Bellevue, WA 131 Guitar Instructors near you
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Bellevue Guitar Lessons
Seattle Guitar Coach
20 Reviews
I am a patient, professional teacher with over 20 years of experience working with students of all ages, from beginner to advanced. If you are a beginner, I will get you off to a great start and you be surprised at how much you wil be able to play after only one lesson. If you've already been playing for a while, I can make suggestions that will immediately improve your playing. I customize your lessons to match your learning style, so you can learn faster. The lessons are enjoyable and challenging enough to edge you to the next level of your playing. Your first session with me is risk-free. You will enjoy working with me and will look forwar
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Supertonic Guitar
17 Reviews
Start feeling like a real musician and getting actual results in your guitar playing today with the most effective guitar lessons in Franklin, TN.
We don't offer the same old cookie-cutter cirriculuum to every student...because it simply doesn't work and worse than that, it's boring. We are determined to help you get your breakthrough so you can reach the next level with your playing and start having more fun with your instrument!
Contact us today at 615-731-3900 or head over to our website to find out more and view loads of student testimonials www.supertonicguitar.com
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Friendly Frets Guitar Instruction
6 Reviews
As a teacher, I enjoy digging deep into all things guitar, bass, or ukulele and sharing good information, skill sets, and resources with my students so that they have everything they need to be independent architects of their musical vision and I eventually become irrelevant.
My lessons generally focus on the 3 main areas of developing skills, applied music theory concepts, and working on student selected songs. I provide students with weekly practice objectives, and all relevant handouts as PDF files through Google Docs. Here is a rundown of my lesson topics:
Technique
Reading/Decoding Music (Tablature/Standard Notation)
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Roberts Music Institute
3 Reviews
RMI is a one of a kind music school and is designed to open the door to the artistic, creative and technical side of contemporary musicianship. The Roberts Music Institute is a performance oriented music school located in Bellevue, WA. With a focus on accelerated learning techniques, RMI offers an individualized curriculum through private lessons. Students also have opportunities to meet and play with other musicians in our classes and player’s clubs. We have students of all ages and levels from beginning to professional. We offer instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, vocal, ukulele, harmonica, and mandolin. The core curriculmn is
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Brian Lundell Piano Instruction
3 Reviews
I believe that the key to successful learning at any age is making piano lessons fun. I am an accomplished piano instructor with 25 years of experience. I offer a unique approach by integrating the basics of piano instruction with music selection tailored to the individual student. This provides my students of all ages and levels immediate access to a true musical experience.
While classically trained, I specialize in popular music and emphasize the importance of making music lessons fun. My extensive library of music helps my students steadily continue their progress while being able to play the pieces best suited to their taste and le
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Guitar With Ethan
2 Reviews
In my lessons, I make it a point to understand the unique learning styles of each student. When I was growing up I had a string of guitar teachers who had a blanket approach to their teaching style, using tedious method books or just teaching song after song to their students, never pushing them any deeper. As a student, I found this approach to be uninspiring and it left me at a plateau in my progress as a guitar player. It wasn't until I was in college, studying jazz under the infamous musician and educator Joey Sellers, that I was able to see a real improvement in my playing. Over the years I have developed teaching techniques and strategi
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Scott Lawson Kirkland Guitar Lessons
2 Reviews
Playing in various bands and projects for 30 years and a graduate of Musicians Institute, I have enjoyed the privilege of teaching full time on the east side of the Seattle area for the past 16 years to all ages and levels, helping my students reach their goals and become the musicians they want to be. In addition to offering private lessons as well as traveling for in-home lessons, I also have been teaching group classes at the North Kirkland Community Center since 2004 to present as well as Guitar Center in Redmond since 2015. My lessons are fun, engaging and geared towards each students interests and goals while learning the basic th
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Mary Lord Guitar And Lute Lessons
1 Review
You gotta love what you do. Except that in the case of a musical instrument, there are a number of things one must do first. You need a good technical foundation, tone, rhythm, and a grasp and understanding of the music (to know is to love) in order to develop a good interpretation. You will also develop good practice and sight-reading habits. I hope to involve you in ensemble playing at some stage. You need a large amount of patience and a commitment to practice diligently for about an hour a day. Only then can these skills grow (one of my teachers used to say that Rome wasn't built in a day). And once these skills are there, you will have s
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Sound Music School
1 Review
Sound Music School is a collective of musicians based in Seattle, WA who believe that learning an instrument can be structured and fun! Our instructors craft a unique learning plan for each student ensuring that you get the most out of your lessons and have a great time in the process! We teach Guitar, Bass, Piano, Voice, Violin and Ukulele, offering in person lessons or remote. Schedule a free, no pressure trial lesson today!
