Phillip Adams Guitar Studio

Initially, we sit down and talk about what skills the student has, determine where they want to go and then come up with a way to get there.

Using favorite songs that are reasonably simple to learn is a good motivator to keep the student excited about playing and learning.

Undergraduate in Music Performance - University of Tennessee

Masters in Music Education - Delta State University

Advanced training in conducting and theory

I've been a performer for over four decades, performing rock, blues, jazz, country, folk, funk, bluegrass and any other viable genre known to the western hemisphere.

My lessons are $100 per month for a single 30 minute lesson per week.  Even months that have 5 lessons is still only $100 per month.

Generally, the lesson schedule follows the Leon County School System schedule.

There are two recitals per year; one in the spring and one in the fall/winter.

I started teaching once I returned from active duty in the Army, where I played the Army bands.  I taught french horn, voice, guitar and jazz improvisation at Delta State University, various music stores, from my home, at various churches and any other locations that made sense.

My student load usually looks like a cross reference to the citizenship of whatever town in which I reside.

Students range from 9-89.  Their musical stylistic likes range from 1930's songs to Linkin Park or the Allman Brothers or Garth Brooks or Stevie Wonder and on and on.

There is no real profile for most students.  We all have different tastes.

I have a ukelele student who just started taking lessons a couple of months ago.  She chose, of all things, Malaguena for her first song to learn.

After a few lessons she had already learned the entire piece.  Granted the tempo was quite slow, but recognizable none the less.  Very rewarding for both of us.

First of all, find someone you think you will like spending time with.  If you don't like the teacher, it's going to be difficult to learn from them.  Trust me, I've been there.

Secondly, l find out if they are qualified and experienced at teaching and performing.

What kind of music do they want to learn?  Are they familiar with the artists the student is wanting to learn?  What methods do they use to teach various aspects of playing?  Can they advise you on performance tips?