James Flood Guitar Lessons

My teaching approach:

I provide students the tools they need to most successfully attain their goals for the guitar, whether those goals are very modest, very ambitious, or somewhere in between. Helping students achieve what they are most enthusiastic about is what is most rewarding to me. To help reach these goals, I give students a foundation in sound guitar technique and general musical skills, as these are both paramount to bringing out the best in the student’s potential. Trained in the Aaron Shearer tradition of classical guitar technique, I emphasize minimizing tension to achieve greater precision, speed, fluidness, good tone, stamina, and musical sensitivity. I also teach students music reading skills with an emphasis on feeling and understanding rhythm. Good technique, reading skills, and good rhythm lay a foundation that the student can take with him or her for life, providing the tools needed for continued improvement, to better be able to take on new styles, or to do more in-depth study of music theory if interested.

My influences are:

Manuel Barrueco, David Russel, John Williams, David Gilmour, the Beatles.

My guitar lessons take place in:

The teacher's studio

Guitar lessons typically take place on these days and hours:

Mon: 3:30pm - 9:00pm Tues.3:00pm - 9:00pm Wed. 3:00pm - 9:00pm Thur. 2:30pm - 4:00pm Fri. 2:30pm - 7:30pm Sat. 10:00am - 1:30pm

Guitar Techniques:

Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Fingerstyle, Performance, Reading Music, Music Theory, Scales and Exercises

Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following:

If the student is a complete beginner I go over seating and holding positions, right and left hand positions, and the basics of reading music. Classical guitar students normally get to the music reading part in the second lesson. If the student is an experienced player, the first lesson is generally devoted to discussing what direction the student wants to go in and assessing what skills the student will need to work on in order to attain their goals.

A guitar lesson with me might entail the following:

The typical lesson begins with the student playing the music they've practiced for the week. We then discuss various aspects of playing to help the student improve on the song or piece, or to improve playing skills in general. Students leave with a clear direction of what to work on for the week, with clear goals on what to accomplish for the following week's lesson.

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

The ideal student is one who practices what is assigned him, and yet has the inspiration to go beyond. He or she also has a desire to make music as opposed to merely learn to be a technician on the guitar. The more the student absorbs the information and inculcates the technique and musical concepts worked on, the faster he or she will progress. However, I am happy to take anyone who is willing to practice. They do not have to meet the "ideal!"