James McNary Guitar Lessons
About
Hi, my name is James McNary. I have played guitar for two and one-half years, and I practice guitar multiple hours each day. I'm friendly, easy to talk to, and I will get you playing in no time. I began my guitar playing by taking begining classes from an instructor at a local high school evening class, and, from there, I've been self-taught. Being self-taught means that I know my way around the instrument in my own way and will be able to use that information to teach a more personalized lesson to the student. I enjoy playing acoustic and electric guitars, so I am more than happy to teach either guitar. I am able to answer questions a student might have that he/she couldn't find in a "Learning Guitar 101" book, because you can't talk to books, and the Internet has a limited number of answers. When I was first started playing guitar, I knew very little about music, yet I was able to give guitar lessons to my friends, to share the knowledge I had gained so far. To this day, my first student still plays guitar with me and has progressed very nicely on his own, while asking me questions if he gets stuck with his studying. I've been in a few bands over the years, and now I make music with my friends when we get together. I have a great passion for teaching music and I would love to spread my knowledge with any student.
IMPORTANT INFO:
1) Since I am self-taught, I never learned how to read sheet music; however, I learned how to read tablature, which is what I'll be teaching. Tablature is a much easier form of sheet music for begining, intermidiate, and advanced playing. Don't worry, tablature, a.k.a. tabs, is just as popular in the music community as sheet music; it takes only one lesson, at most, to learn it.
2) I only know basic ukulele, so while I couldn't show you how to be the next Jimi Hendrix of ukulele, I could show you how to start out.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I want to know a little bit about you: what you hope to accomplish with guitar, and if you have any prior knowledge of music (this could be done in person, through text message, email, or a phone call). Depending on your level of understanding, I can begin teaching you everything you need to know, and what to practice or study at home.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I took begining guitar lessons in January 2015, and I have self-taught myself everything else that I know today. I've played in several bands and have recently began making music with my friends. I have also taught guitar to friends.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
An hourly rate, to be determined.
How did you get started teaching?
Its been a personal passion of mine to help others learn and to be able to play music because it is a very special part of my life. I suffered a serious brain injury a couple years ago, and, during my recovery, the only thing i could focus on was my guitar playing. My doctor let me play guitar even though I had a broken clavicle.
What types of students have you worked with?
I can comfortably work with any skill level, whether you have an old dusty guitar in your closet that you've never touched, or if you know all the chords but just need help with finetuning your playing.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Earlier this year, I started playing music with my friends in a band and we started to improvise a.k.a. jam. You've probably seen a "jam" happen at a live concert, where there is the normal trio: guitar, bass, and drums. A "jam" is where one person makes up a little melody and everyone else in the band adds on their own parts or keeps it going and makes a song out of it. Jamming is really fun for me to do to practice my playing.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for a teacher that likes the same type of music that you like. For example, I enjoy pretty much any type of acoustic music. On electric guitar, I like to play rock, alternative, and mellow songs. I would look for the right type of teacher. You would need to know whether you want to play more structured ("following the books" type of guitar) or freeform guitar, which is more loose and relaxed. I like to teach causal music, fun songs to play, ways to make your own songs, and songs that you can go home and play for family and friends, and they would be impressed.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Why do I want lessons?
What do I want to learn?
Will I have time outside of the lesson to practice or will I need to do all the learning during the lesson?