Derrick C.

General Info

• Certified Music Teacher

  Certified Music Teacher

  Our rigorous hiring process requires a completed application; an interview with our professional recruiting specialists; personal and professional reference checks; and annual criminal background checks for the duration of each teacher's employment with us.

  
• Background Check Complete

  Criminal Background Check

  In order to ensure the safety of our students, all teachers undergo a thorough criminal background check, which includes: Social Security number trace, multi-state criminal search and a nationwide sex offender registry search.

  
• Levels: Beginner to Advanced

• In-Home Lessons: Yes
• In-Studio Lessons: Yes
• Ages: 5 & up

Subjects Taught

Bass Guitar, Guitar, Music Theory

Education

Wright State University - Mass Communications - 1990-1995 (Bachelor's degree received)

Specialties

Classic and Alternative Rock, Acoustic and Electric Blues, Folk style Fingerpicking, Coordinating singing and playing guitar

Lesson Details

The are four basic levels to which I try to develop students' ability. In the beginning, I focus on getting students comfortable with the instrument, showing them some songs they'll have fun with, and developing the dexterity in their hands. You'll get a huge amount of help from in learning songs as I'll give you sheet music, play along with you, and basically talk you through being able to play the song.

Once you're comfortable learning songs with that amount of help, I'll start giving ... you sheet music and having you take it home and practice, and then go over questions or problems you may have the next week.

When you're able to teach yourself songs from sheet music, then I'll start giving you some easy songs to try to learn by ear. I'll give you some hints in the beginning about what chords are used, or what key the song is in, but eventually I'll take the training wheels off and throw you in the pool, so to speak, and make you learn the songs by ear, and then tell you if you learned them correctly or not. Obviously, we'll do some ear training exercises to improve your ability to learn songs by ear.

Finally, once you're comfortable learning songs by ear and learning songs from sheet music, you're ready to take the leap into improvising your own solos, playing at open mic nights and coffee houses, writing your own songs, or trying to get into a cover band.

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About

I've been playing the guitar for twenty-six years now, and I've been working as a guitar teacher for the last twenty years. I've been making a living as a guitar teacher in the Boston area for fourteen years now, and I teach in two locations - Brighton and Dedham. Prior to that I also taught at Guitar Attention Center in Springfield, Ohio while I was in college, where I graduated with honors at Wright State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications.
I've also played in a ... variety of original and cover bands, and have written a number of songs of my own. I'm working on recording these as instrumentals in my home studio.
I also play in a rock cover band called Element 78. We play out every weekend, and even on some Sundays. The singer and I have also started doing some acoustic shows on Sundays and Thursdays as well.

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