Beginning Guitar Classes With a USC Professor
These lessons cover the fundamentals of beginning guitar. Topics include, chords, rhythm, and reading music. The student will also learn fun songs and get an understanding of basic music theory.
Andy Abad
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(1)
What's included
8 live meetings
4 in-class hoursAssignments
1 hour per week. 1-2 per weekAssessment
includedClass Experience
US Grade 3
Beginner Level
These private lessons will cover a lot of topics to create a bed of understanding of the guitar and music fundamentals. Too often people learn how to play but they do not understand what they are doing. This causes grey areas, frustration and stagnation. This course will cover chords, songs, fretboard knowledge, and reading music. Basic music theory is also covered to go along with an analysis of the songs covered. Music theory analysis is one of the fundamentals of songwriting. Songwriting will also be explored as the student's knowledge increases. The class is structured as a one-on-one private lesson. Each week new material is introduced and the previous week's lesson will be reviewed to ensure an understanding of the concepts. New material will be introduced based on the pace of the student. Teaching Style I have been teaching at USC for fifteen years and I have developed an effective teaching style. First off, It is important to set basic goals at the beginning and know what the student hopes to achieve. In order to work towards these goals I assigned the appropriate amount of material each week for incremental learning. The key to learning a new skill is consistency. It only requires 5 to 10 minutes minimum a day of focused lesson review to see real growth. I also encourage my students to video record each song they learn to have a record of their accomplishments. As this is a one-on-one lesson the student will have direct interaction with the instructor.
Learning Goals
Basic chord knowledgeUnderstanding rhythm and how to read them
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Week 1 Intro to the Guitar
Learn the different parts of the guitar and how to hold it
Learn how to hold and use a guitar pick
Left- and right-hand function and position
Names of the strings
Learn partial C and G chords 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Lesson 2
Review previous material
Learn basic musical symbols
Learn the first three notes of the first string
Learn basic rhythmic values
Play musical examples and learn Spanish Theme 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Lesson 3
Review previous material
Learn the first three notes of the second string
Read notes on the first and second string
Learn World Beat, Ode to Joy, and Blues
Introduce more chords 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Lesson 4
Review previous material
Learn the first three notes of the third string
String review
Learn Rockin’ Robin and Yankee Doodle
Music theory analysis of the songs
Chord review 30 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Pre-Requisites
Have a functioning guitar
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hello,
I teach all levels but I will start by offering beginning group courses. Each class is a 30 minute group lesson. I am a firm believer that learning in a group setting is the most effective way for beginners to learn. Students will learn the basics and fundamentals of guitar playing including music theory and how to read music. Every week we will work on fun songs that reinforce the principles of music taught in class. Upon completion of this course students will learn chords, strumming, basic scales, and songs. They will also learn the basics of theory and reading music.
I have a Bachelors and a Masters degree from the USC Thornton School of Music. I am currently on the Faculty in the Guitar Department and the Popular Music Program at USC. I have been teaching there for the past fifteen years and some of my former students have gone on to play for Olivia Rodrigo, Katy Perry. and Gwen Stefani. I have toured the world and recorded with some of the biggest names in the industry including, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, and The Backstreet Boys. I have recorded on two Grammy winning albums and I am a Latin Grammy nominated producer. As a composer my music can be heard on Dora The Explorer, Teen Titans Go!, and TMZ.
My philosophy in music education is "Consistency is the key to unlock creativity."
This is a principle I learned in my own studies and I have seen it time and time again in my students at all levels. The beginning guitarist will see tremendous results in a short amount of time and all it requires is ten to fifteen minutes a day of practice of the lesson material. Consistency is the key to learning any subject and music is no different. This principle will open the door to performance, improvisation, and songwriting.
Fun Fact
I have an eleven year old son and he started taking piano lesson on the week of his fourth birthday. I sat with him everyday at the piano to ensure consistency and to create a routine. It wasn't long before he became a star student on the piano and his repertory now includes the music of The Beatles and piano sonatas by Mozart and Beethoven.Reviews
Live Private Course
$35
weekly1x per week, 8 weeks
30 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-18
