Stephen Maxwell Guitar Lessons

My teaching approach:

I believe in focusing on the students specific area of interest(s) first and working the techniques and theory that compliment those interests.

My influences are:

I love an eclectic range of music in general from Classical to AC/DC, from Blues Guitar to Indian Sitar..but I am more influenced by song than any one particular guitar player to speak of.

My guitar lessons take place in:

The teacher's studio or the student's home

Guitar Lessons with me take place in the following areas:

W.L.A / Venice / Santa Monica

Guitar Techniques:

Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Open tuning, Fingerstyle, Slide Guitar, Improvisation, Jamming Skills, Reading Music, Music Theory, Scales and Exercises, Song Writing, Recording and Production, Guidance In Equipment Selection

Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following:

I like to find out what attracts them to the guitar and to see if they have a minimum of time to commit to learning as well as making sure that the instrument is in good working order. I also like to get a feel for what previous experience they have with the guitar or any other instrument in the past. I ask them to play something if they can.

A guitar lesson with me might entail the following:

Seems simple but the most important part in learning an instrument is to spend time playing the instrument so I like to have the students get in the habit of feeling confident about making music and keeping their hands moving with the emphasis on enjoying the process of making music.

The qualities I look for in an ideal guitar student might include the following:

Anyone who is interested in learning and loves the sound of the guitar or has a passion for music in general will make a good student. As long as the student will put some time into practice we will make progress and that is what we are trying to do!