About
My lessons are tailored to your goals, musical tastes and current skill level. I create step by step lesson plans to get you to your goals.
I have been teaching for over 18 years and have almost 20 years of playing, performing and teaching experience. I have been featured in numerous guitar lesson magazine columns. I'm currently releasing DVD/Download lessons through MetalMethod.com, the world's most popular guitar lessons. My best selling Metal Rhythm Extreme series can be found at http://www.metalrhythm.com
All lessons at RGS include professionally transcribed tab/music notation, Guitar Pro files, that allow you to play the exercises at any speed and private video links, demonstrating the material, so the student can watch again at home.
Free video lessons available at http://www.rockstarguitarstudio.com
I love seeing my students progress and reach their goals. That is the best part about being a teacher!
Reviews
Joe M.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First I like to go through a short interview process. We discuss the students goals, both for playing guitar and from taking lessons. What kind of music they like, how much time do they plan to practice. That way all parties are fully informed and have realistic expectations on progress. If the student already plays, I will have them demonstrate some of their various skills and knowledge, so I can design a step by step plan to help them reach their goals.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I started playing at age 14 and teaching at age 15. I've been playing, performing and recording for 23 years and teaching for 22 of them. I was a teen prodigy and advanced extremely quickly, teaching myself through books and videos. Teaching myself really helped me figure out the simplest way of explaining things to others. I also obtained a certificate in Music Theory from PPCC.
Since then I've done multiple guitar lesson magazine columns. More recently, I've been creating DVD's for Metal Method guitar lessons, the world's most popular video guitar lessons. My series Metal Rhythm Extreme are best sellers!
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Lessons are $120 a month, due on the first lesson of each month. Lessons are 30 minute lessons, once per week. The price includes professionally notated handouts, Guitar Pro files, that allow you to play along at any speed and private links to video recordings of the material, so a student can watch again at home. I'm also available at any time to answer texts, emails and calls for any questions.
How did you get started teaching?
After a year of playing, I was performing in two professional bands. People started asking me for lessons and I decided it would be fun. I was right, I enjoy teaching and it shows in my student's progress!
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with children age 6 and up, the elderly (my oldest student was 67 when he started) and even students with learning disabilities.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Watching my student play through his first song, note for note, with no mistakes. It was the first song on his goal list and he was a complete beginner only two months prior!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Do not base your choice entirely on price. If someone is offering guitar lessons for $10, $15 or even $20 per hour, there's a reason. They're probably under qualified and you'll end up paying them more in the long run, with wasted time, with zero direction.
Watch out for guitarists trying to make money on the side as a "teacher." Run away from anyone trying to teach you from a method book. Why would you pay someone to learn from a book, instead of having customized lessons?
Ask them what their plan is to get you from where you are now, to where you want to be. Chances are they don't make plans. Every lesson will be, "So, what are we working on today?" or they made up today's "lesson", on the spot.
If they give a plan to you without evaluating you first, they're lying. How can someone possibly make a lesson plan for you, without a thorough interview and analysis of your skills, practice habits and identifying small attainable goals, to reach your larger goals?
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Be realistic about how much you want to play. Too many students constantly come with an excuse of, "I just didn't have any time to practice this week!" We always make time for the things we really want to do. If you can spend 2-4 hours a night watching TV, you had time to practice.
Be realistic about your progress. You will not be Van Halen after one lesson. You could be after 6 months or even a year, with enough practice. However, most people are into Guitar as a hobby and will not be practicing that much. If you practice 30 minutes a night, 7 days a week, you will make steady, consistent progress. If you don't practice, you will be at a near stand still.
A good teacher's job is to show you what and how to practice the material, to improve your skills. It's your job, as a good student to practice. Practice should never happen in lessons and it is not a good teacher's fault, if you choose not to practice and then see no progress.
If however you're legitimately practicing and not seeing progress, a good teacher will analyze your practice methods. If your teacher doesn't offer to do this, you need to find a different teacher.