I'm Ahmad a very enthusiastic musician. I started out teaching myself guitar at the age of 12. I moved to the U.S. in 2001 and studied music for 15 years receiving my B.M. & M.M in music and audio production at San Francisco State University. I then moved to Los Angeles then studied and trained with John Mayer, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, George Lynch and many others. I have performed hundreds of concerts in the U.S. as well in Europe & the Middle East and toured with Artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Michael Angelo Batio, Ratt, Sammy Hagar, Dokken and many others. I ranked #1 in the Slash Guitar Center competition. I was in the "list of top 5 guitar players ever" according to The Examiner, also picked as one of the best guitarists of 2013 and 2014 consecutively in the Rockwell UnScene magazine, and ranked 3rd in the Steve Vai Sam Ash Best in Shred competition. I find a student's strengths and weaknesses using various ways to encourage each student. I am very patient, kind, flexible, and enthusiastic and I love working with children as much as adults. I strongly support basic skills: sight-reading, pitch and tone. I have 25 years experience teaching kids and adults guitar. Also performing live and in the studio. *** Lesson Details *** My objectives: to help students powerfully communicate through the essence of music and aid the development of children and adults by finding their strengths and weaknesses and to develop their skills and show their musical talents. I emphasize basic skills, good sight-reading, guitar technique, and theory. Lessons are held at either your home, or mine using composers from various time periods that speaks to the individual student. A beginner lesson may be 10-15 min. for warm-ups and scales, 10-15 min. theory and rest playtime. In three to six months the student will be able to read sheet music and should be able to perform simple songs. An intermediate lesson has more focus on music and technique from a specific genre. A specialty is preparation for guitar auditions or doing live or studio gigs. I enjoy teaching children from age 5 up to adults. *** Specialties *** I teach the basic skills very strongly, and also encourage students and challenge them, as well. I also have new techniques for teaching Electric, Acoustic & Classical Guitar. *** Rates*** I understand that my rate is higher than some people are hoping to spend. But my lessons are worth more than twice as much. Consider that my wider and deeper playing and teaching experience enables better and faster results, leaping over plateaus and avoiding limitations. Instead of just focusing on the cost per hour, what about the amount of time you will be spending on practice? How much is that time worth? How much can be saved by more effective practice and better results? In the end, working with me actually is cheaper. That is, a single lesson followed by directed, self study materials with me, comes out cheaper than lower rates. I'm all about efficiency and effectiveness.