I love teaching people how to play the music they want to play, and helping them understand how all the pieces of the musical puzzle fit together. I've been teaching private guitar students for over 37 years — it's an honor and a privilege, and a blast!
I teach all popular styles: rock, pop, blues, jazz
Rhythm and lead, electric and acoustic (including finger-style)
All levels, open to adults and to teens age 14 and up
I teach guitar lessons in person at my North Seattle studio, or remotely online.
- Learn to play your favorite music
- Learn to play with good time and a solid groove
- Learn how to get around efficiently on the fretboard
- Learn how to read chord charts, TAB, and lead sheets
- Learn licks and tricks for playing in different styles, both for solos and for playing backup
- Learn to use theory to understand how songs, chords, and scales work
- Learn to hear and play melodies, chords, and bass lines accurately
- Learn to improvise and solo over vamps, chord progressions, and tunes
- Learn how to write and arrange your own songs
...and have FUN doing it!
If you're new to playing guitar, I can help you learn good habits and skills, and build a strong foundation.
If you've been playing a while, I can help you take your skills and understanding to a higher level — as high as you want to go!
Yes, you can get a lot from YouTube, online courses, and books (I use them myself), but they can't give you the support and personalized attention that you get from working with a master teacher in a private lesson format.
In our lessons, I will be your personal music coach, working closely with you every week, answering your questions, helping you when you get stuck, monitoring and guiding your progress as you develop your skills, and helping you understand both the big picture and the details.
I tailor my approach to your musical goals, tastes, and abilities. We move at your pace, exploring and learning the music that inspires you, and building on your individual strengths, whatever your skill level might be.
If you're willing to make the commitment to yourself to take your musical desires seriously and devote the necessary practice time and effort, then there's nothing to prevent you from making steady and meaningful progress toward becoming the musician you want to be. If you're ready to make that commitment, I would love to help you on that path!
Contact me today and get started on the next part of your musical journey.
Let's set up a time to talk by phone, so I can learn more about your musical background and where you want to go on the guitar.
I look forward to hearing from you!
-Richard Middleton
About Me: I have over 35 years of experience teaching private guitar students. I’ve been playing music professionally since I was 16, as a sideman, session player, and band leader. I graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in Jazz Piano Performance in 1989 (Summa Cum Laude). I’ve written music instruction books and edited college textbooks in music theory; I’ve taught college courses in songwriting; I’ve been a songwriting contest judge; I’ve created and performed music and sound design for dance and theater productions; and I’m an award-winning independent singer-songwriter and recording artist.
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