Guitar with Melissa K.

I'm a studio and stage guitarist with 20 years of experience performing and composing, and I've been teaching contemporary guitar (pop / all genres of rock / folk / country / jazz) and songwriting to students of all ages for over seven years. I love it. There's nothing better than seeing a unique spark ignite in a player. I'm happy to travel to you, or can host a student for a lower lesson cost at my home in Echo Park. I work out of a spacious, quiet, and comfortable living room. It smells good, too. Many of my students came to me without ever picking up a guitar before and studied with me for years, finding the styles they love to play and a unique creative voice in the process. I love going on that journey. My most successful students are the ones who practice every week and know what styles they want to do. When my students love music, it's infectious -- it inspires me! Besides teaching music, I'm also a juggler in training, and I have an on-stage musical act where I sing and juggle knives. I won't teach you something that risky! But I can teach you multiple tricks for three-ball juggling, basic four-ball patterns, three clubs, and basic passing. Please note: Juggling lessons must be done in person. *********************** A bit about my guitar background: I first studied guitar with old blues and jazz guys in the back of my hometown guitar shop in Northeast Philadelphia. They were mostly old veterans who really knew their Major 6ths from their Minor 9ths, but they didn't do much to teach me about the rock, punk and alternative music in full swing during the 90s. I'm glad I focused on the foundations before I went over to the modern rock side, because once I knew my stuff, doing pop was a breeze! Not to mention I did great with the standards in my high school jazz band. I went on to play in bands in college and exchange techniques from Berklee School of Music guitarists, and continued private lessons with local jazz legends when I went back home to Philly. I moved to Los Angeles in 2004, and after several years playing in bands all over town and touring, I went back to school to sharpen my tools. In 2013, I completed a Master's at the University of Southern California with a minor focus on guitar and composition.