Let me help you be the guitarist you want to be - No style is off limits!

About Me

I began taking guitar lessons at the age of 11 with blues/jazz guitarist Tom Castonzo, a frequent performer, bandleader and teacher in and around the Chicago area. My studies with Tom lasted for many years and covered various musical and technical aspects of many different styles ranging from jazz to classical and everything in between. Throughout this time, I co-founded the progressive hard rock band Dream Haven, which performed with notable acts such as Mastodon, Fear Factory, Walls of ... Jericho, & Enuff Z'nuff. In 2003, Dream Haven released an EP entitled "Nostalgia is Five Frame." In 2002, I began performing in pit orchestras for various musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserable, The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, and Seussical the Musical.

After high school, I attended the College of Dupage (COD) and began studying jazz guitar with Dr. Zvonimir Tot. Towards the end of my studies at COD, I developed an interest in classical guitar and took lessons from Steve Ramsdell. After I received my Associate’s Degree in Music from COD I started teaching private guitar lessons at various suburban Chicagoland locations. In the fall of 2005, I started my Bachelor’s studies in Classical Guitar Performance at Northern Illinois University (NIU) with Fareed Haque. During my time at NIU, I co-founded the rock/funk/progressive band The Unit Theory and performed a multitude of shows, both solo classical guitar and with The Unit Theory. The Unit Theory released a full-length album entitled “Seed” in July 2008. I graduated from NIU in May 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Guitar Performance.

In June 2010 I received my Master's Degree in Classical Guitar Performance at the New England Conservatory in Boston, under the tutelage of world-renowned guitarist Eliot Fisk. As an active performer in the greater Boston area, I made it a goal to bring the classical guitar to unorthodox venues such as senior centers, local TV, hospitals, dialysis treatment centers, and even juvenile halls! My master's recital was a tour-de-force of virtuosic classical, acoustic, and electric guitar pieces. Now back in Chicago, I look forward to performing, teaching, and writing original music for the guitar in all styles.

Lesson Details

James has been a Wheaton private music instructor for TakeLessons since 2009. James is a certified local music teacher.

How It Works

Lessons are paid for in advance and purchased through our monthly or quarterly plans. All plans come with our 100% Money Back Guarantee. We accept payment via credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover), debit card or electronic check.

Monthly Plan

Schedule and pay for lessons on a month to month basis. Lessons are paid for and scheduled on the 25th of every month.
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Quarterly Plan

Purchase 12 lessons upfront and receive your 13th lesson for free. Over the course of a year, you receive a month of free lessons!
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Pricing

Lesson rates vary depending on the length of the lesson (we offer 30, 45, 60, and 90 minute lessons), and the actual location of the lesson (we offer lessons in your home or our teacher's studio). Lessons are paid for in advance by Visa, Mastercard or Discover. Sorry, no cash.

Please call 877-231-8505 for details.

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Casa Stolana Dr.

Teacher Studio | Details »

Equipment:

lessons in living room, music stands, guitars (acoustic, electric, classical), cable/amp, repertoire, chord charts, xerox for copies

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