Brian T. Lally: Classical, Acoustic, Electric, And Bass Guitar Lessons
1 Review
My past engagements have included a live on-air performance on 102.5 KZOK FM, in-concert performances at the Seattle Arts in Nature Festival, the Northwest Faerie Festival, and the Seattle Museum of the Mysteries, and weekly performances at the 4th & Madison Building in downtown Seattle for over four years. I have more than 25 years of experience, a BA in Classical Guitar from Western Washington University, and have studied in master classes with the Falla Guitar Trio and Larry Coryell. I am also a member of the American Federation of Musicians.
As a teacher, I strive to be patient and encouraging and help all my students realize
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Steve Peterson Guitar Lessons
1 Review
have you always wanted to play guitar?are you just starting out but don't know where to begin?have you been playing the same stuff for too long, feeling stuck?want to get past 'cowboy chords' and play up the neck?get into playing 'lead' guitar?I can help
my name is Steve Peterson, I've been playing in electric blues and acoustic folk bands around the Seattle area for 4 decades; active in both Washington Blues Society and Victory Music - I am thoughtful and articulate, easy going and patientguitar is a wonderful instrument; it is easy to start, difficult to master, has a nice voice & range to accompany singing, can be played in a group set
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Miss Charlotte Music
1 Review
I have over fifteen years teaching experience and have a special curriculum for kids aged 6-8.
Ninja Kitty Productions
1 Review
Ninja Kitty is one of the best lesson labs and production houses in the Northwest. With mutli-instrumentalist and producer Trevor Lee Ridge at the helm, we specialize in instrumental and vocal training programs as well as audio recording and music production programs. Trevor has been in the music industry for over 15 years working throughout Los Angeles, Europe, and South America. Since settling in Seattle, he has been actively working in music education and performance since 2006. He teaches and plays all featured instruments professionally.
Our passion is lifting others up towards their highest potential! We like to make incredible music he
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Kickaxe Guitar Lessons
1 Review
Hi!
I have been teaching and performing for over 30 years and playing for over 40 years. My passion is music and guitar and I enjoy teaching and sharing the knowledge, skills, and experience that I have acquired over a lifetime of honing my craft.
Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, advanced or pro player, I am confident I can help you to achieve your goals.
Thanks!
Ken
Gary Panek Piano Studio
1 Review
-Graduate of Piano Performance, University of Washington
-Skilled in Classical and other styles
-10 years teaching experience
-12 years performance experience, both Classical and Mainstream genres
-Skilled in teaching all levels and all ages
-Professional, energetic and friendly, more over very patient
-Member of The Music Teachers National Association
-Very select travel lessons available depending on your location and the time available
-Affordable pricing, 60$ per hour, 35$ half hour. (Gas/time surcharge for travel lessons)
-45 minute and bi-weekly lessons negotiable
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CHUCK WEST DOT ORG
1 Review
I offer beginning guitar lesson to students from 8-80 in my Everett, WA studio at a very reasonable price.
