Austin Cox Guitar Lessons
About
Hello! My name is Austin Cox and I am a musician from Pasadena, CA. My main instrument and passion is guitar, which I have been playing for 13 years. Though I do play other instruments like basic piano, bass, and a little bit of singing as well.
I have taught a few students over the years most of whom were beginners and I was able to teach them all the basics of guitar and the things to know when first starting out. Most of my experience has been teaching beginners, but I would say I am capable of teaching all the way up the spectrum except for maybe advanced jazz guitar and harmony. Any general techniques of guitar, even music theory and musicianship skills or any style from rock, metal, pop, or blues to acoustic guitar and basic classical and jazz guitar, I got you covered!
In 2016, I received an AA in Music from Pasadena City College and in 2019, I obtained a Bachelor's of Arts from CSUN (California State University, Northridge).
Thank you for reading and I hope we can start or continue your journey of learning how to play the guitar together!
I most enjoy seeing the excitement from students when they discover new things and the joy and pride that ensues when they have learned and mastered a new skill.
It is also gratifying to see the progress in students over time and witness their accomplishments as they get better and better.
In essence, I enjoy helping people through their process of discovery and helping them learn the tools they need to find their own voice as a musician, it is beyond fulfilling.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I first ask any new student what their goals and intentions are for learning guitar. What do they hope to achieve or get out of playing? What kinds of music are they interested in listening to as well learning to play? How serious are they about playing? Is it just for fun or do they hope to be a professional musician some day? From there, I plan their lessons according to the information they give me.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been studying music privately for over 10 years and then I studied music in college. I received an AA in music from Pasadena City College and a Bachelor's of Arts from CSUN. I am also in two bands and have played live many times.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I usually charge $25 for a 30-minute lesson or $40 for a 1-hour lesson. I am flexible though and happy to accomodate if a student has other arrangements in mind.
How did you get started teaching?
I had a guitar teacher when I first started playing and after a couple years I began to help him with his classes and I got some private students of my own through that.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked almost exclusively with beginners, but have taught a few intermediate and advanced players and was still able to show them new things.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I saw Roger Waters (from Pink Floyd) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and it was incredible both musically and also as a live production. I learned a lot about music and entertainment from that concert.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I'd recommend finding a teacher who specializes in or is very familiar with the styles of music you want to learn and hopefully they are actively involved in the local communities for those styles. Also, it is very helpful if you genuinely appreciate the personality and teaching style of your teacher. It helps develop a level of comfort within the student-teacher relationship and may help it feel more like friends hanging out rather than being stuck in a room with someone watching your every move with an overly critical eye.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
It would probably be helpful for both the student and the prospective teacher to ask what their area of expertise musically is. It's never fun to learn that your new teacher may not have the information you're looking for. Overall, it's probably a good idea to at least have one style of music or some guitar techniques in mind that you want to learn and ideally some specific questions about how to play that style or technique since there are many different possibilities in the world of music.