Guitar Lessons in University District, WA

Instruments: Guitar

As a guitar teacher, I don't emphasize note reading early on, unless that is desired, in which case there's few good books we can work through. But I found learning how to play yankee doodle over and over was a lot more tedious and frustrating, then getting that initial feeling of "I can play a song! This is what it feels like to play music!" that I got from learning songs early on. Read More

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 Voice

I have been teaching private lesson on and off since I was in college. I have taken the last few years off to complete my graduate education and begin my formal teaching career. I believe that encouraging my students to find fun in practice by choosing music that keeps the students interested. This means taking music from both the classical and popular repertoires. Read More

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

I take one lesson at a time while careful to scaffold the information. I want students to improve, but I also want them to know what it is that they must do in order to become a competent musician. I can be tough, but at the same time, I don't mind changing directions and moving from say, ear training to sight reading or some other approach. At the base, I believe that rhythm is the most important concern for a student. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

In guitar lessons with me, I generally go through a guitar book (the book varies depending on the students experience and what we decide to use) but mainly focus on what the student wants to learn. Learning the fundamentals of guitar will help the student learns what they want to learn, so that is applied to the lessons. A typical lesson with me goes as follows: Tune and warm up song (something the student is confident in). 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: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Trombone Bass Guitar Ukulele Recorder Orchestral Percussion Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students, I strive to teach the basics of music theory while learning the fundamentals of producing characteristic tone on their instrument. I typically start by working through the Essential Elements method book and introduce solos, ensembles, and orchestral excerps when appropriate. If the student is a part of a school or community ensemble, I work with the student on any pieces that their ensemble is preparing for performance. Read More