Matthew Von Doran ~ Guitar Coach

Matthew Von Doran ~ Guitar Coach

5.0Exceptional(10 reviews)
Offers online services
Offers online services

About

• Be empowered through one-on-one sessions

*Please note...

Right now, I am exclusively doing remote lessons via Skype or Zoom or FaceTime... I do lots of lessons via online video & it is an extremely effective way to teach & to learn. When it is safe, in-person lessons in my downtown Saint Louis studio will be an option.

• Expand your possibilities as a guitarist & musician with a personalized curriculum

• Learn how to absorb more material at a deeper level in a shorter amount of time

• Practice effectively with an accelerated goal-oriented approach

• Increase your motivation

• Sharpen your focus & concentration

• Utilize proven time management skills

Lessons can cover:

• All styles of music

• Lead guitar

• Rhythm guitar

• Fingerstyle

• Vocal Accompaniment

• Performance

• Improvisation

• Jamming Skills

• Reading Music

• Music Theory

• Vocabulary: scales, chords, & arpeggios

• Technique

• Song Writing

• Recording and Production

• Guidance In Equipment Selection

If the student is a complete beginner, the first lesson will focus on the fundamental techniques involved in playing the music they are striving to learn to play. Quite often, a great place to start is with basic chords & strumming.

If the student is already a functioning player, then the first session is spent on diagnostics of the student's abilities. This ensures success in creating a personalized curriculum that focuses on the musicianship skills that they need to play the music they love.

The lessons usually run around 75 minutes. The atmosphere is relaxed & more about working together rather than a strict teacher/student dynamic. Students that make the most progress have a clear idea of their goals. They also are motivated & focused. I work with each client in helping them maximize their efforts... and have fun in the process!

The longer I have been at this, the more I enjoy doing it!

I have never stopped working on my growth as a musician & an educator. I am always looking for new ways to teach & explore the many aspects of music performance & musicianship skills.


Highlights

Hired 1 time
1 employee
32 years in business
Serves St. Louis , MO
Offers online services

Payment methods

Credit Card, Cash, Check, Venmo, Paypal, Apple Pay, Stripe, Zelle

Social media


Specialties

Musical styles

Rock, Country, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Classical, Recommendations available

Guitar style

Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Recommendations available

Has instrument

Student who have a guitar, Student who don't have a guitar, but are planning to purchase one

Years experience

No formal training, No formal training; some self-taught experience, 0 – 2 years experience, 2 – 4 years experience, 4+ years of experience

Able to read music

Students who can read music staff, Students who can read guitar tabs, Students who cannot read music

Lesson length

30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes

Student's age

14 – 18 years old, 19 – 25 years old, 26 – 45 years old, 46 – 65 years old, Over 65 years old

Photos and videos


  • Reviews

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    BS

    benjamin S.

    Ive been working with Matthew consistently since just before the start of the Pandemic and it has been a delight every step of the way, even when I moved out of town shortly after I started lessons. I was surprised at how well Skype lessons with Matthew actually work! The course itself is thoughtfully planned and Matthew adapts its content and the sessions to the individual learner, allowing for tangents and deep dives into areas of interest, such as theory, composition, gear, and other important areas of learning the guitar. Matthew also goes out of his way to provide for his students, offering Skype lessons at any time of day, and is always open to talk shop and share music. Truly a one-of-a-kind teaching experience and I highly recommend this teacher.
    ... Show more
    April 21, 2024

    DB

    Davis B.

    I have been a student with Matthew for over 11 years. He has been an invaluable resource in my musical education/career. The thing i like most about his lessons is that he gives you the information needed to hone you craft (like techniwue and music theory), while also keeping you inspired to create your own art. Matthews lessons are a must have for anyone wanting to elevate their understanding and enjoyment of guitar. Cant recommend/thank him enough!
    ... Show more
    December 19, 2018

    R

    Rich

    Matthew Von Doran is an excellent teacher who has a way of explaining elements of learning the guitar that are easy to comprehend. Lessons are fun and a great value.
    ... Show more
    January 24, 2017

    TB

    Tom B.

    ...I started seeing Mr Matthew not long after I figured out that you could pick a string and fret it at the same time, you dont get much more beginner than that. That has been a few years ago. What I like best is that he doesnt necessarily teach a specific set of songs but teaches you how to play what you want to play better. He has a very practical style of hands on teach/instructing that gives better in depth knowledge of what youre doing from actually playing to knowing how to figure out how to play or write your own music. He hasnt forgotten his earlier days himself and has a humble yet direct style of teaching . He has a good list of some very worthy credentials and accomplishments. Mr Matthew truly loves guitar and teaching and is awesome at both. He isnt the kind of instructor that when you get on a hot subject and your time runs out in your session that he says well well pick this up next time. You go ahead and finish up what youre on to when your session actually runs longer than the time you paid for. His love for what he does is quite obvious and inspires me and other as well Im sure. As a student I feel more confident and to love it more too. If you want to play guitar and are looking for an instructor I would strongly suggest that you give MVD a call and at least sit for a session and see what he has to offer. You wont be at all disappointed. Happy Pickin
    ... Show more
    January 07, 2017

    JC

    Jeremy C.

