Brian T. Lally: Classical, Acoustic, Electric, And Bass Guitar Lessons

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 their musical goals by emphasizing technical and musical fundamentals which allow them to excel at any style of music. Students from all levels of ability--beginner to advanced--are welcome! Lessons are available for classical, acoustic steel-string, electric and bass guitar. The exact focus varies depending upon the musical interests of the student.

Please read below for specifics on what you will learn.

Classical Guitar

Classical guitar is the most technically demanding style of guitar playing, but the most rewarding because of the musical and tonal beauty it can express. Sometimes referred to as 'Spanish Guitar', it is strung with nylon strings and used in the playing of music by classical composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Debussy. Classical guitar students learn classical playing position, how to read music, how to effectively use gravity and arm weight to their advantage, the shaping and use of fingernails for tone production, studies and exercises for technical development, and graduated repertoire. Emphasis is placed on musicality, imitating the human voice, and individual expression and communication rather than strict academic interpretation.

Acoustic Steel-String Guitar

Sometimes referred to as 'folk guitar', the acoustic guitar is strung with steel strings. It can be played with the right hand fingers (or finger picks), or with a flatpick. Fingerstyle players are given the option of learning how to use fingernails for increased projection and superior tone. Flatpicking students learn picking technique that produces a round, full tone, assists in the playing of well articulated phrases, and is ergonomically effective. Both learn fundamentals of left hand technique that produce superior articulation, accuracy, and intonation. Some students want to learn how to improvise, some just want to learn to strum their favorite songs. The focus varies depending upon the musical interests of the student. Steel-string students are also given the option of learning to read music.

Electric Guitar

The student learns healthy left hand technique that is ergonomically superior and creates better tone, accuracy, and articulation as well as effective right hand picking technique that minimizes unnecessary motion and effectively damps strings for a cleaner sound. The student studies the style of music that he/she is interested in. As with acoustic steel-string players, the student is given the choice of learning to read music or not, but it is recommended for those who want to become well rounded musicians that will have the ability to traverse styles.

Bass Guitar

Emphasis is placed on sound left and right hand technical fundamentals, learning bass lines, understanding the function of a bass line in a musical structure, note reading, improvising from a chart, and more!

I love to help my students set and reach their own musical goals. When a child's eyes light up because he played a simple exercise correctly, or an adult reaches a musical milestone he's dreamed about since he was little, I know I've made a difference. Music is a language and by teaching people how to play an instrument I'm teaching them a new way to communicate!