Guitar with Sean C.

Hi there! This is Sean, and I am a friendly, personable, energetic, thoughtful and resourceful teacher of guitar. I began playing the guitar at age thirteen, and turned to the energetic challenge of classical guitar playing in my twenties, eventually earning a degree in classical guitar performance. I am happily married (eight years) to the most perfect spouse I could ever hope for. We have two adorable little girls, ages six and seven. I am also well-invested in the practice of Hatha Yoga, and am certified as a Yoga teacher. As a very high-energy and pretty intense person, I fully give one hundred percent to the things I do. Teaching music is no different, with learners receiving an uncompromising commitment to their musical/guitaristic development. My teaching practice is at least two things. It is the transmission of my cultivated ability on the guitar. This involves learning chords, scales, songs, physical/technical development, reading music, music theory, and student practice during the week, etc. Equally important is the realization of guitar instruction as a powerful tool by which musicians/learners can more fully develop their human potential, and grow as people. I love connecting with students, and adjusting instruction to help students conquer new challenges and meet goals. Committed learners are often shocked by how quickly their musical development unfolds, and they are playing music they would never have thought possible for them in the short length of time it took them to get there. Looking back over the years of teaching, even I can hardly believe the lengths I go to assist a student in overcoming a present challenge. The evident pride and satisfaction a learner takes in that development is like rocket fuel in my gas tank. Simply put: I LOVE teaching, and feel individual private lessons are teaching and learning par excellence. Take a look at some sample videos of how my style of teaching works with the song Dust in the Wind. So whether you are a seasoned player with well-cultivated skills, or are totally brand new to the guitar, come on over and find yourself happily surprised at how far I am able to assist you in your development as a guitarist. *** Lesson Details *** In my own learning process, the most enjoyable lessons are where a teacher successfully assists with overcoming a difficult challenge, often times with a relatively minor adjustment or correction. I love being blown away by teachers who can do that. Lessons revolve around two general themes, (with other themes developing over the course of a learner’s development. 1) Learners develop skills to read music and understand practical and applicable theory that is pertinent to YOUR goals as a developing musician. Applicable music theory is important for a guitarist to know in order to develop a competent 'bag of tricks'. You can listen to a recording at the following link called 'Caleb and Sean Jamming which we made so he could hear himself play, and use it as a tool to develop himself. My system works and builds people who not only play songs, but become musical people with their own musical minds. I recommend to start, thirty minutes a day of practice for five days a week. Utilizing my system, students who do this can expect to be playing songs, finger picking, and basic improvisation (playing both lead and rhythm) within the first three months. Within six months improvisation skills are extended into major/minor scales. In that six month range students also develop a working understanding of how songs are constructed, and are developing an ear to pick out the chords of songs they want to learn. All students begin learning to read music from lesson number one, and within three to six months are finding music reading skills accessible enough to read on their own. By this point, students are no longer dependent upon myself to learn songs and generally come to lessons prepared with material they are learning on their own. What we work on at this point is clarifying questions the student has about a song or a piece of music they are learning. 2) Cultivate a strong and intuitive command of proper physical technique on the guitar. A very important aspect of my musicianship is a strong and intuitive command of physical technique. Over the years of teaching I’ve become very good at cultivating a student’s physical technique. I like to tell guitarists who have played for a long time that if they will give me an hour of their life, I will teach them how to make their fingers thirty to fifty percent longer; and then do exactly that. I ADORE seeing jaws drop when a student’s playing is enhanced with what usually amounts to minor tweaks and adjustments. And in all phases of musical development, I am a flexible and clever teacher. Sometimes material simply needs to be amended, modified, or stabbed at from a different angle in order to make it accessible to students. Students are number one in my teaching practice, and I go to bed knowing I gave everything I could to those students who are working hard to accomplish their musical goals. *** Studio Equipment *** Texts are available for purchase, music stands, an amplifier for electric guitars, extra chairs for parents to watch the lessons if they prefer. *** Travel Equipment *** Music stand *** Specialties *** For students of classical guitar, I utilize Frederick Noad's curriculum: Solo Guitar Playing 1, and get the student reading, reading, reading from lesson one or two. With my strong background in developing strong and efficient physical technique for the guitar, I also successfully design technical drills individually as required for each student to address challenges