Education
St. Paul Guitar Studio
I'm currently teaching at the St. Paul Guitar Studio and offering lessons in the following areas (click link for detailed curriculum):
- Beginning Guitar
- Beginning to Intermediate Classical Guitar
- Beginning to Advanced Jazz Guitar
- Jazz Composition (Small to Large Ensemble)
If your interests fall outside of the subject areas above, visit the St. Paul Guitar Studio for more information about other instructors.
Current Rates:
$20/half-hour
$40/hour
Location:
308 Prince Street, Suite 214
Saint Paul, MN 55101
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Equipment:
You will need to bring your own guitar to lessons every week. SPGS owns amplifiers and patch cords for your use. Please purchase a metronome for the purpose of practicing effectively and developing a strong sense of time. Classical guitarists will also need to purchase a footstool or an alternative guitar support.
Enrollment:
If you're interested in lessons, please contact me and we can set up a time to meet. I look forward to meeting you!
NOTE: For the sake of clarity, lesson descriptions are based on the assumption that the student is right-handed. If you are left-handed, please substitute the terms.
Top | Beginning Guitar
For students interested in learing to play their favorite songs or building a foundation for further study. Lesson material is adapted to the individual student.
Top | Beginning to Intermediate Classical Guitar
For students interested in learing to play the nylon string guitar and classical repertoire. Specific areas of study include:
- Basic Technique
The fundamentals of classical guitar playing including: playing position; tuning; naming the fingers; and left hand position. - Right Hand Techniques
Aspects of finger-style technique discussed: nails vs. flesh and how to shape fingernails; position and movement of right hand; scratching/moving/releasing exercises; chord/scale/arpeggio studies; and identification of strokes. - Reading Music
The student will learn to read music on the guitar in all positions. Discussions of basic music theory include: musical notation; time and counting; scales/tonality/key/modality; intervals/transposition; and chords. - Left Hand Techniques
In the process of developing the right hand, learning to read music on the guitar, and mastering repertoire, the student will develop left hand techniques. Supplemental material will also be presented along the way to strengthen and develop the left hand. - Advanced Techniques
As the student acquires a strong technical foundation and note reading ability, more advanced techniques can be pursued such as vibrato, developing speed, tremolo, advanced bar techniques, harmonics, tamboura, etc. - The Art of Interpretation
Although we will be developing technique, emphasis will be placed on musicality and the use of technique for expressive purposes. The student will be encouraged to listen to great performances. We will discuss dynamics, timbre, articulation, and phrasing. - Repertoire
Suitable repertoire will be presented at every stage along the way so that the student will gradually acquire a solo guitar repertoire!
Top | Beginning to Advanced Jazz Guitar
For the student interested in learning how to play jazz guitar. Specific areas of study include:
- Reading Music
Depending on interest, the student will be encouraged to learn to read music on the guitar in all positions. Discussions of basic music theory include: musical notation; time and counting; scales/tonality/key/modality; intervals/transposition; and chords. - Right Hand Techniques
The student may be interested in using a pick, fingers, or a combination of both. Lessons will be tailored to each student. Aspects of finger-style technique discussed: nails vs. flesh and how to shape fingernails; position and movement of right hand; scratching/moving/releasing exercises; chord/scale/arpeggio studies; and identification of strokes. Aspects of pick technique discussed: alternate picking, sweep picking, and the pick techniques developed by jazz guitarist Jimmy Bruno. - Chords, Comping, Basic Chord Melody, Walking Bass
Depending on interest, the student will learn chord voicings for every chord type in all positions based on a deep understanding of chord construction and alteration. Emphasis will be placed on the ability to visualize intervals on the guitar and subsequently construct chord types. The student will explore traditional comping styles and become an effective rhythm guitar player. The student will learn how to craft simple chord melody arrangements for solo guitar. The ability to play bass lines with chordal accompaniment will be mastered. - Scales and Single Line Improvisation
Depending on interest, the student will learn vertical scale patterns in all positions for every major harmonic environment in jazz. The student will develop fluidity by practicing different interval studies. Emphasis will also be placed on moving horizontally through different positions. As the student masters successive scale patterns/harmonic environments, he/she will be coached in single line improvisation. - Chromatic Improvisation
For the advanced student: we can discuss chromatic improvisation, especially the ideas developed by David Liebman. - Arranging for Solo Guitar
Upon developing a strong technique and an understanding of chord voicings and scales, the student will be encouraged to develop original arrangements of standard repertoire or original material. Depending on interest, we can explore the solo guitar arrangements of artists such as Barry Galbraith, George Van Eps, Lenny Breau, Tim Sparks, etc. - Repertoire
Along the way, especially when starting to learn chords and scales, the student will be encouraged to explore and memorize standard repertoire.
Top | Jazz Composition (Small to Large Ensemble)
For the student interested in composing for a small group or large ensemble. Specific areas of study include:
- Music Theory
Depending on interest, we can cover the fundamentals or the equivalent of a sequence of college courses. Discussions of basic music theory include: musical notation; time and counting; scales/tonality/key/modality; intervals/transposition; and chords. - Jazz Harmony
If the student is interested in strengthening his understanding of jazz theory, topics of discussion include: intervals/chords/inversions/modes; diatonic and modal chord progressions; the blues; lead sheets, song forms, and melodic variations; secondary dominant chords; substitute dominant seventh chords and tritone substitution; minor key harmony/modal interchange/minor blues; common chord progressions and voice-leading; modulation; pentatonics and other symmetric scales; blues variations; "rhythm changes"; John Coltrane's three-tonic system; and slash chords/hybrid chord voicings. - Reharmonization Techniques
If the student wishes to expand his/her understanding of jazz chord progressions, topics of discussion include: simple substitution; diatonic reharmonization; tritone substitution/extended dominant seventh chords/extended II-V7 patterns; displacement; modal interchange; reharmonization using bass lines; turnarounds; extended endings/modulatory interludes; line cliches; diminished seventh chords; modal reharmonization; hybrid chord voicings; and constant structure patterns. - Jazz Composition (Small Ensemble)
If the student is just beginning to compose for jazz ensemble or interested in composing for a smaller ensemble, topics of discussion include: melodic considerations; harmonic considerations; metric considerations; song/episodic form; motivic composition; and extended works. - Jazz Composition and Arranging for Medium/Large Ensemble
For students interested in composing and arranging for a medium/large ensemble, topis of discussion include: basic voicings; voicings in fourths and seconds; voicing with upper structure triads; unison and octave writing; concerted writing with mechanical voicings; spread voicings; line writing; soli writing; background writing; and shout choruses.