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Bachelor Degree: University Of The Pacific, Professional Certificate: Certification Board For Music Therapists
Hi everyone! My name is Cole and I've always had a great passion for music. In elementary school, I played violin and trumpet, later switching to baritone and euphonium in middle school. It wasn't until high school that I finally landed on guitar after my best friend bought me a cheap Stratocaster for my birthday. I graduated from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and a minor in Psychology back in 2022. I am currently a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) and am in the process of applying for graduate school to become a licensed professional clinical counselor. Music has been my life for the past 7 years and I am excited to help you on your journey to become a musician!
I began giving lessons after graduating from high school in 2017 and continued offering lessons both in-person and online when I went off to study at the University of the Pacific's Conservatory of Music. After graduating, I spent about 5 months working with my local Guitar Center offering lessons to people of all ages and in a variety of genres and styles. I primarily teach guitar, but as a music therapist, a significant portion of my experience includes singing with guitar accompaniment, so I am always open to teaching guitar students who are also interested in developing their vocal skills (all instrumentalists should know how to sing!).
For beginner students who are children (or for students who are looking for a more traditional curriculum involving reading standard notation), I typically begin with Hal Leonard's Guitar Method books to develop a foundation and familiarity with reading notes and handling the instrument with correct posture and technique. For students who simply want to play the music they enjoy and prefer using tab over standard notation, I like to jump right in by learning first-position chords, which is usually followed by common finger-picking patterns/strumming patterns, and playing songs of the student's preference. I think the best way to learn an instrument typically is by playing the music that got you interested in the first place!
I prefer to let the student's personality and general skill level dictate the pace and style in which I teach. The greatest detriment to a student's progress is a lack of interest, so I try to give the students as much say as possible when deciding what piece of music they will be learning. Every student develops their skills at their own pace, so my key concern is keeping the students motivated and interested in everything we do during our lessons. There will always be boring or frustrating parts to developing your skills in any profession, but the important part is to pace yourself to prevent burnout and give yourself the best shot for success that you can!