Guitar with Chris S.

A short history of my experience with music and education: The first instrument I learned to play was the guitar in 2001. I played the guitar on the worship team at FBC of Midway in Plant City, FL from 2001 to 2005. I began teaching private music lessons in 2003. I played bass guitar in a Christian rock band called Anastasis from 2003 to 2005. I played acoustic, electric, and bass guitar on the worship team at Family Worship Center in Lakeland, FL from 2006 to 2012. I worked as a freelance audio engineer with my in-home recording studio throughout college (and now I just do it for fun). I played bass and sang background vocals in a worship band called Skyline from 2007 to 2009. I taught music and trained a student led worship team at Hope Christian Academy from 2009-2010. I began performing independently from 2009 to present. I played guitar and sang lead vocals in a Christian Rock Band called A Story Familiar from 2010 to 2012. From 2010 to 2012, I taught in the Polk County Florida public school system where I also worked heavily with students with special needs. In July of 2012 I moved to Aurora, CO as a volunteer musician to help plant Streams Church. In January of 2013 I married my beautiful wife. Upon arriving home from our honeymoon, I was hired as Worship Director for Streams church, and I have worked there since. Some of my responsibilities include developing and executing weekly music set lists, creating charts and sheet music for new songs, and training the worship team in new music. As for me personally, I love Jesus, my wife, and music.  As I'm sure you can tell by my brief history, I do a lot of church service and ministry, if for this for any reason makes you wary, let me assure you: I play a lot more than just church music.  As a lover of music, there is not much that I don't enjoy in the world of music, and I've taught most of it.  I've taught the young and the not-so-young, and whether you're just beginning to read music, or you're just eager to learn your favorite song, I work closely with you to ensure you achieve the results you desire! *** Lesson Details *** Four things I focus on: 1. Creating individualized lesson plans for you 2. Teaching you new techniques and polishing old ones 3. Building your confidence 4. Both of us having a fun, rockin' time! When taking lessons from me, students can expect an environment that is a balance between being strict and laid back.Music is something that must be learned, and as such, it must also be practiced week-to-week in between lessons.  I consider myself strict because I'll hold you accountable to doing your best to learn the best. Despite holding you accountable, I think the overall mood of the learning environment is laid back; we'll have a lot of fun learning music.  I make sure that we'll be learning at your pace, but keep in mind, this doesn't mean I won't push you to be your best! My teaching experience has taught me one thing: everyone is different. That being the case, I create lesson plans that are unique to you.  Where you will be in a month, six months, a year, largely depends on your commitment to learn, but I'll promise you this:  all of my efforts will be utilized to maximize your potentiality. *** Attendance Policy *** I am very flexible with attendance, but I do require a one hour notice that you will not be at the lesson. If a one hour notice is not given, the lesson will be marked as "missed" resulting in payment from your TakeLessons account for the missed lesson. If you are simply running late, please be sure to let me know-I try to be as flexible as possible, but if the student is over 15 minutes late, I typically mark this lesson as "missed" as well. *** Studio Equipment *** I provide the following equipment for in-studio lessons: Guitar amplifier Bass amplifier Drum Set Computer iPad Recording equipment Music stand Seating area for parents/guardians to sit/listen in on the lesson *** Travel Equipment *** When offering in-home lessons, I provide the following when traveling for in-home lessons: iPad For in-home lessons, I expect students to have whatever equipment is necessary for learning their instrument of interest (This typically includes at least the student's instrument and a music stand, but may also include a metronome, tuner, etc.). *** Specialties *** Rock, Folk, Praise/Worship, Indie