Guitar with Iain R.

I am a solo classical guitar performer and graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University with both Undergraduate and Masters Degrees in Guitar Performance. I have performed everything from Classical Guitar solo recitals to R&B themed fashion shows to classical arrangements of Miles Davis' Jazz legend "Kind of Blue" to internationally debuted film soundtracks. I have taught guitar for five years privately, as part of an outreach to middle school students in inner city Baltimore, to recovering alcoholics and narcotic abusers in a half-way home, and in various music schools in Maryland. I am desperately passionate about music and love to explore it in every way possible. And so I play guitar everywhere I can, I orchestrate musicals, I compose film soundtracks and try to learn everything I can about anything related to music. I love to see the joy students experience when they realize they can create the music they want and this is what drives me to teach. Outside of music I am passionate about travel, film, film editing, and teaching in general. *** Lesson Details *** I am very serious about giving you what you want from your lessons and catering them to your specific needs. This means that if you or your child want to someday play professionally I will work to give you the tools and maintain appropriate practice and preparation standards to get there. But if you or your child simply want to play when you can between busy after school programs or after work we can have a very relaxed atmosphere and week to week expectations. We will also learn the music you want to learn - whether jazz, classical, rock, pop or whatever else! In our first lesson, we will talk a bit about what exactly it is you want to get out of lessons, what music you like, and what interests outside of music you have ( I love to teach by analogy and if I know what you have a passion for I can teach more effectively.) We will then learn how to hold the guitar, how to hold a pick for electric and general acoustic guitar or how to hold your hand for classical guitar. Finally, if you are an electric or acoustic student we will learn some basic chords and how to get a good sound out of your instrument. If you are a classical student we will learn to play a basic melody which will set the foundation for the next lessons. Based on your personal goals we will set our objectives for the next lessons, which will begin by learning some classic songs, like "The Beatles," and from there learn more and more of the songs you want to learn. Each week we will set an assignment for the next and will then begin each lesson with a bit of review and answering any questions that came up. *** Studio Equipment *** spare bedroom...three room condo...small studio, piano, desk, chairs for students, music stands, parents can sit in *** Travel Equipment *** I provide my own guitar and accessories and the student should provide a guitar and pick (for general acoustic guitar), a guitar, footstool and suitable chair (for classical), and a guitar, pick and amplifier (for electric.) *** Specialties *** I specialize in Classical Guitar and for this use mostly Aaron Shearer's method described in "The Classic Guitar," however, for non-classical guitar I ask the students to burn me a cd (or make a play list) of songs they like and combine general knowledge of guitar with techniques and songs specifically catered to the student.