Guitar Lessons in West End, MA

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students I start out with an introduction to the fretboard and tuning the guitar. We then move on to basic chords, strumming and one-line melodies. Intermediate students will move on to more complex riffs, fingerpicking and arpeggios, as well as learning how to improvise using chord inversions and scales. For me it's important that we work on proper technique and musical concepts, but to do so while learning songs by artists that you like. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Because I have gained so much in terms of amazing experiences from playing, writing, recording and performing music, I want to pass that passion on to those who are interested in learning music, and an instrument, themselves. I am very plan-oriented, knowing that students learn differently and progress at their own pace. In following the structure of a plan for learning, I build in some opportunities for students to experiment with what has been learned, in a way that other students have found to be fun, so that a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of the instrument, and musical structure, are gained by the student. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am a guitarist, bassist, singer-songwriter and composer from South Hadley, Massachusetts. Ive performed extensively throughout the Pioneer Valley and hold a bachelors degree in Songwriting American Song, as well as a minor in jazz studies. Original music of mine has been performed by the Holyoke Civic Symphony, The Groovy Truth Jazz Ensemble and presented at Historic Northamptons Fast Forward Film Series. I have extensive experience performing as a jazz guitarist, a solo folk artist, a pit orchestra bassist and everything in between. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I tend to emphasize basics and fundamentals, as most teachers do. Developing facility, dexterity, and muscle memory is very important. I use simple exercises at first. In turn with various other exercises, confidence will gradually develop. Learning to play chords (rhythm guitar), and transitions between them is vital, to almost every style of guitar. Rhythm and awareness of the tempo and meter (beat) is also important, especially if the student will play music with others. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I'm a dedicated teacher with a passion for sharing my love, knowledge, and experiences with others. I have had the honor to perform throughout the United States in renown concert halls including Carnegie Hall, the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, and the Bushnell Performing Arts Center. I have presented world premieres from acclaimed composers including Roland Dyens, Andrew York, Carlo Domeniconi, and Frank Wallace. My flute and guitar duo has been the recipient of numerous awards. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Harmonica

My experience dates back 10+ years when I began to seriously learn to play the bass guitar. Since then I have studied music theory in high school and college, played in a range of Massachusetts based bands and orchestrated the pits for 4 on-stage theater productions at Framingham State University. I have been playing drums and guitar for 5 and 7 years, respectively. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I like the Hal Leonard Guitar Method series, for guitar. I also use scales, picks, fingerstyle methods, and backing tracks to help get the students up to speed on a song or a riff they'd like to learn. It's important to understand the background of music, so I tend to also teach students the structure of a 12-bar blues progression and relate it to songs of yesterday and today. This enables students to get a well-rounded introduction to understanding timing, tempo, basic theory/progressions, improvisational ideas, and more! Read More