How much do lessons cost?      

      Lessons are $25 each, so it costs $100 per month. If there is a fifth week, the fifth lesson is free.

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Why should I take lessons from you instead of teaching myself or learning from YouTube                                                      (or other online lessons)?

      The short answer is to avoid learning bad habits. In the beginning, it is very important to have an experienced teacher to monitor and guide your playing technique. Video lessons can be very helpful; however, beginners are often not aware of how learning bad habits can hamper their playing when they reach a more advanced level. I will show you short cuts and tricks to make your playing more efficient and effective. Once you have developed good playing habits, learning from video and online lessons will be much easier and more enjoyable for you.

     Taking guitar lessons with me is very similar to an inexperienced person learning how to play baseball from an experienced coach. A beginner may want to play ball for a professional team, but they do not know how to catch the ball, or hit, or how to throw the ball. The beginner will not be able to play ball very well when they first start, but the coach can help them learn correctly and quickly. Later on after a lot of practice, it's easier to play first base for the New York Yankees because they already know how to catch, throw, hit, and run!

 

How long are the lessons?

     Lessons are 30 minutes in length, except for the first lesson. At our first meeting, I like to have an hour to spend with the new student to fill out paperwork, adjust their instrument (if necessary), and discuss which lesson plan they would like to pursue. There is no additional charge for the extra time I spend with the student on this first lesson, nor for setting up their guitar or bass (if it is necessary).

 

Can you teach music theory?

     Yes. At a certain point in learning chords and bass, understanding the relationship of chords to the major scale is extremely useful. 

 

What kind of lesson plans do you offer?

     I have three lesson plans that I use for teaching guitar (and other instruments). 1. Note reading. 2. Chords.        3. Rock/ Blues/ Country program, using tablature. For note reading, you will learn to read music. For chords, I draw chord diagrams and explain the easiest way to move from one chord to the next. For the Rock/ Blues/ Country program, I have worksheets which help the student to learn the playing skills they will need for producing the sounds they hear in popular music.

 

Can you teach music reading?

     Yes. I have books that I recommend and can teach the student how to read music notes.

 

Do I have to learn to read music? Can I just start playing tonight after my lesson with you?

     I will not lie to you and tell you that it is easy or that you will be a Rock star after just a few lessons with me (like some teachers promise). It takes hard work and regular practice to master the coordination of your two hands. But, I will guide you step-by-step in developing the necessary skills for playing your instrument.

 

How soon will I be able to play guitar? (or bass, or ukulele, or mandolin?)

     That depends on how much you practice and also on other factors, such as natural talent, early exposure to music, physical abilities, and hand-eye coordination. If you want the quick and easy method,I can show you how to play rock, blues, and country guitar without learning to read music. Regardless of the method you choose, you will need to practice in order to be able to advance as a player.

 

Will I learn how to change the strings on my instrument?

      Yes. Later on in your lessons, I will have you bring in some new strings and I will spend one of our lessons teaching you how to put them on.

 

At what age can children begin receiving lessons from you?

      Experience has shown me that age 7 is about right. There are always exceptions, but typically, children younger than 7 cannot focus their attention for the time of the lesson and for practice time. Also, most young children younger than 7 do not have the digital dexterity (control of their fingers) and coordination between their two hands that is necessary for producing the notes on the instrument.

 

Do you come to my home to give the lesson?

     No. I have a teaching studio behind my house and my lessons are scheduled back-to-back.  I do not have time to drive around town; the cost would be prohibitive, which would make the price of the lessons much higher for my students. 

 

Where is your studio located?

     I am located in the Rosedale area of Bakersfield, California. I am near Rosedale Highway and Calloway Drive (see the map on the Contact page). Traffic can get very heavy in this area, so keep that in mind when choosing your lesson time with me.

 

Do you teach any other instruments?

     Most fretted instruments use the same technique, so I can get you started on Ukulele and Mandolin. I also know the proper techniques for playing the Sitar. 

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What are your studio hours?

     I teach Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to Noon and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call to schedule your lesson time.

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