FAQ

Private Lessons

What are your rates?

Please contact me for current rates and package deals.

How long is a lesson?

All lessons are 1 hour long.

What days and times do you teach?

I teach Monday-Thursday, 10am-10pm.

Logistics

Where are you located?

I am located in Mar Vista on the westside at 12445 Pacific Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066 (between Culver City and Venice)

What is the parking situation?

Street parking is free and plentiful. In the extremely unlikely case that you can't find parking, please call me and I have backup solutions.

Street cleaning is 10am-12pm Wednesdays on the South side of the street and 10am-12pm Thursdays on the North side of the street. So if you're coming between those times, allow a little bit of extra time for parking.

I also offer Skype lessons so that you can learn guitar without even leaving your house!

Are you close to public transportation?

If you're on the Westside or can use the Expo line to get to the Palms Station, I recommend using LA Now which is an on demand rideshare bus.

The closest bus stop is Centinela and Venice.

The Metro lines 33 and 733 and the Big Blue Bus lines 14 and 16 stop within two blocks of my place (less than a quarter mile walk). The Culver City Bus 1 stops about a half mile away at Washington Blvd and Washington Pl.

I also offer Skype lessons so that you can learn guitar without even leaving your house!

Do you travel?

I stay so busy these days that it simply isn't possible for me to travel. However, I do offer Skype lessons that you can take from the comfort of your home!

Do I need to bring my amp?

I have an amp available for your use in private lessons.

Special Situations

What levels do you teach?

I have successfully taught very advanced students and students with no musical experience whatsoever. All levels are welcome.

It is difficult for me to predict my schedule. What is your policy for this?

My schedule is usually slammed, so while I definitely understand not being able to commit to a consistent time, if this is your situation I am probably not the teacher for you.

Do you teach kids?

I typically do not teach anyone under the age of 18. I love teaching kids, but I require that they be very interested in guitar without the pressure of others, parents must be present throughout the entire lesson, and parents must guarantee 30 minutes of practice 6 days a week.

Will your rates increase while I'm a student?

My policy is that as long as you take regular lessons, I will honor the price advertised at sign up for at least a year. I am very loyal to my students and want to see them improve. I raise my rates as demand and other opportunities increase, but teaching is not just cash flow for me, so I want to make sure people have a fair amount of time to take lessons and improve without having to worrying about adjusting their budgeting.

If a student takes a break from lessons for two or more months without discussing their return with me first, however, I will charge the new rates should they return.

Can I buy lessons for my friend/coworker/family member/significant other/dog?

I do offer gift certificates. Please contact me for more information.

Miscellaneous

Should I start with an acoustic guitar or an electric?

A well set-up guitar of either type will play very similarly and the mechanics are the exact same. You should start with the style of guitar you are most excited to play.

How many lessons a week do you suggest?

Unless you are an advanced player or plan to play professionally on some level, once a week is sufficient for steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.

How quick can I expect to progress?

Progress is a direct function of practicing. I will teach you good practice techniques and give you a list of three things (in descending order of importance) each week, so you know exactly how and what to practice. If you can afford to practice an hour a day, you will see very steady progress, but even 30 minutes a day will yield satisfying results over the course of a few months.

What teaching materials do you use?

I have created hundreds of custom handouts to make sure that I have just the right reference for what each student is learning. I even sell them to teachers and students around the world! You can get a preview here: ProfessionalGuitarLessonHandouts.com

What kind of music do you play?

I love any technically challenging guitar music! This includes bluegrass, slap guitar, metal, classical music, and many other kinds!