Now that back-to-school is in full swing and students—and their parents—have adjusted to the hustle and bustle of everyday school life, it’s time to start scheduling after-school activities. With so many after-school activities to choose from, it’s no wonder parents feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices! That’s why I put together a list […]
Author: Rock Dojo
After-School Group Guitar Lessons at ACCESS Academy
The Rock Dojo is now celebrating three-years of group guitar lessons at Rose City Parks for ACCESS Academy and Beverly Cleary students. About ACCESS Academy Located in NE Portland, ACCESS Academy is a school for gifted students testing in the 99th percentile on nationally normed tests in reading, math, or general intellect. The curriculum is […]
After-School Group Guitar Lessons at Beverly Cleary School
The Rock Dojo is now celebrating its third year of offering group guitar lessons at Beverly Cleary School! About Beverly Cleary School Located in the Hollywood District of Portland, OR, Beverly Cleary School bears its namesake after the famed American writer of children’s and young adult fiction. In 1950, Beverly Cleary published her first book. […]
Harness the Power of Leverage to Grow Your Teaching Business
When I first launched my guitar teaching business as a student in 2012, I was just like every other private guitar instructor. I filled my schedule with one private lesson after another. I buckled under the pressure of my students’ requests and subsequently spent all my time learning songs I didn’t like for students who […]
Rock Back-to-School with Four Simple Chords!
As atoms are the ‘stuff of life,’ so too are chord progressions the basic building blocks of all music. Chord Progressions From Bach and Beethoven to Rihanna and Taylor Swift, every song you’ve ever heard can be reduced to a set of repeating chord changes known as chord progressions. Although chords can be combined in […]
Apply These Three Secrets from Project Management to Get Crazy Sick at the Guitar
A few weeks ago, I picked up a copy of Dan Roam’s The Back of the Napkin, and it blew my mind. In it, Roam provides a complete toolkit for solving complex business problems. So I did what any guitar geek would do, I immediately borrowed the lessons I learned from The […]
Three Power Tips for Super Music Teachers
The school year is about to kick off. The kids are ready to rock, and you’re on the starting blocks, rested, relaxed, and ready to change the world one music class at a time. But even everyday heroes need strategies to maintain their super powers during the school year, so I put together three tips […]
Celebrate the Solar Eclipse with Two Terrifying Intervals on Guitar
Throughout human history, a solar eclipse was a harbinger of terror. Early civilizations believed the gods were angry, and the world would soon end after a solar eclipse. For today’s guitar lesson, we’re going to capture the horror and terror solar eclipses wrought on early civilizations in sound. The Minor Second Interval If you’ve ever […]
Rock Soloing 101: Chuck Berry Style Guitar Lick
In this lesson, you’ll learn one easy guitar lick for kids in the style of legendary rock guitarist Chuck Berry. At the end of this series of rock soloing lessons for kids, I’ll show you how to combine these licks to create compelling guitar solos. What in the World is a Guitar Solo? Let’s be honest: […]
Interstellar Overdrive – For Group Guitar Classes & Private Lessons
In this lesson, you’re going to learn how to play all four guitar parts of Interstellar Overdrive. If you’re a guitar instructor interested in leveraging your time and reaching more students teaching group guitar classes for kids, this lesson is perfect for you! Interstellar Overdrive: A Group Guitar Study for Kids Interstellar Overdrive features a simple […]