Keith W. TakeLessons Instructor music, guitar, music theory Seattle, WA

Put simply, I am the result of a budding guitarist trapped in the snows of Alaska.  Youd be amazed what you can accomplish on a musical instrument when you are snowed in!

I started playing guitar seriously at age 10.  My earliest influences were Queen, Bowie, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles.  My influences have since changed as I've grown as a musician to include all aspects of the musical prizm.

I am happily married and have two children, Camille and Gibson. (yes, Gibson IS named after the guitar!)

Ive been in over 30 bands and projects, have been on over 70 recordings, and currently have a student compliment of over 20.  I have also done a wealth of studio session work that has become a proving ground for most professional musicians.  This is what I like to do most! I am currently in the band Point One and have enjoyed a healthy success with them over the last five years as we tour nationally and are at the front lines of the music industry.

To sum up:  I am very much a music crusader. I believe there is a large hole in American education today where music once stood.  Today, music education is a side-note that doesn't reap the proper funding or attention that it so clearly deserves.  I have witnessed music teachers that seem to be happy taking money from learners and not fulfilling their obligation to help people UNDERSTAND music.  This is the primary reason why i teach and why Ive joined TakeLessons.com.  The bottom line for me is that if you participate in music, in ANY way, you will become a better listener, Reader, communicator, cook, debater, thinker, etc... 

Music should also be de-programmed as something that is hard to do.  I believe anybody can play a guitar, and I intend to prove it!

-nuff said!

Everybody learns in different ways.  Some learn best by watching a performance, some by reading the written word.  Some of us just need to hear musical examples and be allowed to emulate.  Identifying the learning style is the first thing we'll accomplish.

From here we can isolate what the goals are of the student and begin the glory!  We will cover all the basics.  the technology of the guitar to the fundamental chord structure that makes music possible!

Replication and application are the basis of my teaching theory and a requirement for understanding music.  How hard you apply yourself will dictate the speed of our learning process.  if the student has little time to invest in practice, that is okay.  We can develop a lesson plan around ANY schedule!

A student being in a comfortable and in a stimulating atmosphere is key. My first objective is to identify the learning style of the student. Once I find this I begin developing a lesson plan catering to the specific strengths of the budding guitarist. Its HUGE to me that the student not just know music facts but UNDERSTAND the fundamentals of music theory.

Next is to help the student find a way to apply the new knowledge. Its no good to know a bunch of chords and scales without points of reference on how to use them. This is a large part of my advanced student curriculum.

This should also be fun and musical. Results should come at a steady and copious pace.

music, guitar, music theory

"Keith W. is an incredibly unique, gifted and accomplished guitar player and musician. He plays with a ferocity, beauty, gentleness and power that makes him, easilly amoung the best I've seen or heard. His musicianship alone qualifies him to be a sought-after guitar instructor but in Keith's case there is an added element. He also happens to be an astoundingly gifted teacher, which, it could be argued is even more rare. Keith brings passion, patience, energy and enthusiasm, along with a sincere love of the learning/teaching process to his students and a willingness to demand a great deal and draw the most from them and their guitar playing. Many are fantastic musicians who happen to teach. Keith is a fantastic teacher who happens to be the best musican you may ever meet."         robert stewart local singer and pub crawler seattle, wa

I have worked w/ Keith for over 4 years now.
Because of his knowledge in music theory and just pure talent he has
expanded the sound of Point One quite alot.
His ability to work in any key and use different note choices and
different scale options along w/ harmony has been very useful.
I have also seen him work w/ kids and he has a fantastic teaching
 ability.
It is one thing to know an instrument, it is an entirely different gift to
be able to teach someone else how to use the instrument and make it fun
at the same time. what a beutifull gift it is to share music w/ one another
and i think that Keith's ability to do that is quite remarkable.

Len, Lead Singer/guitarist, Point One