John Blevins Music

My teaching approach:

I like to tailor my teaching towards both students' interests and needs. I've found that the best way to keep students engaged and excited about practicing is to learn music and songs they enjoy, and I try to incorporate the necessary technical and theoretical instruction within that framework. I have experience teaching students of all ages and abilities, and I've taught with a variety of NYC teaching programs including Creative Play for Kids, Feed Your Mind Music, and The New York Pops. I've also served as an adjunct guitar and trumpet professor at New York University.

My influences are:

Most of my favorite music is from jazz, folk, and rock, including artists such as The Milk Carton Kids, Bob Dylan, Jose Gonzalez, Chad Vangaalen, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Nels Cline, Marc Ribot, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Joni Mitchell, Wayne Shorter, or Q-tip.

My guitar lessons take place in:

The teacher's studio or the student's home

Guitar lessons typically take place on these days and hours:

7 days a week, between 8am and 10pm

Guitar Techniques:

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

Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following:

In our first lesson, we'll chat about what kinds of music and what artists you like. If you have experience I'll ask you to play a song, riff, scale, or chord progression you already know. From there, I can adjust our next steps accordingly to help improve your technique and musicality. If you're a beginner we'll start with the basics of holding the instrument, discussing how it works, and fretting notes. We'll start with a few single-string melodies, and then we'll work on a simple chord such as an open E minor. We'll also spend time discussing tuning the guitar.

A guitar lesson with me might entail the following:

A typical guitar lesson with me is tailored towards the student's needs and interests. It will also include technical and theoretical instruction as needed, but I like to pick goal songs together with the student which address their individual interests while still helping them grow as a player. In a normal hour long lesson we'll spend time playing, working on, and jamming over the chosen song. We'll also spend time working on chords, scales, and theory as needed, and we'll read tablature with any musical notation. I'll always finish the lesson by writing out clear practice goals for the week.

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

Anyone with an interest in the guitar from beginners to advanced players. My goal is to keep you interested and excited, so that you're motivated to practice and improve.