About
My aim is to teach you to play the songs you like to play without necessarily learning to read music. I teach practical chord construction and basic theory to get you on your way to playing right away. Bring your favorite song(s) and we'll go from there.
Seeing the look on student's faces as they clear the road blocks to playing along with their favorite songs. Lot of joy there.
Highlights
Reviews
D. D.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I like to see where a student is in knowing the fret board. Some students don't want to remember the whole fret board, and that's ok. A student can learn to play a lot of songs by knowing a handful of chord shapes and apply them to various songs across differnt keys.
I want to keep it as simple as possible yet get a student poised to start learning on their own.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I learned to play guitar by a great teacher who was very practical and didn't mind if I didn't want to learn to read standard notion. From there I learned chord shapes and a few scales that have gone a long way in helping me learn my favorite songs.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $35 per lesson.
How did you get started teaching?
I began as a volunteer here in the west valley, Glendale, Peoria, Sun City. After having a lot of students spread the word, I've had to start scheduling and charging for my services. I've gotten really busy, but it's a good thing. I really enjoy teaching students to play the songs they love.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with students of all ages, but when it comes to genres, I've primarily worked with folks who like old time rock & roll, country, R&B (my favorite), pop, soft rock, and jazz. I don't teach Heavy Metal. Some students have asked to learn just enough to play a few songs for birthdays, small family parties, or to just play around to during the TV commercials.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Set up an intial lesson with a few different teachers to find one that is going to teach you in a way that is comfortable for you. Don't continue to pay a teacher to teach you things you don't want to learn. You'll pretty much know during your first lesson if a particular teach is the right one for you.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Think about the type of music you want to play and whether you want to play chord rhythm to back up a vocalist (or yourself) or to pick single notes for soloing.
Think about how much theory you want learn (if any) or how simple you can keep the lesson so you could merely play basic party songs for family and close friends.