About Me
Background
Hey guys! My name is Brandon Girod and I teach guitar and bass here in the Panhandle area. I moved here in 2003 with my parents, finished high school in 2007, and the same year got a job working at the late Play Hard Music & Sound as a guitar teacher. Play Hard closed down in 2008 and I have been teaching ever since as a way to help pay my way through college. As one might think, it hasn't always been the easiest road, but I have thankfully found a lot of amazing parents and students that have supported me throughout the years, and I couldn't be more thankful or appreciative!
I've been playing guitar for 10 years and studying it academically for about 7. I have studied composition and theory here at PSC (or PJC as I still like to call it). Originally my plan was to continue studies in Musical Education and go on to be a full fledged teacher. However, after my experience in the area with teaching, I think it might be best to be more proactive with music in another way. So, I have switched majors to Journalism, still minoring in music, where I hope to run a website (similar to this) to cover local music events, write lessons for anyone looking to teach themself, and essentially help build up the music scene we have here through words. And probably a lot of rocking!
Philosophy
As a teacher, I fully recognize that most of my students aren't looking to be the next Joe Satriani or Slash. Personally, I think this is great! A lot of my older students like to think of guitar as being a very competitive sport, but I don't see it that way. For me, guitar, and music in general, is a way of expressing yourself. I teach my students that the most important thing you can do with guitar is have fun with it. Enjoy picking it up when you're feeling happy and want to play (or even write!) a song about it. Pick it up and let your emotions run through you and out of your guitar if you're feeling a bit blue. The main concept to apply to guitar is to have fun and do it for yourself.
Hey guys! My name is Brandon Girod and I teach guitar and bass here in the Panhandle area. I moved here in 2003 with my parents, finished high school in 2007, and the same year got a job working at the late Play Hard Music & Sound as a guitar teacher. Play Hard closed down in 2008 and I have been teaching ever since as a way to help pay my way through college. As one might think, it hasn't always been the easiest road, but I have thankfully found a lot of amazing parents and students that have supported me throughout the years, and I couldn't be more thankful or appreciative!
I've been playing guitar for 10 years and studying it academically for about 7. I have studied composition and theory here at PSC (or PJC as I still like to call it). Originally my plan was to continue studies in Musical Education and go on to be a full fledged teacher. However, after my experience in the area with teaching, I think it might be best to be more proactive with music in another way. So, I have switched majors to Journalism, still minoring in music, where I hope to run a website (similar to this) to cover local music events, write lessons for anyone looking to teach themself, and essentially help build up the music scene we have here through words. And probably a lot of rocking!
Philosophy
As a teacher, I fully recognize that most of my students aren't looking to be the next Joe Satriani or Slash. Personally, I think this is great! A lot of my older students like to think of guitar as being a very competitive sport, but I don't see it that way. For me, guitar, and music in general, is a way of expressing yourself. I teach my students that the most important thing you can do with guitar is have fun with it. Enjoy picking it up when you're feeling happy and want to play (or even write!) a song about it. Pick it up and let your emotions run through you and out of your guitar if you're feeling a bit blue. The main concept to apply to guitar is to have fun and do it for yourself.
About Lessons
The lessons I teach are largely based around my philosophy about guitar. I set up goals, practice schedules, etc... but the purpose of it all is to have fun. Now, everyone has a different learning style - some people learn visually, others need a more hands-on approach, and there are those, like myself, who really excel at just listening. I set up general goals with my students, and tailor the lessons to best fit their learning style. I teach to read tabs and standard notation, but my first goal is usually to have my students learn to play as quickly as possible. Let's be honest, no child (or even adult for that matter) wants to sit through 30 minutes to an hour of me trying to teach them how to tap out a pattern written on a piece of paper. They want to rock out to their Most Played playlist on their iPods.
I am a very patient person and I am kid friendly. I start teaching from ages 5 and up. There is no obligation to "master" last week's lesson. As long as you show signs of practicing and progression, I am more than happy to review or re-teach the lesson in a way that will make more sense. I really like to foster a positive environment, especially with my younger students. I feel that people are much more likely to succeed at something if they are given positive reinforcement rather than negative. And finally, the best for last, I come to YOU! You don't have to worry about getting up and rushing to get somewhere on time. Leave that to me!
Prices:
30 Minute Lessons (4/month) - $80/Month
1 Hour Lessons (4) - $100/Month
I offer discounted group lessons. These are typically 1 hour long.
2 People - $120/Month
3 People - $160/Month
Photo Credit:http://idamo.deviantart.com/
I am a very patient person and I am kid friendly. I start teaching from ages 5 and up. There is no obligation to "master" last week's lesson. As long as you show signs of practicing and progression, I am more than happy to review or re-teach the lesson in a way that will make more sense. I really like to foster a positive environment, especially with my younger students. I feel that people are much more likely to succeed at something if they are given positive reinforcement rather than negative. And finally, the best for last, I come to YOU! You don't have to worry about getting up and rushing to get somewhere on time. Leave that to me!
Prices:
30 Minute Lessons (4/month) - $80/Month
1 Hour Lessons (4) - $100/Month
I offer discounted group lessons. These are typically 1 hour long.
2 People - $120/Month
3 People - $160/Month
Photo Credit:http://idamo.deviantart.com/