Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much do you charge?
A: It depends whether you purchase lessons by
the month (recommended) or by the lesson.
See the "Fees" page above for more
details.
Q: How long have you been
teaching?
A: I have been a guitar teacher and music
instructor for over 20 years.
Q:
Where are you located?
A: My studio is located at 301 S. Cedar Drive
in Allen, TX. If you live anywhere in
North Dallas/Collin County (Allen, Frisco,
McKinney, Plano, Richardson) then you live in
easy driving distance to my studio. A map is
provided at the bottom of this page for your
convenience.
Q:
What are your hours?
A: My hours are as
follows:
Monday...............4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday..............4:00 PM - 5:30 PM; 7:30 PM
- 9:00 PM
Wednesday........4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday.............4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday..................4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturday.............11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday...............2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Please note that these hours may need to be
adjusted depending on performance schedule,
outside conflicts, etc.
Q:
Is there a particular method you
use?
A: Depending upon the student's interest, I
utilize method books from either Alfred
Publishing or Hal Leonard Publishing. A
student may focus on Acoustic Guitar, Blues
Guitar, Rock Guitar, Fingerstyle Guitar, Jazz
Guitar, or any combination. I also use
special method books for children (ages
6-11). Finally, I recommend Ralph
Denyer's
The Guitar Handbook
for
theory and background information.
In addition to the above methods, great care is
taken to ensure that students work towards
playing music that they personally enjoy.
For example, many people are now interested in
guitar lessons because of the popular video
game Guitar
Hero. I have a
specialized curriculum that focuses on learning
many of the songs from the Guitar
Hero games that has
proven to be quite popular.
Q:
How old should children be before they take
guitar lessons?
A: I recommend that students be at least 10
years old for guitar lessons, but it depends on
the child. If you just want to schedule a
single lesson, I'll give you my honest
evaluation of your child's ability to take
guitar lessons.
Q: What materials/supplies do you
require?
A: At a minimum, you will need a guitar
(obviously) and a method book, which can be
purchased from me or elsewhere. After
that, I recommend you also purchase a metronome
($20-$30) and a digital tuner ($15-$30).
Q:
How many guitar lessons should I take per
week?
A: For most students, I believe one 30 minute
lesson per week is sufficient. Older
students and/or non-beginners should consider
one 60 minute lesson per week. I do not
recommend that beginning students take more
than one lesson per week. It's simply not
beneficial for a student's growth as a
musician.
Q:
Should I learn on an acoustic or an
electric?
A: Honestly, I don't think it really
matters. Either will suffice. I
recommend picking the type of guitar based on
the music you like. If you want to play
John Denver songs, then get an acoustic.
If you want to play Van Halen, go for the
electric. If you're not sure, contact me,
and I'll help you decide.
Q: What are your
qualifications?
A: In addition to my many years of experience
offering guitar lessons, I have just as many
years playing in a variety of situations. I
have played in Country, Rock, Blues, and
Contemporary Christian bands. I have also
worked in various recording studios doing
on-call session work. I've done everything from
playing "You Really Got Me" for Frat parties to
playing "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire" at
weddings. Suffice it to say, I have extensive
playing and recording experience. I have also
studied (and continue to study) music theory
and guitar (Jazz and Classical) at the college
level. I believe any good teacher should
constantly hone his or her craft, and I insist
on bettering myself as well. If any guitar
teacher tells you he doesn't need further study
himself, it's time to look for a new
teacher!
Q: What are your favorite kinds of
music?
A: I'm primarily a Rock and Blues player, but I
love Jazz and Classical as well. My iPod has
everything from Johnny Cash and the Beatles to
Mozart and Van Halen.
Q: Who are your favorite guitar
players?
A: In no particular order: Eric Johnson, Phil
Keaggy, Allan Holdsworth, Eddie Van Halen,
Steve Vai, Johnny Hiland, Danny Gatton, Chet
Atkins
Q: Why should I study with you? What sets you
apart from other
instructors?
A: First of all, let me say that I have no
desire to denigrate other guitar teachers or
methods. Guitar teachers (even good ones) are a
dime a dozen. What works for some students may
not work for others. So, I would actually
encourage you to try a variety of teachers
(including myself) to see who works best for
you. If someone tells you that he or she
is the "best teacher in Dallas," then you might
consider looking elsewhere.
You
are the
judge of who's the best teacher.
Having said that, what makes me unique is my
approach to the instrument. Unlike many
instructors I've known, I emphasize
self-sufficiency, not instant gratification.
As such, I insist that students learn basic
music skills so that they can gain a foundation
that will last a lifetime. I emphasize music
theory, technical proficiency, and
improvisational skills. It would be easy for me
to focus on teaching you the "song of the
week," but that really wouldn't make you a
better musician. Yes, you'll learn to play the
songs you want to play, but maybe not at first.
I'm more interested in helping you become a
well-rounded musician than I am taking your
money. To quote the late, great Frank Sinatra,
I do things "my way." If you want the easy way,
take somebody else. If you want to amass
knowledge that will secure the foundation for a
lifetime of guitar playing, I'm your man.
Ultimately, what makes me "special" is that I
am a professional educator and know how to
formulate lesson plans to target a student's
strengths and weakness. I don't teach just for
the heck of it. It's my calling. While I have a
lot of fun teaching and playing, I take what I
do very seriously.
Map to RSR Guitar
Studio
301 S. Cedar Drive
Allen, TX
RSR
Guitar Studio offers beginning and intermediate
guitar lessons (Rock, Blues, Country, Folk) in
Collin County, TX including Allen, Frisco,
McKinney, Murphy, Plano, and
Richardson.