Great GUITAR LESSONS: $110/month * 1 hour/week (Midtown / Evergreen) in Memphis, Tennessee For Sale

*I teach out of my home, in a relaxed hour-long lesson, with enough time to fully cover the topic.
..... Recent references:
"Another GREAT lesson last night! All the way home I was singing to myself ....basking in the enjoyment of learning more guitar secrets. I just can't tell you how much pleasure I am getting from this wonderful opportunity of learning how to play. I was so lucky to have found you. It's one of the things I am very thankful for at this traditional Thanksgiving. I am going to take my guitar with me for the week-end. It's becoming like an old friend, and I miss it when I don't have it with me."
"Randy is a great teacher! You will progress so much faster than with any other lessons that are out there. He is extremely knowledgeable, talented, patient, and also very reasonable! He is also a fantastic guitarist himself with a passion for music that is contagious. I highly recommend him!"
"You are one of the most committed teachers I've encountered in a lifetime of being educated. You have a real passion for teaching, and it is evident in your approach to us, both during and in your preparation for our lessons. You love your instrument and strive greatly to instill in us a similar love of it. You are not a teacher for the marginally interested, but for those who wish a deeper understanding of the truly remarkable guitar.
Thank you for this, Randy."
"You covered concepts in a short period of time that it would have taken WEEKS to cover using other systems."
All my students tell me: "This is the fastest hour of their week!"
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Each lesson is ONE-HOUR a week for only $110/month!
I'm Randy Toma, a local Guitar Teacher/Performer.
I've been teaching since I was 15, and playing since I was 7. Born and raised here in Memphis,
55 years old, and mainly influenced by instrumental guitarists from the Classical, Rock n Roll, and Jazz styles.
All this experience has been focused into a method of teaching that is
fun, easy to grasp, and "makes sense."
If you want to just learn chords, and how to play your favorite songs, that's fine...
or if you want to learn how to read TAB and standard notation, how to build chords,
basic progressions & changes, or solo classical guitar
....that's an option too.
I'll show you "how" & "why" it works, ...not just the 'what' & 'where' (any book can do that!).
My approach is to empower the new student to be able to have a foundation to build from. I do not believe in endless lessons, year after year. Actually my goal is to "make myself obsolete!" But, I am never at a loss for students as there will always be people wanting to learn how to play guitar, and as my students move on they tell others about me; also I've gotten many students who have taken from other teachers, and aren't satisfied with how they've been taught. That's one reason why my lessons are one hour, instead of 30 minutes like everyone else's. I want to shorten the learning curve between a beginner, and a guitar player. Also, I keep a 30-minute "window" between lessons, as I don't like to be rushed, and in case the material calls for extra time.
COMPARE PRICES:
Again, my rates are $110/month: 1 ONE-HOUR Lesson/week !!
In Midtown/Evergreen: with amps, a large music library (recordings and sheet music/songbooks) cable internet/color printer/copier for audio & visual accessories for instruction, and capabilities for custom designing and printing materials for learning. Also, email capabilities for between-lesson help during the week!
You can also record a basic demo of your performance here, to email as an mp3 and have burned to a CD for your own!
I combine "old school" and current technologies to maximize the resources available.
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FOR MORE INFO:
*Visit my myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/randytoma
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** 'Notes' on GUITAR LESSONS
I basically teach a beginner course; and your progress will depend on how much time you are able to spend on the fretboard (practice) between lessons. It is a concentrated 'core' course on the fundamentals, drawing on my 40 years of teaching, and 48 years of playing.
Many points and observations are the results of conclusions drawn from decades of experience, which I call "A-ha!" moments. These are concepts that came to me 'after the fact,' -which I'd wish were explained, or pointed out to me on the front end, saving me time and therefore speeding my progress and understanding! Usually these "secrets" are not found in print, or on Internet guitar sites. Why? - I don't know!
I've always believed that learning guitar is just like learning a new language, coupled with a new set of specific skills. I don't put a whole lot of stock in "Talent." It's an applied skill.
Like learning Spanish, basketball, or ballroom dancing. They can all be 'compartmentalized' into a subset of manageable skill-set groupings.
I am a very dedicated teacher, having taught since I was 15 (Pilant Music), and I've taught group classes for The University of Memphis (Continuing Ed.), Fiddler's Green Music, The McWherter Senior Center, and for St. John's Episcopal Church. I know the important concepts essential to playing the guitar, and more-so, how to present them in a way that is understandable and makes sense. Also, I have made my living as a solo guitarist, playing instrumental guitar for 1,400+ paid dates during a 5 1/2 year span at (the former) Marena's Restaurant in Midtown, and as a soloist at over 100 private parties during that time. (So, I can do, and can teach!) My main teacher was G. Ricardo Fusco, http://www.guitarsofspain.com/guitar_magazine/1_10.htm, the best teacher in Memphis in the 60's/70's, and a graduate of the great Andre Segovia school of music in Spain. See also: http://www.guitarsofspain.com/guitar_magazine/15_14.htm Then, I had a year of quality instruction at The University of Memphis with Wayne Reynolds.
Because I know what works, and what's important, I can offer you the benefit of my decades of trial & error, and save you time in growth and development. I just want to get students started with the right foundation, and let them explore from there. Some continue with me, to learn further skills, and others enjoy what they learned, and have fun with their new abilities.
But most teachers bore students to death with endless drills that lead nowhere, teaching songs like "Red River Valley", or "Aura Lee" -songs they learned in xxxx. Basically amounting to nothing more than turning pages in a book! It's so much more effective to teach "current songs," or ones that the student WANTS to learn! But whatever style of music is pursued, certain basics are essential.
And, they want you to be the equivalent of a Mechanical Engineer,
when all you want to know is How To Drive A Car!
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-> -> Here is the main approach I take with lessons:
Basically, no one these days is interested in learning how to 'read' -
that is, reading sheet music (standard notation.) That takes a long
time with a lot of practice, exercises, drills, requiring advanced
techniques and more complex forms of music. If I were beginning to learn
today, I wouldn't want to take that route either. But there is a
simplified form of music notation called "TAB," which is what I use to
enable the students to learn new songs.
It is the fastest way to get your fingers on the fretboard and make progress!
My method allows the new student to learn the fundamentals of music as
it applies to the guitar, including strings, notes, chords, TAB, and basic
chord patterns and progressions. Also, how to perform common techniques
that apply to the left hand on the fretboard, and the right hand single-
note picking and strumming methods.
Later, after becoming comfortable and familiar with the fretboard, chords, and basic patterns, some students opt to continue with learning standard notation and right-hand finger-picking techniques. Without having to learn how to read standard notation (regular sheet music), the basics I teach would require anywhere from 9 months - 1 yr., depending on the student and their natural abilities, and how much time they have to dedicate to it. This would provide a solid foundation to be able to enjoy playing songs they already like, as well as be able to learn new ones on their own. They would understand how to play notes and chords, how to build new chords, and how to hear basic progressions. They would be familiar with common techniques and styles, and have a solid grounding in knowing how to play a song cleanly, clearly and evenly.
You will even be able to turn on the radio and be able to determine what key the song is in, and therefore know what chords are likely to be played!! I will show you how!!
My course enables the student to have a good, clear foundation to build on.
They will have the skills and fundamental knowledge to advance on their own, and be able to progress and enjoy playing the guitar for as long as they choose. They will also be able to better understand and appreciate the music they like now, and in the future.
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...in teaching:
"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."
Confucius
"Teaching is only demonstrating that it is possible. Learning is making it possible for yourself."
The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho
"You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it."
Charles Buxton
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Call me:
Randy Toma: 901-949-xxxx
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