ABOUT

MY PAST

When I was 14, my parents bought me my first guitar.  I worked really hard and taught myself to play all the basic chords I needed to emulate all of my guitar heroes on the radio.  In college I wanted to push my knowledge of the instrument further and started taking lessons with the Guitar Professor at Saddleback College, which quickly catapulted me into a love affair with the guitar.  I immediately auditioned for the Guitar Program at the University of California, Irvine, and spent the next 4 years of my life in the Classical Guitar and Lute Program, as well as studying Music Theory, History, Musicianship, and Composition.

MY PASSION 

Having only spent a year with my first instructor, Greg Coleman at Saddleback College, I feel like I gleaned a lifetime of passion from him.  Watching him speak about the repertoire was one thing...but Ill never forget watching him play.  It seemed like he put everything into each and every note.  He would speak about expression, and about taking the time to shape even the shortest of phrases.  One day I wanted to be able to teach students and give back to them the joy and passion that my first teacher instilled in me.

MY PROGRAM

Having suffered through my share of bad teachers, I firmly believe I know what separates a good teacher from a bad teacher... and what makes a program good or bad.  I find typically that most teachers simply don't have a program, which usually means they are doomed to fail from the beginning.  My goal is to help my students achieve the same dream that I had...to learn HOW THE GUITAR WORKS.  I didn't want to learn a few chords or strum patterns...I already knew that.  I wanted to really learn how the fret board was put together...how chords were formed...how a Major chord differed fromMinor chord, etc.  And...this is what I learned.  And now,... this is what I teach.  My curriculum is a full figured approach to the instrument that teaches the student not only where the notes are on the fret board, but how chords are assembled, and how to actually read music ...not just tablature...but actual staff notation!  And along with that, I incorporate old classic rock tunes, as well as more contemporary songs that students recommend to keep the lessons fun and current.  I'd like to think I cover everything... from Beethoven to the Beatles...from Scarlatti to the Stones...from the Renaissance to Radiohead.