Montclair, NJ Acoustic Guitar Lessons

y students are now well respected pro guitar players.
All of my students love my lessons and benefit greatly from them
in so many ways.

*** Lesson Details ***
I customize the lessons to fit the level of proficiency of my students,and to fit to their schedule of practicing.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Guitars,Bass,Amps,recording equipment

*** Specialties ***
Guitar,Bass,& Music Theory teacher.
Blues/Rock/Jazz

le pages. Theory helps you to understand song writing, ear training, and how to build chords and scales. I try to get you to hear the music so you can improvise better and also take songs and solos off CD's yourself, therefore becoming more self reliant to teach yourself in the future.

My students bring in the songs they like and by strengthening their ears and learning to apply theory points, I show them how they can figure out the song by ear the exact way it was written and played by the original artist. Therefore you can play with the CD as if you are a band member. This builds confidence to perform and record in any band at any level. As stated above, I will also customize a program for those interested in learning songs without the theory work so they can use the music to play songs as a nice relaxing past time.

Course Descriptions- Rock, Blues and Funk: You will quickly learn how chords and scales are developed using a condensed theory set up chart. This quick immersion in theory helps you to build a strong foundation while at the same time playing and enjoying the music. I have found in my years of teaching that making theory and music interactive from the beginning makes it more enjoyable to learn. You will learn all scales, chords, techniques, rhythms, and ear training specific to these styles of music. The advantage to this Teaching Format , especially in terms of solo scale playing, to progress much further and faster than if you were just learning how to play the songs. We then go straight to the CD's of your choice and learn from the best, the artists you've admired. Whether to learn their rhythms, solo lines, songwriting formats, melodies and harmonies, and all by ear. As a soloist, you will know enough about scales and chord theory and how to blend the two so you can make the guitar talk yourself. Still for those who want a quick song approach, we can get into playing a song and review its theory relevance when desired. (Recommend 1 hour lesson/week plus practice time)

Folk, Country and Bluegrass: As stated above, I begin with the condensed theory chart to understand chords of all types. Here we study rhythms of the above music forms including ballad, country blues and country folk. Through use of songs you enjoy, we study how the music was written and performed. You will learn in this course how to play music you love as it was done by the original artist. We begin with listening to the original soundtrack. Through the use of the ear we dissect the song and learn it in its original form piece by piece. This will also help set up the study of song writing. Understanding how artists Choose Chords, develop Melodies and Harmonies, and use the art of Modulation to bring you to and from different keys for effect. Transposing songs to fit your vocal range and Arranging songs to bring out their best. (Recommend 1 hour lesson/week plus practice time)

Finger Style: Great fun for those who would rather not sing but still want to play full songs on guitar. This style of guitar will blend the techniques of traditional finger picking artists along with our own on improvisation over twelve bar blues progressions and songs. You will learn to play all the parts, bass, melody, harmony and inside chords with your picking hand. Also how to create chord/melody arrangements from any melody.

Classical: Classical guitar is taught through developing standard reading skills, finger exercises and scale work while learning beautiful pieces at the same time.

Song Writing: Song writing always begins with an introduction to theory. From there you will study works from other artists to see how they Choose Chords, develop Melodies and Harmonies, and how they use the art of Modulation to bring you to and from different keys for effect. Choose a song and artist that you enjoy and we will dissect the piece learning the above techniques.

Children's Studies: The study of music has proven to enhance a child's concentration, mathematical and reading skills, self confidence, performance skills in all walks of life whether its playing the guitar, to public speaking, to playing sports.

*** Lesson Details ***
"Fun - Fast - Patient" My course is tailored to your needs.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Les Pauls and Marshall/Fender amps. Love the sound.

*** Specialties ***
All styles but jazz. Rock, blues, folk, finger style, classical, punk, blues and all in between, from funk to punk, rock to metal. I also teach bass and drums.

either of those styles.

My purpose as a teacher: help people have a fun experience, learning in an organized way, adapted to your learning style and goals, while learning to do exactly what you wanted to do when you decided you wanted to play the guitar.

In 1994, I was let go from my job at a music store because I was sick. Which sounds awful, but was the best thing to ever happen to me- it was then I got over my fears and became a full-time musician, teaching and writing and performing. I have never looked back! I may not be a household name, but I am living the dream.

Whether you want to sing to your kids or play for an audience of 50,000, or just play guitar for yourself, you first have to get started.

Wait no longer! The guitar is calling!

ed drummers and educators John Riley. Through his teachings and years of touring and playing drums professionally I have developed a style of teaching all my own that focuses on the the foundation and essentials of being, not only a great drummer, but a great musician.

ter completed her studies in music performance, composition, and foreign language at the University of New Mexico. In addition to her classical studies, Diana sang in a variety of traveling choral groups throughout high school and took small roles in the Broadway musicals ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Rent’.

In the course of her studies, Diana was honored with awards of excellence from the National Honors Society of Guitar and recognized for her performances with the critically acclaimed woman’s guitar ensemble, ‘Presti Quartet.’ She was selected two years in a row to perform 1st chair in the New Mexico ALLSTATE Guitar Orchestra - the first-ever young woman to earn that position. The following year she was chosen as one of twelve guitarists to represent music in education in the United States.

In the time since her studies, Diana has called many places home. She lived in New Orleans for several years and in that time her music interests broadened to embrace traditional American forms, such as jazz and the blues. During that time she ran a private music practice, teaching children and young adults to become proficient in these idioms. She continued her travels, her studies and her teachings during the summer of 2017 in Spain. She has been living, studying and teaching in New York City since the fall of 2017, always carrying with her the belief that music should never feel like a chore and that learning music should be curiosity-driven, active, enjoyable, and emphasize self-expression. Diana believes in building a strong foundation of musical knowledge with her students by providing the tools to create good habits from the beginning and encouraging effective, deliberate practice. It is her mission to inspire aspiring musicians as a music educator and bring a life-long love of music to her students.