I give lessons in electric, acoustic and classical guitar to students of all ages and levels of ability. The lessons are shaped according to the needs of the individual students using examples of music from many genres including rock, metal, blues, pop, classical, traditional Irish and jazz. Lessons are individual and weekly and can be 30, 45 or 60 minute sessions. I teach both from my private studio in Grono, Mesolcina (near Bellinzona) or in Canobbio and Pregassona, Lugano. I try to make learning the guitar as enjoyable as possible for students and lessons are structured so that each week's practice will be self motivated and always give the student a feeling of satisfaction with having learned something new.

 

Beginner’s course:

 

• An introduction to the basics of the guitar where students will learn simple melodies and learn to strum using a basic set of chords that will allow them to begin to develop their own natural sense of rhythm

• Will learn both to use a plectrum and to play with the fingers

 

Rhythm Guitar:

 

• A continuation of the Beginner's course which will see the student develop into a competent guitarist

• Student will develop a much wider vocabulary of chords including Barre chords and learn to play and identify them across the neck

• More complex single note melodies and 'Riffs'

• Reading tablature and Sheet Music

 

Lead Guitar:

 

• Here the student will develop their ability to understand music and construct music themselves through improvisational playing and composition. They will work intensely on developing their technique to allow their abilities to reach their maximum potential and to play fluently across the entire fretboard.

• Use of pentatonic and diatonic scales

• Learning classic guitar solos

• Improvisation using scales and later using arpeggios

• Exploration of major areas of advanced guitar technique: alternate picking, sweep picking, legato playing, tapping, economy picking

• Understanding the system of keys and modulation

• Ear training: interval, chord and scale recognition and how to play by ear

• Use of other more exotic techniques: Slap Bass style playing on guitar, various uses of harmonics etc.

• Exploring more diverse musical sounds and scales: Whole Tone and Diminished Scales, Harmonic Minor etc.

• Use and construction of more advanced chords