MUSIC INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION
Introduction on background and approach:
I've been teaching guitar and other instruments on and off since I was in high school, when dinosaurs walked the earth. I'm an advocate for learning different instrumental styles and a varied repertoire of songs and tunes within the realm of traditional and tradition-based music - what might be called folk, old timey and bluegrass. I try to include a little background on songs to help students appreciate the context they come from and the richness of folk tradition. I love traditional music, and I hope that learning an instrument will kindle a similar response in my students. I learned my music mostly by ear, although I had several teachers, and I generally teach in this manner. I incorporate music theory and and reading only as needed to help you play better, but not enough to hurt you!
Over the years I think I've found a nice balance between pressuring students to practice hard and play correctly on the one hand and encouraging them to relax and have fun on the other. I am patient; I realize that people learn at their own speeds. I've seen students who struggled in the beginning become fine musicians with time and practice.
Specific skills and techniques that are taught:
Guitar:
- Basic music reading & tablature
- Basic and simple barred chords
- 3 finger plucking & arpeggios
- Strumming techniques
- 2 finger picking (Travis picking)
- Bass runs
- Carter family picking
- Traditional flat picking
- Playing melody leads in fingerpicking, Carter Family picking & flatpicking
- Tunings: Standard, dropped D, open G, open D
5-string banjo:
- Old timey up-picking
- Old timey clawhammer
- Old timey two and three finger picking
- Bluegrass three finger (Scruggs style) picking
- Tunings: Double C, Drop C, Mountain minor, Open G
Autoharp:
- Basic accompaniment with finger picking rhythms
- Playing melody with fingerpicker picking
Mountain dulcimer: (Beginner & intermediate):
- Playing melody with finger or noter stick
- Playing simple harmonies
- Fanning with a flat pick
- Plucking arpeggios
- Tunings: Ionian, Dorian, Aeolian, and Mixlydian modes; playing melody and simple harmonies; arpeggios and fanning with right hand.
Ukulele (Beginner & intermediate):
- Reading music to play single notes
- Reading tablature
- Playing chords
- Strumming techniques
- Finger picking
Training/ education in music instruments:
Guitar:
- 1956-1958: Steve Newberry at Freeport Guitar Studio: Music theory and reading, plucking and arpeggios to accompany songs.
- 1961-1962: Olga Sevila, independent instructor: Barred chords and variety of strumming techniques to accompany songs.
- 1961-1963: Artie Traum at Noah Wolfe’s Guitar Studio in NYC: Finger picking, flat picking and Carter Family picking to accompany songs and play solos.
Banjo:
- 1961-1963:Artie Traum, NYC. Clawhammer & bluegrass styles
- 1968-1969: Pam Ostergren, Ann Arbor, MI. Up-picking and clawhammer
- 1972-1974: Roy Swayney, traditional banjo player, Blaine, TN. Old timey two-finger picking
Autoharp:
- Beginning 1971: Self-taught with instruction manuals
Mountain dulcimer:
- Beginning 1973: Self-taught with instruction manuals.
Ukulele:
- Beginning 2016: Self-taught with instruction manuals.
Music Teaching Experience:
- Private and group guitar lessons at home: off and on since 1962
- Guitar classes – 2012-2013. Old Town Elementary School, Winston-Salem, NC
- After school music program, Paideia School, Atlanta, GA – 1978-1984. Guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer
- String band class, including guitar, banjo, autoharp and mountain dulcimer, Paideia School, Atlanta, GA – 1978-1980
- Guitar and ukulele instruction, Laurel School, Knoxville, TN – 1971-1973
- Guitar instruction- Herb David Guitar Studio, Ann Arbor, MI – 1968-1970
Teaching locations and Fees:
- Banjo - Jackson's Music, 1409 S. Stratford Rd, Winston-Salem, NC (336 760-9635)
$25 per half hour lesson, paid monthly
- Guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, ukulele - Old Muddy's Music Shop,
5455 Bethania Rd, Winston-Salem, NC (336) 391-9192
$25 per half hour lesson, paid monthly