Category: All Posts
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Group Music Workshops
I’m developing some group clinics and workshops to be presented in 2014. These events will cover a variety of topics, instruments, and skill levels. This post is intended to show some of the ideas that are in the works. To help make these better I would love to hear some of your suggestions, ideas, or…
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Funk Guitar Lessons
Michael has been performing and studying music since he was eight years old. As a youth he started with voice and trumpet playing in various bands and choirs during his school years. In his early twenties he picked up the acoustic guitar and began to write songs and compose chord progressions. For the past fifteen…
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Current Students
Welcome to the active student section of my website. This is where students can get information related to there current private lessons. I may post practice tips, specific exercises, videos or other teaching tools for you on your own private student page. Current students Contact Michael to activate your account. Your personal page is named…
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Twelve Bar Blues
Each genre of music has certain characteristics that distinguish it from other musical styles. These familiar attributes can be found in the rhythms, chords, and notes. Blues music is based on a common song form with three basic chords. This form is commonly called the twelve bar blues because it contains 12 measures. Typically contains…
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Common Blues Rhythms
After learning the common cowboy chords and strumming patterns many guitar players are unsure how to develop their rhythmic approach to get variety in their sound. Studying the common blues rhythms can add interest and style to your playing no matter what kind of music you play. In this lesson guitarist and composer Michael George…
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Essential Mandolin Chords
Chords in Music Chords in music are like words in a spoken language. When you assemble the ‘right’ combination you make meaningful phrases that have direction. Self-taught students often make the mistake of trying to memorize many chords to grow their chord vocabulary. This approach may work in time, but a better way is to…
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Play Music with Your Kids
As a private music teacher I have the opportunity to work with people of all ages. My current roster of students range in age from four years old to eighty. Teaching music to young children is joy that is hard to put into words. Their genuine appreciation and wonderment is inspiring to say the least.…
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Music Lesson Forum
I’m excited to announce the new Music Lessons Forum hosted on my website. Register for Free to join the conversation. Post your own topic ideas or questions and Michael will reply with unique insights and ideas to help you learn. It’s in the beginning stages but in the future will have posts geared to musicians…
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Custom 7-String Guitar
This custom 7-string guitar is being built by one of my guitar students. He is a lifelong woodworker who owned a custom furniture and cabinet shop for many years. In recent years he has moved to instrument making and has crafted acoustic guitars, electric guitars, mandolin, and a bass. All of the instruments have been…
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Tune a Guitar
Before you can learn to play ANYTHING on the guitar the strings must be tuned. Otherwise even if your fingers are doing the right thing…it will sound wrong. Let me give a few things to think about… Most guitars have six strings arranged in order from the lowest to the highest sounding note. You can…
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Telecaster Mandolin
I really want to get a Telecaster Mandolin made by J.L. Smith Mandolins. The five string model really intrigues me. The single strings would lend themself to bending and other ‘guitaristic’ sounds…but with the tonal range of the mandolin. If you’re interested in learning to play the mandolin, read below to find out about private…
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Build Chords from Scales
Have you ever heard musicians explain the chords to a song with numbers? A guitar player might say something like, “This song is just one, four and five chords in G.” This number system applies to the chords in a given key (or family). Once it’s understood it’s a great tool for learning and memorizing…
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Jazz Ukulele Chords: ii-V7-I
Each genre of music has characteristics that distinguish it from other musical styles. Familiar attributes can be found in the scale patterns, rhythms, and/or chord progressions. Three chords in Jazz music occur more than any other combination. They are referred to as “two. five, and one” and exist in all keys. If you play the…
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Guitar Chord Chart
Guitar Chord Chart As a guitar teacher I am often asked which guitar chords are essential. The answer to this question is debatable but there are definitely a selection of must know chord forms. Below is a collection that I have compiled for the beginner guitar student. By no means is this an exhaustive list.…
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Travis Picking Guitar
After learning the common cowboy chords and strumming patterns many guitar players are unsure how to develop their rhythmic approach to get variety in their sound. One option is fingerstyle guitar. Playing with a pick is an essential skill, but learning fingerstyle techniques will add depth and sophistication to your sound. Sell your beats online…
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Major Scale [part 2]
Introduction: Part 1 Scale Steps: Part 2 In the previous lesson we played the C Major Scale for one octave. In order to play only white keys we must skip over some notes on black keys. If two notes are separated by a note they are said to be a Whole Step apart. To play…
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Chromatic Scale
Before we explore music concepts (ie: harmony, melody, theory) we must understand how music scales are built and used. A Scale organizes pitches (or notes) in a given range from lowest to highest frequency. The range depends on the musical instrument’s playing range. In Western music there are twelve different pitches (or notes). If we…
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Website Design Portfolio
From 2002-2012 Michael owned and operated Stargroove Collective. This was the business Michael worked as a freelance graphic designer, web developer, and marketer. Although he still enjoys computer programming and graphic design…they are only hobbies now. Browse the links below to view samples of Michael’s portfolio. Scroll down to view screenshots of websites designed by…
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Instrument Techniques
Instrument Disciplines Michael’s experience as a performer and training as a composer give him specialized knowledge and insights into many instruments. In addition he is a voracious reader/collector of music text books past and present. As a result Michael has developed unique insights and approaches to various instrument techniques. Lead Guitar C-A-G-E-D System Chord/Scale Grips…
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