Guitar with James G.

My endeavors in music first began playing drums back in elementary school. I continued playing for five years and participated in my local high school's marching and jazz band. I left public high school and attended Xaverian Brothers in Westwood, MA. It was here that I switched to playing the guitar. I took music theory, guitar and piano instruction courses and also played in the jazz and choir band and performed for Xaverian's masses and functions. I decided that I would pursue my music career at Berklee. I graduated from Berklee College of Music with a bachelor's degree in Performance. I began as a metal and blues/rock player but began studying jazz upon entering Berklee. I have eight years of private instruction and have studied with many guitarists including David Tronzo, Joe Stump, Sal Difusco, and Chris Buono. I play all styles of music including blues, rock, jazz, funk, metal, country, and metal. I also have extensive knowledge on contemporary/jazz harmony and music theory. I have had the pleasure of being able to play live performances and recording sessions. I've worked with artists from Boston, Buffalo, Toronto, & Nashville. I've learned little nuisances for both environments and grown much as a player having experienced both. I love teaching because I enjoy seeing my students grow and develop their skills on the guitar and to know that I had a part in that growth is a feeling like no other. I remember as student piecing together all the theory and fret board navigation and always appreciated how my teacher's stuck with me and would always try and help me out. I have always found the guitar to be a great instrument to learn and have found it and music in general to be a great way to inspire creativity. Whether you play to create art or whether you play for yourself, it all comes from a passion for music. *** Lesson Details *** I enjoy teaching all ages, either beginners or advanced musicians. I am always patient when it comes to learning music. Music is a language and can seem like learning to talk all over again. If a student is having a hard time with a concept, I try to break it down and try other methods in explaining so as to assure the student understands. I understand that people learn at different rates and I always try my best to keep students interested in the guitar. I always try and incorporate fun into lessons while at the same time making sure students practice the materials given to them. In the end, it's all about playing music and I always encourage jams with play-along-tracks and playing in a duo setting. *** Travel Equipment *** I bring a semi-hollow guitar, metronome, and music stand. *** Specialties *** Metal, Blues, Rock, Jazz, Funk, Latin, Reggae, Country, Pop, Punk, Performance Skills, Jazz Harmony/ Theory, Guitar Linear/ Arpeggio Concepts, Scalar Techniques