Larry Bolles Guitar Lessons

My teaching approach:

I individualize the lessons to help you reach your goals efficiently. I have studied nearly all guitar styles at the university level and teach both university students and those who want to play for fun. I love using the many disciplines I have pursued to put in your hands great pieces and exercises that fit your tastes and that will not waste your time. The shortest road to mastery is intelligent and passionate practice. The next right piece or excercises for your level is essential- much nore important than the same rote method many put in front of students. I love helping you reach goals.

My influences are:

Pepe Romero, Segovia, Monk, John Renbourn, Lee Ryan, Holdsworth, Bruce Cockburn, JS Bach, Dowland, Scofield, Jesus, George MacDonald, Eric Berne, early Jango and Larry Coryell, Yoav, Howard Morgan, Itzhak Pearlman, John Duarte's jazz arrangements, The Tao of Negotiation, Deschooling Society, Van Gogh, God's creation on earth, skiing in the mountains, and my wife, Sarah.

My guitar lessons take place in:

The teacher's studio

Guitar lessons typically take place on these days and hours:

No week end lessons- I have a family! Most week days and week day evenings are good. I can do video/cam lessons also.

Guitar Techniques:

Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Open tuning, Fingerstyle, Vocal Accompaniment, Performance, Improvisation, Jamming Skills, Reading Music, Music Theory, Scales and Exercises, Song Writing

Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following:

There is an art to playing well. I have written pieces in all styles that are fun that fine tune your technique. You are in the driver seat with repertoire. The physical aspect is very important- how you hold the instrument and use your body. Next it is vital to find your level of ease with pieces you love. If you have a level ten skill set and the piece requires a level 3 set of skills you will progress. Many do the opposite and become frozen physically and musically. That is easily avoidable with a desire to build the elements of playing with ease and intelligence.

A guitar lesson with me might entail the following:

I have taken over 30 years of master classes with the best in many styles and can help you draw on what these masters of the instrument have shared to help people with similar strengths and weaknesses. I have studies and pieces published through Mel Bay that are examples of my quest to give you interesting music as you build your skill set and musical understanding. One size does not fit all!

The qualities I look for in an ideal guitar student might include the following:

One who knows what they love and is open in mind and heart to learning. The full cup greatly slows progress. I have seen people who are able to be open and receive grow very quickly. We can sabotage our growth when we cannot really be receptive and open. Curiosity and a kind of real reverence for art are the keys to progress. I have had such wonderful students who really do want to learn all they can without putting on the brakes. It takes patience and the love of music and this great instrument to stay humble and share at the higher levels. Our age is so impersonal. This practice is healing!