Valley Cottage, NY Bass Guitar Lessons

t compliments the interests of the student.

*** Lesson Details ***
In a private lesson setting I like to say, "What you put in is what you'll get out." Students who show up having practiced a lot, who are eager to dive in depth into a subject, will grow immensely in a short amount of time. Those who are interested in practicing guitar as a casual activity also have plenty to gain, and I try to push my students in accordance with their interest level.

As a teacher, I like to support my students' personal ambitions on the instrument and with music on the whole, drawing on a wide range of materials. My goal is to put the proper resources in front of my students and ask them questions that will push them to discover the elements of music they knew they were looking for and some they didn't.

Every student has personal goal, and I like to draw on my diverse background in music to help each of mine achieve theirs.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Common space seating for parents.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect my students to have an instrument, paper, and a pencil. I can bring a music stand if necessary.

*** Specialties ***
I have been playing various styles of guitar, from classical to jazz to rock and beyond, for most of my life, so I feel comfortable showing all students the style they are most interested in.

able experiences and knowledge with my students.

elPriora, chair of the Guitar Department at the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a master degree in composition. His mentors include composers Susan Botti, Reiko Fueting, and electronic music pioneer Joel Chadabe. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Florida, where he studied jazz guitar with Tom Lippincott, and composition with Susan Epstein-Garcia.

Juan is also an avid cartoonist, collector of rare books and little cars, food adventurer and runner.

*** Lesson Details ***
Guitar teaching encompasses many disciplines. One has to be a bit of a psychologist in order to gauge a potential student needs and musical sensibilities. The mathematical aspect of musical notation and rhythm makes us part mathematicians. In the end, there is also a self-actualizing aspect to guitar teaching in the sense that we are always witness to those moments that made us decide a career on music.
During my years of guitar teaching I have encountered many types of students, and I have learned from them as much as they have learned from me as they make me question aspects of music that I would have never thought about. I have learned to not take for granted the definition of concepts such as rhythm and harmony, and to look at guitar technique from different perspectives as I find ways to accommodate to a student’s capabilities. Ultimately, it is also a job that requires a lot of planning and structure. My first step, generally, is to assess the student’s ability and interest to find material suitable for them. Then, I proceed to familiarize with the student’s musical tastes and sensibilities to assign practice material accordingly. For example, if the student is interested in rock or pop music, we will work on a particular song that fits his level and also solves a particular technical problem. During that process I will answer any of the student’s questions, and provide insight into musical terminology. We will also work on basic concepts of rhythm, melody, and harmony. My training as a composer and jazz guitarists also enables me to tap into the student’s creative side. In that case, we would start with a basic blues progression and blues scales, and work on the basics of improvisation or songwriting.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Basement studio w/ small keyboard, amp, acoustic guitar, 3 electric guitars, music books w/ seating for parents and lots of magazines!

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide music sheets, students should have an instrument, tuner, paper, pencil, and a metronome.

*** Specialties ***
I teach fundamentals of music theory, principles of jazz improvisation, classical guitar technique and repertoire, song writing, pop songs, sight reading, and overall musicianship, as well as Jazz, Rock, Blues, Bossa Nova, and other Latin Styles.

n 2011 with a Master of Music Degree in Performance with a Concentration in Jazz as a Fulbright scholarship recipient.

and make the sounds that they want to hear.

I have also trained in the Alexander Technique and in sports-focused physical therapy, which aids me in identifying and helping students solve technique problems that are causing issues with playing, or which could cause pain or injury down the line. So far (knock wood) I have not had any student suffer from the repetitive stress injuries which affect so many musicians.

I have been teaching lessons on multiple instruments for over 10 years, and my goal as a teacher is to help you reach your goals, and have fun on the way!