Online Classical Guitar Composition Electric Guitar French Horn Guitar Piano Singer-Songwriter Ukulele Viola Violin Voice Lessons with Charles 

Charles - Teacher #2107

Instruments:
- Classical Guitar
- Composition
- Electric Guitar
- French Horn
- Guitar
- Piano
- Singer-Songwriter
- Ukulele
- Viola
- Violin
- Voice

Services:
- Alexander Technique
- Composition
- Counterpoint
- Dictation
- Ear Training
- Feldenkrais
- Harmony
- Jazz Improvation
- Music Appreciation
- Music History
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- Orff
- RCM
- RCM - Advanced Harmony
- RCM - Advanced Rudiments
- RCM - Analysis
- RCM - Basic Harmony
- RCM - Basic Rudiments
- RCM - Counterpoint
- RCM - History
- RCM - Intermediate Harmony
- RCM - Intermediate Rudiments
- Solfege

Languages:
- English
- French

Teaching Philosophy

My background includes years of being a residential camp counselor which includes working with various special needs populations, as well as Camp Chief Hector Kananaskins and Pioneer campers. I am both fun and funny, however, as we are in the philosophy section, please permit me, and I thank you for allowing me to do so: to be serious for a few moments.
My teaching philosophy centers on prioritizing my student's musical expression: bringing their inner-life to their music.
I have been teaching professionally since January 2007, as my sole source of income.
I find that students improve the most when I concentrate my efforts, not just on their music, but also on their personal character development: patience, perseverance, self-confidence, etc.
My musical interests lie primarily in teaching, followed secondly, by composing and improvisation, with performing being a tertiary priority - though I play before audiences regularly at open-mikes. I believe that being an excellent player doesn't necessarily translate to being an effective teacher, as teaching is influenced by personality type and focus of attention. For example, Wayne Gretzky, the great hockey player, was not a great coach.
Alignment of goals between student and teacher is paramount; mismatches often lead to difficulty. Understanding the student's feelings, thought-processes and personality-preferences is essential, to effective teaching.
There are more than the three commonly recognized traditional learning styles: visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning types.
According to Myers-Briggs' personality-preferences sorter, there are 16 specific learning styles, coming out of four general types, which were first recorded by the ancient Greek Plato: Guardians, who live in the past and seek security, Artisans, who live in the present and seek excitement, Idealists, who live in the future and seek harmony, and finally, Rationals, who live in an event/epoch of time, and who seek knowledge. It is worth noting that Carl Jung, who continued this preferences-theory of human nature, constantly reminded his readers: "each person is their own theory of human nature".
How about these ideas: There are four types of learners: fire learners, who burn through lots of material but then, may forget and therefore wonder what their homework is supposed to be; they need patience. Water learners, aways want to take the easiest route with the most shortcuts. Some shortcuts are helpful and some, as the legendary guitar pedagogue Ted Greene notes in his books, are not; these students need to learn, by diligent accomplishment, that persistence pays! Air learners are generally feeling-oriented people, who can't learn best (some not at all) unless they feel the teacher likes them personally; they grow personally and skills-wise from learning delineation. Earthen learners are those who take a long time for something to sink-in, yet when it does, it sticks and the knowledge/skills acquired stay with them.
I embrace various teaching styles to accommodate diverse learners, so that my students can get the most out of their experiences. My legendary patience is a cornerstone of my teaching, aiding those striving to reach the 'next level' as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Proper technique is fundamental to prevent bad habits from taking hold. I prioritize achieving the best possible performance in each lesson, even if a student's practice time has been limited that week. My aim is for every class to yield new knowledge and tangible improvements in playing technique and skills tailored to the student's interests.
I have worked with people from ages 5 - 75, and I have extensive, specialized experience, teaching those with PTSD and juvenile delinquents/youth-at-risk. Music, it is true, salves the savage and the sorrowful.
Ultimately, having said all that, I always utilize a teaching style which invokes a humble approach which allows my students to enthusiastically declare: "I did this myself."
Dear Reader, I thank-you for your time and effort, regarding reading my time-honoured adopted philosophy. Even if you don't take lessons from me, I urge youconsider it an investment in your own knowledge and personal growth.
Thanking you, I remain, obediently yours, Charles Nelson

Musical Education

- French horn player since junior high school.
- Studied jazz guitar at the Calgary Conservatory of Music.
- Joined the University of Calgary big- band, stage-band (as a guitarist, under Warren Rowley's direction).
- Studied classical and flamenco guitar with Brad Mahone and Holly Blazina at Mount Royal University.
- I hold a grade 8 classical guitar designation with advanced rudiments.
- Professional guitar teacher since 2007. (Sole source of income).
- Varied musical journey spanning folk, rock, jazz, new age, classical, and Brazilian and latin rhythms and stylings.
- Influenced by artists like Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Michael Hedges, and Joe Pass and John Coltrane.
- Extensive pedagogical education through teaching with and for: Yamaha teaching students and seminars spanning 9 years.

Awards and Distinctions

I hold no awards or degrees.

I have played in stage bands and as a singer-songwriter soloist.

In my relationship with the guitar, I would rank my talents in this order: First, I am best as a teacher; Second, I am best as a composer, and Thridly, I am best as performer.

My patience is legendary.

Special Skills and Training

- Empathy, patience, and understanding. - Solid technique and extensive chord knowledge. - Character growth focus, fostering perseverance, efficiency, flexibility, and creativity. - Experience with special needs students, including youth at risk and dementia patients. - Proficiency in group lessons. - Ability to inspire enthusiasm and creativity in students.