Zach D.

Students will learn the proper usage of all instruments used in a typical band setting for the style of music they are interested in. Students will learn to understand multiple styles of harmony and counterpoint, and will learn appropriate ways to structure, compose, and write music. Song writing lessons may be combined with, or interchangeable with guitar lessons, and both will include a focus on music theory, relative to the student's level. We will use the "guitar pro" software, to create midi versions of music, and be able to hear our ideas. At more advanced levels, students will be able to compose full songs, or backing tracks to perform with.

Beginner students will begin by learning the basic styles of holding, strumming, and picking the guitar. They will primarily work with a series of basic chords commonly used on the guitar, and look at familiar pieces of music within their preferred styles to develop technique. As they progress, students will learn concepts like power chords, hammer-on and pull-offs, and basic music theory including the pentationic, major and minor scales. Intermediate students will work on improving the techniques learned as a beginner, with more complex chord variation (7th chords, add and sus chords, etc), and faster and more complex melodies. Students will learn the fundamentals of basic improvisation, and more complex music theory, such as the harmonic and melodic minor scales, and complex key signatures. Advanced students will focus on specialized techniques, based on their interest. These can include fingerstyle guitar, slap-and-pop techniques used on the guitar, "shredding," two handed tapping, etc. Students will learn modes and their unique qualities, focus on odd and complex time signatures, and learn more complex songs and scales, (diminished, whole-tone, etc).