About Guitar Lessons at Fort Worth's Orchestra Hall


Information for Prospective Students


To schedule lessons call 817-721-8500

I stress the development of solid technique, music reading, and musicianship (theory). I exclusively teach classical music, However, I find that a strong classical foundation offers an excellent departure point if students become interested in other genres of music. I find that studying solfeggio (Do, Re, Mi, etc) can be of enormous value to students so I integrate it throughout my teaching. As a rule I do not use tablature. The exception is when high-level students examine historical lute repertoire.


Once a student can read simple melodies fluently in first position they move on to the music and methods of 19th century guitarist/composers Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani, Matteo Carcassi, and Dionisio Aguado and 20th century guitarist/composers Julio Sagreras and Leo Brouwer. Once students have sufficient experience with these masters they are given much more latitude to choose their own material. They begin to explore the extant concert repertoire and I encourage them to experiment and explore different styles of guitar playing.


I organize recitals at the end of the Fall and Spring terms so that students have the opportunity to perform. This is in addition to opportunities that arise from my involvement with the Fort Worth Guitar Guild. There are also ensemble opportunities for students who are willing to commit to extra rehearsal time and preparation.


My students have won top prizes at the Selezione Siracusa (Siracusa, Sicily), the East Carolina University Guitar Competition (Greenville, North Carolina), the Columbus State Guitar Competition (Columbus, Georgia), the Texas Guitar Competition (UTD, Dallas), the Eastfield Guitar Competition as well as the University Interscholastic League (UIL). They have also been regular performers on the Dallas Classic Guitar Society's Dallas Museum of Art Series and the Fort Worth Guitar Guild's Library Recital Series.


Additionally, I prepare high school students for college auditions. Former students have been accepted, with scholarship, to the Berkeley School of Music, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, and the University of North Texas. Obviously, it is unrealistic for all students to go on to become professional musicians. However, my overall goal is to provide students with a solid musical and instrumental foundation that prepares them for the rigorous demands of conservatories, universities and the professional music world.



I offer three terms each year, Fall, Winter and, Spring/Summer. Each term is based on a sixteen week schedule in which the student is guaranteed a minimum of 12 instruction hours. I follow the FWISD calendar, observing all the same holidays. However, I do teach on days that FWISD has teacher inservice.


Tuition for 2012
Tuition for each term is $692, paid in four installments of $173. (A signed contract is required for this option)
Students who wish to pay for the term in a single payment receive a discount, making tuition $625.
I also offer four-lesson packages for $250 (full hour) or $125 (half-hour).
Single lessons are $70 per hour or $35 per half-hour.

Supplies (required)
-Guitar
Students are expected to have their own guitar. I do not teach electric guitar lessons. However, students can use a steel-string acoustic guitar for one term. After which, they are expected to purchase a classical/nylon-string guitar. For beginning students who wish to take some lessons before they commit to purchasing an instrument, I own a few guitars that I rent for $10/month.

I do not sell guitars. However, I am happy to assit students locate an appropriate instrument. I am a strong advocate of used instruments, particularly for students. I find that with a little patience Ebay can be an excellent place to find high-level instruments at very good prices.

I prefer the following models for my students:
For elementary-aged students I recomend the "Motif" manufacutered by La Patrie. At times, these can be a bit difficult to find but they are well worth the wait.
For full-sized instrument I recomend the following:
Yamaha CGS104A This is an adequate begining guitar for under $150.
Takamine C132 These are excellent instruments to purchase before a student is ready for a hand crafted instrument. They are getting a bit pricey. However, they have been manufactured since the 1970's and are relatively easy to find used, particularly on Ebay.


-Foot Stool
-Electronic Metronome and tuner
-Music Stand Music stands are recomended for home use but do not need to be brought to the lesson.
Footstools, music stands, tuners, and metronomes can be purchased at local music stores such as Mr. E's Music and Guitar Center. An excellent online source is Strings by Mail.

-Spiral Notebook of "single-stave" music paper
-Small pocket-sized notebook to keep track of assignments
-Published materials such as instructional books and music will be determined according to the needs of each student.


Click HERE to download a .pdf file of the studio policy form.
If you are a new student please return the form, with your signature, by your second lesson. All tuition is due at the first lesson of each term or the first lesson of each calendar month. There is a $10 per week fee for late payments.
I accept students of all ages (youth thru adult). However, students in sixth grade or younger must sign up for two thirty-minute lessons per week.

Registration for term packages is in August, December and April. Scheduling is done via email. Students with the greatest seniority in the studio receive first choice of lesson times. However, students who elect not to register for Spring/Summer term loose their seniority.

During the school year regular lessons can be scheduled Monday – Thursday. Saturday lessons can also be scheduled intermitently on a week to week basis. No lessons will be scheduled for Fridays or Sundays.

Fall Term (September 1 -December 31)

Spring Term (January 1 - April 31)

Summer Term (May 1 - August 31)

Make-up Lessons

Once a time slot is agreed to it is the students responsibility to make it to the lesson. In some cases I can accommodate temporary schedule adjustments. However, this is at my discretion and depends on my schedule.

A maximum of two hours per term will be "made up".

In cases of extended illness or injury I will make up more lessons.
I offer no make-up lessons to students on four-lesson packages.

Summer Term

Summer term begins on May 1st. By the end of the school year student will have completed four to six hours of the term. For June through August I will publish 15 to 25 dates on which I will be teaching. Students are then responsible for scheduling the rest of their lessons on those dates.


I teach at Orchestra Hall, home of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth. It has been a premier center for youth development in classical music since 1963. I have been offering guitar lessons there since 2008.

Orchestra Hall is located at 4401 Trail Lake Dr., Fort Worth 76109.


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