Jesse W
Instruments: Guitar
Styles: Pop, Rock, Blues, Punk
Jesse W
Instruments: Guitar
Styles:
Pop, Rock, Blues, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
B.S. in Communications, Indiana Wesleyan University
2010 - Won opening slot with Bon Jovi and Kid Rock at Soldier Field in Chicago
2010 - Won Nashville Independent Music Award for Best Alt/Indie Band
2011 - Toured with Yo Gabba Gabba! as the Super Music Friends
I began playing guitar at the age of 15 and have been writing and performing ever since. I was a professional touring musician for 12 years and I had the great privilege to share the stage with Bon Jovi, Kid Rock, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Big Boi, Cage the Elephant, Candlebox, Theory of a Deadman, Marcy Playground, and many others. Music is a major part of my life, and I remember being surrounded by it at an early age. My father is a guitar player, and there was always music playing, or being performed, in the house.
I began teaching quite early in my own guitar playing experience. Once I had the basics down, my friends would ask me to come to their house to show them how to play a few chords. It wasn't until close to 5 years ago when those friends kindly asked me to start teaching their children. It was then when I realized how much I loved teaching, so much in fact that I resigned from a cushy 9-5 office job to pursue teaching full time. I was recently employed at the Neighborhood Rock School in Burbank as a guitar and band coach for ages 8 to 99. I've now branched out on my own as I find it more convenient to travel to student's homes.
I specialize in teaching beginner guitar... even students who have never touched a guitar. I typically begin by teaching a very simple chord progression to a popular rock song, and by changing the strumming pattern, it's 2 songs in 1. By the end of the first lesson, I want the student to be able to play a song, not just random chords, so they can play along to it as practice. Then I assess what style, song, or band the student wants to learn so we can work towards playing material from that group or artist. In order to do so, I use the CAGE method, and teach the C, A, Am, G, E, and Em chords. Once the basics are covered, I move onto learning power chords, and then scales.
First and foremost, lessons should be fun. I like to keep a positive attitude, along with patience and understanding, since learning an instrument can be a bit intimidating. I'm very encouraging, and might even give a good rock n' roll yell once the student is grasping a certain song or chord structure. There's nothing more rewarding than when I see my students have that "Aha!" moment and feel confident in what they are learning. It's almost like lessons are impromptu jam sessions. I feel very honored to be able to share music with others, because music is a very powerful gift.
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