When I began giving guitar lessons as my sole occupation in May of 1997, I set my sights on one main goal. I wanted to give my students the most well rounded guitar and musical education possible within the shortest period of time. Having received a guitar on my second birthday in 1970 and having taken lessons since age 10, I knew there was no way to teach everything I had learned (and continue to learn) about the guitar. I did feel however that the essentials of 20+ years of lessons and my own private study could be condensed down to a highly focused and well-organized 4-year curriculum (or just get the basics during the first 18 months). If you are the kind of person who appreciates attention to detail, coupled with a well thought out, long-term plan, you will like not only the way I conduct each lesson, but also the way your musical ability rapidly progresses over the next four years.

Combine the 100+ pre-printed songs and lessons that I will guide you through along with the multi-volume “Audio Text Book” CD set which accompanies the lesson plan, and you have what I consider to be the cornerstone of my unique curriculum. During each weekly 30-minute lesson we will spend some time playing and discussing what you practiced the previous week and then begin going over what you will need to work on for the following week. The list of songs that I teach (listed on the "curriculum" page) were carefully chosen and arranged into 10 sections. Throughout each section, the songs and ideas we will work on not only become more and more challenging, but each song will also become a logical stepping-stone to the next lesson, and each section will then become the foundation for the next section.

Section 1: Basic open chords, left & right hand techniques, strum patterns and finger picking.
Section 2: Major and Minor pentatonic scales, improvisation.
Section 3: E and A form bar chords.
Section 4: Blues.
Section 5: Integrating Bass and Melody lines into your playing style.
Section 6: C form bar chords, secondary major scale, sus & maj7th chords, diminished & augmented chords, time signatures, jazz chord voicings.
Section 7: Theory Part One.
Section 8: Review and Solo/Lead guitar.
Section 9: Theory Part Two.
Section 10: (Currently Under Construction) A musical history lesson covering great guitarists and guitar songs from early 1920’s – 1990's.

At the end of your training with me, your sheet music will have 10 sections and will fill a 3-ring binder. On each CD, you will find the actual recordings of the original songs, followed by a recording of myself playing the same songs at a much slower tempo with one guitar. It is much easier to learn how to play any song, and to master the techniques you will need, with the guitar part slowed down and isolated. The idea is that you can practice with my slower tempo version of the song at home until you have it learned, and then begin playing along with the original version. (If you want to preview CD#1, please ask me for a copy.)

Beyond those two main ideas (the CD’s and the lesson plan) I have many resources available for my students during the actual lessons. These include, but are not limited to, my musical library of nearly 1000 CD’s which focus on the history of the guitar from the early 20th century to the present, my many sheet-music books on guitarists, bands, styles of music and music theory, and my collection of twenty-plus instruments such as electric and acoustic guitars and basses, an upright string bass, a baritone guitar, a dobro-resonator guitar, a 12-string guitar, mandolins, ukuleles and more available to play during the lessons as appropriate to the period, style or type of song we are working on. Not to mention a computer for research on-line.

My current tuition rate is $140.00 per month, check or exact cash only, due at the first lesson of each month. Lessons are 30 minutes, once a week, four times per month. There are no refunds should you miss your lesson, for any reason.

My sincere hope, for those students who complete the entire syllabus, is that you use the skills that we will have worked on together to continue your music education! Be it college level courses, advanced specialty teachers in particular styles (flamenco, jazz, classical, studio work, recording etc.) or perhaps just on your own, you will have the capability to achieve any musical goal you set for yourself. Use the knowledge you gain here as a launching pad towards even greater heights. Wherever your music takes you however, when you look back on these lessons, I trust you will feel that the years we spent together more than prepared you for what lay ahead.

Curriculum: My teaching curriculum was designed by me to take a complete novice beginner, no younger than age 10, from the very beginning of their guitar training up to an advanced level of playing ability. I have no desire to keep a student here forever, all I want to do is show you how to play your instrument and understand music well enough so that you can continue your training beyond the advanced level on your own. I want to make you as self-sufficient as I can in the shortest amount of time (A dedicated student can get through my curriculum in 4-5 years or less). We start with basic open chords, left/ right hand techniques, strum patterns and finger picking. Then we move into more complex ideas of bar chords, scales & beginning lead guitar work. We continue with blues, integrating bass lines and melody lines into your playing style and progressively more intricate playing styles, chords and songs. We will then discuss a bit of beginning music theory, dive a bit further into lead guitar playing, perform some very challenging pieces and delve into a larger section of music theory. The songs I use to teach with are primarily Classic Rock songs with lots of Beatles & Blues. I also teach some jazz, country and classical tunes. I teach using my own style of Guitar Tab along with training CD's. 

Cost: All lessons are one student at a time (one-on-one, not group lessons). Current tuition rate is $140.00 per month (4 lessons). Check or exact cash only. This price assures you your own weekly time slot four times per month. Lessons are scheduled once per week, 4 times per month, 30 minutes each. Some months we are only able to get in 2 or 3 lessons and the price will be adjusted accordingly (see the main page for a calendar and price schedule). "Audio Textbook CD's" and Binders are included in the monthly tuition but extra CD copies are charged to you at $5.00 per CD and $15.00 (minimum) for a replacement binder. Payment is always due, without exception, at the first lesson of each month. There are no refunds should you miss your lesson, for any reason. I run my business like any private school or college in that you are paying a tuition fee per month to hold your spot with me. If you are unable to make it to your scheduled class there are no refunds.

Refunds: If you miss your scheduled lesson for any reason there are no refunds. I will, however, give you a refund on any remaining lessons should you withdraw from lessons entirely (24hr notice required). If I am not able to make it to a lesson, there is no lesson fee.

Make-Up Lessons: If you miss a lesson, you are still charged for the lesson and I don't have any way to make it up for you.

(Now having said that, it's still a good idea to let me know if you are going to be missing a lesson, or call me after you realize that you've missed a lesson. That way, if I have any open spots or cancellations, I will certainly try my best to get you in here for a make up lesson. Please make sure that you understand my policy, if you miss a lesson, you are still charged for the lesson regardless of if I can work you into a make up lesson or not.)

Holidays: Please check the main home page on my website to see what dates we will have off. I usually follow the Pleasanton School District schedule.

Practicing: You will need to practice 30 - 60 minutes every day, minimum. You will also need to practice along with the CD's. If you don't have the time or desire to practice that much everyday, then I am not the right teacher for you. I do not like being paid for teaching someone who does not practice. I put incredible amounts of time and effort in to my curriculum and into being the best guitar teacher in the area and I truly enjoy teaching students who are motivated and enthusiastic about learning to play the guitar.

Waiting List: If I don't have an immediate opening, or nothing fits your schedule, I can put your name on my waiting list. Depending on the time of year and your flexibilty, your wait to get into lessons with me could vary between a few weeks to a few months. Please email me from the link on the home page to request to be put on the list.

Ages: I prefer my students to be age 10 and older (there is no age that is too old to learn guitar). The best instrument to start a child younger than 10 on is the piano. I started my oldest son at age 5 on piano, and my youngest started at age 3. I strongly recommend piano lessons as a first instrument. I find that if children who want to learn guitar have played piano first, it can make learning the guitar so much easier. If you have any questions about this please ask me.

In the beginning we start with learning 12 songs: