Guitar Lessons in Etobicoke – Da Capo Academy of Music

OVERVIEW

The guitar has established itself as one of the most popular of modern instruments. From blues to rock and roll, it is used in nearly all genres of music and has won itself many fans around the world. 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 guitar!

At Da Capo Academy of Music, we realize that our 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.

Ready to start learning? Book your free trial lesson today and see why we have some of the best guitar lessons Etobicoke has to offer!

Some of our cool guitarists!

two students on stage with their guitars

WHAT IS A GOOD AGE TO START GUITAR LESSONS?

Six is the 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

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.

STYLES

Students can choose from a wide variety of genres such as rock, jazz, classical, etc. Those wishing to go the Royal Conservatory route, however, should expect a heavy focus on classical music.

TEACHERS

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.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US

 5/5

"My 5 year old son loves his guitar lessons. He has lot of fun with Andrew. Great school with great teachers. Good location with lot of free parking. I can only recommend it."

Lenka Wendl

Parent

 5/5

"DaCapo is a wonderful place to learn music. The teachers are patient, fun, flexible and highly qualified. My daughter loves it!"

Daniel Vendramin

Parent