Michael

Rate $52
Response 1h

$52/hr

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Guitar
Acoustic Guitar
Autoharpe

Nashville-based, professional guitarist and songwriter with 50 years of experience teaches acoustic finger-style folk and blues guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, and songwriting.

Guitar
Acoustic Guitar
Autoharpe

Lesson location

- online

About Michael

I have over 45 years experience in the film, music. For over 20 years, I was a touring musician and songwriter playing coffeehouses, college campuses, nightclubs and stage concerts. I have played with and shared the stage with such artists as; Piano Red, Dave VonRonk, Townes VanZandt, John Hammond, Tom Rush, Pinetops Perkins, Elmore James and Chris Smither plus others.

I scored and produced the music for the Cine Golden Eagle Award winning film Travlin' Trains and the PBS award winning film “From my Grandmother’s Mother Unto Me.” I have also written and produced music for the Turner Broadcasting System and several PBS affiliate projects.

I have written numerous screenplays most recently King of the Colored Conjurers now in development with Julie Dash's Geechee Girl Productions Creative Artists Agency. I have also a produced numerous live entertainment events for Festival Productions in New York City, some of those festivals include; "The Benson and Hedges Blues Festival", The Toyota Comedy Festival and First Night in the Empire State Building.

l also served as President of the Atlanta Songwriters Association. I have always had a keen interest in education and was The Director of the Young Filmmakers Program at the Watkins Film School in Nashville. I also was a teaching artist for Special Audiences, Atlanta, GA, and L.E.A.P. New York City and with Headstart through the Wolftrap Teaching Artist Program.

I was a full partner in NashFilms INC with Robb Royer (Founder of the band Bread.) We managed film scripts and his music catalogue as well as procured rights and funding for film and television projects.

About the lesson

I teach by example and inviting the student play with me.

I can teach beginners to advanced students for those who wish to increase there guitar skills for professional reasons or just to have some fun.

I started playing guitar when I was 8 years old and have not stopped since. I was a touring musician/performer for over 45 years with such artists as Townes VanZandt, Dave VonRonk and Jazz great Denny Jiosa.

A typical lesson plan would look like this:

Lesson Plan: Introduction to Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar
Objective: Students will learn the basics of fingerstyle technique on acoustic guitar, focusing on fundamental skills and exercises to develop dexterity, coordination, and musical expression.

Materials Needed:

Acoustic guitars (one per student)
Guitar picks (optional, depending on preference)
Music stands
Printed handouts with chord diagrams and exercises
Duration: 60 minutes

Phase 1: Introduction (10 minutes)
Welcome and Introduction

Greet students and introduce yourself.
Briefly explain the goals and structure of the lesson.
Overview of Fingerstyle Guitar

Define fingerstyle technique: using fingers to pluck strings individually instead of a pick.
Discuss the advantages and musical possibilities of fingerstyle playing.
Phase 2: Basic Finger-style Technique (20 minutes)
Hand Position and Finger Placement

Demonstrate proper hand position: relaxed wrist, fingers curved over strings.
Identify thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers for plucking strings.
Exercise: Basic Fingerpicking Pattern

Teach a simple alternating bass pattern (e.g., thumb on bass note, index finger on higher strings).
Have students practice slowly, focusing on evenness and clarity of notes.
Chord Progression Application

Introduce a basic chord progression (e.g., C - G - Am - F).
Demonstrate how to apply the fingerpicking pattern to the chord progression.
Guide students through playing the progression together.
Phase 3: Fingerstyle Exercises (20 minutes)
Finger Independence Exercises

Provide exercises focusing on each finger's independence and strength (e.g., plucking individual strings with different fingers).
Emphasize smooth transitions between finger movements.
Melodic Playing

Introduce a simple melody (e.g., a familiar folk tune or scale fragment).
Show how to integrate melody with fingerpicking patterns, emphasizing phrasing and expression.
Phase 4: Application and Conclusion (10 minutes)
Application to Song

Choose a beginner-friendly finger style song or arrangement.
Break down the song into manageable sections, focusing on technique and musicality.
Q&A and Recap

Allow time for questions and troubleshooting.
Recap key points of the lesson: finger style technique, exercises, and application to music.
Assignment

Assign practice for the week: continue working on the introduced exercises, chord progressions, and the selected song.
Encourage students to explore finger style arrangements of songs they enjoy.
Additional Notes:
Individual Guidance: Provide individual feedback and assistance during practice sessions.
Progress Tracking: Keep track of students' progress to tailor future lessons accordingly.
Encouragement: Foster a supportive and encouraging atmosphere to build confidence in finger style playing.
By following this structured lesson plan, students will develop a solid foundation in finger style acoustic guitar playing, enabling them to progress confidently in their musical journey.

Nashville-based, professional guitarist and songwriter with 50 years of experience teaches acoustic finger-style folk and blues guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, and songwriting.

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About Michael

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Nashville-based, professional guitarist and songwriter with 50 years of experience teaches acoustic finger-style folk and blues guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, and songwriting.

Lesson location

About Michael

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack prices

online

Similar Guitar tutors in Nashville

Albert

Luke

Justin

Shane

Tyrone

Jonathan

Don Celsus Shenal Iranga

Ryan

Nigel

Daniel

Richard

Kim

Dave Coleclough

Chris

Joaquin

Floyd

Felix

Gregory

Faith

Sebastian

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