About
There are a few things that make my service stand out:
1. I’m great with kids. I connect well with young kids and do well at keeping them entertained and interested throughout the lesson. In my mind, this is half battle when working with a young student. If you can capture their attention, you can keep them progressing on the instrument as well.
2. I really really enjoy teaching. I love the guitar. It’s my passion, and it keeps me excited about life on a day to day basis. Sharing that excitement is easy for me. You won’t ever be looking at a bored guitar instructor.
3. I’m direct. I do my best to tell a student exactly what they need to work on, to point out mistakes, and also to let students know what they’re doing well.
4. I provide lesson plans based upon what the student wants/needs. I don’t think there’s much point to work on something the student won’t enjoy. What are your goals on the guitar? Let’s find them, target them, and achieve them.
It's the best! Seriously, I love my work. Music is why I get up in the morning, and the guitar is how I play music.
I look at my work at the opportunity to share this passion with a student, and help the student achieve their musical goals. It's a great job and I'm thankful for it.
Highlights
Specialties
Musical styles
Guitar style
Has instrument
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
When I work with a new student I try be as focused as possible. Here's the process I use for the first lesson:
1. I take some time to get to know the student.
Hi! What's your name? What do you love about music? What type of music would you like to be able to play?
2. I determine what skill level and experience the student has.
Absolute beginner? OK! I know just where to start. A player with experience? No problem. Let's talk about what you want to work on.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I studied music at Northern Kentucky University in the Jazz Studies Performance Program. Since then I've played with numerous bands, taught at Sharp School of Music, ran my private studio, and have picked up clients as both an audio engineer and producer.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Yes, $120 for four 30 minute lessons.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching when I was 16 years old. I was a pure rock n' roll musician at the time. Since then I've studied jazz, learned to read music, and become an accomplished player both in terms of technical veracity and stylistic diversity.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with students as young as 8 and students as old as 93. The skill levels have ranged from absolute beginner to technically proficient, awesome players.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I'm really excited to have been engaged recently to my beautiful fiancee. She's amazing, and a huge inspiration for my work.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Hire me! Haha. Truthfully the advice I would give is this - work hard and stay focused. Consistency is everything.
You'd be amazed how many players will pick up a guitar for three or four hours then forget about playing for the rest of the month. Stay consistent with your practice. 20 minutes, 45 minutes, or an hour a day is great.
And finally, actually practice! It's tempting to pick up a guitar and mess around. Pick up the guitar and actually find something challenging to work on. Use your time wisely.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
The guitar is a broad instrument! It has so many different functions, and can be used for so many different styles.
So, to narrow it down, think about the following things:
1. What style do I want to play? Rock n' roll? Blues? Country? Jazz?
2. How accomplished am I already? What could I play right now for my new instructor, start to finish?
3. What are my goals? Do I want to play a rocking guitar solo, or do I want to play and sing at the same time?
When you hire me we'll answer more questions than just those... but that's an awesome start!
-Matt