Banjo Lessons in Westlake Village. Amazing Teachers.

Beginner banjo lessons. Basic technique, chords, strumming. So much fun playing songs!
Disclaimer: I am not a traditional bluegrass player. I am finding many students nowadays that enjoy the sound of banjo, but want to play modern music with it. I have had a great deal of success with this type of student, but advise anyone looking for traditional scruggs lessons to seek that out. Thanks!

I'm comfortable teaching the banjo in a variety of styles but will typically start in Bluegrass. I can teach both Scruggs style finger picking and basic to intermediate Clawhammer. My comfort zone is higher in the Scruggs style of playing however.

I also teach beginning to advanced Tenor Banjo (CGDA Tuning). Though it looks similar to the 5-string bluegrass banjo, the Irish Tenor Banjo and Tenor have only 4 strings and are played with a traditional guitar pick (a "plectrum" - though a "plectrum" banjo is tuned different then these other 2) and strummed rather then plucked with individual fingers.

I can teach the Plectrum Banjo as well (CGBD Tuning) but will be teaching you on a 5 string banjo that I only play with four strings.

Beginning lessons include note recognition, finger positions,scales, and chords, and progresses up to strumming, frailing, and rolls with the right hand. Strumming with the hand and with fingerpicks is also covered. All geared to get you up and making music ASAP!

Bluegrass (Scruggs/Keith) and Old-Timey (Clawhammer)

I specialize in teaching Clawhammer style and 3 finger "Scruggs" style.

My tenor banjo (Irish tuning) teaching style consists of a fun, relaxed, and engaging student paced learning environment.
My instruction is always tailored to my student's short term, and long term goals.
My promise to you as my student is that together we will discover what it takes for you to become a proficient musician with the ability to perform in front of any audience.
My classes with you will include the following content:
• Warm up exercises
• Fundamentals
• Mindfulness techniques
• Note reading
• Tab reading
• Sight reading
• Left hand/ right hand techniques
• Burst practicing (burnout prevention)
• Micro movements/economy of motion
• Proper posture both sitting and standing
• Stage performance techniques
• Embellishments
• Improvisation
• Unorthodox techniques
• Scales and Keys
• Theory
• Fretboard mastery
• Chords (all types)
• Songwriting
• Transcription
• Memorization
• Self sufficiency