Todd Collins Guitar Lessons

My teaching approach:

I have been playing and teaching guitar, mandolin and banjo for over 30 years. My main studies have been with Harry Leahy and Ted Dunbar at Rutgers. My approach of teaching is based on a complete approach of understanding the guitar fretboard, building repertoire, and developing improvisational and listening skills.

My influences are:

I have many, many influences ranging from John Coltrane, Monk, Miles, Ornette, Louis Armstrong, Bird, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Bill Monroe, Norman Blake, Tony Rice, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Andy Statman, Django, Paul Motian, Son House, Muddy, and thousands more.

My guitar lessons take place in:

The teacher's studio

Guitar lessons typically take place on these days and hours:

Lessons are on Wednesday and Thursday late afternoon and evenings.

Guitar Techniques:

Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Performance, Improvisation, Jamming Skills, Reading Music, Music Theory, Scales and Exercises, Recording and Production

Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following:

Assessing a student is done by playing along with them and observing their technique, listening to their tone, and listening to their skills and approach in playing melody, rhythm, and solos.

A guitar lesson with me might entail the following:

An approach to a lesson is first determined by the genre the student is interested in and what they are looking to gain from lessons. Typical lessons start with some scales/ exercises, looking at repertoire, working on soloing either by improvising or building solos, and working on listening skills.

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

An ideal guitar student is one who is enthusiastic about playing and learning and one who is willing to put the effort into developing their skills.