Metal Man Munro
1 Review
I teach a range of guitar styles but specializing in Blues and Heavy/Death metal techniques. I'll teach you how to improv and start writing songs. I'm a guitarist of 17 years so I have plenty of unique info to share. Contact me and we will discuss a lesson plan
Check out my fb guitar page:
www.facebook.com/musicmanmunro
Guitlab
1 Review
I am a very experienced Guitar/Bass teacher. I have been working with students from different musical backgrounds and levels for quite a while. I think my experience and detail-oriented tutoring, patience and motivation are my differentials.
Riff By Riff Studios
My teaching approach:I focus on the music that each student relates to. This gives my students a chance to learn and express themselves in a way they will retain. Recording services are also available at my home recording studio. Drums, Pianos, Bass, as well as other instruments are available as well.
Music Styles: Rock Guitar, Blues Guitar, Folk Guitar, Country Guitar, Alternative Guitar, Metal Guitar, Bluegrass Guitar, Pop Guitar, Ethnic Guitar
Instrument Types:Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Electric bass
My influences are: Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Eagles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Hellecasters, Metallica, Randy Rhoads, Tony Rice, Hank Willia
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David Hillman Guitar Lessons
My teaching approach:
I feel that learning the guitar should be a fun experience no matter how serious you are about it. I also like to show you how much you already naturally know about music. I've developed a great curriculum which I tailor around how you learn & what you want to know. Please read reviews written about me by students and parents here: http://www.teachstreet.com/teacher/david-hillman
My influences are:
The Beatles, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townsend, Jack White, Angus Young, David Gilmore, Keith Richards, Marc Ribot, Tom Waits, and tons more, too many to list.
My guitar lessons take place in:
The teacher's studio
Gui
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Bob Crow Guitar Lessons
My teaching approach:
My name is Bob Crow, and I've been teaching in Seattle full time since 2005. My lesson studio is in the Ballard neighborhood. Learn the techniques and theory needed to make the music you want to make, whatever that may be. My job is to help guide you through that process, and help you make the most of your practice time. Once you are making music, I like to introduce new possibilities to keep you growing as a musician, but student input is always greatly encouraged.
My influences are:
They change from year to year. Sometimes from day to day. Rock 60's to present day, 70's funk and soul, fingerpicked acoustic blues, jaz
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Peter Spencer Guitar Lessons
My teaching approach:
My course of study is designed with the individual student in mind and I solicit maximum input from students, especially when it comes to the styles to be studied. I do not use European music notation and seldom use tablature. I teach the guitar as an "ear" instrument.
My guitar lessons take place in:
The teacher's studio
Guitar Lessons with me take place in the following areas:
Dusty Strings Music Store in Seattle
Guitar Techniques:
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Open tuning, Fingerstyle, Slide Guitar, Vocal Accompaniment, Performance, Improvisation, Jamming Skills, Music Theory, Song Writing
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Chris Weyers Guitar Lessons
My teaching approach:
All of my students receive an individual lesson plan and strategy designed to get the best results in the shortest amount of time based on their own individual goals.
My influences are:
There are far too many to name, and they range from nearly all genres, from rock to classical, metal to jazz, and everything in between.
My guitar lessons take place in:
The teacher's studio
Guitar Lessons with me take place in the following areas:
Totem Lake, Kirkland, Kingsgate, Inglewood-Finn Hill, Woodinville, Bellevue, Overlake, Bothell
Guitar Techniques:
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Performance, Improvisation, Jamming Skills, Mus
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Greg Robinson Guitar Lessons
My teaching approach:
I have been writing music for about ten years now. I am the lead singer/songwriter for the band National Broadcast. I teach with the idea that the student ultimately wants to learn how to play, not just be told information about how to play. I have over 17 years of musical background as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from the University of Washington, with a research focus in acoustics
My guitar lessons take place in:
The teacher's studio
Guitar Lessons with me take place in the following areas:
I teach in Issaquah, WA at Kaleidoscope School of Music. 195 Front St. Suite G. Issaquah,WA 98027
Guitar Techniques:
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Clark Grogan Guitar Lessons
My teaching approach:
I teach the student everything they need to know about music by helping them learn the music that they want to play. My approach is student driven. Every thing you need to know about me is at the myspace adress or website. this includes influences and recorded music.
