Eric started taking guitar lessons at age 8 under Charles Woods, attended the Fine Arts Center in high school, and went on to study music performance at Winthrop University. He started teaching guitar part-time at age 15. At age 22 he started teaching full-time and hasn't looked back since. Eric has performed all over the Carolinas with different bands in various styles: rock, blues, jazz, funk, and country. He has performed for Congressmen and Senators, movie producers, TV and radio personalities, and professional athletes and shared the stage with Grammy Award winning artists. *** Lesson Details *** I strive to create a fun, laid-back atmosphere for learning. After all, if music isn't fun, nobody would play. I will help you learn the songs you wish to learn as well as the fundamental techniques that you need to be a great player. I believe developing your ear is just as important as learning how to read music and I will help you to do both. In the first few months we will learn basic improvisational skills as well as the cool tricks the pros use such as hammer ons and pull offs, bends, vibrato, slides, and tapping. I will teach you how to use your entire fretboard, something the bulk of guitar players can't do. We will learn chords and rhythm techniques as well as the importance of good timing. More advanced students will learn theory and harmony, scale and chord building, basic song writing, chord voicings, transposition, and chord melody techniques. Knowing all this information is only half the battle, however. In order to be a good instrumentalist, you have to be smooth, getting from one chord or note to the next quickly and efficiently. This is achieved through muscle-memory, much like swinging a golf club or even walking. If you have to think about where to put your fingers, it's too late. Your fingers need to know where to go without your brain telling them. That is why daily practice is so important. I realize that not everyone can devote 30 to 60 minutes to practicing every day, but it is vital that you get in some playing time every day to develop this muscle-memory. If all you can spare on a given day is ten minutes to your guitar, that's fine, as long as you are focused on what you are doing for those ten minutes. *** Travel Equipment *** Students should have their own instrument and purchase any books we will use. *** Specialties *** jazz, blues, rock, country, funk guitar, reading music, improvisation, rhythm comping, chord voicings, scales and modes, chord and scale building