Belle Chasse, LA Guitar Lessons

lassical piano department in the School of the Arts High School of San Francisco. There I went through rigorous classical training and learned vast amounts of repertoire. At the same time, I still studied and played jazz in the high school Big Band, Latin Jazz band and small jazz combo. It was during this time that I deeply focused on not only Jazz music and improvisation, but also Salsa, Latin Jazz, R&B, Funk, Pop. Basically all other forms and styles of music. I learned what it means to be in a band and how to make an ensemble sound good and to make an audience like and cheer for the music. I was lucky to have bands and musicians to play with all around San Francisco, including jazz festivals.

After graduating as the only student to study in the Piano department for 4 years in my graduating class, I was accepted with scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston. I started my first semester in 2009, and declared a Piano Performance and Jazz Composition Dual Major in 2010. At Berklee, I studied under amazing piano teachers to focus on my jazz playing and technique and repertoire. Some of the classes I took included music theory, ear training, composition and arranging, scoring and analysis, even guitar and bass labs. As well, I was the main piano player for the Berklee Salsa Ensemble for 3 straight years. I was also involved with bands and playing recitals, shows, clubs, outdoors and indoor venues throughout Boston and Massachusetts. I had the honor of being hired by Berklee to travel and play along with other selected students at the Carnaval de Barranquilla honoring Joe Arroyo. This was the most memorable musical experience for me yet, as I played along great musicians for hundreds of people in a theater, including Joe Arroyo sharing the stage with the band.

All of this experience and training is what I bring to my lessons and tutoring sessions. I teach my students how to prepare themselves for any kind of musical situation, from music theory and technique, to piano playing and repertoire, and understanding and playing all kinds of styles and genres of music. Most of all, I teach my students to be unique in their musical endeavors and to bring out their own voice through music. And the most important element of all, the happiness and joy it brings to the students and others.

*** Lesson Details ***
In my piano and music lessons, you will be learning music theory, proper piano technique, ear training, sight reading, and repertoire. It will be up to the student to determine what genre and style of music they want to learn and study. It can be anything from classical music, jazz, or even Funk and R&B music and more. My students will also develop an ear, meaning that instead of only focusing on written material and music in sheet music format, they will learn to hear intervals and chords, and also play or sing back melodies.

My teaching style is very easy to get along with. I don't pressure or push students by being too strict. When learning music, being hard and strict gets the student nowhere. I approach the student with listening and understanding. It's my job to see the students advantages and keep them strong, as well as working on bringing up weaknesses and what's needed to make the student excel in both playing technique, and all other musical aspects.

When it comes to proper piano technique, I always teach my students with "Hanon, the Virtuoso Pianist in sixty excercises", and "Scales, Chords & Arpeggios" by James Bastien. After 3-6 months as my student, you will progress in your technique skills, ear training, repertoire and memorization

*** Studio Equipment ***
Main keyboard: Nord Stage 2 88 keysRecording equipment: M-Audio ProFire 2626 interface (modified), Black Lion Audio Inst/Mic Preamp, Black Lion Audio Master clock, KRK Rokit 6's, Shure SM57/SM58, Sterling Audio ST57 FET Condenser microphone, MacBook Pro with Logic, Ableton Live, Reason, Digital PerformerBass: Fender '57 reissue P Bass, made in JapanGuitar: Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster, made in MexicoAmps: Behringer PA/Keyboard amp, Fender DeVille 2X12 60W all tube Guitar amp

*** Travel Equipment ***
Sheet music material and copied pages from books. Student should be able to provide their own books.

*** Specialties ***
Classically trained in Piano. Most recent styles and genres include Jazz, Fusion, Blues, Rock, Funk, R&B/Soul, Latin, Latin-Jazz, Salsa, Afro-Cuban

*** Studio Equipment ***
bass and guitar amp, music stand, sheet music books/magazines, home recording system w/ seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide a guitar amp..I expect the student to have a guitar

*** Specialties ***
Sight Reading, All Modern techniques Pertaining To Guitar and Bass... Specialize in the Rock/Funk Genre

cal ideas. A dedicated collaborator, Ryan bring his personality and passion for experimentation to each project, while always working to serve the vision of each employing artist.

Lesson Mission:

“Music study was a way for me to find structure, discipline, self worth and expression. Through that I have grown as a person and a musician. My sole reason for teaching is to help others find that passion and those qualities within themselves to live a beautiful and fulfilling life through his/her instrument.”

