Teaching Philosophy "I believe every student has musical potential that they don't realize is there, and all it takes is knowledge and some work to bring it out." -- Keith Groover Contrary to what many believe, there is nothing magical about learning how to play an instrument. Keith plays seven, the most recent being the Cello, so he knows the process well. An instrument is a tool for making music, so, simply put, if you learn how to use the tool, you can make music with it. Depending on what kind of music you are trying to make, the guitar and the bass can be complicated tools, but there is a simple and systematic way to learn how to accomplish whatever musical goals you have. Keith's approach as a guitar teacher is to let the primary and ultimate focus be on music, not the instrument, and to let the love of music guide your wanting to learn more about the instrument. Some things, like learning how to read music, can be exciting but also frustrating, so a balance needs to be met between teaching what a student "ought" to know versus what she or he wants to know. To be a well-balanced musician includes not only learning how to read, but also learning music theory (chords, scales, arpeggios, classical tonal theory, jazz theory, etc.), different styles of music (rock, blues, jazz, country, etc.), and different instrumental techniques (fingerpicking, flatpicking, legato playing, slap bass, etc.) If this sounds complicated, in a sense it is. But everything that is complicated is in its essence a large collection of uncomplicated things. Going through each aspect of instrumental playing in a systematic and consistent manner enables even the most novice of beginners to become competent musicians. Age, experience, and raw talent are unimportant compared to a student's willingness to learn, follow instruction, and work to achieve their goals. Keith, his wife Annie, and their two daughters Bella and Claire