My guitar lessons take place in:
The teacher's studio
Guitar Lessons with me take place in the following areas:
Issaquah (Home Studio), Bellevue (Musicworks Northwest)
Guitar Techniques:
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Fingerstyle, Vocal Accompaniment, Performance, Improvisation, Jamming Skills, Reading Music, Music Theory, Scales and Exercises, Song Writing,
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Phil Hansen Guitar Lessons
My teaching approach:
Phil Hansen has been a full time music teacher since 1973 and has taught at 2 colleges, 3 high schools, and in many music stores since that time. He currently teaches private lessons on Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, and Bass in Auburn on Mondays and Tuesdays at Green River Music, on Thursday in Issaquah at Mills Music, on Fridays in Redmond at Mills music, and on Wednesdays in Enumclaw.
My guitar lessons take place in:
In the teacher's studio
Guitar Techniques:
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Fingerpicking, Vocal Accompaniment, Performance, Reading Music, Music Theory, Scales and Exercises
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Music Works Northwest
Music Works Northwest is a non-profit community music school offering music lessons, music therapy and performance experiences for all ages, conveniently located minutes from downtown Bellevue. Our mission is to change lives through accessible music education and experiences.
Steven Pontius Guitar Lessons
My teaching approach:
My approach to teaching is simple, I teach you in the direction you would like to go, I try to make you the guitar player you want to be. I will show you how to read and write music, learn scales, chords, and how to construct and improvise a solo properly. I will use books i think fit you best. I will have you get 'music theory for guitar' by tom kolb to start you off.
My influences are:
Tosin Abasi, Scale the Summit, Animals as leaders, Dream Theater, Jeff Loomis, Rusty Cooley, John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Alexi Laiho, Trivium, Metallica, Lamb of God, Eric Clapto
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Courses & Guides
Guitar Lessons for Beginners
Want to learn how to play the guitar? Go from knowing nothing about the guitar and learn to play songs everbody loves with this free course.
12 lessons
1.5 hours
All levels
English
Guitar Chords
Learn the best guitar chords, how to read guitar chords, and how to play guitar chords. Easy step-by-step lessons for beginners. Want to check out the lessons?
33 lessons
6.5 hours
All levels
English
How much do guitar lessons cost?
Read more about local pricing and what to expect in our cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do guitar lessons cost?
The average cost for guitar lessons is $40 per hour. Available for all ages and all skill levels of guitar playing, the pricing of individual or group guitar lessons can start as low as $20/hour. Teachers charge based on their location, years of teaching, levels of knowledge and expertise, and travel time (if applicable). Lessons can last from half an hour to a full hour, and are priced accordingly.
How long does it take to learn guitar?
If you just want to learn a few chords to strum along to some songs, then learning to play the guitar really isn't that hard for most people. Many students are able to learn a few chords and get a decent strumming pattern going after a few weeks. If you've had prior experience playing an instrument, you can expect to pick it up after just a few lessons.
Should I take guitar lessons online or in person lessons?
Private in person guitar lessons with a skilled instructor that is focused on you, your interests, and your progress is the most sought after experience and hard to replicate online. Plus, you tend to learn faster in person. On the other hand, online guitar lessons are quickly becoming popular. The selection of teachers is not limited to those in your geographical area and you can communicate via video in real time with your teacher in the comfort of your home. When filling out your request on Lessons.com, we recommend you select both online and local options, then compare your options and see what works best for you.
How old should children be before starting guitar lessons?
A child as young as 4 can begin to learn if they are really motivated and have a patient, creative, and devoted teacher. However, we've found almost all kids under six are too young to benefit from formal guitar lessons, as they require dexterity and levels of concentration children their age can't provide. That being said, lessons do not need to be formal right off the bat, and can just provide a fun introduction. Also, your child may benefit from using a ukulele to start, as it's smaller and easier to learn, but very similar instrument.
