Frequently Asked Questions

Are you accepting new students?

Yes, all the time! I'm just one person, and most students tend to want the same time-slots (Mon-Fri, 4-8pm)--so things can fill up around here, lol. But most of the year, I'll typically have at least one spot that's either available or coming open soon. So if you're interested in starting lessons, just get in touch!

Is the New Year a good time to start?

Absolutely! The truth is, whenever you feel truly determined to learn guitar is the best time to start ;) For some people, that's the middle of the summer. For others, it's the beginning of the year. Whenever it is, strike while the iron's hot!

What is a 'beginner' or 'novice' vs. an 'intermediate' student?

Except for maybe the term 'beginner,' definitions vary widely. So I take a more practical approach to these terms. For me, these definitions are more about (1) how long you've been playing guitar and (2) at what age. For example: If you are a school-aged student (K-12) and you've only been playing for a few years, you're likely still a 'novice.' On the other hand, if you're an adult and you either (a) first learned guitar in your youth and then restarted, or (b) have played guitar regularly for at least a year as an adult, you're most likely an 'intermediate' player--even if you don't always feel like one ;) 

Do you take older students? 

Yep, all the time! In fact, I am honored to work with older students who are complete beginners or novice level. The truth is, they're often the most diligent and devoted students I have.

How about adult students who are already intermediate level?

At this point, I generally do not take adult students who are already at an intermediate or advanced level--though I do go case-by-case on this. (Also, I'm happy to make referrals to specialists in the particular genre that might interest you!) The kind of lesson I offer is already preparation-heavy, so virtually all of the intermediate students I have are students whom I have taught since they were beginners. By the time these students are intermediates, they can teach themselves a good deal on their own and are well-acquainted with my shorthand as a teacher. I've found that (for me, at least) this approach leads to faster progress and higher levels of student satisfaction.

Do you teach classical guitar?

Nope, not even a little bit, lol. Classical guitar isn't so much a specific genre as it is a whole other way of approaching the guitar--a whole style unto itself. If you're interested in learning to play classical guitar, you'll want to find a teacher who is primarily a classical guitar player. The same goes for either jazz or modern fingerstyle, which are similarly unique approaches to the instrument. If you really want to be a jazz or modern fingerstyle player, it's best (imo) to work with someone who plays that style almost exclusively. (Often, this will be someone with a conservatory or university degree in music---if not, a professional jazz musician.) That's not my background, but, again, I'm happy to make recommendations ;)

What about traditional fingerpicking?

Yes, of course! I absolutely love the classic Travis picking that populates traditional folk (e.g., Bob Dylan) and modern folk music (e.g., Elliott Smith; Noah Kahan; Sufjan Stevens)--and I love when someone wants to learn it! Same goes for the more idiosyncratic stuff that John Mayer does--challenging sometimes, maybe, but so much fun! (By 'modern fingerstyle guitar,' I mean the mind-bending, hand-wrenching genre that Tuck Andress, Sungha Jung, and Mike Dawes have created. Imo, it's very much its own thing ;)

I have a long-term, tab-intensive project... Any interest?

This request typically comes in a form like: "I've been playing guitar for several years, and I'm deeply interested in a specific genre (e.g., metal, funk, prog). I'm looking for a teacher who will walk me through the tablature for all the riffs and solos of my favorite songs by bands x, y, and z. Is this a project you might be willing to take on?" While I usually love the proposal and always admire the ambition, unfortunately, no--this sort of project just isn't for me...

The truth is, a tab-bound approach isn't how I work as a learner, so it's never been my primary method as a teacher. (Nor is it, by and large, how I teach my students to teach themselves.) While, of course, I regularly draw up chord charts, chart out progressions, and even scratch out a quick bit of tab in lesson, I myself learn principally by ear, and so my goal is to help students hone their own ear and gain a genuine feel for music, so that they can teach themselves more and more material on their own. While I know that there are instructors who will teach by tab and rote memorization, it is excessively time-consuming; so the teachers who do this must (by necessity) charge a hefty hourly rate per lesson. That's not how I operate... No doubt, as solos become increasingly complex, tab eventually becomes a necessity--but at that point it should be navigable for an advanced student. As a general rule, then, I believe that students are better served by mastering fundamentals and honing their own ear, so that such instruction ultimately becomes unnecessary.

Why don't you charge more?

I'm routinely asked this question by working professionals who've taken lessons with me for a few weeks: "Why don't you charge more?" Well, I charge what I feel the market can bear for a guitar teacher who took a lot of lessons as a kid and has played a lot of guitar, but didn't go to a conservatory or do a BA in music. (I went to college and grad school, but for other things entirely--things which I use all-too-rarely now, lol.) Of course, I agree that the lessons I give are worth more than what I charge for them--especially given the prep and customization involved. But, then again, I think most people feel like they should be paid more for what they do, right? And I'm with you folks, lol. (Btw: My stated rates are, technically, minimums--you can always leave more if you want ;) 

Can I purchase a package of lessons as a gift?

Yes! You can absolutely purchase a package of lessons with me at Detroit Guitar Tutor as a gift for a loved one or significant other, etc.--just get in touch! That said, whenever people ask, I always try to emphasize that they should only buy a gift certificate if they know for sure that their loved one's schedule (i.e., the recipient's) is sufficiently flexible.  Often, the only time-slots I have available for new students will fall on a Saturday (or, on rare occasion, later in the evening on a random weekday). And I want the recipient of your gift to actually be able to use the lessons you purchase for them (!), as the gift of music is one of the best gifts of all ;)

Can I book lessons now, but start in Six Weeks?

Well, maybe--it depends on the time of year (e.g., if its spring heading into summer, absolutely!). But unlike a store or school, which have multiple schedules for multiple teachers (mostly part-time) and theoretically endless time-slots, I'm just one teacher with a finite schedule. On a practical level, this means that I need to fill all of the 'prime-time' weekday slots (Mon-Fri, 4-8pm) with regular, weekly students. So, as a general rule, I'm unable to hold a weekday time-slot for someone who might start in a month or so. That said, just like someone purchasing a gift certificate for a loved one, you are always free to purchase a package of lessons for a Saturday time-slot a month or more in advance, as long as I have Saturday availability when you get in touch. In general, though, a store or music academy is better able to accommodate advance-booking requests like this (as well as those seeking irregular or bi-weekly lessons).

Is there one teacher who is the best teacher for every student?

Some people are bold enough to believe this, but I firmly do not. I think that one person might be the perfect teacher for one student, yet the wrong teacher for another. And vice versa: Some students will thrive with one teacher, but ultimately whither under the tutelage of another--and yet both of the teachers in question may be excellent teachers in their own right.

We all learn differently. And this means that any given method will be better suited to some learners, but not as well suited to others. It's true: We can all learn something from a great teacher. But the goal isn't to learn something--it is to learn everything we can in the limited time that we have. And we learn the most as individuals from a teacher whose style is best suited to how we learn. In my opinion, then, your aim as a student should be to find the instructor whose style of teaching best suits your style of learning. (Just as my aim, as a teacher, is to find the students whom I think will thrive most on my style of instruction ;)