Mission Control
Lessons
I teach primarily one-on-one private lessons but I do teach groups/couples if they want to learn together. I prefer to schedule weekly or bi-weekly but I do offer "one-off" lessons for students who, for example, may be learning a difficult song and want to work on specific passage. One-off lessons have a one hour minimum.
I will also be offering master classes/clinics in the near future featuring myself and guest artists going in-depth on various concepts and techniques. If you'd like to be notified of these head over to my "Clinics" page and sign up for the email list.
My payment policy requires students to prepay for each month at the end of the previous month. My cancellation policy requires a 24-hour notice or the lesson will be charged. Any unused lessons will carry over to the next month.
Initial Lesson
During my first lesson with a student I assess their current abilities and find out their musical tastes, aspirations, goals and strengths. This initial evaluation informs my lesson plan for the student and what materials or books the student may need. I like to set short- and long-term goals with my students, goals which we later refer to and revise.
The Arsenal
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
In addition to guitar and music instruction I also offer other guitar related services that will help maximize your playing efficiency and experience.
• Instrument Selection - I can help you find and purchase the right instrument to fit your hands, body, musical style and budget. Having the right instrument can make all the difference and eliminate a lot of frustration!
• Instrument Setup - I have been setting up my own instruments for decades and have the insights, expertise and tools to set up your instrument to play well for YOU. Different instruments, musical styles and body/hand sizes require different setups (i.e., action, string gauges, string types, neck relief, etc.). The right setup will help your instrument play more in tune and make your instrument easier to play for YOU.
• Instrument Maintenance - I can teach you how to properly maintain your instrument, making it easy for you to keep it sounding and playing its best. I can help take the apprehension out of a lot of the regular maintenance adjustments that guitar shops charge money for. You wouldn't take a lamp to the store to change a light bulb, would you? From changing strings to truss rod adjustments and intonation (and more) I'll help you keep your instrument in top shape and save you trips to the guitar shop and down time away from your instrument.
Q&A
How frequent and long should my lessons be?
This varies from student to student. For beginners, I recommend a weekly, 1/2 hour lesson so that the amount of information each week is easily assimilated. For more advanced students, a weekly or bi-weekly hour long lesson may be better so that more advanced concepts can be investigated in depth. A lot depends on the students' goals and frequency and length can be adjusted as necessary.
What education and/or training do you have?
I've seriously studied music for most of my life. I started by studying classical guitar at the Wisconsin Conservator of Music with and privately with various teachers around the Milwaukee area. I later studied music at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and jazz theory with pianist David Hazeltine at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. However, most of my musical knowledge has come from my extensive experience as a professional guitarist, studio musician, composer and producer.
How did you get started teaching?
When I was in High School my guitar teacher decided to relocate to a different city. He graciously let me take his place by giving me all of his students. Since then I've continued teaching privately but have also had the good fortune of teaching at various clinics, masterclasses and music camps including events at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. I've also been involved with Hal Leonard publishing, assisting them with their play-a-long book series.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've taught students from all walks of life, from absolute beginners to college music majors and professional musicians. My students have ranged in age from 5 to 70. I enjoy teaching students of all ages and levels.
Do you give online lessons?
Yes! I teach online using the Zoom platform. I utilize a high quality audio interface and 3 microphones - one for my voice, one for my guitar amp and one for my acoustic guitars. For more information visit my Online Lessons page.
What advice would you give a guitar student looking for a teacher?
I would encourage students to find an instructor who:
• Has real-world, professional experience as a teacher and a player
• Teaches in a comfortable, state-of-the-art environment
• Is extremely proficient on – and knowledgeable of – their instrument.
A good player – through curiosity, study, intuition and talent – has learned things and is aware of aspects of music that may have slipped by others. Also, a teacher that has experience in various different styles can bring fresh perspectives, even if the student is studying just one type of music.