GUITAR AND BASS LESSONS

STYLES AND AGES TAUGHT

I teach classical guitar, electric guitar and electric bass guitar to all ages and levels. For children ages 4-8, I recommend starting on the classical guitar using the Suzuki Method. To learn more about the Suzuki Method on the Classical Guitar go the Suzuki Guitar section.

To be honest, when it comes to beginners of any age, I recommend starting on the classical guitar for a variety of reasons. I find that studying classical guitar, regardless of personal music preferences gives the beginning guitar student a solid technical and musical foundation as well as a clear path of development which I think every student needs initially. Transitioning to other styles actually becomes easier with this foundation in place. To learn more about guitar types, their uses and sizing please reference my Guitar Types page.

Check out a couple videos of my past students below. The first is Mia playing a beautiful rendition of Valse Espagnol from Suzuki Book 5 and the last is Benjamin who I taught for 14 years who started on Classical as a Suzuki Student and has now become quite an electric guitar player. He still plays classical.

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SUZUKI GUITAR

WHAT IS SUZUKI

The Suzuki Method of music learning or more properly known as the Mother-Tongue Approach to music learning was developed in post war Japan by Shin'ichi Suzuki who was looking for a way to teach a 4 year old how to play the violin. His lightning bolt moment came when he realized that all children are fluent in their mother-tongue before they learn to read and that the home environment was the most powerful tool in the development of ability in children. He postulated that ability and talent were not inborn as a function of genetics but rather, having the activity within the home cultural environment. The parent plays a critical role in the Mother-Tongue Approach as the parent will assist with the child's practice in the beginning. It would be a monumental task to describe in full all the aspects of this approach therefore if you truly are interested in doing this with your child, I recommend calling the studio and discussing details with me and then arranging to come and observe a lesson. I will not take on anyone who does not come to observe nor should you sign you sign up for lessons with anyone who does not allow that. Observation is in yours and your child's best interest as well as mine because it helps determine if I am a good fit for you and your child. Some resources you might check out are Nurtured by Love by Shin'ichi Suzuki and Ability Development from age Zero by the same. Also, I am a huge fan of Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers.

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