Bellevue Guitar Lessons
(66 reviews)
Bellevue Guitar Instruction
Brandon Richardson · Bellevue, WA
Featured Instructor
Matt Haller gives guitar lessons in Seattle’s Snohomish County, near Lake Stevens, and talks to Lessons.com about his guitar teaching and how he goes about teaching his guitar students how to play guitar. We’ve transcribed the interview with Matt, which you can read below, but to hear what he says, in his own words, please visit the Matt Haller guitar teacher page.
Matt Haller Teaches Guitar in Seattle's Snohomish County
Lessons.com: We’re here today with Matt Haller, who teaches guitar, and who has a guitar teacher profile on Lessons.com. Welcome, Matt. Thanks for being here today and talking with us about your guitar teaching.
Matt Haller: Hey, thanks for having me.
Lessons.com: It’s a pleasure to have you; it’s a pleasure to be here with you. Can you tell us first: Where do you teach guitar? What city and state are you in?
Matt Haller: I’m in Washington, and I basically have a studio on the lake, in Lake Stevens, so it’s a little bit outside of Everett, Washington, and, I’d say, about a half-hour outside Seattle, Washington.
Lessons.com: Got it. And do you teach all your guitar lessons there at your studio, or do you also travel to teach in students’ homes as well?
Matt Haller: I probably have about twenty students hometown here, and then I also do Skype guitar lessons, as well, worldwide.
Lessons.com: Excellent. And, if someone wants to contact you for Skype lessons, what’s the best way to contact you?
Matt Haller: Probably the best way is via email, or you could also call the cell, which is (425) 377-1344. Either way.
Lessons.com: Excellent. That sounds great. And could you tell us a little bit about the guitar lesson climate there in the Seattle and surrounding regions? Are there a lot of people there who want to learn guitar?
Matt Haller: Absolutely! You might recall, back in the nineties and well into two thousand and so, it was a big Seattle grunge scene here, so there’s always been a hot Seattle music scene. Jimi Hendrix is a hometown hero, as everybody kind of knows. Heart, who was just inducted into the Hall of Fame, I believe it was last year. There’s some hometown heroes. I’ve even played with a couple of those people. Just a lot of local talent around here, and even people that aren’t famous – there’s just amazing talent around here – people that aren’t famous, but maybe should be, and, we hope, up-and-coming artists.
Lessons.com: That sounds like a great place to teach guitar.
Matt Haller: Absolutely.
Lessons.com: What styles of guitar do you find your students most often interested in learning?
Matt Haller: A little bit of everything, but I would say mostly pop and rock. We’ve got, I’d say, about eighty percent of the people that I teach are rock, and then we have some of the people that come in and want to know what’s current, maybe like some Taylor Swift or … yeah, let’s see, what’s hot right now? Taylor Swift, One Direction, I’ve even taught a couple of Bieb songs. So, there’s just kind of everything. We go from one side of the spectrum to the other side, but I pretty much love it all. There’s really nothing I really don’t like. There are maybe certain songs that I don’t like, but it’s very rare that I have a song that I don’t like. I get a lot of variety, which keeps it interesting for me, as well.
Lessons.com: And, what style of music are you personally most interested in? Like, if you’re playing on your own, what do you play?
Matt Haller: We definitely play rock and classic rock, but I’ve always got one foot in the blues, cause that’s kind of where all that stuff, as everybody knows, where all the stuff came from.
Lessons.com: It certainly does.
Matt Haller: Yeah, absolutely.
Lessons.com: And, you said “we”. Are you in a band?
Matt Haller: Well, I have a bunch of people that we play with. We’re not really in a band per se. Just a lot of the people that are around the area – a lot of former rock stars, like I said, a lot of people that probably should be rock stars, but, for whatever reason, never made it. And we hit a lot of the open mic nights, and the nice thing about that is that everybody’s kind of a regular – you recognize people. You go into the bars, and you’ll know at least half the people in the bar, so it makes for great music, and you know what to expect from the people that are there, when you get up on stage and play with them. It’s great!
