Douglas E
5.0
(152)
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Organ, Lap Steel Guitar, Ukulele, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Funk, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Bossa Nova
Douglas E
5.0
(152)
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Organ, Lap Steel Guitar, Ukulele, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Funk, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Bossa Nova
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 6-80
Graduated summa cum laude from Berkleee college of music 1991
Played with members of the Grateful Dead, John popper of blues traveler
Played with Spin doctors, Jazz bassist Cecil Mcbee .
Harold Brown from the band “War”
I have my own teaching business and have for 20 years.
I have taught for 25 years and can teach any level on guitar and most levels on piano. I have taught thousands of people, many of them complete beginners who have become very accomplished musicians through years of lessons. I really enjoy helping high school jazz band students with their pieces. I help the students understand how to simplify their thinking on the songs to make it easier to play them. I love teaching students how to improvise and use chords as a basis to understand music in depth. I custom create lesson plans for each student. Everyone has different interests and I ask that right away. I also talk with the parents and send weekly lesson plans. All fundamentals are met with sigh reading, scales, songs, and keeping it fun at the same time.
I started teaching right after I graduated from Berklee. I have worked in studios , but have been self employed for the most part. It’s very rewarding and creative that way. I have played 3,000 performances in my career, which gives me a unique perspective on teaching. I have run rock camps as well. I prepped the singers, drums, bass, keyboards, and guitar players. They had a concert for the parents at the end of the camp. I also teach quite a few adult students. I’m very flexible on time for them as well.
Through the years, I have compiled sheet music that I wrote out myself of songs that were hard to find/and easier to read. I have hundreds if not thousands of these songs. I start beginner guitar with Neil young songs because they are slow and use basic chords. Also a Pink Floyd song. It has worked for years. From there I teach a Bob Dylan song and sweet home Alabama. From there , the students get to pick their own songs. They also learn how to sight read. For piano, I use piano adventures books to start. I teach “holiday music” to keep the kids engaged too.
My students have gone from 5 year old beginners to very accomplished piano and guitar players. The student gets to pick the first two songs of the lesson, and I pick the next 2. That way, they get a lot of choice for the lessons. With the pandemic, the students have been very consistent with not missions lessons, which is pushing their progress as well. I, glad that I can provide a much needed outlet for them right now with things being a little different. For guitar players, I use YouTube and have them play along with the music I set up. They go to 75% speed alot, and eventually increase it .
Lary Kleeman
Doug E. is an exemplary teacher of piano and guitar in that he is talented yet humble while delivering encouraging and thoughtful lessons. Doug consistently explains, at depth, what?s behind the musical theory being studied. Above all, a lesson with Doug is a celebration. As an example, during the second summer of the pandemic, Doug would make the extra effort to come to our patio where he and our son would have outdoor sessions. My wife and I, sitting in lawn chairs, delighted in the music they produced (with Doug on electric guitar and our son on the keyboard)?it was like listening to a jazz combo in the park! We highly recommend Doug E.
Sam Jay
Doug has been providing lessons for our daughters for several years now and they love it! He’s a great instructor and very patient. Plus they continue to improve
Mandy W
Doug E is an amazing teacher. He is personable, knowledgeable and extremely patient. He took the time to get to know our son and teach him music he was interested in, at the same time pushing him to try new types. We are very grateful to Doug!!
Bri G
My son has been taking guitar lessons with Doug for about 6 months, both in person and remotely, and we are amazed at what he has learned in such a short time. Doug was able to connect with him quickly and identify music that he would enjoy learning, and consistently adds to the library for him to practice and play. In addition, my son has found other music he wants to learn, and Doug helps him find patterns and similarities with other songs he knows so he can better pick up new material. We are really pleased with how far he has come with Doug and would highly recommend to anyone looking to explore a new instrument.
Bill G
I took lessons from Doug for several years. It was fantastic. His knowledge and personality make it so enjoyable. I would recommend him to anybody without hesitation. You will not be disappointed .
