One-hour guitar consultations are offered aimed at giving expert advice for next steps to guitarists seeking higher levels of achievement and musical understanding. Appointments are scheduled one at a time as my schedule allows. Regular weekly or bi-weekly spots are not currently offered. Instead, the appointments are occasional, merit based and offered based on my availability. This approach is best suited for intermediate and advanced guitarists with motivation, self-discipline and ample time to devote to practicing.

Students ages 17 through adult will be considered. Students from 13 to 16 years of age might be considered contingent upon a phone conversation with a parent. Students under the age of 13 are not accepted.

The lessons are conducted at my Home Studio - a renovated early 19th century barn in Harleysville, Pennsylvania (in Montgomery County, a short drive for those living near Souderton, Skippack, Green Lane, Telford, Lansdale, Blue Bell or North Wales, PA).

what's the cost?

The current rate is $100 for a one-hour consultation.

-LESSON PLANS-

FOR INTERMEDIATE/ ADVANCED STUDENTS...

For students with prior experience, the first lesson is diagnostic to assess the students level, goals and determine an appropriate course of study. Lesson plans aim to develop abilities in the following...

1. Technique

2. Reading (standard notation)

3. Repertoire (important songs/pieces that relate to the style of music being studied)

4. Chords (Harmony)

5. Scales (particularly for improvisation)

6. Theory (concepts and application)

Pete's past teaching locations have included...

Moravian College (Bethlehem, PA)

The Wayne Art Center (Wayne, PA)

Gwynedd Mercy Academy (Gwynedd, PA)

Chestnut Hill Academy (Chestnut Hill, PA)

Inquire about guitar lessons

Frequently asked questions...

How does payment work? Payment for each lesson is made at or prior to the start of each lesson. Payment options include Venmo, PayPal, cash or personal check.

What happens if I need to cancel a lesson? Once a session is scheduled, a minimum notice of two days is required to cancel a lesson. The student is financially liable for any lessons missed or cancelled if such notice is not given. This policy is strictly enforced.

Do you offer to go to the student's home to teach the lessons? No. All in person lessons are conducted at my home studio in Harleysville, PA. Virtual lessons might be considered as an alternative.

Is there a specified number of lessons that I must commit to when beginning guitar lessons? No, a single consultation can be scheduled.

Will you teach me to play the songs that I want to play? Generally, no. The consultations are not geared towards learning specific songs requested by the student but rather fundamentals including technique, theory, reading standard notation, improvisational concepts, etc.

Do you offer lessons on instruments other than the guitar? My teaching is geared towards guitar students. However, if someone is interested in lessons regarding the subjects of music theory or improvisation AND they are competent on another instrument (sax, piano or bass for example) then they would be considered.

Do you offer virtual lessons? Possibly, but in-person lessons are better and are my preferred way of teaching.

Do I need to know how to read music? Yes, I believe very strongly that musicians need to learn to read music. Some argue that since certain famous musicians learned to play by ear and never learned to read music, that it must not be required for success. This argument is usually made by those that have made up their mind that learning to read music will be tedious and unnecessary as it relates to their personal musical aspirations. By contrast, I believe that learning to read music is well worth pursuing and it will greatly enhance the student’s musicianship which, in turn, will help them to succeed in their musical endeavors.

The ability to read and write music can be compared to the ability to read and write English (or any language). If a person does not learn to read and write (language) he might still be smart and able to hold an intelligent conversation, but most would agree that the person’s illiteracy will be a stumbling block in life. They will likely feel embarrassed whenever confronted with this inability.

Music is simply another language and standard musical notation is the best way for musicians to write down and share their ideas. Sure, certain talented individuals do perform music that sounds great without ever having learned to read music – but these individuals are also likely to run into situations where their musical illiteracy will be problematic. Unfortunately, most amateur guitar players avoid learning to read music. Many pursue guitar TABs as a workaround. This might be fine for a very casual hobbyist. However, if the guitarist should happen to become interested in joining a school’s jazz band or auditioning for a college music program (for example) then reading will be a requirement for acceptance.

-Testimonials from students-

"I want to thank you for being a great teacher to me. Your systematical way of presenting materials are very clear and really helpful for me to review things that I tend to forget. And I enjoy the balance between theory, study and songs in your lessons which not only help me build up a repertoire but also lays a good foundation for me to learn new stuff by myself." - Weike

"I feel like I have learned more this year about the world of music and my instrument than ever before in my life. Your lessons have all been structured, insightful and enjoyable experiences that have been integral to my growth as a musician. Because of you I can now fully appreciate jazz and classical music in a way that I have never been able to prior to your instruction. I will carry this newfound appreciation with me as I head to college next fall and onwards to the rest of my life." -Ben

"Thank you for all the things you have done for me over the years. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be where I am today. I have become a better player and, because of you, I have surpassed goals I never thought were possible. I would love to stay in contact with you because I know that if I ever need help I can always come to you. When I am home I would love to keep lessons going because I know that there is a lot more to learn, Thanks again for all your help Pete." -Chris

"Thanks for everything you have taught me. You are an incredible musician and I am glad to say I learned from the best." - Chris

“I want to thank you for preparing me, inspiring me and teaching me to be disciplined.  Without your help I don't know if I would have gotten to where I am.” -Greg

"I just wanted to say thank you for preparing me for college...  Everything has paid off... the arpeggios, Wohlfahrt studies, inversions... everything.  I managed to get into the Jazz Ensemble which is the bigger jazz group here, as well as the smaller Jazz Combo.  It's a lot of fun, and I don't have any problems following the charts. Thanks for everything.” - Bobbie

"You've taught me that if you really want to make something perfect, taking things step by step, measure by measure, is the best way to do it. I've seen this come up in other aspects of my life as well, such as writing papers, and completing my studying for exams. Therefore, I owe you a great deal for your help. Thank you for everything.” -Asa