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Guitar Lessons

guitar lessons illustration

Overview

Whether you want to be in a band, impress your friends at a party, or just play for yourself - the possibilities are endless when it comes to the guitar! No wonder it's one of the most popular instruments today!

At DCAM, you learn guitar through a fun and gradual process that combines proper technique with music that you actually want to play! Just like guitars, we realize that students come in many different "shapes and sizes", which is why our teachers do their best to tailor lessons to each student's individual skill level and musical taste.

one of our guitar lessons in progress

What is a good age to start guitar lessons?

Six is our minimum recommended age for starting guitar lessons. At this age, most children are developed enough physically to be able to comfortably hold a small guitar and have enough finger-strength to be able to depress the strings. However, if your child is younger and you think they are ready to start, we would be happy to give them a free trial lesson and give you our recommendation.

Lesson Format

Private lessons: these are one-on-one lessons with student and teacher. Private lessons are a great option for students looking for highly-focused and individualized music instruction. The teacher is able to give their full attention to one student and students normally progress faster in this environment.

Semi-private lessons: these lessons consist of two students per teacher. Semi-private lessons can be a budget-friendly option for parents with two children or two friends wanting to learn the same instrument together. The one obvious drawback is that students don't receive as much focused and individualized attention from the teacher as they do with private lessons.

Lesson Duration

At DCAM, students can choose between 30-minute, 45-minute, or 1-hour lessons. Small children generally start with 30-minute lessons and increase lesson duration as they get older and/or with the recommendation from their teacher. For teenagers and adults, a minimum lesson time of 45 minutes is strongly recommended.

Materials

lesson in progress

Beginning students can start out with our "Intro to Guitar" book series, which includes 3 books. These books help lay all the important foundation for beginning guitarists, including the reading of tablature, strumming patterns, and lots of fun songs to play along to! After completing the series, students are free to start learning songs that interest them and can join our "Band Experience" program, which allows them to get a feel for what it's like to play in a group with other instruments and musicians.

Instruments

Students can choose to play either an acoustic, electric, or classical guitar. For young children, guitars with nylon strings are recommended, as they don't put a lot of strain on the fingers. Children will also require a guitar that fits their size/age, which can be bought or rented from most music stores or directly from us. Students are expected to have their own guitar and to bring it with them to every lesson.

Not sure what the right guitar size is for your child? Check out this blog article.Need a guitar? Talk to us or check out Long & McQuade, who offer buy or rent options.

guitar lesson in progress

Styles

Students can choose to learn any musical style they want on the piano, such as pop, jazz, classical, etc. Those wishing to go the Royal Conservatory route should expect a heavy focus on classical music.

Teachers

guitar teacher Andrew

Andrew

guitar, ukulele

Andrew is a recent graduate of Humber College's Bachelor of Music program, having studied with great Toronto guitarists like Nathan Hiltz and Jocelyn Gould. With nearly 6 years of teaching experience, he prides himself on an interest-forward teaching style - with every lesson, he builds on a student's connection with music, not just their technical abilities. With a wide variety of musical interests, he can provide insight on just about anything a student may want to play. Andrew is currently working on his first album, set to be released later this year.

guitar teacher Giancarlo

Giancarlo

guitar

Giancarlo is a graduate of the 'Music Industry Arts and Performance Program' at Centennial College. His primary focus lies in playing the guitar, which has led to his performing at multiple venues across Toronto. He started his musical journey at the age of 12 with classical guitar, later immersing himself in a wide range of musical genres such as blues, rock, bluegrass and improvising. After high school, he finished a pre-university program at the Barranquilla School of Fine Arts and then continued his studies at Centennial College in Toronto. Giancarlo has practical experience in studio recording utilizing digital audio workstations and has provided his expertise as a session musician to others. He is filled with enthusiasm for music and is committed to sharing it with his students as he helps them to develop as musicians.

piano,

Joseph

piano, drums, guitar, trumpet

Joe is a multi-instrumentalist currently in his third year studying Jazz Piano Performance at the University of Toronto. He started taking trumpet lessons when he was still missing his two front teeth, and began studying guitar only a couple of years later. Having been extremely lucky to study with teachers who prioritized building a personal relationship with music, Joe has spent the last decade learning new instruments, writing and recording original music, and geeking out over music theory. Today he dedicates time between his classes to performing in local venues and teaching a variety of musical instruments. His dream is to be able to help his students build the same joyous, curiosity-driven relationship to music that his teachers fostered in him.

guitar, lute and theory teacher Jonathan

Jonathan

guitar, lute, music theory

Jonathan Stuchbery is a classical guitarist and a specialist in lutes and historical guitars. As an educator, he encourages students to explore their musical interests while laying strong technical foundations and helping students approach their instruments and music with ease. Jonathan is experienced as a guitar (all styles) and lute teacher, as well as a repertoire coach for vocalists and instrumentalists working on baroque and renaissance music. He is busy as a performer at home and abroad where he is active with multiple ensembles and festivals. Jonathan holds a Master's in Historical Performance from the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona. He was also recognized for outstanding achievement in lute at McGill's Schulich School of Music, receiving his B.Mus. in guitar and lute under teachers Jérôme Ducharme and Sylvain Bergeron.

Our teachers are all qualified professionals and passionate musicians. We do our best to match a student with a teacher that we think would best fit their musical goals as well as their personalities. We understand that while some students prefer a relaxed teaching approach, there are always those for whom a more strict approach is more effective. Students also have the option to request to change their teacher if they wish to do so. Learn more about our teachers on our Teachers Section.

FREE TRIAL LESSON

Just fill out our quick trial lesson form and wait to hear from us within 1-2 business days. If you like your trial lesson, you can sign up for regular lessons with us! Our lessons are available online (Zoom or Skype) as well as in-person if you live close to our location. Start learning your favorite instrument with one of our amazing teachers today!