Tailoring guitar lessons to what you want to play
I teach guitar being mindful of what my students want to learn and present to them guitar lessons that reflect that possibility. I tailor guitar lessons to fit that reality in a number of ways.
I teach kids a form of Suzuki method which is like the way we all learned how to speak. Guitar is the ultimate “ear” instrument, and seems to lend itself quite naturally to the Suzuki approach. It is much easier to master the technical complexities of the guitar if the student is able to focus on physical comfort, good posture, beautiful tone and musical expression without the distraction of decoding visual symbols.
For students who want to learn a specific style such as rock, blues, country or jazz I present them basic musical elements of those styles using existing tunes as projects to develop chords, melodies, time signatures, etc. to play in those styles of music.
I also teach traditional guitar lessons where emphasis is learning how to read music as it applies to the guitar. I use Hal leonard method books plus my own charts and written insights to play in styles that include rock, blues, jazz and country.
I also believe that learning the guitar should be an dynamic experience and above all fun.
Guitar Lessons Gift Certificates for your aspiring guitarist or yourself.
Give the gift of guitar lessons for Christmas or any other occasion. Blank certificates allow you to write in your denomination. Lessons are $30 per half hour so you can give them as many lessons as you would like. For more information keith@keithwatling.com
Reviews
I studied jazz guitar with Keith for a few months and learned a lot (for example: new chord voicing ideas, bebop lines, and chord melody). I had been out of lessons for a couple decades even though I was still playing different styles during that time. I was ready to take things up a notch. Keith was a great choice for a jazz teacher due to his good nature and previous studies with some prominent jazz guitarists in the Milwaukee area. Don't get me wrong, you will still have to practice a lot outside of lessons if you are serious about jazz. Regrettably I had to stop taking lessons due to unrelated circumstances. Keith helped steer me in the right direction and I will have a lot of related lesson material to keep working with going forward. I would recommend Keith to any guitarist who is looking to learn more about jazz/swing/gypsy jazz
Jerald K. ★★★★★
I have been working with Keith for a few months and have deeply valued the lessons he has taught me and the experience I am gaining. He is immensely flexible and listens to what your goals and interests are. At no point did I feel I had to learn what he wanted me to learn, but rather he has been deeply interested in what I am trying to gain as a guitar player. This has included learning specific songs (including him transcribing guitar parts by ear) and helping improve certain techniques.
Alex Gomory ★★★★★
I have been a guitar student of Keith's on two different occasions, most recently for the past year, and I could not recommend him any more enthusiastically to guitarists of all ages and skill levels. His knowledge of the instrument and of music theory and history is scary, but more importantly, he knows how to impart that knowledge to people like me who are less experienced and have less expertise. He is a rock solid teacher who has the ability to break down a seemingly impossible project into manageable parts and approach them in an organized, playable fashion. He is a thoughtful and soft spoken person who excels at bringing out the best in every student. I've probably been a difficult student as I'm a middle aged (at least!) player who doesn't read music, but has picked up bits and pieces of styles and technique over the decades. With me, Keith has done a fantastic job of piecing together the few things I do know with the many things he knows that I don't. I've learned an enormous amount from Keith, and I can guarantee that you will, too.
James Gallanis ★★★★★
Keith is a great teacher! He's patient, thorough, and very knowledgable. Also very flexible as I've had many work related meetings pop up last minute that cause me to cancel my lessons. If you are interested in taking guitar lessons, I'd highly recommend Keith!
Liz Jun ★★★★★
Keith is an amazing teacher! He taught me the fundamentals of guitar playing and many other important aspects in a fun and easy to understand manner. I'd definitely recommend him to anyone looking to learn or enhance their guitar playing.
Bryce Rivers ★★★★★
I had a good time with Keith while trying to increase my guitar skills. He taught me how to listen to what I was hearing, try to find patterns with that and then put it on to the guitar.
Meera MacDonald ★★★★.
Also see my blog posting on guitar lessons
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I can be reached at:
Cell Phone 414.416.2300
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