"My goal as a teacher is to avoid any type of dogmatic "one size fits all" curriculum. I always want to know what music the student enjoys and build my lesson plans based on their tastes. Chords can be physically challenging for beginners so I like to work with single-note melodies early on so that the student isn't quickly discouraged. Learning chords becomes the medium-term goal. As for the long-term, I will then use specific songs as examples for how music theory works in the context of their favorite bands. I am always prepared to adjust my lesson plans based on the students progress and overall comfort zone.

I have been playing guitar for 15 years and studied private lessons with an instructor for 2 years. I have been teaching guitar on a regular basis for the past 3 years.

I have a very patient and laid back personality which I think benefits most students. The last thing a student wants to feel is pressure from their teacher to perform up to the teacher's standards. Everyone has a different idea of success and this also translates in the world of music. Some want to become world-class virtuosos, while others want to simply enjoy playing music for their personal fulfillment. Neither path is right or wrong and I will work with all of my students to maximize their particular goals." less...