Guitar Lessons in Boulder & Longmont, CO with Joseph Brenna

For beginning students and for children, weekly lessons are recommended. This allows enough time between lessons for students to study and practice new material, and to incorporate adjustments to their playing. It is important not to let too much time lapse between lessons, since forming good habits such as posture, hand positions, and practice methods, are critical to students’ development. Weekly lessons provide enough frequency for students to receive regular feedback and corrections in these areas, so that poor habits which may arise between lessons do not take hold.

For intermediate and advanced students who have a firm command of technique and practice methods, bi-weekly lessons may also be effective. However many students feel that having the goal of being prepared for a lesson each week helps to keep them on track between lessons.

Because each student is unique , given her/his age, degree of musical knowledge and skill, stylistic interests, and style of learning, the first lesson begins with an interview and some guitar playing. Joseph assesses the student’s playing level and musical knowledge, and discusses her/his interests and goals. Based on these we form a unique course of study for the individual student. This course will use songs as the main vehicle for learning, and may include ear training, music and guitar theory, note and tablature reading, songwriting, and instruction on how to practice, in addition to guitar technique.

Daily practice is most effective, and adult students should allow at least an hour each day to practice (less for children depending on age). In order to develop familiarity and comfort with the guitar and with specific songs, careful practice together with frequent repetition is necessary. Moderate amounts of daily practice are much more effective than long practice sessions followed by days off. For example, if a student can allot 6 hours per week to practice, 1 hour per day for 6 days (with one day off) will give far better results than 3 two-hour sessions during the week without practice on days in between.

Lessons are paid for monthly, one week in advance of each month, at the rate of $60 per hour. 45-minute lessons are also available a the rate of $50 per lesson.
Introductory Discount: the first two lessons may be scheduled and paid for one at a time, at a discounted rate of $50 per hour, in order for new students to audition guitar lessons before committing to a monthly schedule. Then, when you sign up for your first full month of lessons, take 10% off!

I’ve found that 1/2- hour is not enough time. After taking into account time for a student to unpack and set up, for us to review the students’ progress and challenges since the last lesson, and to pack up again, about 15 or 20 minutes are left in the lesson. This isn’t enough time to play together, introduce new material, work through it together, and answer questions. So 1/2-hour is very rushed and generally inadequate.

Most of my students take one-hour lessons. I also offer 45-minute lessons for those on a budget and for very young students.

Students normally schedule and pay for lessons by the month, one week in advance of each month, at the rate of $60 per hour. As an introductory offer, the first two lessons may be scheduled and paid for one at a time, at a reduced rate of $50 per hour, in order for new students to audition guitar lessons before committing to a monthly schedule. Then, when you schedule your first full month of lesson, take 10% off!