Guitar Lessons W/ GG Amos
About
My way of teaching is a very intuitive one, I listen to what my students say they want to learn, what they're interested in musically and go in that direction.. all the while focusing on the fundamentals of guitar, such as good techniques in body & hand position, strumming & picking and proper fretboard fingering. I believe in getting the best sound out of whichever note or chord you play, so good technique is always part of that process.
One of my best attributes is patience and not judging my students in a personal way at all. They trust me and know I'm in their corner, so they make progress at their pace.
I have a lot of respect for each student's goals and aspirations and I am always encouraging and supportive.
I love working with people, one-to-one, and getting to know their personality over time! I am ultimately rewarded when they learn new things, can play songs or take solos they never thought they could. I love seeing their confidence go up when they play better and better! Some of my most enduring friends are students or former students of mine.
I also learn new things about music just working with them. For me teaching is learning.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
For new students, I first assess their level. Beginners are a clean slate, and I start them on basics.. how to hold their guitar, how to strum, show them a few chords, explain what measures are and the fundamentals of timing and rhythm, show them how to read a chord chart so they can start to follow a chord progression.
This eventually leads to playing their first song.
For more intermediate students, I also assess their skill level and see if there are any habits that need re-adjusting. I always listen to my students goals and what type of music they're into so that I can tailor their lessons around those things. I have a large list of songs from which to choose tunes for my students to learn, but I also ask them periodically to tell me if there's a song they like, that they wish to learn.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I learned from great teachers at a young age, including 5 years of private lessons. As I got older, I learned from other guitar players either by asking questions, having them show me things, and also by playong along with recordings.
I have had the best training– performing with great bands and band leaders who mentored me in the field. And leading my own band for the past 21 years has taught me things that one can't find in a book.
Years of practicing and listening made me strong and developed my ear .. your ear is the most important asset when it comes to music.
I'm still honing my skills as a guitarist, by listening to other artists I admire and trying new riffs, or chords that are new to me. I also keep studying music theory, which really is a pretty vast field! I know a lot of theory, which I can pass onto my students, but there's always more to learn.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Beginning and Intermediate students> 30 minute lessons are $35 .. 60 minute lessons are $60.
Advanced students> 60 minute lessons are $75
Generally students pay for the upcoming month of lessons at the end of the current month.
How did you get started teaching?
After having played guitar for 50 years, and performed professionally for 33 years, I decided to start teaching guitar after my sister recommended it. I had a history of teaching actually; when I was in middle and high school, I taught swimming for 6 years. The best thing about it was how it developed my patience level, which is probably the most important attribute a teacher can have.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students from age 7 up to 65 so far, and students of all backgrounds. Many ethnicities and nationalities of people.