Music lessons are for students of all ages and ability levels. My studio has included 60 year olds who finally got around to buying that guitar they always wanted, middle schoolers learning The Ramones for their new rock band, high schoolers preparing to audition for their school’s jazz ensemble, and working singer-songwriters intent on bringing their craft to the next level. Music is a journey we embark on for the duration of our lives that changes and grows with us as we do. Each student’s goals are different. I want to meet you where you are and help you forge your own musical path.

Email me for a free 10 minute consultation and see if I’m a good fit for your musical needs. Below are some things we might work on together, organized by skill level. However, this list is by no means exhaustive as each student’s growth and goals are different.

Contact: dansaulpaughmusic@gmail.com

Guitar





Beginner

  • Develop a functional chord vocabulary of major, minor, and 7th chords

    • These chords will be learned in the context of popular songs that we choose together

    • Beginner chord voicing are all open string chords in the 1st position

  • Learn sight reading

    • Including all 6 strings in the entire 1st position with short etudes and songs using up to one accidental (Bb or F#)

  • Gain a basic vocabulary of strumming and finger-picking patterns





Intermediate

  • Expand your chord vocabulary with movable chord shapes including

    • Major and minor barre chords

    • Movable 7th chords - Maj7, -7, 7, -7b5 & dim7

    • These chords will be learned in the context of pop, rock, and folk songs as well as jazz standards that we will chose together

  • Sight read concert etudes and short pieces from the classical repertoire in keys with multiple accidentals that also employ techniques such as polyphony and harmonics

  • Play scales

    • These will begin with the major scale, move on to the 3 minor scales, and then to the 7 modes of the major scale

    • Intermediate scale fingerings will be 2 octave patterns that remain in 1 position

  • Dive deeper into rhythm with more advanced strumming and finger-picking patterns

  • Begin improvising and writing your own material (if you haven't already)!





Advanced

  • Grow your chord vocabulary and harmonic fluency in directions that suite your own artistic needs and curiosities

    • Fully extended tertian chords (9th, 11th, & 13ths)

    • Drop Voicings (Drop-2, Drop-3, Drop-2&3, Drop2&4, Drop-2-Double-Drop-3)

    • Inversions

    • Triad-Over-Bass, “Slash Chords,” and poly chords

    • Open string voicing using the entire fingerboard utilizing movable shapes

    • Etc…

  • Sight read pieces that work on specific skill sets based on your needs

    • Classical guitar repertoire

    • Bebop transcriptions (ie: Charlie Parker Omni Book or similar work)

    • Lead sheets, chords charts, scores, etc…

  • Deepen scale fluency

    • Symmetrical scales

      • Diminished Scale

      • Augmented/Hexatonic Scale

      • Whole Tone Scale

    • Modes of Melodic Minor

    • Other scales that suite your musical needs (harmonic major scale, synthetic scales, Messiaen modes, etc…)

  • Strengthen your time feel and rhythmic vocabulary

    • Apply various rhythms to comping

      • “Charlston rhythm,” clave patterns, etc…

    • Odd time signatures

    • Poly rhythms

    • Various fingerpicking patterns

  • Analyze pieces to understand composition better and how that relates to interpretation

Songwriting

As a working singer-songwriter in NYC, writing, co-writing, and recording songs, as well as working for songwriters as a session guitarist, has given me insight into the nuts and bolts of songwriting. While we’re all chasing that magic, intangible feeling that a great song brings, we can break down good songwriting into smaller, measurable parts. Songwriting lessons can be standalone lessons or coincide with guitar lessons. We will workshop music you bring in, listen to and analyze songs by other artists, and then use the tools we gain to write better songs. For any questions please reach out to me for a free 10 minute consultation about your songwriting goals.

For examples of my own songwriting, you can listen to my album Before The Fire Is Gone

 

Theory & Composition

 

A strong foundation in music theory underpins my playing and writing. Learn functional harmony, counterpoint & voice leading, post tonal & jazz harmony, form, song structure, rhythm and more. I studied at the Crane School of Music with Greg Wanamaker, David Heinick, and Andre Mount. I also teach the course Young Composers Workshop at the Darien Arts Center in Darien, CT. These experiences inform my teaching. Lessons are tailored to the student’s needs and will include score study & analysis, writing exercises and listening.