Guitar Lessons in North Admiral, WA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums

I am a very hands-on teacher. We do lots of improvisation and call and response games and sometimes I turn on a record or even bring a guitar to jam with the student. Playing drums is a very visceral, tactile excersize, and I often tell students, "That right there,that is how it's supposed to sound! Memorize that feeling and try to recreate it everytime." I am also a huge advocate of having students listen to as much music as possible. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have a very laidback, low-pressure approach - if you didn't practice, it's not the end of the world! I think back to my own days of taking lessons and remember how much more I improved in this type of environment, and how much more I loved the process. The difference between these approaches can be night and day, both in results and morale out of the student (which, again, I know from experience as a teacher, but also from my experience as a student). Read More

Instruments: Guitar Flute Ukulele Piccolo Electric Guitar

For more intermediate and advanced students I like to focus strongly on music fundamentals, assigning regular etudes and finding pieces fit for the students skill and interest!   For beginning guitar students, I focus on learning the pedagogy of the guitar : string names, basic care and maintenance and finger placement, later moving on to open chords and melodic playing. My intermediate players will focus on developing their chord vocabulary, melodic playing and introduction into new styles of music ; rock, jazz, classical.      Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My motto is my students create their own lesson. I formulate lesson plans off of the styles of music you are most interested in. If my student has a more "just for fun" attitude, the lesson will inevitably be a more light hearted feel. If the student would like to focus on more technicalities, that as well is a different approach. However, I do have a more structured plan for younger students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Recorder Double Bass Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

With younger students, I focus on rhythm, simple ear training, and light reading. I will gradually introduce harmony and more intensive ear and rhythmic studies as the student progresses. I think it is important for students to apply their knowledge through performance opportunities and songwriting. Every student is different, of course, but we should all be able to leave lessons with the ability to excel and learn on our own. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass

After graduating Whitman, I interned as a music teacher at the Spring Street International School in Friday Harbor, WA. I was mentored by a great teacher, Grisha Krivchenia and learned how to be a compassionate teacher. I helped teach composition, music theory, small groups, bass and guitar. During the second half of the year, Grisha took a sabbatical and I took over his duties. While in Friday Harbor, I also taught upright bass, electric bass and piano privately. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Acoustic Guitar

I enjoy teaching students of all ages! I have taught in the public school for 35 years and have worked with over 5000 students of all ages! I enjoy creating original music in my recording studio and have written many songs. I have played guitar and sang for the Miss Washington program and performed as a solo artist as well as with other musicians. One of my favorite concerts was playing guitar for the Living Christmas Tree services at Overlake Christian Church. Read More