Guitar Lessons in Jamaica, NY

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My style of teaching is very much influenced by my amazing professors that I studied with in college. What I find most rewarding is when I teach students that truly practice and try their very best to improve and absorb the information. When the students' passion and thirst for improvement comes through to me it makes the lessons that much more engaging and fun. I am highly encouraging and very particular with practice routine, planning and structure. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

As I have said before, I always like to structure my lessons around my student. If they are not having fun, they will not learn, and then I won't be doing my job ! Lessons are structured around songs that they like and what makes those songs unique. I like to teach some fundamentals about guitar, then relate it back to the song. I cannot guarantee that any student will learn any song by the end of one lesson, but I can promise that they will be one small step closer. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Student Favorites (for both piano and guitar): Pop Rock, Folk partial list samples: Star Wars themes Somewhere over the Rainbow (ukulele too) We Are the Champions Mission Impossible Classical Gas Star Spangled Banner (National Anthem; Jimi Hendrix electric guitar with distortion) The Entertainer (Ragtime) Taylor Swift Series Classical and Flamenco partial list samples: Malaguena Leyenda, Albeniz Spanish Romance J.S. Bach: Air on a G String Bouree, from Lute Suite No 1, Carl Fischer Prelude from Cello Suite #1 Minuet Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring Sleepers Awake Beethoven: Fur Elise Fifth Symphony Moonlight Sonata Ode to Joy Djorak: Largo (New World Symphony) Study in Am Carcassi Hall of the Mountain King, Edvard Grieg Christmas Carols and Hymns, e.g., Silent Night, Carol of the Bells GUITARS: Classical Acoustic Steel Electric Ukelele PIANO Guitar Techniques and Skills: Posture Sight-reading Standard Notation Treble Clef; note values, dotted notes, rests, syncopation Tablature Names of Strings and names of notes of entire fretboard Open Chords vocabulary and fingering Chord Vocabulary: Minor, Major, Diminished, Augmented, 6th, Seventh, Maj7, 2nds, 9ths, Flat5, Flat9, 11th, 13th Arpeggios Octaves, Fifths, all Intervals Barred Chords (Full, Half, Two-Thirds, One-Third Bar vocabulary and Left Hand Fingering (All Keys) Cross-over fingering Finger per fret rule Finger per string rule Ladder Principle (Left Hand fingering) Positions (1-10): Strumming patterns for 2/4, , 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8 Time Signatures Fingerpicking patterns for 2/4, , 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8 Time Signatures Right Hand 3 and 4 finger simultaneous chord strike Rest strokes Free Strokes Flamenco Strumming variations Rasgueado Flat and plastic fingerpicking Harmonics, false harmonic, ping harmonics Tambora Snare sound Bongo effects String bending Left Hand damping Vibrato Tremolo Palm muting String snapping Left hand chord muting Righthand fretboard slapping percussion effects Glissando Hammer-ons, Pull-offs (Slurs) Power chords (Rock) Major, Minor, Pentatonic Scales, sharps, flats, accidentals Pizzicato Vocal accompaniment Chord progressions, deceptive cadence Improvisation Music Theory Songwriting Producing Concert/Recital Performance Presentation Skills/Mike Techniques Pro Tools Recording Software. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Synthesizer Music Keyboard

I generate an individualized course of study for each student. Beginning students typically begin with the Faber method, to make sure they develop a strong foundation for future study. As they progress, I begin to introduce age-appropriate repertoire. My more advanced students focus on musicianship technique as well as repertory. Depending on the goals for each student, I will work on jazz, classical, or contemporary styles. I also love working with students on concepts for improvisation and composition! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice

Everyone has their own unique voice, and we will find yours together! I have training in several technique-driven styles, including classical and broadway. However, I like to mix and match. I'm not interested in teaching one certain way- I listen on the fly, and make judgment calls according whatever makes YOU sound best. My guitar lessons are geared toward songwriting and accompaniment. I stress simplicity, expressiveness, and real-world performance skills. Read More

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

Depending on the students goals, current aptitude, and innate abilities I'll select exercises, etudes, and methodologies from a variety of materials. I work from Hal Leonard's, and Berklee's libraries primarily, but most often use a smattering of tools, exercises, and excerpts that have worked for me and past students; creating a lesson plan over time that is better tailored to the student as an individual. One of the major obstacles when learning the guitar versus, say, the piano, are the immediate physical demands. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Clarinet Bass Guitar Lap Steel Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For my teaching goals I like to help my students learn the instrument from the basic fundamentals. I believe music is like building a house and it is important to start with fundamentals in order to construct a strong foundation for musical knowledge. I like to teach proper technique and playing standards so my students will learn correctly and not have to go back and relearn things and relearn their technique. Read More