Guitar Classes
Guitar I is a beginning guitar class that assumes no previous knowledge or training. Guitar II takes up where Guitar I left off.
Where: Freight and Salvage Coffee House on Addison Street in downtown Berkeley.
When: Guitar I is on Mondays 6:30 - 8:00pm. Guitar II is on Thursdays 6:30 - 8:00pm.
Maximum class size is 12 students.
The next six week session starts:
Monday, March 1 for Guitar I
Thursday, March 4 for Guitar II
To sign up or for more info, check out the Freight's Classes page, or feel free to contact Gabriel if you have questions.
Private Lessons
Where: The Starving Musician and Freight and Salvage Coffee House, both located in downtown Berkeley and conveniently close to public transportation.
Price: $35 per 1/2 hour lesson.
Contact Gabriel for scheduling.
Teaching Style
Drawing from a wide variety of sources and his own insights over the years, Gabriel has developed a practical teaching method where each step builds on skills already established. This approach has been very successful with absolute beginners, and also with students who bring previous guitar or other musical experience. Compared to some instruments, guitar has some physical challenges early on, particularly for the fretting hand (the left hand, for right handed guitarists), and Gabriel's approach makes this transition as smooth, musical and fun as possible.
The primary focus for beginners is getting comfortable with chords and strumming, and learning to play a few popular songs this way. Regardless of whether your eventual goal is to play singer / songwriter open mics, strum your favorite songs with friends, or to shred like Yngwie Malmsteen, learning to play chords on the guitar is the place to start and forms the foundation for all that is to follow. Concurrently, the student will be introduced to lead guitar, starting with the blues and moving toward the style or styles that most interest him or her.
As the student progresses, increasingly advanced techniques, chords, scales, musicianship skills and theory will be introduced, and the content of the lessons will be guided by the student's interests and goals.
Styles Taught
Gabriel's primary style is blues-based rock. He also teaches blues, pop, folk, reggae, funk and metal.