Guitar, Bass, Ukulele And Songwriting Lessons With Chris

If a new student has some experience already, I first evaluate their playing to ensure I give them suitable material that will help them grow and won't hold them back.  From there, I determine which method, songs and exercises are appropriate for the student to work with.  I always encourage students to request songs they want to learn, as even if it's a difficult song there's always a suitable way to approach it at their level and they'll likely be more driven to practice.

I have received training in the Suzuki Classical Guitar method by renowned Suzuki teacher-trainer Andrea Cannon and minored in Music at the University of Texas in Austin.  In my earlier years, I played electric bass in the Lamar High School Jazz Band and took private lessons for both guitar and bass with Dave Carey in Houston, Tx.  I have performed guitar and bass in many rock ensembles over the years in a variety of settings and venues, including Quasar Cycles, New Car Caviar (Pink Floyd cover band), I Am The Albatross and Inverted Colors.

I charge $32 for a half-hour lesson and $60 for an hour.  

I started teaching music with the Boys and Girls Club of Napa when they were looking for someone to run several afterschool music programs in 2009 and my music teaching snowballed from there.  Before moving back to Texas, I also worked with Instrumental Music for Children,  going to schools and home to teach private music lessons.  In 2014, I started working with Beyond the Grade in Austin where I lead a rock band program, guitar classes and an early childhood music program called Rock-a-Doodle.  I currently work at Sense and Color School of Music where I have been teaching both private lessons and rock band programs since 2015.

I have worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, from young beginners just starting out to adult students looking to get their chops up.  

A student of mine made a recording of 'Back in the USSR' for our online recital, with him playing all of the guitar, piano and vocals while I contributed bass alongside drum track.  Seeing him evolve over the years from a shy student to a front man in our rock band program to practically a one-man band for this video has been stunning and inspiring.  Him and another student are currently planning on tackling either some Thin Lizzy or Iron Maiden for a collaboration with them sharing dual-lead guitar and rhythm section (drums and bass) duties.

I would recommend that a student look for a teacher that has experience playing and teaching the music that the student wants to learn.  It’s not only important for a teacher to have experience performing music, it also important that a teacher has a track record of helping students succeed and reach their desired goals.  

These are the first questions most students should think about when starting lessons:

What songs/styles do you want to learn? 

What kind of guitar/bass/ukulele is best for those styles?

What instrument size do you need? 

Are you willing to commit at least 15-20 minutes a day for practice time? 

Who is your favorite musician/band?  Did they inspire you to start playing and why?