Drop-E-Music

It all starts with a message in your initial contact to me. If you have contacted me and do not include message, please resubmit with a message. Ideas for your message: What got you into guitar? Your favorite players and bands. Its recommend that beginners take 1 hour lessons. Amp and cable provided for in person lessons.

My journey in music began as a passionate fan, which quickly evolved into a commitment to learn and perform in bands. I started playing guitar in the mid-1980s and took my first lessons in the early 1990s with a music college graduate. Our sessions focused on scales, scale progressions, key signatures, early rock patterns, bends, licks, and advanced techniques. I later worked with another instructor who emphasized staff reading and chromatic exercises while we bonded over discussions about bands like The Misfits. As I progressed, I had a teacher who encouraged me to write songs as part of my weekly practice, exploring various genres such as funk, blues, rock, jazz, and flamingo music, along with advanced theory like chord construction. Simultaneously, I was actively playing in bands, writing songs, performing live, and recording music. Currently, I play with Do Not Push, a straight-edge hardcore band from Orlando. My experience in bands has provided invaluable hands-on learning opportunities, where I’ve taught my parts to others and engaged in a collaborative exchange of musical ideas. This environment has greatly influenced my approach to teaching, with my first student being a friend of the band. As I delved deeper into teaching, I reviewed numerous method books focused on heavy music, as well as materials from major music colleges. This research has equipped me to draw lessons from a wide range of hardcore songs, from their inception to the present, including classic thrash. I utilize specific songs to teach techniques such as sweep picking, scale sequences, fast picking, and down picking—there's a song for nearly every concept! Being a music enthusiast, I have honed my ear training skills by learning riffs and entire songs, including Life of Agony’s *River Runs Red* album. I continue to learn covers and songs from my favorite albums, such as Mindwar’s *Still At War*, as well as tracks from Sick Of It All, Terror, and Crown Of Thronz. This practice has significantly enhanced my understanding of ear training, rhythmic patterns, and their application in songwriting. I also employ various software tools to transcribe music and facilitate my ear training. My studies encompass a wide range of topics, including time signatures, rhythm, scales, modes, and various picking techniques, all of which contribute to my teaching methodology. I have participated in numerous music courses offered by Chernobyl Studios, CreativeLive, Pro Mix Academy, and Spectra Academy, covering subjects from songwriting to digital guitar tones, recording, mixing, and mastering.

1 Hour $45 45 Minutes $35 30 Minutes $20

Have instructed players both new and experienced that need to play heavy music like Hardcore or early Thrash.

Getting Do Not Push on Bandcamp with a live one take session of our songs and a cover tune by Cro-Mags. https://donotpush.bandcamp.com/album/the-tascam-sessions-vol-1

If your fan of Hardcore (Youth Crew, 90’s style to modern, NYHC, Troycore/Albany style) And some of the classic 80’s to early 90’s Thrash you’ve found your guitar teacher. For starters students of mine have been interested in learning songs like Hell’s Bells, Master Of Puppets, Hanger 18, Dyers Eve. Did you know you could also learn stuff by The Misfits, Combust, Terror, Madball, Gorilla Biscuits, Suicidal Tendencies, Spy, Never Ending Game, Sick Of It All and many more here too! Food for thought - Will this bring you closer to what your doing, Or will it take you away.

Your location - if you not in the teachers location and do not want to travel there. Online lessons are available. Your interests - If you really want to learn Death, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Acoustic, Punk, Crossover Thrash, Hardcore, Oi!. Look for a teacher that’s into what you’re into. That teacher would be able to provide relavent instruction. Your time - how much time will you dedicate and sacrifice for your guitar playing, while still maintaining a balance in other aspects of your life.