    I have been playing guitar for a long time and have taken lessons from a number of different guitar players. Matthew is in a class all his own in his approach to teaching and the approach to guitar overall. I have learned a lot about technique, theory, style, and overall musicianship from Matthew, but the most unique aspect of my experience with him is his ability to make the experience of learning guitar my own. He guides the creative instincts inside of me to improve my playing and, most importantly, my perception of my playing. There have been many times I have been frustrated in a lesson, but how he has helped me navigate through those frustrations has only led to me being a more capable and confident guitarist.
    To anyone considering Matthew: prepare to be challenged and come out the better for it.
    ... Show more
    January 06, 2017

    GG

    Gaston G.

    From the very first day Matthew demonstrated he had everything I was looking for in a guitar instructor, and more: vast experience, patience, great one on one listening skills, and willingness to make his students successful. Hes kept all this consistently throughout years of meeting with him.
    He will identify the key points in your objectives, make you work on them, and even bring new ones you havent even thought of. All in all, a great music professional (as you will find out) and a fantastic person.
    ... Show more
    January 04, 2017

    Frequently asked questions

    Having a clear idea of what you want to be & do as a guitar player is extremely helpful in getting the most out of your lessons & practice experience.

    Can you visualize what you will look like a few weeks or months from now as a guitar player?… actually playing complete songs… or composing… or improvising… or playing with other musicians?

    In the initial lesson, we discuss the details of the student’s goals for their own guitar playing.

    Showing up with a list of four or five songs that you would like to eventually be able to play is a great start.

    Once we’ve established a vision, we get right to it & start working together to create a personalized curriculum that focuses on the developing skills necessary for playing the music you want to play.

    I have been teaching guitar for over 35 years now.

    My experience ranges from private sessions to clinics to teaching college classes.

    In 2015, I launched an online course called the 99 Decisions Guitar Program and I also have produced video lessons for GrammyPro.com and LickLibrary.com.

    I have held adjunct instructor positions at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri and at Concordia University, Irvine, California.

    I currently maintain a position at the ex’treme Institute by Nelly, Saint Louis, Missouri, where I teach music theory to Music Business & Audio Engineering students.

    For tens years, I worked with high school level aspiring musicians from around the country as the Director of Guitar Studies at GRAMMY Camp, a music career camp which was put on by The Grammy Foundation at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, for ten days each summer.

    In addition to being an educator, I am also a composer & performer. I have released an album of original compositions, In This Present Moment, produced by Yellowjackets bassist, Jimmy Haslip, featuring Peter Erskine, Larry Goldings, Bob Mintzer, Terri Lyne Carrington, Bob Sheppard, Darek Oles, Marcus Baylor, James Genus, and Gary Novak.

    After playing guitar for a few years, I started helping people I know with their playing and discovered that I really enjoyed being able to help other players take their playing to the next level.

    At this point, I have had so much experience with so many kinds of students. 

    I enjoy working with an absolute beginner as much as I enjoy helping professionals take their playing to new heights.

    I think it is very important to shop around & find the right guitar teacher for you. You are looking for someone that is a good fit for your personality & energy.

    I also believe that a music lesson is a different dynamic than traditional academic experience…
    a music teacher actually works for you!

    You should have final say in any of the curriculum & processes. I have had so many clients that quit

    their lessons with previous teachers because they ended up not enjoying the lessons, or the material they were working on. Thier teacher was dragging them through lesson material that they thought was best for the student when it actually was not in line with the student’s own personal musical goals.

    There is always a way to cut to the chase and focus on learning exactly what you need to learn in order to apply the music that YOU want to play.

    So finding someone you can trust is important… you want to find someone with the knowledge & experience to make your musical journey productive & fun!

    Essentially, you are hiring a person who provides a service so treat it as if you are interviewing someone for a job.

    Put some thought into what you are looking to get out of the experience… write down any questions you have before you talk to anyone.

    You might want to ask about the teacher’s experience, teaching philosophy, expectations for your progress, etc.

    Generally, I teach with an open-ended dynamic so the student learns at their own pace.
    The lessons are not structured in a wy where you have to have things completed before the next lesson. It is a more fluid dynamic that works better with a busy lifestyle.

     


    Services offered

    Guitar
    Music Theory