+ years via traveling to students homes and via my private drum studio. Most of my students often say that lessons with me are VERY FUN and VERY PRODUCTIVE. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a working professional or if it’s because I just love to teach, but lessons are fun for me too. I love to teach my students the basic tools of what it takes to be a professional musician, whether or not they are into music as a hobby or as a serious profession. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I think my job as a teacher is to help my students find ways to make their day better through music. Music is a language. And in any language, the right words can make anybody smile! With the overwhelming amount of music that the world has to offer; becoming fluent can become a daunting task. By helping students reach realistic goals, exposing them to music they otherwise wouldn't discover, and encouraging them to find ways to practice that they enjoy; Read More

Instruments: Guitar

For beginning students, I usually suggest the Hal Leonard Guitar Method as a way of learning the fundamentals. For students starting with more experience, or once a student moves past the Hal Leonard series, I like to offer custom lesson plans designed to fit the individual student's needs. As a Berklee College of Music graduate, I pull from the same coursework that was taught to me, while offering room for any styles or techniques that we find works best for the student. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I tend to like the average guitar method book for it will usually consists of the fundamentals of music as well as left and righthand technique and also songs and pieces that are a part of the development process. My favorite courses are by Julio Sagreras and Fernando Sor for classical. Otherwise Gibson Guitar methods are excellent for a variety of levels and styles. I also like to write out lessons as well. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I'm a graduate of Northwestern's Bienen School of Music and have been playing and performing music since childhood. I hold two degrees, one in Music Performance for Classical Guitar, and the other in Cognitive Science; both affect my teaching method--in different ways, of course! I think one of the most important things when starting out as a musician is to have the intent and drive to practice (encouragement counts for quite a bit too!). Read More