Guitar Lessons in Oak Lawn, IL

Instruments: Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For every student I always start with the basics. What are the basics? Well, first and most important for getting you started is open chords. That along with pentatonic scales will really help to develope finger dexterity and get the student adjusted to proper hand and finger positioning on the guitar. During that same period we will practice strumming patterns and exercises to fully bring the use of both hands up to a level that allows us to play simple songs. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Notebooks! I'm a big believer in writing things down so before your lesson, don't only bring your guitar but also a notebook to write down what we learned, and what you should practice before our next lesson. It is vital that students have a physical reminder of our lessons and the techniques we covered, because in my experience, I've found this really helps with not only learning but retaining the information we go over. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute

I began teaching while I was in High School and I would teach the younger students who were freshman and sophomores the tenor saxophone. Once I went to Eastman, I taught several people throughout the course of the four years there. I beleive that, particulalry when teaching the saxophone and flute, a mix of classical fundamental technique is very important as well as incorporating the jazz or rock repertoire. I feel that my skills as a music therapist can be very unique particularly because I can really attend to the needs of the student and adapt the music and lesson accordingly. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar

My teaching style is that I set a plan for every student I have. For instance, I will apply reading notes, but that will not work for each student, each student is different and would prefer another style of teaching. That's when i would test their own level of memorization. I would teach each student chord structure of memorizing maximum 2 chords. Once each student fully has the 2 chords memorized I would hand them a sheet of paper, giving them instructions on top of the paper, stating Now that you have mastered memorizing the chords I would want you to come up with a small melody by building a staff with a time signature and writing the notes on the sheet of paper. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

The basis of my teaching style is transparency.  My aim is to be as clear as possible about what I expect from my students, and how they can improve.  I believe great technique is the proper foundation for any musician, and I will always give the students exercises along with songs that will help my students to develop proper technique.  Most of all, I try to make sure that my students have fun.  Music is supposed to be fun, so maintaining a sense of humor is a good thing in my opinion. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Recorder Euphonium Tuba Mallet Percussion

I like to get to know the student as I am teaching so I create small breaks to get to know who I am teachign and their interest, so that I may taylor my lessons to the student. For beginning students I like to use essential elements books as a guide for their practice. For adults I try to find out their long term goals and taylor my lessons to gettimng them to reach that goal. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass

I am open to any beginning method. However, I prefer Both Mel Bay and Hal Leonard for students interested in learning theory for their particular instrument. Read More