Common Questions from people like you...

Q.-Do you teach complete beginners?
A.-Yes, I teach all levels of ability. About half of my students are beginners

Q.-Why do you charge so much more than regular teachers?
A.-Sorry if my rates seem higher than other teachers but I believe that for a serious student I can offer a better quality of lesson than an 'average' teacher - I am very experienced and I do honestly think that I can make a difference in a short period of time to your playing, motivation and will help you be the best you can be.

Q.-Do you do home visits?
A.-No sorry, I'm too busy as it is :)

Q.-Should I bring my own guitar?
A.-Yes it is recommended that you bring your own guitar, that way I can see you do your best and not stumble on a strange instrument.

Q.-Do you do online video chat lessons?
A.-I have done and can do but I am currently too busy teaching real people and designing web sites.

Q.-I have really big or small hands.  What can I do to make it easier to play?
A.-First of all, check to make sure that your guitar does not need repair.  Sometimes a fret is worn and just will not play when it should. This is not because of big or small hands.  If you still have a problem, there are two solutions.  You can try modifying your technique by arching your fingers more or adjusting where your wrist is when you play.  This can be hard to do.  From my experience, modifying your technique to play well becomes burdensome and frustrating to guitarists.  Sometimes a new guitar that fits smaller/bigger hands is needed.  Some guitars have strings farther apart, others have them closer together.  You can also buy a guitar that does not take as much effort to get a note to sound.  If you have lost hope in playing with your guitar this might be the best solution.


Q.-I don’t have a guitar. Do you have an extra one I can use for the lessons?
A.-You need to have your own guitar if you want to take lessons. If you are unable to practice what we go over in the lessons while you are at home, you will make little or no improvement. I do have extra guitars that students can use if for some reason they don’t have their guitar with them.  


Q.-Can I request songs to learn?
A.-Absolutely. I often ask students to tell me the songs they would eventually like to learn. I do make sure that the song we are working on is within the student’s playing level, and that songs progress in difficulty in order to produce improvement in the student.


Q.-How old is too old? How young is too young?
A.-I don’t take students younger than 6 years old.  Children younger than six usually don’t yet have the strength or dexterity in their hands to effectively play the guitar. At six, the child is old enough to begin working on basic skills. You are never too old to start learning the guitar. I have seen middle-aged adults take up the guitar and have a great time with it. Retired people, having lots of extra time for practicing, are in a great phase of life to begin learning an instrument.

Q.-How much should I practice?
A.-You should practice as much as possible. However, short frequent practices are better than infrequent, long practices. I usually recommend a half hour a day for people who are just starting. If you can put in more time than that, you will progress even faster. The rate of your improvement relates directly to how much you practice.

Q.-I have something specific about music I want to learn. Can we focus just on that?
A.-Yes. I have had students come to me for lessons with something particular in mind such as: wanting specific music to be transcribed; wanting to learn how to play jazz; learning music theory; and preparing for college auditions. I’d be glad to help if there is a pressing issue in your musical life.

Q.-Is it better to start learning on an acoustic or an electric guitar?
A.-There is no clear advantage to starting on either an electric or an acoustic guitar. This depends only on your personal taste and which timbre or style you would prefer.

Q.-I’ve tried for years to learn the guitar, but I’ve only been discouraged. Do I lack the talent?
A.-While I do think that natural talent exists, it’s role in determining success on an instrument is marginal. Having a strong desire to learn, having faith in yourself, and a good work ethic are more important factors. If thus far you have only been discouraged in your attempts to play, it could be for a variety of reasons. You might simply not know how to go about practicing in a way that builds technical understanding of the instrument, in which case you need a teacher who can show you not just what to practice, but how to practice. You also might need someone to evaluate the unique set of difficulties that you are having, and suggest ways to overcome them. This is where face-to-face instruction with a teacher is much more beneficial than learning from a book, DVD or youtube video. Or, you might just need to evaluate your own desire, and your beliefs as to your own ability to learn the guitar. Ask yourself if you are lacking in either one of these, and take action accordingly. With enough determination and the right guidance, it is certainly possible for anyone to learn to play the guitar.

Q.-Can you charge me less because of the economic recession in the world?
A.-YES, only if you can kiss your own elbow.

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