P J
Doug clearly lives and breathes music and eagerly wants to share his knowledge and brilliance. Doug has ultimate patience, care and dedication for all students. He is always my first recommendation and has adapted incredibly to online teaching.
Lindsey Patty
Our son started piano lessons with Doug at the age of 5. He is now 9 and still loves Doug! Doug is incredibly patient and kind, and he really works to make the lesson fun and to try to find songs that my son enjoys playing. We did in-person lessons until everything closed during the pandemic. Doug was able to continue teaching through FaceTime, which helped so much during a time when everything was changing. I would highly recommend Doug!!
Nancy Fritsch
My two daughters (teenager and 20's) have taken guitar and electric guitar lessons from Doug for several years now. They have both had the pleasure of taking both in person lessons and on-line lessons. Both girls enjoyed their lessons and learned new skills, music reading, and music theory from Doug. We highly recommend Doug to anyone of any age wanting to either learn a new instrument or increase their skill on an instrument they currently play. Doug is extremely patient, kind, encouraging and talented. My girls enjoyed learning to play the music Doug recommended, and also appreciated that he regularly asked them to request songs they wanted to learn to play.
Pam C D
Our daughter tried guitar lessons two years ago, she had a slow start with another teacher, then Doug came in the picture. She started to make progress so fast, got engaged since she could play more chords in a fast pace and has had lessons weekly with him. We went from listening to easy 3 chords songs like Old town road though I'm still standing and up to Midnight Sky, not to mention the X-mas and Halloween range of songs. She sings as well, so it's a full entertainment what she delivers with her acoustic guitar. Doug knows his thing, surprisingly they kept the pace even after the pandemic interrupted the in-person classes and we kept having classes only online. Even thru this difficult period she continued to grow. She can play different types of songs, does fingerpicking and some other techniques to show her fiends on the porch or by the fire. As a teacher he is reliable and keeps our kid motivated, he listens to the parents requests as well as kid's taste. Next project is the electric guitar. Thank you Doug.
Garth Altenburg
My son took drums from Doug and he really enjoyed it. Doug is so patient and professional. Through my son's drums lessons, I started taking guitar from Doug. Doug gave me the skills and tools to really play guitar. His teaching is tailored to the needs and interests of the student which keeps interesting and engaging. I wish Doug still lived in Maine; my lessons with him were a highlight of my week. Doug's students are fortunate to be working with him.
Genevieve Carignan
I'm 13 and Doug has been my guitar teacher for maybe 5 or 6 years now. In every lesson I have a blast with him. He teaches me so many things from scales to finger-picking patterns. I'll tell him songs I want to play then he'll go figure them out and teach them to me. It's such a dope way of learning- super thankful he's my teacher. Learning guitar from him is so fun, couldn't find a better guy to learn guitar from.
Mollie C
Doug teaches guitar to my 11 yo daughter and 13 yo son. They are really enjoying the lessons and picking it up so quickly! They love that Doug let’s them choose the songs they want to learn, it really helps to keep them motivated and engaged. So thankful for the virtual option as it fits perfect with our crazy schedule!
Tim Hoopingarner
I’ve worked with Doug for two years on guitar, and I love this guy. He is always upbeat, positive and supportive. I’ve faced repeated physical challenges which forced me to take long breaks, and Doug always accepts me back, right where I am, and helps me move forward. Doug us an excellent guitar player, and in addition I’ve eves dropped on him practicing jazz piano, and I was blown away. Doug is a great musician, a great teacher, and a wonderful human being. I highly recommend him!
Seth Queeney
Doug was an excellent teacher for bass guitar and six string guitar! He helped me grow as a jazz bass player and learn the basics of guitar. He is patient, skilled and willing to work with musicians of all skill levels. A talented musician and wonderful guy - highly recommended!
