Colin is currently accepting new students.
To inquire about rates and availability, please click here.
In Boston and Beyond
I have dedicated teaching spaces in Boston’s Back Bay and in Metrowest Boston. Guitar lessons typically take place on Mondays and Tuesdays, but other days may have openings depending on the semester. I can travel to a student’s home for an additional fee. I also offer lessons via Skype for those not in the Boston area.
Specialties
Guitar Techniques: Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Chord Vocabulary, Fingerstyle, Hybrid Picking, Performance, Improvisation, Jamming Skills, Speed Techniques, Reading Music, Music Theory, Ear Training, Scales and Exercises, Tapping, Solo Construction, Chord Melody Playing, Songwriting, Recording and Production, Guidance In Equipment Selection, etc.
Styles: Jazz, Rock, Fusion, Blues, Funk, Singer-Songwriter, Folk, Reggae, Jam Band, Experimental, etc.
Lesson Format
Lessons are tailored to the individual’s needs and goals.
The first lesson involves a conversation about the student’s self-assessment and goals. While hearing the student play, I assess what I feel their needs are and align them with what their stated needs and goals are. From there we discuss what course of action to take.
The beginning of each lesson involves a short conversation about successes and challenges of the previous lesson’s content. From there, the student will demonstrate their ability level with the material and I will make suggestions to help resolve any issues. The next part of the lesson involves introducing and working on new material. The final part of the lesson is to recapitulate to make sure the student understands the new material and what the expectations are for the next lesson.
Qualities in an Ideal Student
The qualities I look for in an ideal guitar student might include the following: I fundamentally believe that students are teachers themselves when it comes to music learning. The most valuable type of music learning occurs when students explore, experiment, and create on their own using the information a teacher gave them. Therefore, the time that is most critical is in between lessons. There must be a significant commitment on the student’s part to pick up the instrument as often as possible. A music teacher’s role then, is to give musical and technical information, suggest refinements in a student’s playing, and propose multiple approaches to concepts.
The Learning and Teaching Process
I’m fascinated by the creative process, so I love working on improvisation and composition concepts with students. I also enjoy all different genres of music, and I’m always learning more by listening to things that might seem out of character for me. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that flexibility is a great asset in the business. Therefore, the style of guitar playing a student is really into isn’t a major factor to me; it’s whether or not the music they make is truly communicating something meaningful to the listener in the best possible way.”