Nancy Cowan Guitar Lessons

My teaching approach:

I am a state certified music teacher and hold a K-6 general education certificate. I have taught general music and instrumental music (band and orchestra) for 8 years as of July 2012, was an Army Bandsperson for nearly 6 years (2001-2006). I have a master's degree in music from the University of Arkansas. Music is a language, and you need to immerse yourself in it! I like to take a holistic approach to the teaching/learning cycle.

My influences are:

Right now, Andy McKee, Antoine Dufore, Gabriella y Rodrigo. Also, Fernando Sor, Carcassi, Carulli, Tarrega, the classical masters like Mozart and Beethoven, The Beatles, and even Metallica and Randy Rhoades. Any major Blues Guitarist like Robert Johnson.

My guitar lessons take place in:

The teacher's studio or the student's home

Guitar Lessons with me take place in the following areas:

Students home or a studio in Tucson, AZ. I live at River and Stone.

Guitar Techniques:

Scales and Exercises, Music Theory, Reading Music, Performance, Fingerstyle, Rhythm guitar, Lead guitar

Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following:

We talk for a little while about what kind of music they like, what do the parents have in mind, I ask them questions about music, such as reading and basics about the guitar. I like to see what pace the student goes and what interests them, what is their learning style.

A guitar lesson with me might entail the following:

Start out with warming and and reviewing previous lessons, might do some improv or 'repeat after me' games. Answer students questions and get into the 'meat' of the lesson. This involves pieces the student is working on and can involve technical or musical challenges. Sometimes we record ourselves. Sometimes we look at new music to decide what's next. Sometimes we play through everything we can to determine what we are retaining.

The qualities I look for in an ideal guitar student might include the following:

Guitar lessons, like any other lessons, work best in a quiet, dedicated environment with a supportive family. When parents ask me questions about repertoire, books, practice habits, it tells me they want results and are willing to dedicate time each day to their instrument. This means setting time aside in relation to the rest of their schedule, setting up a rewards system, and even parents themselves gaining some skills by involving themselves