Doug Ryan
Doug E. is a talented and diverse musician, and a fine teacher. He makes lessons fun and accessible to all levels, despite his vast musical knowledge. He is also patient and good humored. I find it helpful that even though he is a very accomplished guitar player, he's also talented on the keyboards, which for me at least is an easier way to understand musical theory and concepts. Highest recommendation!
Luke L
Doug has been teaching me for around seven years and he has been great, teaching me everything I need to know about piano and helping me learn many different songs. He has been a flexible and patient teacher over the years. I would recommend him to anyone wanting to learn the piano.
Gerald S
Doug has been teaching me for the past 18 months on acoustic and electric guitar...both virtual and in-person lessons. He is an excellent instructor whose breadth of knowledge allows him to tailor his answers to questions to provide just the right amount of context and depth. I am completely satisfied, and I would highly recommend him for guitar instruction.
Brad J
Doug has been teaching my 14 year old son guitar for a little over 6 months now. He is by far the best instructor we have had. Covid has been challenging and remote lessons are going very well. Doug is just fantastic and will be our instructor as long as he wants to be. :o). My son is growing leaps and bounds in guitar and really enjoys working with Doug each week. Doug is great about mixing things up and keeping the lessons fresh and interesting, it’s quite simply a fun time of the week for my son and that about says it all. Can’t go wrong selecting Doug to work with!!
Leslie A
Doug worked with my son and was excellent! He let our son choose music that kept him interested and also challenged him to improve. Doug was responsive and attentive--great teacher!
Steve Dixon
Doug is great....Knows his stuff and a very pleasant guy! I am learning so much!
Mandy Kerr
Doug has been teaching our 9 and 10 year old boys piano for close to 3 years now. We have ever changing schedules and Doug is always flexible and super responsive to meet our needs. Doug has a great demeanor, is kind, patient and fun. Our boys respond well to his teaching style, have shown enthusiasm for learning as well as the theory portion of the lesson. We plan to have many years of lessons in the future!
Dawn taylor
Doug has made this experience fun and not stressful. He is patient and open to hearing what songs I would like to play as I progress in skill. His calm demeanor has helped me enjoy the lessons and feel hopeful about getting more proficient in my playing piano. I highly recommend him.
Andy Acerra
Super knowledgeable and experienced. Doug takes the time to understand your current playing ability / learning style and create a plan that works for you. I highly recommend to anyone looking to enhance their playing!
Mudit Rungta
Kind and professional
Sanchya Bhagat
Fantastic lessons. He takes time to understand what you're interested in learning and helps in every step of the way. Super flexible online lessons perfect for anyone looking to get back into music
Erika Rydberg-Hall
Doug listens to his students and provides positive feedback and new music!
Rachel
Great with kids! Kind, patient, and keeps it fun! Positive and encouraging.
Bobby
Doug’s a great teacher - piano or guitar - fun engaging lessons you can customize to learn your fav songs…highly recommend regardless skill level.
Kash Patel
Doug is very patient with young kids and highly skillful. He provides lots of encouragement and my kid always looks forward to piano class. I would highly recommend him.
Thomas
I had a trial lesson for my 5 year old son. Doug could connect with my son and he listened to Doug’s instructions. After the trial class I enrolled for 8 classes with Doug. I appreciate him for helping me through the process and being flexible. He was really patient with my 5 year old and curates the lesson at his pace. I would highly recommend Doug for your music journey!
Stephanie
Fantastic lessons! Best teacher we’ve had, more effective than any of the in person lessons we’ve done in the past. Doug is kind, encouraging and follows the interests of the child. Excellent all around!
rhonda
doug is an expert at what he does! he has a sound for music and is talented in teaching and also listening to what his students need and want. highly recommend him for lessons
Chrystal
My son has been taking lessons with Doug since August and it is so amazing hearing his progress. In addition to be a dynamic instructor, he is also so organized. I appreciate the lesson reminders and recommended lesson plans.
