Stephen W
Instruments: Guitar, Voice, Bass Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk
Stephen W
Instruments: Guitar, Voice, Bass Guitar
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-66
One semester studying bass at Berklee College Of Music (Boston)
2 years private guitar lessons
I yr private voice lessons/Vaccai method
Performed at festivals, clubs, church, private events for 37 years as a singer guitarist and bassist.
I started teaching guitar in 1975 as I was already a performer who could read music, sing, and play by ear, which is invaluable as a band member. As a guitarist/singer I performed solo as well as playing bass in a soul band, then a country-rock band and eventually performing and recording four albums with an original band. We had radio play on local/regional stations and I received royalties as a BMI songwriter. I continue to perform with a dance band and as a soloist, and have played bass with a local church since 2001.
I've taught guitar and bass at music shops in the North AL region for thirty-seven years. As a successful singer who has performed for many years I have started teaching voice as well. The desire and interest to learn music and to practice are important if progress is to be made. Some students have innate talent and may progress more quickly and some students may have to work longer for the same results. I do tailor lessons to the individual and their interests, and do my best to keep the student engaged and motivated.
I usually ask a student what they are interested in, be it chords or note reading, or learning songs. Many times a new student will know basic chords and I will review and suggest adjustments to habits developed during their self-instruction period. Teaching songs that interest the student is important, as this is a motivator to continue lessons. I also help the student with immediate tips to correct technique problems with music they've already learned I require new bass students to learn to read, and also teach them popular songs. Some students even want help writing songs! I do my best to teach song structure and basic chord progression theory to streamline and polish songs or lyrics.
I try to use psychological judo to draw a student into why they need to learn what they think is unimportant. An example of this might be scales, which are boring to some. I'll show them how learning scales is critical to chord theory and construction, as well as improvisation. I can sense when some aspect of a lesson does not appeal to a student and try to approach it from a different angle, or even return to a song or exercise later if it is too hard initially. I've recently enjoyed watching students perform that I was teaching years ago.
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