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Ben McSherry Guitar Lessons

Ben McSherry Guitar Lessons

4.8Excellent(6 reviews)
Offers online services
Offers online services

About

I go above and beyond to ensure my students get the best education and experience for guitar, bass and ukulele as possible. I want them to gain both skills and techniques as well as the understanding and knowledge of why, when and how to apply those techniques.

I have been playing guitar and bass for over two decades and attended Bowling Green State University for Jazz Guitar Performance. I have performed in countless musical groups and have a deep understanding of music theory, composition and technique. I specialize in rock, blues, metal, pop, contemporary and jazz guitar/bass as well as ukulele and various other string instruments.

I am available to teach lessons over Zoom anywhere in the world or in person (properly distanced and masked) in the SF Bay Area

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Highlights

Hired 8 times
1 employee
9 years in business
Serves San Jose , CA
Offers online services

Photos and videos

    • Reviews

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    JD

    Jason D.

    As an adult taking Bass Guitar lessons, I appreciate Bens patience and methodical process to teach the Bass Guitar. He has an excellent set up to show students how to maintain their instrument (string replacement, tuning, etc). Ben takes time to explain how the instrument is built and works. He works with you to find and achieve goals in your learning experience. Not only does he provide guidance he is an excellent musician and will demonstrate various techniques and music styles (jazz to speed metal). I highly recommend Ben for any lessons on Bass, Guitar, or Ukulele.
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    October 20, 2021
    •Hired on Lessons
    TM

    Tom M.

    In the course of a year Ben has introduced me to a variety of ukulele playing techniques (strumming patterns, fingering, muting, hammer-ons, hammer-offs, overtones, slides, pinching etc.) some of which Ive been able to learn and execute with some proficiency. Hes also taught me how to look at sheet music and puzzle out for myself fingering for melodies and chord fragments based on the chord structures to which these melodies and chord fragments are associated. In this time Ive gone from being a nearly 60-year old complete beginner to being someone able to competently play melody and/or chord lines for the following songs Fly Me to the Moon, Walk Dont Run, Sounds of Silence, Kawika, The Entertainer, Hide Away, Crazy, Sweet Lelani, Tears on My Pillow, Behind Blue Eyes Breakdown, Killing Me Softly White Christmas, Mele Kalikimaka Vietnam, and some others.
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    April 08, 2021
    BB

    Bina B.

    Ben teaches my three kids electric bass, acoustic guitar, and glockenspiel. He is great with kids - very knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging. They have made wonderful progress with him, and his enthusiasm for music, including music theory, have rubbed off on them. Ben is also very professional to work with. He responds quickly, is accommodating about schedule changes, and is very helpful generally.
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    April 04, 2021
    DD

    Doug D.

    Ben has been teaching our son for over a year, starting when he was 6 years old. Our son started off with Ben with no prior musical instrument knowledge. He started on the ukulele, and at the 1-year mark, Ben helped him to successfully transition to the guitar. It is incredible the strides that our son has made in such a relatively short period of time, without prior knowledge, and at such a young age. He also was able to quickly teach him how to read the music/notes, even though at the time, he hadnt learned to read yet in school. Truly incredible!
    Within weeks of playing the ukulele, our son already was playing chords and within a couple of months, entire simple songs. Now with the transition to the guitar, hes playing successfully there. We couldnt have asked for more.
    In addition, Ben is a very patient and encouraging teacher, and adapts to your childs unique personality and behaviors. He is effective at helping our son to focus and get the most out of each lesson, as he can easily get distracted by his surroundings. When its one of our sons off days and focus is lacking, Ben has a very balanced approach of pushing just enough to get results and help our son progress, even a little, while also not pushing too much to make our son not want to do it next time or resent it. Overall, Bens wonderful at adapting to each child and helping them recognize their accomplishments and rejoice in all progress made - which makes them keep wanting to come back! We highly recommend Ben for lessons.
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    April 04, 2021
    ZY

    Zach Y.

    I have been studying ukelele and guitar with Ben for a year by now. As I just finished another recording of song on my own just now before writing this, I have to say this year of practice has been fun and rewarding. I had some learning of guitar during childhood but never touched a guitar or ukelele after high school. With Ben’s help, I picked up the fun again smoothly. Ben’s skills are great, playing the instruments himself and teaching me on challenging ones I couldn’t get hold of myself. We sometimes went through music theory as well. With his help, I handled a certain level of songs that I never thought I would be able to play. Plus, Ben can help write up the note of songs I sent over with proper modifications to suit my level. I certainly look forward to more practice in the future.
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    April 04, 2021
    AW

    Ann W.

    My kids thoroughly enjoyed their lessons, progressed nicely as the lessons went on, and Ben encouraged their musicality and curiosity towards different music genres. They are enjoying Bens lessons so much that they often spontaneously play just for the fun of it. A fantastic experience.
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    April 04, 2021

    Frequently asked questions

    I begin by discussing a student's goals and passions, any musicians or artists they feel very inspired by and what their preferred method of learning is. I also gauge what their baseline knowledge of music may be, if any, so that we can hit the ground running with the best plan for progress. 

    I have been a musician for over 20 years, performed in an award-winning marching band, studied Jazz Guitar Performance in college, have been writing/composing music for myself and other artists for over 15 years, recording and mixing music professionally for 5 years. I have been teaching music part-time for the last 5 years and full-time for the last year. 

    I charge $35/half hour or $50/full hour. 

    I had many friends/acquaintances coming to me for advice and lessons and began teaching with them in 2015. In 2019 I began working at a music store in Mountain View that I start teaching full-time at until the store closed due to the pandemic. After the store closed I moved my most lessons to an online format. 

    I work with students from ages 6 all the way to 60, with interests from folk and jazz to metal and rock. 

    I was fond of a trip to Guatemala with my wife where I met her uncle who is a musician there and got to learn some of their traditional Guatemalan folk songs on guitar. 

    I would advise them to ask as many questions of a potential teacher as possible and don't hold back. Feel free to only take one lesson with someone and schedule lessons with several other teachers who may be suitable also so that you can find the person who you feel most comfortable with and who seems like you would learn the most from. 

    For the teacher:

    Is the style that you're interested in learning something they can play fluently?

    Are they patient?

    To ask yourself:

    How much practicing are you willing to do to see the results you want?

    When you are struggling are you comfortable reaching out for help?

    Are you willing to be patient to see results happen?

    Services offered

    Guitar
    Bass Guitar
    Music Theory
    Audio Production