Guitar Workshop
About
I’ve been teaching students of all ages, beginning through intermediate guitar, for over a decade at Guitar Workshop in Sacramento, CA. I teach most styles of music and can help students learn their favorite songs, as I try to cater to each student’s interests.
I have also been a working musician and jazz recording artist for several decades, and have earned awards such as the Women in Music award and the Will Rogers Award for best swing vocalist 2004. I’ve toured nationally and internationally and have had a CD released in Japan.
Though I still perform that has taken a back seat to my passion for bringing the love of music and the guitar to as many people as I can. The guitar is a lifelong friend! I love teaching at Guitar Workshop, a fun, yet serious environment that is centrally located and all about guitar.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I treat each student as an individual and try to assess their personal goals. I like to empower students to get an overall understanding of music and to that end, I hope they will learn to read music, to understand chord progressions, harmony, rhythm and groove, and improvisation skills. I do this though studying transcriptions of popular songs that I provide, as well as work in Mel Bay or other method book. It does take work to learn guitar but it is a lot of fun as well.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor’s degree and Post graduate studies in Education. I have 40 years of professional experience in music, and 15 years in teaching guitar.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Lessons are 30 minutes weekly for $25 each, paid by the month. The student picks a set lesson time slot and is responsible for coming each week. If they can’t make a lesson for some reason, they are not excused from paying, but I try to do make-ups if my schedule permits.
How did you get started teaching?
Dave Lynch, jazz fusion guitarist, guitar repair tech, and owner of Guitar Workshop has been a friend for over two decades. He encouraged me to start teaching guitar and I’ve been here ever since!
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with kids as young as 5, but I prefer 7 and older, as beginners on guitar. Some of them have gone on to have careers in music, or to become lifelong musicians. One is playing in a Beatles tribute show.
I have worked also with teens and adults who are either beginning or wish to advance their playing, or gain a greater understanding of music theory, improvisation, or harmony.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Most recently (yesterday) I had a 41 year old come in to learn to play a song for his Father’s memorial this Sunday in front of many friends and family. To start with he had no idea how to achieve this, but really badly wanted it. It was a contemporary rock Gospel song, and by the end of the lesson he could play and sing it on his own and play the main riff. He was very happy.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
A teacher needs to understand the needs of the student. The teacher can be the world’s best guitarist but if they can’t break things down into bite-sized chunks and give the student the exact piece they need right now for their development, they will not help the student. I speak from personal experience. A teacher should be patient and always encouraging.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What are your interests? What are your goals?