Guitar Lessons

I teach the student to accomplish small goals one at a time over a period of time -- exactly as I was taught and how I practice every day.  I try to challenge the student and support it with patience and thorough instruction.   I teach students that they can achieve anything by establishing and achieving realistic goals one step at a time over a lifetime.  

I hold a B.A and M.A. in guitar performance from the University of California, San Diego under the tutelage of Pepe Romero.  

My teaching experience spans 4 decades.  I recently retired as Associate Professor of Practice from the University of Texas at El Paso.  

I play all styles of classical guitar, but at this point in time, I specialize in Latin American guitar music.   My repertoire includes J.S. Bach, Agustine Barrios, Fernando Sor, Joaquin Rodrigo, Issac Albeniz, Erique Granados, Antonio Lauro, John Dowland, Francesco da Milano, and others.  

I have taught beginners and professionals for over 40 years. 

I put the FUN in fundamentals.  

I charge $30 for a 40-minute lesson.  Group lessons are $10 an hour with a minimum of 4 students.  

I began teaching at a local music store when I was in high school.  In high school, I played electric guitar in my own band and bass guitar in a country-western band on Saturdays!  I began teaching at the university level when I was 25 years old.  I started piano at the age of 5; and then, switched to guitar when I saw the Beatles perform live on TV on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.  I was 11 years old.  I switched to classical when I entered college.  I liked being a one-man band.  

I have taught beginners and professionals.  At UT El Paso I graduated dozens of undergraduates and about a dozen graduate students.  I especially enjoy teaching beginners and non-professionals, but I also enjoy serious professionals who are willing to work hard.  

For 15 years I also taught university-level music history classes in rock music and Black music and music fundamentals.  

I have enjoyed the recent pandemic online collaborations with professional and school-age musicians.  

Look for sincerity in choosing a teacher.  Make sure that the teacher is focused on the student and not on themselves and their ego.  Also. professional qualifications are important, but if you are learning for fun, choose a teacher that will be focused on you.   

Be fully mindful of what you are trying to achieve.  Try to imagine yourself doing whatever you are trying to achieve -- be it just playing for your own pleasure, forming a band, or wanting to spend your life making music. 

Be realistic about how much you are willing to invest and have an honest conversation with the teacher about how long it will take you to achieve your goal. 

I can teach a student a lifetime of materials in just 6 weeks; or, I can take a student through years of instruction one week at a time.