Thoughts, Credentials and a Warning...

Music can be many things to many people. To me, music is the best. The guitar can also be many things to many people. I've spent most of my life with a guitar in my hand or very near by, but to me, the guitar is still cool. It can also be frustrating, inspiring, and ridiculously fun.

I've had many teachers over the years, in private lessons, workshops and all throughout music school. Some of them have been fantastic. Some of them, well… not so fantastic, but I've learned from every single one of them and am continually learning from my peers, the people I admire, work with and study with.

Everyone has a different relationship to music and playing, and as a teacher, I try and honor that. I enjoy teaching people who rock out and wanna rock out harder. Even better, I enjoy teaching people who rock out but wanna know what the hell it is they're doing so they can rock out in more than 2 keys! Intense theory and improvisation is fantastic to learn and teach. Being able to apply your knowledge and ideas on the riddle that is the guitar fretboard is even more fantastic, but so is setting a goal to learn some chords so next summer you can hang out around the campfire and make some noise that will make your friends happy and keep the bears away.

At whatever level, anyone who makes a point of having music in their life is way ahead of the game.

CREDENTIALS:
Jeff has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies/Composition, has taught thousands of private lessons in guitar and theory, prepared students for college level jazz program auditions, run rhythm section and improvisation workshops at high school bandcamps, and teaches composition to young violinists and cellists as part of the Capilano College Continuing Education Program. He currently teaches private lessons out of his studio in Vancouver, and customizes his methods according to each student's ability level and personal goals.

WARNING:
Even if you can't see them, the bears may still be within listening distance if you're sounding decent. Bears have really grown conditioned to dig the sound of out of tune acoustic guitars and late night, wilderness crooning. I think they find it mildly amusing, really, until they get sick of it and reasonable bear has to talk angry bear down so he doesn't come and eat you just so you'll shut up.