Guitar with Alan B.

I began taking guitar lessons in the Bay Area at the age of 7. I was fortunate to study with respected musician, Tom Patitucci. I was involved with a touring band by age 11, performing all around San Francisco and the surrounding counties. I simply fell in love with playing and performing music. As I grew older I played in a number of different bands ranging from Bluegrass to Metal. In High School, my parents allowed me to teach lessons out of our front room and it was then I developed a lifelong connection with teaching. I studied music at Southern Oregon University and Portland State University. I graduated from California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. From there, I moved to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mt. range and taught music at the high school level. During that time I performed regularly at Weddings, Wineries and Restaurants. I began to move heavily into roots music, focusing on Banjo and Dobro. I truly love all forms of Music. They all generate good times. I currently reside in Portland and perform regularly with my band of ten years. I own Hear and Now Music Instruction in SE Portland and I instruct several styles at our relaxed commercial studio. I look forward to helping you with your own Musical Travels.Cheers! *** Lesson Details *** For beginning students, we will begin the lessons with fundamental concepts such as names of strings and parts of the instrument, the chromatic scale and tuning. From the very onset, we will discuss the style of music you wish to develop and you are encouraged to choose a few favorite songs that we can begin to work toward. As we progress, chord structure and rhythm patterns begin to take shape. Aided with fun, creative exercises, the student gradually begins to merge these musical concepts and in a short time, you are playing your favorite songs. If you desire speed and articulation, we will work on flat picking techniques, fingerboard accuracy and vocal pitch. As with all styles of string instruments, understanding note placement on the neck is crucial. We will build a frame of reference that allows quick changes between registers up and down the neck of the instrument. If you desire to focus on soloing, we will develop exercises that allow you to write and play riffs over different backing rhythms. *** Studio Equipment *** Our studio is loaded with a variety of string instruments. Acoustic, Electric, Nylon guitars, Banjos, Ukuleles, Dobros, Mandos and others that are constantly rotating, as we connect seller/buyer from our client base. We use Audix Vocal Mics, Roland acoustic amps, an array of electric amps (both tube and solid state) and a BR-1600 recording console for recording projects. Students are encouraged to bring their own instrument to lessons. However, in the event the student is unable, we generally have enough on hand of any style to loan for the lesson. Rentals are available on a first come/ first served basis. *** Specialties *** I also teach Dobro or Lap style resonator.