Guitar Lessons in Ionia, NY

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Mel Bays. Once the student starts to understand the book. I will begin to teach solo appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what music they are interested in and have then tell me they're top song to learn, I try to get them to play something within the first hour. I want then to leave feeling like the you did something and that your money was well spent on my services. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I played many solo performances, joined wind ensemble, played in the All-State band each year and went to the National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. Toward the end of High School, I grew a new taste for guitar and silently practiced it behind my saxophone, in college, until I was good enough to perform with it. Now I've played shows all around upstate New York as a lead guitarist in several bands and released an album with my primary band, Baker Street. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

Playing with one hand first, then the other, then using both hands. Working on rhythm and coordination follows that. For students that are in the intermediate-advanced stage, how the lessons go really depends on what the student's goals are and what they want to focus on. I have a lot of music theory knowledge and compositional skills, I can teach active listening, playing by ear, composition itself, improvising, arpeggios with fingerings, altered scales, hybrid structures of chords, tritone substitutions, voice leading, inner harmony, soloing, phrasing, and comping. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Music is very much a personal subject unique to each person, and I create different lesson plans for every student I have. I have acquired a large amount of sheet music, textbooks, and other sources that I am happy to share with my students. Along with learning the technique of your instrument, I also place emphasis on teaching ear training, aural skills, basic music theory, and writing their own music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Mandolin Recorder Euphonium Tuba Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Conga Latin Percussion

My method in teaching depends on the instrument and the age. For beginners on band instruments and piano, I would start them with a method book of their choosing (though I would steer them in a good direction). For guitar and drumset, the use of method books is fine...but this would not be my first approach. It is important for students to be familiar and fluent in music notation. Read More

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

I started teaching fifteen years ago when I was getting my Music Education degree in Buffalo. Even though I was training to become a choir director (which I still love doing!) I found teaching one-on-one lessons and building connections was my true calling as a music educator. Since then, I have taught lessons privately in students' homes and online. In addition to my private studio, I have been a collegiate music educator training professional musicians. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Every student is unique, and every student deserves a unique curriculum. That said, I usually start my absolute beginners off with open position chords and, when they're ready, open position scales - pentatonic and diatonic. We explore repertoire, often partially of the student's choosing. When this is established, we will dive into scales in all positions on the fretboard, and the corresponding modes for major, melodic minor, and harmonic minor. Read More