Teaching is Meaningful to me.
Some of the greatest moments of growth in my own life came from good teachers. They did more than explain things. They changed the way I listened. They helped me notice what I was missing. They gave me a clearer path through the instrument and the music. I hope to offer some version of that to my own students.
When time permits, I offer private instruction in guitar, bass, composition, and general musicianship for curious, creative players.
My Approach
I take a compositional approach to teaching, using the instrument not only as something to study, but as a tool for understanding music, shaping ideas, and creating original work. I believe music is best learned by making music - at least it is for me. In my lessons, concepts are reinforced through composition, recording, and practical creative work. A student might write a short piece, build a chord progression, record an assignment, develop a melody, learn a favorite song, or use a new concept in an original way.
Recording is an important part of the process. It gives us something honest to listen to. It reveals what is actually happening: the time, the tone, the phrasing, the feel, the choices.
I believe anyone can create original music, and I believe they should. Not because everything has to become a finished song or a public release, but because making something new changes the way you understand music.
Learning your favorite music matters too. That is part of the joy of playing. Songs, riffs, solos, records, and artists we love are often the doorway in. The goal is to let those influences become fuel for your own voice.
The 12-Week Time Frame
I usually work with students in 12-week goal cycles. This gives us enough time to make real progress without leaving the process open-ended. At the beginning, we define a specific goal. That might be learning to improvise over a blues, writing an original piece, improving rhythm guitar, developing stronger bass lines, understanding the fretboard, learning a set of songs, preparing for a recording, building confidence as a beginner, or developing a clearer foundation in composition.
Once the goal is clear, I build a plan around it. Each lesson connects to the larger objective, and assignments are designed to move the student forward in a practical way. The goal is not perfection. The goal is progress, clarity, and a stronger connection to the music.
What We Cover
The work depends on the student, the goal, and the music. Lessons may include work in areas like:
- Guitar fundamentals
- Bass fundamentals
- Technique, tone, touch, and time
- Chords, scales, and fretboard knowledge
- Rhythm guitar and groove
- Bass lines, pocket, and feel
- Ear training and listening
- Learning songs by ear
- Harmony and theory
- Improvisation
- Melody writing
- Chord progressions
- General composition
- Composition for guitar or bass
- Arranging
- Recording assignments
- Practice structure
- Building a personal musical vocabulary
What I Ask From Students
Students do not need to be advanced, but they do need to be engaged. I work with all levels, including beginners, but lessons work best when students have a clear sense of what they want to accomplish. You do not need to know the exact path. That is part of my job as a teacher. But it helps to know what kind of player, composer, or musician you want to become.
Students should be willing to practice, record assignments when asked, listen back honestly, and stay open to the process.
If you are willing to do that, we can make meaningful progress.
Inquire
Lessons are $85 per session, typically run about 40 minutes, and are available through Zoom or in person for students in my area. We can meet weekly, bi-weekly, or even just once per month.
If you are interested in lessons, send a note with a little about where you are musically and what you would like to work toward.
A helpful starting point is:
“By the end of these 12 weeks, I want to…”
You do not need to have the whole thing figured out. That sentence just gives us a place to begin.