You can't impress your date by playing Guitar Hero, well... unless she's into that.



I picked up the guitar at the age of 9. I struggled, even quit for a few months, but I kept at it and now have a rewarding talent that has gained some amazing experiences for me. In my experience the only thing preventing the average person from learning a musical instrument is a little time and effort. 



My approach to teaching is simple. You have your tastes and preferences and though they may overlap mine, they will not match perfectly. You know what you want to learn, you know what motivates you, I know how to get you there. I prefer to work with my students to help them set their own goals and choose their own path to accomplish them. My job is to help you stay on course and fill in the gaps. 



For instance:



Your child wants to learn guitar, likes listening to current popular tunes, and doesn't know how to read music. ​

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I will recommend a book for young beginners, but within a few weeks begin to supplement that with some familiar and funner songs, giving your child a basic education in music theory without boring them to tears.



​You are 15ish, you like Muse, Morning Parade, Gotye, maybe some old stuff like Pearl Jam or Sublime, and you want to be able to jam with your buddy that has been taking drums. 



We get you up to speed playing chords and a couple of scales, then I teach you a song your mom will really like. After that we start playing some of the music you like and as we go along we will start tearing the songs you are learning apart to learn the theory behind them so you can jam and improvise with your friends. 



​You are an adult, maybe you took a little piano when you were a kid. You just want to be able to play campfire songs and a few tunes to impress your friends. You like country music, new or old, and maybe want to learn a classical piece to look exceptionally cool. 



You don't need a ton of theory, just some lingo and some chords. We need to focus on getting your chord changes happening and some songs under your belt. Some strumming, some finger-style, and all about what songs you are playing.



​You are in Jr. High and you want to play bass in the jazz band.



It's time to get intense. You need to build your chops and you need some solid theory. We can learn a Rolling Stones tune from time to time to break things up, but you've got to get your Mingus on, starting with note reading as most Jr. High Jazz programs already have the bass lines written out. Once we get you functional we can delve into what makes jazz bass really tick, like chromatic movement, scales, and arpeggiating polychords. My goal is to have you blow the high school jazz teacher away your sophomore year. You will be able to just look at the chords and construct a solid bass lines that will have the horn section swinging. Look out Jaco... 



​It's all about you. If you care what I play and listen to, check out the About page, but lessons are all about your goals and your enjoyment. Yes, you will have to practice EVERY DAY!!! Yes, you will get frustrated from time to time. Yes, I will ask you to practice material that is not as fun as the song you are learning, but if you stay committed, you will be able to play the guitar or bass.