About
Due to the rising costs of leads on this platform, I will be raising my guitar lesson prices. Students who find me on this platform will be charged $50 a 1/2 hour and $95 per full hour.
I have 20+ years with over 20,000 hours of musical instrument teaching experience and a total of 30 years of guitar playing experience with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the Chicago Music College of Roosevelt University.
I teach acoustic guitar (6 & 12 string), electric guitar, classical guitar, jazz guitar, ukulele, bass (5 string), and tenor banjo (Irish tuning).
I focus my lessons strictly on the needs and skills required to ensure my students can perform ANY genre of music in front of ANY audience.
I have taught various forms and techniques in basically ALL genres of music both past and present.
I embrace ALL forms of music and will therefore encourage my students to appropriately pick out songs of their choice to make the lesson rewarding and engaging!
I will also provide my students with exercises and drills that will strengthen their core as a musician, empowering students to learn newer songs quicker and easier.
I firmly believe I'm the right teacher for any student based on one reason: the student will see instant results not only on the first lesson, but also in every lesson moving forward.
I realized how music affected me positively on several levels. Throughout my learning process, I wholeheartedly felt in my soul that I wanted to share my knowledge and passion with others through teaching the guitar.
I’ve always wanted to be a musician since I was young. Whether it was singing to songs on the radio or dancing to records in my bedroom, music has always had a special place in my life. To turn my passion around and teach others how to awaken their own hidden talents with the guitar, came with the first student I had taught over 20 years ago, and that passion has only flourished!
It’s always a reward seeing my students progress over the years...some having started as beginners and then years later playing live shows and recitals with professional and expert proficiency.
I also teach students of all ages who have special needs.
Specialties
Musical styles
Guitar style
Has instrument
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Photos and videos
Reviews
Emily O.
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Mark P.
Marsha R.
Joseph W.
Kevin F.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
My comprehensive instruction is always tailored to my student's short term, and long term goals.
My teaching style consists of a fun, relaxed, and engaging student paced learning environment.
My promise to you as my student is that together we will discover what it takes for you to become a proficient musician with the ability to perform in front of any audience.
My classes with you will include the following content:
• Warm up exercises
• Fundamentals
• Mindfulness techniques
• Note reading
• Tab reading
• Sight reading
• Left hand/ right hand techniques
• Burst practicing (burnout prevention)
• Micro movements/economy of motion
• Proper posture both sitting and standing
• Stage performance techniques
• Embellishments
• Improvisation
• Unorthodox techniques
• Scales and Keys
• Theory
• Fretboard mastery
• Chords (all types)
• Songwriting
• Transcription
• Memorization
• Self sufficiency
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Roosevelt University (Chicago Music College)
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
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- SUBSCRIPTION PLANS start at $35 per half hour and $68 per full hour.
- Students have the choice of the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum plan. Subscription plans are to be paid 7 days prior to the first scheduled lesson of the selected plan. There is also an Iron Plan available where you can pay one lesson at a time.
- Advance payment reserves the day and time of your lessons. Subscription fees are non-refundable.
- Accepted forms of payment for subscription plans are Cash, Zelle, Venmo, and Paypal
- Subscription plans do not include any retail teaching materials such as books or instruments, nor does it include supplies such as metronomes, tuners, strings, picks, music stands, etc.
- CANCELLATIONS AND MAKE-UPS:
- Students are responsible for attending their lessons at the scheduled time and day each week. To ensure appropriate student progression with the given material, it is expected that each student consistently attend their weekly scheduled lesson.
- For any lessons missed by a teacher, a rescheduled make-up lesson with the teacher will be scheduled promptly.
- If there is a conflict to schedule a make-up for a teacher’s missed lesson, only then will the teacher issue a credit.
- For any lessons missed by a student, a make-up lesson will be arranged only with a minimum of 7 days advanced notice to the teacher for that missed lesson. In the event of illness, a make-up lesson will be offered only if availability allows. In the event of emergencies, the missed lesson will be issued a credit.
- Make-up lessons are NOT guaranteed and are given pending availability and scheduling. Subscription plans reserve the time and day of your lesson, not the lesson itself. Credits are not issued when a student has to miss a lesson. PLEASE NOTE: If you are a NO CALL/NO SHOW for a lesson, the teacher will not issue a credit or a makeup for that missed lesson. No exceptions.
- No refunds, make-ups, or credit will be issued for missed or discontinued lessons after they are scheduled.
How did you get started teaching?
I realized how music affected me positively on several levels. Throughout my learning process, I wholeheartedly felt in my soul that I wanted to share my knowledge and passion with others through teaching the guitar.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've work with students of all ages and even teach students who have special needs. No challenge is too tough to overcome, and I enable my students with that mindset during the course of lessons.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
My best advice would be to make sure that after every lesson, you have progressed and that you are cultivating the skills and tools needed to keep challenging yourself in your daily practice.