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SFOG
About
GUITAR: THE SHORT, SWEET & SIMPLE WAY
Tutoring beginners is my specialty because I have lived through and experienced the frustration of what it feels like to be lost in the sauce and not have someone to lead, guide, and help me get off to a very good start down the road of my musical journey.
My goal is to help my students get started in the right and most efficient way on their journey through the music wonderland. Therefore, I will help to reduce the mental and academic stress that most people seem to carry as a stumbling block when it comes to learning to play a musical instrument.
I think that I have some valuable knowledge that I have gained through the years from my own real-life situations and personal musical experiences that could help you tremendously. There are vital principles about music that students should know that could help them to excel even faster and make their life as a musician much easier.
I see that many people are interested in learning how to play the guitar but don't have adequate time to put towards practice. I think that I can definitely help them with that.
Also, from my own personal experience of playing for large churches, most of the time our music ministry had less than a week to learn, prepare and be ready to play at least 4 or more songs, most of them by professional recording artist for our Sunday morning services.
So, therefore, "TIME," really was of the essence for us as church musicians (The Band).
Naturally, I have always enjoyed teaching and sharing any knowledge of anything that I have learned in my past with whoever has a desire to learn it.
I love reading and learning music theory as much as I love playing the guitar itself but, the only drawback to having the weekly commitment of being well prepared and ready for Sunday morning services every Sunday was that it did not leave me much time if any time at all to practice and work on new important music theory concepts and principles.
So, I figured the best way to get over that hump or obstacle would be to just become a guitar tutor/instructor. That way, my job would then become a combination of the two things that I love doing most. Playing guitar and learning/teaching music theory to be shared with others that have a desire to learn them too.
Now, that was a “NO- BRAINER,” for me and a very likable and doable one for me too.
Specialties
Instrument
Able to read music
Musical styles
Lesson length
Students age
Years experience
Photos and videos
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I always begin by asking key questions as follows:
1) What is your skill level?
2) What is your objective/goal for learning guitar?
3) How much music theory do you know?
4) What genres/styles of music desired to learn & play?
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Personal music history and life experiences and I am self-taught in music theory and playing guitar.
I studied Music in high school and I have been playing since 1979. I started totally from scratch or without knowing anything about music or guitars at all.
I had done some Air Force talent shows and played guitar for an Air Force community-sponsored band at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS while I was serving in the U.S. Air Force.
After relocating to Lexington, KY the church that I joined didn't have a guitar player so I auditioned for the position and was immediately offered the position. My church was one of the fastest-growing churches in the area and offered three different services every Sunday at 8 am; at 9:45 am and at 11:30 am. I signed on as a contracted paid musician for 9 out of the 10 years that I did play for my church from April 2005 to August 2015.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
$30.00/hour
How did you get started teaching?
I actually started teaching in the early 2000s, just personal one-on-one. While playing guitar in the music ministry at my church in Lexington, KY I participated in Police Activity League (PAL)/Mentoring program by teaching any kids that wanted to learn how to play guitar.
What types of students have you worked with?
Mostly young kids, some adults, and a few elderly students.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I saw two of my favorite guitar players in concert and how easy they make difficult-sounding stuff look so easy to play. Peter White and Norman Brown.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Well, as a beginner a student should try to find a tutor that knowledgeable with both the guitar and music theory most of all.
Also, someone that has a lot of playing experience and someone that can give them tips about the instrument and principles of music that can reduce the stress of learning theory and tips that can help them advance quickly the different aspects of playing guitar.
Also, in the beginning, any tutor will do for basics learning skills, but as students progress and get good enough to play chords and scales they should seeking a teacher that plays the genre/styles of music that they like and desire to play
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Any and everything that is possible such as follows:
1) About Chords
2) About Scales
3) The Circle of Fifth
4) Playing Techniques for both the right & left hands
5) Ear Training and playing by"EAR."