Private Instruction
We come to you! Providing private in-home instruction throughout the Portland metro area.
All ages, skill levels and musical tastes are welcome. We play rhythm, lead, acoustic and electric guitar. Develop overall musicianship and build confidence in your playing. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach: a custom curriculum is tailored to the goals and current skill level of the individual student.
Build strong foundational knowledge. We help self-taught players fill in gaps of understanding by navigating the overwhelming amount of online resources and learning materials. Good listening and practice habits will enhance your learning experience and overall enjoyment of the guitar.
With over 25 years of playing experience, Ryan hopes to share his expertise in a variety of guitar styles, genres, and techniques to allow students to better express themselves and to play the music that they love.
We use our ears, our eyes, our fingers and our voices (and sometimes our brains)!
Adult Beginners
You've got no idea where to start. Youtube is a great resource, but there's nothing better than in-person instruction with a knowledgeable and experienced teacher. You may not sound like Eddie van Halen overnight, but we can get you playing real songs with open chords, bar chords and simple melodies.
Intermediate & Experienced
Deep dives, theory, technique, transcriptions: we work together to assess personal strengths and weaknesses to guide our practice in an effective way (and we try not to push theory too hard but it's good stuff).
Early Age
A mix of formal and informal instruction designed to naturally ease kids into playing music. We show that playing music provides a beautiful way to channel creative energy and self expression. A strong desire to play precedes disciplined training.
Basics
anatomy of the guitar | posture/form/technique | finger strength & coordination | counting rhythm | simple melodies | open chords | major scale | pentatonic scales | bar chords
Read Music
tablature | chord charts | sheet music | lead sheets
Learn Songs
study recordings | solo transcriptions | active listening | map song structure | slow down difficult sections | play along
Practical Theory
intervals, scales, modes | triads, inversions | 7th chords: quality, construction, extensions | diatonic harmony | keys | circle of 5ths
Composition & Improvisation
common progressions & harmonic devices | chord changes | using the whole neck | fretboard memorization | expand vocabulary
Fun Stuff
bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs, whammy bars, palm muting, pinch harmonics, amplification, etc... | fingerpicking, alternating bass, open tunings
Lessons are offered weekly or biweekly within our service area at $75. Alternatives to in-person instruction available. We offer discounted rates to veterans, educators, and currently enrolled college students. Ask about our referral program!