My Music Room
Best of 2020
2 hires on Lessons.com
9 years in business
About this pro
My teaching approach: I am dedicated to the education and empowerment of kids and adults of all ages through music and especially the guitar. Students are encouraged to explore and discover their own talents and capabilities. My influences are: Crosby Stills Nash and Young, James Taylor, Carole King, Neil Young, The Band, but I am familiar with modern pop and rock, such as Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, etc. My guitar lessons take place in: The teacher's studio in Kirkwood, Mo. Guitar lessons typically take place on these days and hours: Mon-Thurs. Guitar Techniques: Rhythm guitar, Fingerstyle, Improvisation, Reading Music. Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following: Find out if the student has had any experience at all with a guitar, and then, based on that, I would go forward with teaching the basics of holding the guitar, holding a pick, the different parts of the guitar,tuning the guitar etc. Then we would move on to reading tablature and chords. A guitar lesson with me might entail the following: My private lesson program is tailored to fit their needs, interests and goals and will provide them with an introduction to open chords, power chords, and simple scales, as well as reading guitar tablature and learning how to finger-pick. I will also touch on some music theory and vocal harmony, as the students' progress. Material is drawn mostly from the songs they want to learn to play. The qualities I look for in an ideal guitar student might include the following: Somebody that will want to learn enough to practice. Somebody who is enthusiastic about learning something new.
Watching students progress and perform for others.
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Credentials
St. Louis, MO 63101
Phone verified
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FAQs
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First we learn a little about the guitar - basic parts, tuning, etc. Then we will learn how to read guitar tablature. They will go home the first week working on play some simple melodies.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have 45+ years experience playing the guitar. I have 15 years experience playing professionally in local bands. I am currently in two bands in St. Louis. I have a Masters in Education from St. Louis University as well as a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. My studies also included music theory and music aural skills.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I will give discounts to families and to those who pay for at least four lessons at a time. Most of my lessons are 1/2 hour in length. When I get enough for a group I have group lessons as well.
How did you get started teaching?
I decided after 25 years in the mental health profession that I wanted to do something different. I was already playing music professionally so I decided to start teaching at that point.
What types of students have you worked with?
Pretty much all ages - mainly beginner or intermediate students.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I held a Student Showcase at Llewellyn's in Webster Groves in September of 2016. It was such a big hit that we are going to have these quarterly now. The kids got to perform in a real venue and had an audience of at least 60 people!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Don't give up to quickly. Guitar is difficult and frustrating in the beginning as your hands and fingers are doing things they are not used to doing - keep with it! It will get easier!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
How committed will I be to practicing? This is the biggest obstacle to getting better. Students need to do most of the work between lessons.