A Brief Description of My Teaching Style and What to Expect from the Lessons (FAQ):

• I am a skill-oriented instructor. This means that I am more concerned about what you can do as opposed to how many songs you know. Skills are abilities such as reading music, improvising, composing, transcribing, performing and so on.

• Lessons take place in a fully equipped 48-track recording studio or in the student's home in the locations that I travel to. Hours of operation are typically 12:00pm to 9:00pm Monday through Saturday, but I do make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

• Lessons are ALWAYS goal-oriented. Students in my studio will have an opportunity to record their own music on a regular basis, thus documenting their progress. This has been an incredible motivational tool.

• While I do use method books for beginning students, I am NOT a page-by-page-through-a-method-book type of instructor. Method books are great for getting acquainted with the instrument, but certainly should not be the entire subject matter of the lessons.

• When working with recordings (CDs) that a student has brought in, I do NOT spoon-feed the songs to my students. Instead, I train my students to become skilled enough to learn these songs on their own!

• All of my students learn to read music. It is my responsibility to train my students so that they are competent and confident in all areas of music.

• I train my students in Music Theory, Composition, and Aural Skills (pitch training). Additionally, I encourage all of my non-keyboard students to become keyboard-literate. 

• It is my belief that there is no one pedagogy that is best for every student. While there are many concepts that work for most people, there are and always will be exceptions.

• While my knowledge of music is quite extensive, I do not claim to know everything. When in doubt, I will use the Harvard Dictionary of Music as the most valid source.

• I have no age restrictions for whom I am capable of teaching, however, for very young children I do require a parent, guardian or the like be present in the lessons.

• Composition training includes serial composition as well as understanding chord function and the classical forms.

• Aural skill training is based on relative pitch and quality recognition. These are perhaps the most important, yet overlooked, set of skills.

• Recording: Every two or three months we will record during one of the lessons. There are no additional costs for this and it has become a significant part of the lesson plan as a progress marker, motivational tool, and diagnostic aid.

• I tend to be generous with my time and I often go past the hour when I am available. After a lesson or two, it will become obvious to you that I am passionate about what I do.

• I have no affiliation with any music store or retailer. I may recommend certain stores based on personal experience, general quality of merchandise and service, fair pricing, and honest return policies.

• I am a Licensed Real Estate Professional in Nevada and am a current member of the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS. I am mentioning this here so that my students can be assured that I have gone through the extremely thorough background check that Nevada requires before granting a Real Estate License.

• I have tried to anticipate the most frequently asked questions above. If you have gotten this far, you are more than likely ready to schedule your first lesson. I accept students on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call (702) 370-3213 to schedule.

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Lesson Materials:

For Beginning Guitar Students regardless of age:

1. Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method Grade One. Get the version that does NOT include a CD. I usually have these in stock and get them at a discount which I pass along to my students.

2. Manuscript Book: Spiral Bound with ten staves or twelve per page and light ink is preferred. I usually have these in stock and get them at a discount which I pass along to my students.

3. A One-Inch 3-Ring Binder and Non-Glare Sheet Protectors.

 

For Beginning Piano Students regardless of age:

1. Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Level One. Get the version that does NOT include a CD. I usually have these in stock and get them at a discount which I pass along to my students.

2. Manuscript Book: Spiral Bound with ten or twelve staves per page and light ink is preferred. I usually have these in stock and get them at a discount which I pass along to my students.

3. A One-Inch 3-Ring Binder and Non-Glare Sheet Protectors.

 

For Beginning Bass Guitar Students regardless of age:

1. Mel Bay's Electric Bass Method. Get the version that does NOT include a CD. 

2. Manuscript Book: Spiral Bound with ten or twelve staves per page and light ink is preferred. I usually have these in stock and get them at a discount which I pass along to my students.

3. A One-Inch 3-Ring Binder and Non-Glare Sheet Protectors.

 

For Beginning Drum Students regardless of age:

1. Standard of Excellence Level One. Get the version that does NOT include a CD. I sometimes have these in stock and get them at a discount which I pass along to my students.

2. Manuscript Book: Spiral Bound with ten or twelve staves per page and light ink is preferred. I usually have these in stock and get them at a discount which I pass along to my students.