Mike Hughes
I have found Doug to be a very knowledgeable guitar teacher, whose easy-going nature makes learning pressure free and fun. I highly recommend Doug as a music teacher.
Erika Rydberg-Hall
Doug is a patient teacher, whose passion for music shines through.
Sam R
I had been playing guitar for quite some time before starting lessons with Doug earlier this year. Doug has been exceptional at filling in the pieces I’ve been missing in my playing while broadening my understanding of music theory and guitar technique. He’s super flexible, allows me to learn at my own pace and is great with communication and feedback between lessons.
Devu S
Doug is so helpful and crystal-clear in his explanations. He goes out of his way to demo different techniques and works very hard to support students however they need. Highly recommended!
Dawn Taylor
Doug has been patient with this 56 year old beginner. He has helped me with the songs I’m interested in playing and goes above and beyond to find the music. I look forward to our sessions and find the virtual format very convenient with my schedule.
Steph M.
My daughter has been taking piano lessons with Doug since September 2022. I am truly impressed with her progress. Doug is an extremely knowledgeable, patient and organized teacher. I appreciate the reminders that he sends before each scheduled lesson.
Monique
This class could not have been offered at a better time for my 13 year old! Unfortunately, due to Covid a lot of extracurricular activities were minimized, but this was a no-brainer for Me and PLUS my daughter, who ASKED and loves it!! I was too excited to witness her proactively practice on her OWN throughout the week without be told! Doug is very patient and encouraging! I monitored the first 2 classes, but was completely impressed from the onset!! We?ve been doing this tutorial for 12wks more! I highly recommend this form of teaching as an alternate!! Monique J. Mother
Yuly Betancur
Doug has been very patient with my 6 year old son , and my son has learn a lot. Doug it is very flexible with the class schedule , love the way he teaches and his knowledge. I would highly recommend .
David P.
Doug’s passion for music is evident in the time he takes in between classes to create countless instructional videos for songs that interest me. His dedication to his craft inspires me to practice more and challenge myself on the guitar daily. The lessons are tailored to want i want to cover (eg theory, blues, strumming patterns, etc ). I would highly recommend Doug as a teacher .
Helina
Doug has been doing a great job with my 5 year old daughter who can be difficult to wrangle at times. He has been very patient with virtual piano lessons and has taught her a lot in only 6 weeks. It has fueled her love of music and she truly looks forward to every lesson. The weekly lesson plan is a great reminder to encourage her to practice and I appreciate the tips he provides to keep her engaged. I would highly recommend Doug as a teacher!
Jake Kiever
Great instructor.
Mason Swedo
Doug is wonderful! He’s super patient and encouraging to my 7 year old with piano and guitar lessons. I would highly recommend him!
Theo Gatica
My son Theo loves his piano lessons. Douglas is a good and very patient teacher. Happy to have him as a piano teacher.
Tristian Ighedosa
We are loving our experience with Doug. He is patient and always on time for our session.
Miles Corporandy
Doug has been really great! He has a very flexible adaptable teaching style, so if something's not working for the student he's ready to pivot. But also not shying away from challenging my son and pushing him to do big things early on. Also very down to earth, and talks to my son like he's just another person and not a little kid voice, which my son really responds to.
Kristen Altmaier
I've been working with Doug for the last four months, taking both piano and guitar lessons. I am really pleased with the progress I am making on both instruments, especially considering that I am an older adult learner. Doug is very adept at teaching in a variety of learning styles. If you don't understand a concept or playing technique, he effortlessly switches gears and uses another way of communicating and showing the technique to you. The lessons are very instructional, and he doesn't introduce new concepts until he feels you have a sufficient level of mastery on more foundational skills. If there's an area you are really struggling with, he is a great cheering section, encouraging you to keep going and not give up. He is also laid back, funny, extremely patient, and most importantly just wants to see his students have fun, succeed, grow in their music journeys, and learn a little something about playing music along the way.
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