FAQ from parents

Q: What do I need to bring to my son/daughter's first lesson.

A: Just a guitar. And if you don't have one yet you can borrow one from the store. 

Q: Why not teach children younger than 10? 

A: It's been my experience that students younger than 10 have a hard time getting notes to ring out as well as a difficulty remaining focused for the 30 minute lesson. 

Q: How often do students have lessons? 

A: Most of my younger students have weekly 30 minute lessons held at the same time each week.  My more advanced students take hour long lessons. 

Q: How much should my child practice?  

A: For my youngest students I recommend a minimum of 15 minutes,  4 days a week.  That amount of time is slowly bumped up so that the student is practicing a minimum of 30 minutes, 4 days a week. I supply practice charts that can be put up on the fridge to help parents and the student keep track of how much they are practicing.  I highly recommend, and will frequently discuss with students, finding realistic practice days where the student can get into a routine: "Oh, it's Tuesday:  After I finish my homework I practice the guitar."

FAQ from students

Q: What are your strengths as a teacher? 

A: Getting the absolute beginner playing music and getting the intermediate player up to the next level of playing which often involves mapping out the fretboard and understanding chord/scale relationships. Also, for all levels and styles, improvisation.

Q: Which styles of music are you most comfortable playing and teaching? 

A: Classic American rock, pop, jazz, folk, funk, and blues.   

Q: Do you teach classical or flamenco? 

A: No. These are wonderful styles of music but I'm not the guy to go to to learn them. 

Q: Do you teach primarily with a pick? 

A: Yes, however I have a lot of experience teaching fingerpicking and have lots and lots of fingerpicking charts.

 Q: How much do I as a student get to direct the song and style choices? 

A: I give a lot of freedom once it's clear that you have a strong understanding of musical concepts and can play a lot of different chords and strum patterns.