About
I have been a guitarist since 1990, and play rhythm guitar and compose songs for Bob Helps Band, a modern rock band based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I love guitar and teaching. I have been a teacher and instructor my whole adult life. I focus on:
Personal service,
Keeping the student interested and having fun while learning,
Working at the pace of the individual students,
Keeping the student's goals in mind,
Helping the student break through their limits and raise their own expectations,
Building a foundation in music as well as the instrument.
100% guaranteed, if you put the time in, you can learn to play guitar.
I can help you play any style of music you like, write songs, play with others, record and mix, read and write music, and understand your instrument.
I love playing guitar and being in a band, of course. I also love teaching. Watching a person gain a new skill, and then start using that skill, is one of the most fulfilling experiences for me.
From the youngest to the most mature, I like working with people of all backgrounds and ages. Listening to a person play music that they learned with my help is what it's all about. It feels great to jam with someone who I taught who is better than me. I hope that next person is you. Thanks for considering me for your guitar instructor!
Specialties
Musical styles
Guitar style
Has instrument
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Photos and videos
Reviews
W. Efui T.
Robert S.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We start from wherever the student is, including from the very beginning. The student doesn't need to have any prior music skill or experience. If the student has some musical experience, we can pick up where appropriate and build from there.
The student does not need to own a guitar but will need to have a guitar to play - I can rent guitars to students starting at $30 per month or help the student acquire an appropriate guitar.
We work together at the student's pace, but I encourage and help the student to continually learn.
A typical lesson is an hour and sometimes 45 minutes. We start with the instrument itself, playing simple notes, and learning enough music to begin playing songs.
As the student grows, we add more technique and songs. There are no formal tests, but knowledge checks and guiding on growth area, and performances.
The goal is to get the student to realize their goals as soon as feasible. Some guitar students want to play guitar, because of one song. I work with the student according to their needs, age, and goals.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I've been an instructor and teacher my whole life. I am self-taught on guitar and have played since 1990. I have played in a band since 2007. Our band is working on our second album.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Online rates:
$40 for up to 1 hour
$35 for up to 45 minutes
Tips are appreciated.
If I don't have a lesson immediately following your lesson, I usually spend extra time if the student is engaged.
How did you get started teaching?
I have been an instructor most of my adult life.
I have taught adults and children in a variety of subjects, including music, astronomy, and computer science.
What types of students have you worked with?
I work with individual students of all ages. My youngest student is 7, my oldest in their 60s.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
My 8-year-old guitar student gave me flowers after our practice. It really made my day.
My 11-year-old guitar student is learning one of our band's songs, and doing well. That's pretty fulfilling.
My 9-year-old student learned songs to perform at a family wedding in India.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I can show you the fastest path to learning to play songs on guitar. No matter who you go with, there are only a very few "secrets" to learning to play guitar (or any instrument):
1) You must practice on a regular basis, with a metronome or click track.
2) Record yourself, and play back your recording, listen critically, and you will hear how to correct mistakes much better
3) Play with other people, for the same reason as #2.
For every guitar technique, there's a song to learnand practice that uses it. I like to teach songs to reinforce good technique and habits.
I encourage students to think about what they want to accomplish and how fast they want to accomplish it. I will work with the student accordingly to accomplish their goals.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Think about what you want to accomplish once you become a guitarist. Do you want to perform for others? For yourself? For another person? Do you want to learn guitar to play a certain type of music, or even just a certain song? Nothing wrong with any of that - I will support your goals, and encourage you to reach your goals as soon as possible.
Ask yourself if you have time to practice consistently, every day if possible. You must be willing to practice every day for a while to build up the pads on your fingers. If you don't practice except during lessons, your fingers will quickly get sore and you won't get much out of your lessons. I will help you get past this "touchy" stage if you want to play guitar.