~ Customized Lesson Plan for You. ~ Learning the guitar is a fun, yet, challenging experience. Having an instructor guide you through the process makes learning easier and more efficient. The internet provides a wealth of information but can not interact with you and help your specific needs. Many guitar players get frustrated and give up. Getting the encouragement and expertise of an instructor who has been there before greatly enhances chances of success. My style of teaching is founded on fun with the instrument and guiding students to real music situations. Many students come to me with an incomplete set of skills. These (self taught) players have several basic fundamental holes in their playing. It is also important to me that students have a basic knowledge of music theory. This way, they can enjoy the guitar for the rest of their life. If you just learn to put your hands in a certain place to play a certain song, you are missing out. If you learn what it is your actually doing, you can apply it. This may be the most important benefit of a private instructor. What You Will Learn: ​Beginning Students: In my experience, over several years, I find most beginners are surprised the guitar is so hard to play. Having an instructor to help you past that frustration will lead to a lifelong enjoyment of your guitar in the songs you love. - Learning the basic chords. - How to move from chord to chord smoothly. - Using these chords to play your favorite songs. - Understanding guitar notation (tabs, chord grids, song books, standard notation). This way, the skills you learn will last a life time! Intermediate/ Advanced Students: This is for the hungry players. You will be given the direction to achieve a high level of musicianship. You will be challenged to reach your full potential. - Technique drills - Scale knowledge - Advanced chords - Improvisation tips - Chop Building - Theory - Reading - Composition Experience & Background: I've teaching and performing professionally for 23 years. - One year OCHSA jazz combo. - 15 years performing music clubs, casuals as a solo performer and in a jazz trio. - 23 years teaching individuals and groups. - 11 years as Irvine and Laguna YAMAHA Music school instructor. I've studied with some of the top teachers in California: - Jim Fagen (classical guitar) - Erik Halbig (rock, jazz & country) - Jim Witzel (head of jazz guitar at CSUSF) - Ron Eshcete (jazz guitar) - Carl Verheyen (everything).