Miami, FL Bluegrass Guitar Lessons

- learning chords to songs in Bluegrass repertoire
- major and pentatonic scales
- utilizing open strings and ornamentation in scale runs

I started playing acoustic guitar when I was seven years old. I have been playing and teaching mostly bluegrass, old time, Irish, blues, and swing jazz styles for many years. I have taught both privately and have also done various workshops at festivals. I have taught guitar multiple years for instance at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival in PA.
My students learn to have fun with music. Students can work on rhythms, melodies, improvisation, song writing, getting into and/or hanging on in a jam session, etc.

Students learn notation, tab, theory and chords. They will play entire songs along with recordings by their favorite artists. Later they will learn how to improvise a solo or play one from a recording. Fingerpicking styles will also be taught as well as how to chord in the correct style for the music.

Other students may have a specific goal and a custom curriculum will be created to get them there fast.

Students are encouraged to listen, keep solid rhythm, try different styles, and have fun.

I have been helping students reach their goals on guitar for over 18 years! I have been playing guitar for over 20 years and am accomplished on almost any style. My teaching methods help students achieve success because I adjust to each student's needs and abilities individually to create a great experience. I couple traditional teaching with performances offer professional student shows and concerts throughout the year to help enrich the experience!

Bluegrass and country guitar is close to the same music played. There is many country styles that can be learned. Southern rock music is based on country music except with a different feel. Bluegrass can be learned by using a pick or with your fingers as a classical player.

My lessons are tailored to the specific goals of the student and each lesson has its differences. However, a typical guitar lesson might entail the following: on your first lesson goals are set, this would include songs you would like to learn and play, as well as any technical and theoretical problems you would like to overcome. Next comes the development of an individualized plan on how to achieve those goals. The student then leaves with a clear understanding of specific tasks and a focused practice plan to prepare for the next lesson. It's important to remember that all lessons are presented with great clarity and simplicity so that the student stays engaged by having fun as they progress.

I am an accomplished guitar player in a variety of genres and have extensive experience with different bands. I studied guitar at Southern Oregon University, and then went on to teach guitar and piano at the Able Music School in Auckland, New Zealand, and with the Musicality Network in Portland, Oregon. I am an actively performing musician and recording artist; in the past, I have played with bands ranging from acoustic rock to punk, jazz to classical, Renaissance to reggae, blue-grass to heavy metal. I am a recent New York transplant, and am looking forward to sharing my love of guitar and piano with a new set of students!

I started teaching private lessons while living in Ashland, Oregon, and have continued teaching private lessons through today. I also taught at the Able Music Studio in Auckland, New Zealand for 2 1/2 years and then through the Musicality Network in Portland, Oregon for 1 year.

A major priority of my guitar teaching is to have students making expressive music every time they touch the instrument.

I begin by working on tone production on the open strings of the guitar, so that students are able to produce a full, beautiful tone on the first day. From there, we study left- and right- hand techniques in the context of real pieces of music, giving students the chance to apply the mechanics of guitar playing to the expression of musical ideas. At the same time, I work with students through progressive studies and warm-up exercises that have built-in expressive goals, so that they can learn to rely on their own ears to further refine their playing.

As I believe that a good guitarist is, first and foremost, a strong musician, I fold a number of diverse activities into weekly lessons, developing skills in music theory, ear training, sight reading, composition, and improvisation, all of which reinforce the acquisition of strong technique.

I believe that learning music should be as fun and inspiring as it can be to play. We all have a vast wellspring of creative energy within us, and the goal of the relationship between the student and the teacher is to help nurture and develop that latent talent. For this reason, my approach to teaching music is highly individualized. I start out with the premise that the student has unique gifts and my job is to help them discover what those are, and develop and refine them in order to make beautiful and deeply satisfying music, through whatever instrument and in whatever style they are drawn towards.

Depending on one's starting level of experience, some basic exercises will be assigned to develop core skills, with increasing levels of technical challenge and complexity. Elements of music theory will be woven into practical lessons. Students will have the choice to incorporate material from popular and familiar music into their studies, and as they progress they will be encouraged to

Tim has made a career as a professional musician since receiving his M.A. in Appalachian Music: Roots & Influences from Appalachian State University in the spring of 2014. With experience as a Guitar Center instructor since 2015, an AmeriCorps member with the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, and an Instructor of Record at Appalachian State, Tim is able to pair his deep knowledge of diverse musical styles, techniques, and theory with his adeptness at teaching. This enables students to quickly increase their skill and gain a deep appreciation for the music they are learning. His teaching approach centers on aural training, and encourages a student-driven curriculum.

Professionally, Tim is a Larrivee Guitars sponsored artist, and has performed all across the United States with the acoustic roots band, Redleg Husky. For more information on Redleg Husky visit: http://redleghusky.com