Grant Baker Guitar Lessons
About
My teaching approach: I have been teaching students to play guitar for over 5 years now, and have learned how to properly develop a wide variety of students. I teach more than just chords or how to play songs. I teach how those songs are made, and what makes those songs sound the way they do. With this knowledge paired with proper technique, the student can do anything they want with the guitar. They can play in a band, record for clients, become a studio musician, or even become an established teacher. Many other teachers simply teach chords or simply the correct way to play specific songs. At the end of the day, you know how to play those songs, and not much else. I feel it is my responsibility as a teacher to pass on an understanding of music that the student can then independently apply to ANY song of their choosing.
Over my 13 years of playing the guitar, I have developed a style of playing that takes inspirations of great rock and roll groups of the 70's and 80's. Having taken great influence from my teacher and founder of the Rogers' Foundation of Music Phil Rogers and his musical method that has been developed over the past 50 years, I look at music as a puzzle, where all parts fit together as one in a song.
Location: I am available to teach in two locations:
4603 S Norfleet Independence, MO 64055
This is the location of the prestigious music school Rogers Foundation of Music
My home Address located in Parkville, MO
(I prefer to only give this out to potential students)
Teaching subjects: Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Fingerstyle, Performance, Improvisation, Reading Music, Music Theory, Scales and Exercises, Song Writing, Recording and Production, Guidance In Equipment Selection
My greatest joy is seeing a concept of music finally click in a students head, and the excitement that follows after. Being able to impart knowledge and teach something to someone is the most gratifying thing for me, so being able to teach guitar is a dream come true. When students progress and get better at playing and start to understand music at its core, I feel incredibly proud, and so do they. Forming relationships with my students is very important to me, as well as taking a vested interest in their lives.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First, I identify the best method of teaching the student based on their prefered method of learning, as well as the type of music makes them the most enthusiastic. The most important thing when I teach is to make the student feel as comfortable as possible, and to make sure that each student knows that it is a safe learning environment.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been studying at the Rogers Foundation of Music for over a decade, and I have learned the magnificent and proven method that has been developed by Phil Rogers to teach students how to understand music as if it is a language. I have devoted my teaching career to this concept, and it has never steered me wrong. I have over 5 years of experience teaching students of all ages.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
The standard price for my lessons is $20/half hour. To do an hour long lesson, that price is simply doubled to $40/hour.
How did you get started teaching?
I've been taking guitar lessons since I was about 10 years old, and my instructor decided to let me teach new incoming students that were interested in guitar, as I showed great devotion to the instrument and the method in which I was taught. For the past five years, I have been teaching students of all ages and abilities.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with all ages. My oldest student has been in their late 50's, with my youngest student being 7 years old. I have mostly worked with students that are just starting to learn guitar, but I know how to teach those that simply wish to learn more.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would tell the student to find out as much about the teacher's methods as possible, and find the one that best fits his/her learning style. Find out what materials are being used to teach (if any), and determine what type of learning experience it will be. Of course, price and location is always a factor, so picking a teacher that is within reasonable distance will always be important. Most importantly, know that there is nothing wrong with switching teachers if you don't feel interested or don't feel as if you are making any progress. I wouldn't be where I am today musically if I had not switched from my original teacher.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
One question that will always be important to think through is how important the instrument is to their life. If they are passionate about the instrument and even want to try and make a career out of music, then it is important to tell the teacher that. If they are mostly interested in learning songs and chords and want to make guitar a hobby, then they need to tell the teacher that too.
But the most important thing that the student needs to think through is if they have the time and discipline to learn the guitar. As far as instruments go, guitar is among the hardest to master, and it takes YEARS to get to that point. Learning the guitar (or any instrument for that matter) will always be a marathon, not a sprint. Things will start off slow, but there will be a point where hurdles will be much easier to jump. If they are willing to put in the time and the effort, then they will reap the rewards.