Michael J Perrotta Guitar Lessons
About
My teaching approach:
Over the past decade, I have built a teaching method which ensures that each of my students will learn how to become proficient at playing acoustic guitar, electric guitar, or bass, in various genres and settings. Each of my students are trained to become independent musicians who are capable of learning how to play songs on their own, create music, improvise with others, and become experts in their preferred musical styles. Whether the goal is playing in a touring band, writing and performing locally, or just playing at home, I teach an individualized and evolving curriculum, based on the current interests and growth of each student.
My influences are:
When I first started out, my three favorite bands were Pink Floyd, Metallica, and The Offspring. From there my influences grew to include progressive metal like Symphony X, and Opeth, and even branching into the Japanese rock scene with bands like Luna Sea and X Japan. Throughout the years my love of classical music has grown stronger with composers such as Bach, Shostakovich, Debussy, and Ligeti.
My guitar lessons take place in:
The teacher's studio
Guitar Techniques:
Guidance In Equipment Selection, Recording and Production, Song Writing, Scales and Exercises, Music Theory, Reading Music, Jamming Skills, Improvisation, Performance, Vocal Accompaniment, Slide Guitar, Fingerstyle, Open tuning, Rhythm guitar, Lead guitar
Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following:
During our first lesson, I try to learn as much as I can about the student's goals and expectations, and discuss how we can achieve them. I explain how lessons work and answer any questions that are brought up. During the lesson, I also do a setup on the student's guitar to make sure it will be in ideal playing condition. Although the first lesson is an assessment, I still make sure the student leaves with something to practice that week.
A guitar lesson with me might entail the following:
A typical lesson begins with an assessment of what the student accomplished in the week prior. After working on that material, new material will likely be introduced depending the student's progress. Each lesson is based on the current goals and needs of the student, and may involve studying his/her favorite songs, improvising, sight-reading, composing, technique, etc. At the end of the lesson, we discuss practice goals for the next week.
The qualities I look for in an ideal guitar student might include the following:
My ideal student is passionate about music and learning, and is self-motivated. I love when students come in and show me something new they discovered or worked on, in addition to what we have been studying together. A student who is out there listening, exploring, and creating on their own, is generally one who will succeed in whatever they set out to accomplish on guitar.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
After a quick playing assessment and discussion about a new student's goals, we start working on whichever areas I believe they will see the most immediate benefit. This typically means cleaning up right and left hand technique, going over highly efficient practice methods to greatly cut down what is ordinarily a time consuming learning process, and giving the student material to study based on their interests.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Fifteen years of teaching experience, backed up by two decades of studying privately with some amazing teachers, and tons of real world experience as a studio musician, producer/engineer, and performer.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I have two standard lesson formats. The traditional being once per week at the same day and time for one hour at $70/lesson. This can be held either in my studio in East Setauket NY, or over FaceTime/Skype.
The other lesson format I offer is 20 minute FaceTime/Skype lessons for $25. This is a guided practice session, similar to working with a personal trainer at the gym. It's a great opportunity to really dig into a single concept and take it to the next level. While I've found this lesson format to be highly beneficial for anyone, I designed it for students who had very busy work schedules, and even have several people who take this type of lesson from their office on their lunch break!
How did you get started teaching?
I've always naturally been a teacher. Even when I was young, I would take on a teaching role with other kids in whatever activity we were doing - skateboarding, games, etc.
In my late teens I was gigging a lot, and people started asking me for lessons after seeing me play. I did this casually for a little while, until getting invited to teach at a local music store. While I did enjoy the years I spent there, it soon became obvious that in order to give my students the very best I had to offer, I needed to have my own lesson studio.
What types of students have you worked with?
In fifteen years and well over 10,000 lessons, I've taught hundreds of clients at all skill, age, and experience levels. I work with touring professionals, local gigging artists, and absolute beginners who have never played an instrument before. The youngest I typically teach is 5 years old, and I regularly have students just starting out in their 50s and 60s.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for someone who understands the learning process, knows how to adapt to each student's needs, and is a full time teacher with their own studio.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What are you looking to accomplish through lessons?
What are some of the things that have been difficult for you in the past?
Do you have any questions about music or guitar that no one has been able to answer clearly?
Where would you like to end up as a guitar player? Do you want to write and record your own music? Improvise at local jams? Play professionally as a session musician or go on tour? Or are do you just want to be able to play some songs you like for yourself, family, and friends?