Jonathan Rogerson
About
Play what you want to play.
Learning music is fun, or at least it should be. Everybody comes to music with some idea of what they want to be able to do, and everybody has different goals. Lessons need to reflect that. Whether you just want to be able to sit on the porch and strum some chords on a lazy afternoon or turn your passion into a professional career we can help get you there.
Learn what you need.
We customize every lesson plan to the student so you learn everything you need to meet your goals without getting bogged down in theory or concepts you will never use. With almost 20 years of teaching experience we've seen countless guitar students drowning in scale patterns and exercises who can't play a song all the way through. While fundamentals are essential we try to introduce them within the context of music -- not in a vacuum.
Lessons should be fun!
If you're not having fun learning your instrument something is terribly wrong! Either the way you are approaching the instrument can be changed by finding different musical material or a new teacher or the time has come to find a new instrument or passion. We do everything possible to make music engaging and enjoyable. If the student is not happy then we're not happy!
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Getting to know each other is crucial. We talk about music. If the student is young we talk about what exposure they have had so far with music. If the student is older we'll talk about what they like musically. In both cases we'll talk about what they would like to acheive with lessons. Younger students might have a harder time articulating their vision, but I still like to get them thinking about goals.
From there we get started. The first lesson is usually spent assessing where the student is musically and taking the first few steps towards their goals from there.
On a practical side every student gets a staff paper notebook that we will be working out of. I write out lessons in there every week.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My mother is a piano teacher so I started taking lessons around age 4. I've been surrounded by music lessons my whole life. I switched to guitar around age 13 and started teaching guitar a few years later to friends. From there I went on to study Jazz Performance at college and got to take lessons at a high level. I'm a big believer that experience is always the best teacher, and I've had the chance to take many many lessons myself. I've seen a lot of what works as well as a lot of what doesn't work so well.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Generally I charge $20 for a half hour lesson. Longer lessons are priced accordingly with $40 for an hour and $30 for a 45 minute lesson.
I do charge more to come to student's homes. That cost is generally an additional $10.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching guitar to friends around age 15 or 16. My mother was (and is) a very active piano teacher out of our house so I actually taught a few of her students or student's siblings guitar. That's really how I got my start. When I was in college I started teaching at local music stores and did that for several years.
What types of students have you worked with?
All types!! I've had really young students from age 5 on up to about 70 something. I've worked with absolute beginners. I've also worked with a lot of professional musicians who are already touring and recording on their own.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find someone you like to be around. If you and the teacher don't get along you will not progress as quickly and you won't enjoy the process as much.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Ask about what ages the teacher is comfortable teaching. Some teachers love working with little ones. Others would prefer not taking a student until they are 11 or 12.
Think through what it is that you would like to do with music. Some people simply want to be able to rock out with a couple friends every now and then. Some people would like to be able to play classical guitar. Some people want to become the next YouTube shred guitar star.
Ask the teacher what it is that they personally like to play as well as what they have played before. Ask them what styles they feel comfortable teaching.