Lessons.com: Yeah, a feeling of community – it’s what music can be about.
Matt Haller: Exactly.
Lessons.com: Well, you have the Les Paul there with you. Would you like to play a little bit? It doesn’t need to be something that you’d show a student, but, say if you’re sitting at home with the guitar, maybe play a segment of a song that you might play when you’re just sitting on your own.
Matt Haller: Sure. I’m into a lot of stuff, but I always like to pull out the AC DC for the warm-up stuff, just because there’s a lot of cool things that he does. I think he plays them when he’s not even warmed up, but I have to be a little bit warmed-up to do it. I’ll pare down the screen here, so you can see what I’m doing on the guitar here. (Editor’s note: Matt adjusts the lens of his camera to focus more clearly on his guitar and his hands.) I always like to start with anything that gets my fingers warmed up, and I will admit I’m a little cold right now. (Editor’s note: Matt plays a deep riff from AC DC’s “Big Gun” on his Les Paul. To hear him play, check out the video on Matt’s guitar teacher page) Anyway (After he plays …), I could go on for a bit, but it’s pretty much the same thing until the solo.
Lessons.com: That is awesome. Which song is that? Is that AC DC?
Matt Haller: Yeah, that is “Big Gun” from AC DC, and that I believe is from one of the sound tracks – what was it with Arnold? – “Last Action Hero”. So, it was never on an album; that’s kind of why I like it.
Lessons.com: Yeah, it’s a great riff, and, as they do with so many of their songs, it’s based so strongly in the blues.
Matt Haller: Absolutely. Absolutely.
Lessons.com: Great. In your guitar lessons, do you teach both adults and children?
Matt Haller: I do. I have mostly adults, but I have a few kids … I’ve got, let’s see, age ranges from five to … I actually have a guitar student that’s about eighty-seven. The five-year-olds, I usually recommend to parents, anywhere from five to eight or nine, book the thirty minute sessions. Most five-year-olds can not hold an attention span for more than maybe twenty minutes (he laughs), so half-an-hour is perfect for the younger guitar students.
Lessons.com: And for your older students, do you work with them for longer guitar lessons?
Matt Haller: I generally do. Again, it just depends on the individual, but generally, older students are forty-five minutes to an hour, somewhere in there. If they’re really looking to get their money’s worth, they’ll usually be forty-five minutes to an hour. And, if they’re having fun, that can go really fast – it usually does.
Lessons.com: It can go really fast. How often do you work with your guitar students? Do you work with students once a week or more than once per week?
Matt Haller: Yeah … generally … let’s see … I would say I probably have about twenty-five students currently, and most of them are weekly. I’ve got a couple that are twice a week, and, coincidentally, those are the ones that get better, faster.
Lessons.com: It always works that way, doesn’t it?
Matt Haller: Absolutely.
Lessons.com: And, what are your guitar lesson fees, Matt?
Matt Haller: Well, right now, they’re negotiable, because it’s summer, and usually I’ll have a little bit of a taper-off in the summer, cause people get out and do things – boating or whatever they do in the summer – but generally, I start at about forty dollars an hour. It just depends on whether you’re getting half-an-hour or forty-five minutes or a full hour. If you do the full hour, it’s forty bucks an hour, if you do half-an-hour it’s like twenty-five, and for forty-five minutes, it’s like thirty-two – somewhere in that range.
Lessons.com: Got it. And do you offer guidance to guitar students about what guitars to buy?
