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Guitar Lessons
& Teaching Philosophy |
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Guitar Lessons with Adam
About Me
I
was born in 1949. I’ve been playing guitar for 47 years and teaching for
45; my income is split evenly between performing and teaching. I teach a
wide range of flatpick and fingerpick styles—both rhythm and lead—at all
levels. I teach Mondays and Tuesdays at my house, and Thursdays at the
Homestead Pickin’ Parlor, in Richfield, Mn. I’m also on the faculties of
a
variety of adult music camps. The Puget Sound Guitar Workshop; Camp
Bluegrass, in Lubbock, Texas; Steve Kaufman’s Flatpick Guitar Camp in
Tennessee; and the International Fiddle Camp in Manitoba are a few.
About Lessons
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I am punctual, so arrive a tad early, tune up and be ready to go on
time.
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I am an enthusiastic and supportive teacher; my teaching style is more
cheerleader than nag. Lessons tend to be fun.
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I will provide a safe, friendly, encouraging atmosphere.
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You needn’t bring anything but a guitar. (In fact, if you’re unable to
bring a guitar for logistical reasons, I have a loaner here.) If there
are
other materials you want included in the lesson—books, CDs, cassettes,
albums, mp3s, tablature, music, hieroglyphs—feel free.
The Business
Stuff
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I teach all ages above 13, and all levels, beginner through
professional.
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My fees are $28 per half-hour lesson and $56 per hour lesson (as of
2-08). You can pay by the lesson or in advance. I recommend hour
lessons, except for absolute beginners. If finances or schedule prohibit
this, rest assured that we’ll pack plenty of wallop into a half-hour
lesson.
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I have the standard 24-hour cancellation policy. If I miss a lesson,
your next one is free; if you miss one, you owe me for it.
Finding Me
My
address is 2202 Blake Av, St Paul. My phone number is 651-646-3732. I’m
one block north of Energy Park Drive and Raymond Av. Go under the arch
on the right side of the house, come in the side door there, come
downstairs and have a seat in the waiting area.
For students at the Pickin’ Parlor:
Their address is 6625 Penn Av S,
Richfield. Their number is 612-861-3308. Please note that the Homestead
staff handles all scheduling and payments for lessons that take place
there. They require one payment in advance.
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My Teaching Philosophy
It is my goal to send you off in better spirits than when you arrive,
especially regarding your relationship with your guitar. You are here
voluntarily—no one is court-ordered to take guitar lessons (yet). My
success as a guitar teacher depends on my ability to move you forward
in an uplifting and generally entertaining way.
As I work with you, these are the questions for which I seek answers:
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What do you want to know?
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How much do you know now?
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How fast do you learn?
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Are you too hard on yourself? Not hard enough?
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How do you practice: sporadically or in a structured way, or both?
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By what method do you best learn?
Some of this information comes right away and some takes time. As it
arrives in my brain, it goes into the mix that makes your lesson. In
short, I
tailor our sessions to suit you. Over a forty-five year span, I have
learned a
variety of ways of getting musical information across. I use all of
these in
myriad combinations to mix the cocktail that becomes your lesson.
I
am a fast transcriber, and can generally write out a solo or progression
in a few minutes of lesson time. As I do this, I show the student what
I’m
hearing and how I’m writing it out, with an eye toward increasing their
ear
training and, if desired, transcription skills. This is especially
helpful for
singer-songwriters in developing the guitar parts of their original
works.
If you are the take charge type and are clear on what you want from
me, feel free to “guide” the lesson. Come in with a written agenda if
you
wish. Or come tabula rasa and leave
it to me. Either way, I’ll see to it
that the teaching stuff gets in. If you want to mix and match, that’s
fine:
for example, sometimes people have a specific piece of music they want
to learn, and then the next week come in and say, “I got nothin’.”
In the event that you haven’t played much, or at all, since your last
lesson, come anyway. Some wondrous sessions have started with the
student saying, “I haven’t opened my case since the last time I was
here.”
Mind you, I don’t recommend this as a normal course of action, but life
often gets in the way, and I’m very tolerant of students’ busy-ness.
Okay, that’s the lowdown. If we work together, I will strive to make
your lessons enjoyable and fruitful experiences.
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