Austin W
Instruments: Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Latin, Funk, Punk
Austin W
Instruments: Guitar
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Latin, Funk, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 9-80
BM, Berklee College of Music, Professional Music
2014- Featured Performer at Berklee's CMJ music marathon
2013- Raw:Boston Musician of the Year
2012- Berklee College of Music Merit Scholarship
My first experiences with music began in the car, listening to the hits of 60s and 70s as my parents drove me around. I quickly realized music was going to be an important part of my life and begged my parents to get me a saxophone. By the time I was 10, I was performing music regularly for large audiences and loving every second of it. Then I turned 14 and picked up a guitar; I'm still trying to figure out how to put it down. This passion naturally led me to attend Berklee College of Music, which I graduated from in 2015. During my years at Berklee, I took advantage of many opportunities to perform and gig around the Northeast with numerous award winning bands. I enjoy nothing more than sharing the secrets I have learned from years of studying guitar and performing around New England.
I taught my first private lesson during my first year at Berklee. I immediately knew it was something I wanted to keep doing from that point forward. Alas, private teaching was not enough teaching to satiate me, so I quickly found a summer job that would enable me to get as many hours teaching as possible. That job was teaching full length courses in Rock Performance, Composition, and Songwriting classes for a summer program located on Yale's campus. After one summer there, I knew I would have to return for many more. Every summer I am astonished by how much fun students can have in just 3 weeks while they are working and improving their playing. The real skill I try to teach all my students is how to enjoy practicing. If a student can learn that, they will have a way to enjoy themselves for the rest of their life.
I like to adapt all of my lessons to fit the unique the goals of each student. For younger students, I prioritize building a firm foundation of music fundamentals before diving too far into instrumental study. I am a fan of the Suzuki school of thought that music is a language. For older students and adults, I work towards more specific goals that the student has. In the event that students or parents want classical instruction that emphasizes musical literacy, I start with the Hal Leonard guitar method and progress to the William Leavitt books once the student is capable.
I think my job as a teacher is to help my students find ways to make their day better through music. Music is a language. And in any language, the right words can make anybody smile! With the overwhelming amount of music that the world has to offer; becoming fluent can become a daunting task. By helping students reach realistic goals, exposing them to music they otherwise wouldn't discover, and encouraging them to find ways to practice that they enjoy; I create an environment where students can learn to speak music like a first language.
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