Matt Haller: Absolutely. Absolutely. You know, when it comes to buying guitars, everybody has an opinion about what they like. I actually like the Gibsons a lot. I have one Stratocaster, just because everybody says, “Well, you gotta have at least one Strat”, so I bought a fiftieth anniversary Strat, but, mainly I have my Les Pauls. And then, recently, we have kind of a hometown hero that lives in – over in – near Redmond area – kind of Redmond-Seattle area – which is Floyd Rose. And he’s the guy that invented – well, he didn’t invent the whammy bar, obviously – but he’s the one that came up with the double locking tremolo system, so, lately, I’ve been buying his Floyd Rose guitars. In fact I’ll show you one here – (Matt reaches in back of him to pick up a Floyd Rose guitar – They’re very distinguishable, because they have the headstock that has no tuning pegs – and you can actually put a pack of cigarettes there, if you wanted to. You tune strictly from the bottom. But lately I’ve been using these, and, I probably shouldn’t tell anyone this, but you can get the American version for I think about a thousand. You can get the Chinese or the Japanese versions for about – I bought this for a hundred dollars, and it’s been one of my best guitars ever – the best bargain. It sounds almost as good as my Les Paul, and I paid a hundred dollars for it.
Lessons.com: That’s great to hear. It sounds like for a guitar student just starting out, a deal like that would be perfect to get them into a good sounding guitar and also for not that expensive a price.
Matt Haller: Absolutely. And, that’s kind of what I lean towards. I like Guitar Center’s Laguna guitars. For the money, they are great! And, you can actually pick them up used – second hand – and, when it comes to guitars – you probably already know – second hand doesn’t necessarily mean bad when it comes to guitars. In fact some of the second hand guitars do circles around the new guitars. It’s all in how it sounds. I even have a friend that plays a Hello Kitty guitar. We couldn’t figure out why it sounded so good, until we looked at the back of the headstock, and it had a Custom stamp in there. So, now it’s kind of a gimmick, but when he first got it, he’s like “I really don’t want this guitar because it’s pink.” It sounded incredible, and I said “It’s all how it sounds – you shouldn’t care what it looks like.” So now he actually plays it as a gimmick onstage, and it sounds awesome.
Lessons.com: Wow, that’s wonderful. That’s a great story. Before we end our interview for today, maybe you could tell prospective guitar students watching the video, just in simple terms, what is your approach to teaching them? If you meet a new student who contacts you, what is your plan to help them improve with the guitar?
Matt Haller: Well generally it involves, you know, assessing where the student is at, like if they’ve had any previous guitar lessons or music lessons in general. And then, if they have, then the first guitar lesson is just kind of face to face, one on one, figuring out where they’re at in the musical whatever you’d call it – your musical history. And just, once I’ve determined about where they’re at level-wise, whether they’re beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Then usually we’ll set up some kind of a game plan to figure out their short-term goals – where they want to be maybe in three to six months on guitar – or whatever instrument that they’re learning. Then we’ll go with maybe the longer term goals – three to five years. And then, basically, I’ll write out a game plan for how we’ll achieve to get there. And then I generally will find out right away what their favorite artists are – or maybe favorite songs. And then we’ll have them pick three to four songs, and then we’ll start with one of those. I usually break right into teaching them stuff that they want to learn, otherwise, they lose interest.
Lessons.com: That’s the best way to do it. I found the same thing in my guitar teaching, as well.
Matt Haller: Yeah. When I was learning guitar very young, the guitar teacher was teaching me “Michael Row The Boat Ashore” and real simple stuff. Luckily, my parents kept pushing me into it a little bit, because I was kind of bored, to be honest. Then I got a teacher that showed me “Crazy Train”, and the whole thing changed. Then I was hooked.
Lessons.com: That would be the song to do it. That’s the doorway into everything else.
Matt Haller: Right. Absolutely. And, coincidentally, that’s one of them I get asked for, I would say, probably fifty percent of the time. People want to learn that song.
Lessons.com: Wow. That’s great. It’s good that you’ve got that in your back pocket. Well, Matt, I want to thank you for taking the time to be with us today and to talk with us about your guitar teaching. It’s been great to hear you describe your teaching and also to hear you play, as well.
Matt Haller: Sure. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to do it and thanks again.
Lessons.com: Thank you, Matt. And best of luck in your guitar teaching.
Matt Haller: Thank you.
Lessons.com: Take care, now.
Matt Haller: Bye bye.
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