GBol Arts
Music Instruction
Private Instruction
George offers private music instruction on guitar, bass guitar and keyboards, and accepts students of all levels and teaches all styles. He specializes in Jazz and improvisational skills as well as music theory. He has been teaching private lessons since 1974 and has taught at Lyon Healy Music, Just Guitars, Palatine Music, Schaumburg Music, Consolidated Music and most currently at Players Bench Music in Crystal Lake. In addition, he has conducted workshops on improvisational playing, as well as MIDI and digital recording..
Educationally, in addition to his private lessons and schooling, he graduated with a B. A. from Loyola University, received a diploma from the Berklee School of Music Correspondence Course, and has taken the Howard Roberts Guitar Seminar. He has also studied with many of the top Jazz players in the Chicago area.
Lessons focus on teaching the beginner basic music reading skills as well as music theory, so that the student develops the necessary skills for advanced level study. Daily practice is expected of each student so that they can make sufficient progress on their chosen instrument. Lessons are private and can be arranged for a half hour, or for more advanced students a full hour.
Lessons at the Players Bench are given on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Other times can be arranged by appointment. George is also available for improvisational workshops. For more information call the Players Bench at 815-459-8614 or contact George directly by email.
A question that is often asked is "What is your teaching philosophy?". First and foremost it is important that the student learn about music; how to read it as well as the theory behind it. It is necessary to learn from method books in order to develop sound basic skills, but once this is accomplished, the student is encouraged to work on pieces that are of their own choosing to supplement the other materials that they are studying. By working on pieces they choose, this allows the student some "recreational" material to help keep them motivated in their studies.
Another way to put it is that I teach music lessons, not just lessons on the student’s chosen instrument, so that they develop the skills to understand music beyond just being able to play a particular piece on a particular instrument. These skills then enable them to apply what they have learned to any instrument.
The main thing is that the student learn good basic skills, while still playing the style that they want as soon as possible, so that they are not only learning, but having fun doing it. That combined with good practice habits will allow them to progress in a steady manner toward what ever their musical goal may be.