3. A One-Inch 3-Ring Binder and Non-Glare Sheet Protectors.

 

For Intermediate to Advanced Musicians:

1. Manuscript Book: Spiral Bound with ten or twelve staves per page and light ink is preferred. I usually have these in stock and get them at a discount which I pass along to my students.

2. A One-Inch 3-Ring Binder and Non-Glare Sheet Protectors.

3. Any method books needed will be determined during the first lesson.

A word on method books with CDs: You will not listen to it, nor should you. The publishers have figured out that they can increase their production costs by around 25 cents per unit and add an additional $10.00 to the price of the book.

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IMPORTANT!

If you have not yet purchased an instrument, Here are some tips:

All Instruments:

• If you can buy it at Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, or the like, you do NOT want it! Go to a Pro Shop (such as Guitar Center, Sam Ash, or the like) and get an instrument that will allow you to succeed! They do not cost that much more. Family Music is NOT a pro shop in my opinion.

Guitars and Basses

• Avoid anything that is billed as a "Student Model!" I can not emphasize this enough... These are simply unplayable and will ultimately guarantee your failure unless you promptly upgrade!

• Consider a Used Instrument: If you are concerned about making an investment in a more costly instrument, you might consider something used -- it will retain all or most of its value and in some cases will go up in value should you decide to sell it while a "student model" will be essentially worthless. That being said, there are many quality new instruments available for under $200 these days.

• Acoustic Vs. Electric: I get this question all the time. Folklore would have you believe that beginning on an acoustic is better. The facts, however, may differ. You might consider issues such as hand-strength (particularly for young beginners) and musical interest.

Keyboard and Piano

• Real Vs. Digital Piano. A real piano is nice, however, not required. If you are considering a real piano, be aware of the disadvantages: Expensive maintenance, lack of mobility, volume (they are quite loud which might make early or late practice sessions impractical). A digital piano, on the other hand has a volume knob, is always in tune, and is easily moved.

• Keyboards: At the very minimum, the keyboard must be velocity-sensitive and have at least 61 keys. Velocity sensitive means it is dynamic -- when you play soft, it is quiet and when you play hard it is loud. It is my advice to avoid "consumer" products.

Drums and Percussion

• Electronic Drums: A drum set with a volume knob? Well, not quite like an acoustic drum set. Changing from an acoustic drum set to an electric drum set is not like changing from an acoustic guitar to an electric guitar. It is more like changing from a real guitar (acoustic or electric) to a guitar synthesizer. There are simply things that a guitar synthesizer can not do that a real guitar can. The same is true for drum sets. That being said, they are great for late-night practice or any situation that requires reduced volume. I strongly recommend an acoustic drum set as one's primary practice tool.

• Ear Protection: Drums are loud! I have encountered countless number of drummers with poor hearing from years of a snare drum pounding their ears. I recommend ear plugs and/or rifle-range headphones while practicing. It will make a huge difference down the road!

 

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LESSON AND CANCELLATION POLICY!

• Common Courtesy is expected. Please arrive promptly at your lesson's starting time. Not early, not late.

• Email cancellations are accepted 48 hours prior to the lesson start-time. I will return an email cancellation. If you do not receive a return email, please call.

• Telephone Cancellations are accepted until 12pm on the day of the lesson, or at least 90 minutes prior to the beginning lesson. For example, 

• Late cancellations are subject to a late cancellation fee equaling half of the lesson's price.

• No-Call, No-Show is not tolerated. 

• Payment is expected at the beginning of the lesson by cash or personal check. $10-15 fee for checks returned NSF to cover my bank's fee. Non-payment, unresolved NSF may be turned over to collection and students agree to pay the collection fee in addition to the amount owed.

• I will typically not answer the phone while with a student. If you call between 12pm and 9pm and I do not answer, I am most likely with a student. Please leave a message and I will return your call on my next break. Be sure to let me know how late your call may be returned. If I do not call back, feel free to try again.

• Moms and Dads are always welcome to attend their child's lesson and are strongly encouraged to attend at least the first lesson. For children under 8, a parent or guardian is required to be at each lesson.