I work hard at maintaining a casual character and a fun atmosphere in lessons, but I'm very serious aboutwhat I do. I've put this document together for parents of young students and for adult students who areinterested in understanding the structure of the learning process and the approach that I've crafted overtwo decades of professional instruction and performance. I want it to be clear that there's a welldesigned method behind my teaching approach, based on years of real performance experience and justas many years of academic and “real world” teaching experience. The way I teach has been tested andrefined by many thousands of hours in lessons with countless beginner through advanced students. 19years ago I gave my first professional private lessons. 10 years ago I wrote a complete curriculum forone of the most highly recognized University music schools. In the decade since, I've continued to teachthousands of people to play guitar, and I've seen young children and adults become professionalmusicians, and many more become active hobbyists and performers in their communities, churches,families, and social groups. This method works, and has been the most enjoyable and effective way I'vefound to teach students how to play guitar, regardless of stylistic interest, age, and skill level.