James B
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Funk, Reggae, Punk
James B
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar
Styles:
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Funk, Reggae, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
other: School of Life
Growing up in a musical family, I didn't pick up an instrument until the age of 18. I played in a small punk band briefly in 2000-2001 then focused on family for several years. I began giving guitar and bass lessons around 2010 to local high school and middle school students until 2013, when I began playing local jam nights and played in 2 local cover bands as well a Celt punk band called Lucky Lad Green. From 2013-2016 Lucky Lad Green played primarily in Western PA and even had the chance to perform with The Real McKenzies in May of 2016. In 2018, I joined the reggae rock group, Private I, and we released "Better Late Than Ever" in April of 2019.
I originally enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown to earn a degree in Elementary Education. After my second year, I left to persue other endeavors. In 2010, I began taking on guitar students in Windber, PA teaching beginner and intermediate guitar lessons to several high school students. I have done group sessions which usually turn into jam sessions focusing on each students individual strength while showing them how to play with others, but I also enjoy individual sessions that go more in depth with structure, form, rythm, and some music theory involved.
I have used several tools for instruction including Hal Leonard's Guitar method to acquire the basic techniques and positions. I highly recommend Mary Schwartz's YouTube channel to ALL of my students as a supplement to my classes for a reference on rythm and basic music understanding. After building a solid foundation on standard open chords, posture, and basic chord progressions I go more in depth with scales, arpeggios, and basic music theory including the circle of fifths and song building. For more adavnced students, we also explore modes, diffent time signatures, and simple soloing techniques.
I tend to take a relaxed and fun approach to teaching music. I think it's imperative for any student, especially beginners, to be able to walk out of their first or second session with excitement and a song or two that they can play. Learning a new technique or new pattern is fun for me, but to see someone's eyes light up after finally hitting that note dead on is really rewarding for me. Music is supposed to be fun, and I aim to take what I know and hopefully show someone else the joys that I feel when I play!
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