My mother and her sister both played guitar and sang wonderful harmonies. I picked up the same habit when I was a kid.
I've been singing and playing rhythm guitar for nearly 50 years. I was a full-time musician from 1969 through 1984, playing in clubs in Akron, Ohio, Lexington, Kentucky, Daytona Beach, Florida and Nashville. Spent some time on the road and decided I didn't like living out of a suitcase, so I settled down and found another livelihood. For the last 25 years have just played gigs that come my way, but I'm finally feeling my age and would rather be in my garden.
Though my work led through a variety of musical genres -- I played rock, folk, country, Top 40 -- I feel most at home with bluegrass and old time music. In recent years I've won a number of amateur awards in old time singing contests, mostly at the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree. I still perform occasionally but I found I get much more satisfaction helping others learn how to play.
If you think you'd like to learn enough guitar to write a few tunes or just to play by the campfire, you've come to the right place. I have several different courses available depending on your age and your goals. All courses include the basics of reading music, but my emphasis is on playing by ear.
I developed a "fast-track" method to teach anyone with even just a little musical talent how to play and sing simple tunes by ear in 12 lessons. I demonstrate music fundamentals using traditional folk music and children's songs. I show how songs are put together, how to recognize where chord changes go and how to play smoothly through tunes.
I also help songwriters figure out and play the chords to their personal tunes. And I can teach you how to figure out the changes to almost any song you'd like to learn.
Besides teaching "chord logic," I use a wonderful children's workbook with nearly all students young or old because of its simplicity and ease of understanding. The workbook does an excellent job of introducing musical notation, with plenty of single-note exercises on its accompanying DVD and CD. Besides learning to play along with other instrumentation, moving through the exercises increases dexterity and coordination, sharpens the timing, and raises confidence.
I teach adults and young students age 8 and up. My course is geared toward female students but I will teach males if they show a high interest in singing. I also hold a twice-monthly group class called FOLKSLINGERS that meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
I live close to the Fiddle and Pick Music School and am available for lessons Monday-Thursday throughout the day.
Please call me if you'd like to discuss guitar lessons for your child or yourself.
You are the best Susie!! I don't think I would ever have "believed" that I could play a gritar, or any instrament for that matter, if not for God sending you to be my teacher and friend. Cant wait for our next lesson.
Kenneth W. Forte, Owner and General Manager WDKN 1260 Country/Gospel Talk Radio
Indie Connect Speaker
As the new owner of Dickson's historic WDKN 1260 AM Country/Gospel/Talk Radio Kenneth offers 'up and coming' artists (and established artists) th...
BRAIDED CHORD will be at the Fiddle & Pick to celebrate all the love and joy of the Christmas season. Take some time for yourself during this hectic time. Their harmonies will surround you -- their music will warm you. The house was sold out last...
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