Hey friends Thanks for stopping by my music website. I have openings for guitar players at all levels: beginner, intermediate or advanced. Maybe your playing needs a spark: let me help with music theory, ear training and more. Acoustic guitar players: I can help you with strumming patterns and fingerpicking styles. Electric guitar players: let me help you master a variety of musical styles and genres. Singer / songwriters; let me help you improve, expand and develop your songs. I can...

I offer private guitar lessons for all ages and levels of ability. Yes, there is a difference between playing acoustic guitar and electric guitar. Which is easier to learn on? In my private one on one lessons, we focus in on a few things: Music theory: why chords and melody work together. You will learn how to recognize the chord patterns that are in your favorite songs. Technique: it requires certain left hand posture to accomplish playing certain chords. Playing on your finger tips,...

Overcoming fear of singing in front of people can be hard. But singing takes proper vocal technique, knowing what songs are a good fit for you, and being confident. Taking voice lessons with Steve Hotra will help you reach this goal. I have a proven lesson plan that helps all vocalists do the following : Sing and play their instrument better. Being able to sing in pitch Develop a nice pleasing vocal tone. Helping vocalists become the best singers possible I don't promise...

Here is a picture of one of my beginning students. Laura is 9 years old, but has taken to guitar really fast.  She loves to sing and we are currently going through a Beatle songbook. I have discovered a few teaching methods with my students. Example, find out what's of interest to them. Learn their style of music. Watch you tube clips together and disect the musical style and how the guitar is being played. If a student understands why the song is played a certain way ( style and chords)...

This is a picture of one of my favorite guitar players...do you know who she is? Her name is Bonnie Riatt, and she sing/plays a mean blues slide guitar. She is 60+ and has not lost any of her singing or guitar playing ability. She is not a current or former student of mine, but she is an inspiration to me and other musicians who are " older" or " experienced " in life. Just because you are older, does not mean you can learn to play guitar, banjo, mandolin or sing. Your age is just a...

Thanks for stopping by my personal website. This picture is one of my favorite guitars: a Taylor T5 koa acoustic / eclectric guitar. Its a great guitar and one that I use often. I am able to have acoustic sounds and electric sounds from the same guitar. Playing a guitar that stays in tune, sounds great, will help you become a better singer. In my voice lessons, I help musicians of all ages improve their singing/ plain skills. I teach how to breathe properly. And how to develop timing...

This picture is one of my students "Dan". He has an interesting story. Take a few minutes to read about it. Dan approached me about nine month ago about wanting to take 5 string banjo lessons. The challenge: he told me that he has never played a musical instrument. Because he is older ( code for 60 + ) he wasn't sure if he could learn a new instrument. But Dan has something that all of my students share: a drive and desire to learn. He didn't want to be told that he didn't have the...