Qualifications/Education:

Lead Guitarist for:

-"The Voice" Country Star, Audra McLaughlin

-R&B singer Ces Picerno

-Rock band, The RAKNOSS

-Hip-Hop recording artist, Drew Smith

-Italian pop singer, Giada J.

**endorsed by Wampler Effects Pedals**

**over 200 live gigs played**

Guest Lecturer at University of Akron, OH "Pentatonic Scales the Western Integration"

Philadelphia Session Guitarist 2013-Present

Featured online instructor via Ibanez Guitars USA

Author and teacher of online lesson videos. "S. Shred Tips"

15 years of Guitar repair and modification experience

Extensive knowledge of guitar effects and applications

Education:

2009-2013 Harmony and Theory at Rumoro Academy of Jazz Guitar in Chicago, IL

2004-2008 Experimental Sound/Production The School of the Art Institute Chicago

*** Lesson Details ***
Students should expect a relaxing learning environment that is cultivated to bring the fundamentals of guitar playing to the student and promote individuality in the player through a meditation of self-awareness while using the vehicle of Guitar. Lesson are taught out of my home studio space located in the East Falls/Manayunk Philadelphia!

Lessons are structured around: Finger exercises, Chord building, Strumming patterns, Scales, Arpeggios, Harmony studies and Improvisational chop building.

Some lesson materials referenced are:

The Real Book 6th Edition Jazz Standards
30 hour Guitar workout Steve Vai
The Music Lesson Victor Wooten

after just 3-6 short months, students will see an increase in comfortability with the notes on the fret board, basic chord progressions and single note soloing!

*** Studio Equipment ***
iMac i7 Mavericks

*** Travel Equipment ***
student only needs guitar and Binder for materials given in class

I have amps

*** Specialties ***
Rock, Blues, Country and Jazz approaches to guitar as well as home recording practices

e things for my students to make their learning as easy and effective as possible.

In addition to freelance work, (weddings, jazz brunch gigs, etc.) I am the lead guitarist for the Funk/R&B band Water Seed and the soul project RetroFit. I attended Indiana University for jazz guitar and have studied under jazz greats Dan Miller, Corey Christiansen, and Oteil Burbridge.

I teach all kinds of stringed instruments from guitar and bass to mandolin and banjo! If you have any questions about my teaching methods, skill level in a certain discipline, or anything you can think of I would be more than happy to answer you!

Musically yours,
Grant

e rest of their life. If you just learn to put your hands in a certain place to play a certain song, you are missing out. If you learn what it is your actually doing, you can apply it. This may be the most important benefit of a private instructor.

What You Will Learn:

​Beginning Students:
In my experience, over several years, I find most beginners are surprised the guitar is so hard to play. Having an instructor to help you past that frustration will lead to a lifelong enjoyment of your guitar in the songs you love.
- Learning the basic chords.
- How to move from chord to chord smoothly.
- Using these chords to play your favorite songs.
- Understanding guitar notation (tabs, chord grids, song books, standard notation).
This way, the skills you learn will last a life time!

Intermediate/ Advanced Students:
This is for the hungry players. You will be given the direction to achieve a high level of musicianship. You will be challenged to reach your full potential.
- Technique drills
- Scale knowledge
- Advanced chords
- Improvisation tips
- Chop Building
- Theory
- Reading
- Composition

Experience & Background:

I've teaching and performing professionally for 23 years.
- One year OCHSA jazz combo.
- Fifteen years performing music clubs, casuals as a solo performer and in a jazz trio.
- Twenty three years teaching individuals and groups.
- Eleven years as Irvine and Laguna YAMAHA Music school instructor.

I've studied with some of the top teachers in California:
- Jim Fagen (classical guitar)
- Erik Halbig (rock, jazz & country)
- Jim Witzel (head of jazz guitar at CSUSF)
- Ron Eshcete (jazz guitar)
- Carl Verheyen (everything).

tool in your toolbox, as well as give you some new ones. Music is not too vast to understand, and all it takes is one little push to be off on your way, making your own musical adventures.
As someone who has thrived in most ensemble scenarios from Concert Bands, Orchestras, Big Bands, to Rock Bands and Jazz Combos, I can help prepare you for any musical undertaking. I love students who love music and want to get better at it, regardless of what style it might be in.
So whoever you are, whatever you like, and wherever your skills are at, I want to help- to impart you with skills and knowledge you might need to play at the level you want. I look forward to meeting you and helping you be even more awesome!