Guitar Lessons in West Chester, PA

Instruments: Guitar Violin Viola

Since entering music school at the age of five, I continued my training in various institutions of Kazakhstan, Germany, and Russia, culminating twenty years later with a Masters Degree from the world-famous Saint Petersburg State Conservatory of Russia. For the last thirteen years I have been working as a private instructor of violin, viola, and guitar, conventionally as well as online, with students of all ages and all skill levels. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Electric Violin Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For my students learning guitar, bass guitar or ukulele, I recommend the Hal Leonard Series. Depending on the age and level of the student, there are a number of options to pick from, which allows me to get just the right fit! Along with the method book, I recommend what's called a blank TAB book which is used to write down chords, exercises and songs. Although the method books are important in guiding the students' progress and developing their technique, they are just a piece of the bigger picture. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Lute Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I don't think there is any one method book or instructional DVD that will give you everything you need. Even if an educational resource is extremely well done, it will still need to be tailored and digested in a certain way for each student. I generally use Mel Bay's Guitar 1 - expanded edition. While working with this book, there are additional materials such as exercises, concepts, and musical ideas often inserted at key moments. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

In addition to teaching material directly, I prefer to cultivate the skill of teaching oneself. Instead of scripting the direction of the students growth I help them to follow their own path by accentuating the qualities that make them special and removing technical roadblocks. My own education straddles many schools (rock, jazz, folk/bluegrass, classical, hip-hop, dance, experimental, funk, etc.), formal and informal. But standardized music education leads to standardized music! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Orchestral Percussion Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For Beginner students I would start with the Frederick Noad Classical Guitar book. This book is a great book to hold interest in the Students. This Book teaches Basics, but gets right down and dirty in to learning music. The Music in the book starts with simple Melody for the student, with some advanced part underneith to give the allusion to a young beginning student they are achieving greatly. This tactic helps harness the musical drive in a student. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

Regardless of the subject, students learn best when they are relaxed and enjoying themselves. I like to incorporate humor into my teaching and I always focus on the idea that the student is learning because they want to enjoy themselves. Music is one of the most enjoyable experiences we have and learning music should be fun. Because Motivation plays an important role in any learning situation, I always focus on the student's interests. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginners I like to use books and a few easy songs to get the student started. As skill level grows, I try to encourage students to form their own chord progressions as well as using songs that I choose or a song the students chooses that will encourage them to play and learn more songs on their own. I also encourage intermediate level students to explore their imaginations and create their own songs. Read More