Granite City Music Lessons

ptionally good lesson.

Making music is a skill which can bring lifelong joy to the musician as well as everyone around them. While I can easily ensure that my students enjoy music-making while they are taking lessons, my ultimate goal is that students continue to want to make music throughout their entire life, even after they stop taking lessons. I firmly believe that my job as a teacher is to train my students to be independent and self-sufficient musicians. Many teachers teach by rote, playing a passage to a student and then having the student play it back. Though this method is helpful in some situations, students who are taught in this manner often find that they are only able to play the songs taught to them in lessons, and that to learn a new song they must have a teacher by their side showing them how the song goes. In my lessons, however, students are taught to learn their own music through sight-reading, ear-training, music theory, and listening to and critiquing their own playing. Over time, this allows the student more and more freedom to make music without a teacher.

ls ***
My students can expect professional, expert advise from a working performance artist. One of my main philosophies is a focus on fun. If music is fun, then students will practice more - which leads to accelerating returns. My students can expect lessons tailored to their specific goals. First I will discuss with the student musical influences and genre preferences, then I will assess the student's current abilities and we will begin designing a weekly regimen of practice and study. As a product of the Internet generation, I recommend using all the tools available to my students including the Internet to further their goals. My students will also learn to perform with other musicians, so we will typically have a segment of each lesson dedicated to jam time. Whether my students aspire to be professional performance artists, impress their love interests, or just rock out in their bedrooms, I work with my students so that they can do exactly that.

*** Studio Equipment ***
one bedroom apt...hardwood floor...central room for studio...music stands, room parents to sit, chairs...

*** Travel Equipment ***
I bring a music stand, an acoustic guitar, my handout literature, and any other equipment (mic, stand, vocal amp, electric guitar, guitar amp) based on what my students want to learn. I expect my students to own whatever instruments they want to learn.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in teaching acoustic and electric guitar and stage performance. I teach using handouts that I customize for students and have lessons made up around different concepts such as - learning to identify what key a song is in - how to use 3 chord combinations - learning scales and when to use them - these type of things. I usually teach based on how I learned, which includes - using the Internet to learn songs - how to figure out how a particular song is played - getting into good practice habits - etc. My genres of specialty are Blues, Rock/Classic Rock/Southern Rock, and Acoustic Singer/Songwriter. What I like to do is ask a student what kind of music or songs they would like to learn, then build them up to the level they need to be to play those songs or that style of interest.

s into finding their own sound on their instrument.

Then, he focuses on how to take those skills into a real world scenario.

Scott encourages each student to embrace the music that they already enjoy and to be open to other styles of music.

Scott's personal and tailored approach to each student, no matter what their age, level, or ultimate goals, inspires students to become their best, have fun and stay motivated beyond the lessons.

I look forward to helping you reach your musical goals!

free time.

"what do you want to get out of learning the guitar?" Every student is unique in that every student wants to learn different things about the instrument and learns in different ways. I implicate a goal based approach to teaching/learning the guitar so that every student gets the most they can out of every lesson and has a good time doing so. That being said there are fundamentals in guitar playing technique that I make sure every student learns including knowing the "anatomy" of the guitar, strumming, note names on the fretboard, basic rhythms, etc. I like to use every resource available to me that I can including the internet, guitar books, handouts that I have created, as well as digital audio workstations for creating backing tracks to jam over. I often encourage younger students to take 30-45 minute lessons and students over the age of 14 to take 45 minute lessons at a minimum.

*** Studio Equipment ***

My studio is located in the finished basement of my home in St. Charles, MO. I have electric and acoustic guitars that students are welcome to play on during our lessons if they do not want to bring their own. I also have amplifiers, guitar pedals (so much fun!), an interface, DAW's, music stands, metronome, and more that are incorporated into most lessons. Parents of students are welcome to relax in the lounge area located right next to my studio (don't hesitate to ask for coffee or tea!). I also have basic supplies for creating a custom guitar binder/folder for every student to take home and practice with. All handouts are available in digital format for those wishing to learn online through Take Lessons Classroom.

*** Specialties ***

I specialize in teaching modern techniques for both electric and acoustic guitar. My introduction to learning the guitar came in the form of classical guitar lessons so I can also teach the basics of sight reading and classical guitar playing technique, though most lesson will focus on more modern styles of playing. I am well versed in rock, funk, blues, and traditional acoustic playing styles. I also specialize in songwriting and improvisation/jamming.

nforeseen goals and interests as they progress.

If the student has interest, I also can teach lessons on mandola and tenor guitar.