Guitar Lessons in Napa, CA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass

I have for the past twenty-two years been working as a Music Educator, Administrator, Jazz composer and performer. The last eleven of those years have been in the San Francisco Bay area at Oakland School for the Arts, teaching and leading large jazz ensembles, orchestra, small groups and music theory classes for grades 6-12. As Chairman of the Instrumental Music Department, I was responsible for teaching and developing music curricula, developing new programs, recruiting and auditioning new students, presenting and speaking with incoming parent groups, writing and developing the school A-G requirements, and meeting with community schools and faculty to create meaningful collaborations. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Im a dedicated and passionate creative with years of experience to share with my students; Im empathetic and good at teaching you the way you learn. I grew up playing blues and jazz in venues and clubs around the Bay Area as a teen and later graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Electronic Production and Design, where I had the opportunity to dive into the world of production, synthesis and electronics while simultaneously studying guitar as my principle instrument. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I can accompany the student with the guitar or piano. For beginners in piano, I will typically begin with the Faber workbook. If they have their own workbook that they would like to work from, I will work with that. I teach Circle of Fifths as an early tool to cultivate an understanding of harmonic language, and make it as simple and easy as possible, until the basics become engrained. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching method for complete beginners is to take examples from method books such as the Aaron Shearer method book, and apply it so that the student can become accustomed to using their fingers to pluck and frets strings. After they get a sense of how to use their hands on the instrument, I would automatically start teaching pieces. I believe that pieces are the most practical way to learn an instrument because first, playing pieces is the goal that we want to achieve in the first place and second, I believe that all of the techniques that are needed when playing an instrument are all included in pieces. Read More

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

All of my lessons are built around songs to teach technique and I add materials to teach theory and musicianship if the student wants and needs it. I always interview each student to find out their interests and desires and and build a custom curriculum eight lessons at a time to insure satisfaction and success on the students terms. I have student assessments at the end of each eight lessons block to make sure that the student knows how they have improved and where they need more work. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style is tailored to however the student learns best. I am very adaptive to the student's focus and will constantly check to see if the current topic we're going over makes sense or if they'd like to move on to something else. I also believe that positive reinforcement is very important and that one should always think positively about every accomplishment big or small. My philosophy is that you are only competing against yourself and that if you are better than you were yesterday, then it is a success. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My experience mostly stems from what I have learned through playing music for as long as I have been. I was able to learn all the steps to continue motivating my passion for guitar such as practicing frequently and consistently, gaining a large repertoire, and training my own ear to know where I am at all times when playing. I also gained much experience working at Guitar Center Lessons for a year. Read More