About
We are a small group of versatile, professional guitarists performing and teaching in the Seattle Metropolitan area. We live to play and play to live: By hiring us, you're hiring real players who have honed their craft through years of practice, higher education, touring, and teaching. We've shared the stage with some of Seattle's most beloved musicians, and have studied privately with some of the best musicians on the scene, including Mike Moreno, John Stowell, Clipper Anderson, and Jens Larsen. Adaptability: We live in the age of information. Many private instructors view the internet and the endless good, and sometimes not so good, instruction available on it as a threat to business. We think it's a fresh approach to teaching. We encourage using the internet as a tool to enhance practice at home, and if appropriate, we will use YouTube or other articles to supplement our lessons. As a teacher, I love when a student wants me to help them dissect a YouTube guitar lesson. What to expect: Your first lesson will primarily be an introduction to myself or one of my colleagues. During this lesson we will gauge your playing level and discuss your goals and the styles that you're interested in. Subsequent lessons will focus on addressing technique, music theory application, stylistic elements, practice tips and most importantly, developing the tools needed to have fun playing on your own.
We're extremely blessed to be able to put so much focus into music. It's our life from the morning until night. Whether it's the focused solitude of time spent in the practice room, the rush of playing live, the joy of watching a performance, or the reward of an inspired student, often times all of these in one day. We truly have the best job, and our goal is to help you understand that with practice and patience, you too can call it your profession.
Highlights
Reviews
Alex S.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
During the intial discounted lesson, I will gauge your playing level to determine where to start with you, and ask you a few questions about what you listen to and what your goals as a musician are.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I've been playing for 15 years. I usually spend about 2-3 hours a day practicing, and I have been teaching since age 18. I studied classical composition in highschool, and enrolled in the U of MT's Jazz studies program. Iv'e been in a jazz curriculum since highschool and I've been fortunate to have had excellent private instruction throughout much of those years. I'm a member of Seattle Jazz Guitar Society, and I continue my private study with one-off lessons with whomever is passing through town, and with some of the great talent that Seattle and the North West has to offer. We are all well rounded, well connected, educated, versatile guitarists with great resumes.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
The initial lesson is $25 for 45 minutes.
All other lessons are $55 per hour prorated to the amount of time our lesson actually lasts. I think that 45 minutes is an ideal lesson time.
Lessons not at my teaching space that are more than two miles from me are taught by my colleague.
How did you get started teaching?
I worked as a camp counselor at the age of 18 and I ran the guitar lesson program.
What types of students have you worked with?
We have worked with ages, ranging from 9 to 65. We specialize and have worked with students interested in teaching jazz, blues, rock, country, folk/fingerstyle, bluegrass, funk, soul, ear training, and concepts in harmony and rhythm.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Simply learning songs with the help of an instructor is great, but shouldn't be the only thing that you do during a lesson. Many instructors only do this. Our lessons consist of exercises and skill building that explain how and why your favorite artist does what they do, and the theory behind it. Simply learning to put your fingers on the frets in various patterns to play a song is not enough. Your instructor needs to provide you with the musical knowledge and background that explains the song you're trying to learn. Your instructor needs to speak the language of music. To do this they need to play live as well as teach. Developing good language also requires a deep appreciation for all styles of music, and your instructor should want to expand their language by learning new styles and broadening their musical horizons. be weary of instructors who only play one style.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
The guitar is difficult, plain and simple. It requires patience and practice. Our number one goal is to inspire you to want to put in the time and practice that it takes to start or continue your journey toward your goal as a musician. Please consider that frustration is natural and is part of becoming a guitarist. It's how you deal with frustrations and plateaus that determines your success on any instrument.