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▲ACOUSTIC GUITAR LESSONS
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The bottom line for why you would prefer to train under me...saving YOUR time while training based on YOUR goals. A "method" CANNOT do that. That is why you will NEVER see a great or even a good guitar player who got that way by following a "step-by-step" method. What ALL of them have had is an effective STRATEGY which requires constant decisions.
It is a lot more effective to learn the technical aspects in the context of music you have been listening to the most. I accomplish this by learning YOUR favorite songs as the best vehicles for teaching you the technical aspects of playing which are appropriate to YOU instead of wasting your time on generic busy work.
I’ve been teaching this way for almost half a century and this is what a teacher would have to do to reach this level of quality because this teaching skill, just like music, is something where you never stop learning unless you quit.
An unexpected cool side-effect of teaching this way is what led to a second career where I was a transcriber and editor writing out the tablature books for the recording artists. I did this for all of the main music publishers (Warner Bros., Hal Leonard, Cherry Lane, AMSCO/Wise (Music Sales) Alfred, REH, DCI and guitar magazines (Guitar Player, Guitar School, Guitar World and Guitar for the Practicing Musician). (The enclosed pictures are just 25 out of over a 1000 I have worked on professionally)
I would encourage you to take advantage of this very unique skill because there’s no one else in South Florida who can teach at this level. This is the BEST way to save your most valuable possession; Your time!
I only want to teach a small number of people, at this time so I would suggest making two lists before you contact me so that you can test me to see if I am for real and I can know that you seriously want to learn:
The first list is a list of artists and songs which attract you to the guitar. The LONGER the BETTER but a maximum of 3 songs per artist (to start with).
The second list is the technical skills you want to develop or feel you need or questions you have wanted to ask. (This list is more difficult while starting out but that is okay if you provide a healthy list of artists, then I will have a constructive profile to help you with that.
Once you are done with these lists, I will WELCOME hearing from you to discuss what can be done to get you from YOUR point A to YOUR point B.
Genres can include: MODERN ROCK, CLASSIC ROCK, FUNK and R&B, GOSPEL, JAZZ, FUSION, REGGAE, COUNTRY, PUNK, PROGRESSIVE ROCK, LATIN, CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN, POP and more...
48 years experience TEACHING experience bringing over ten thousand clients from their point A to their point B
Graduate of G.I.T. (Guitar Institute of Technology) B.I.T. (Bass Institute of Technology) San Bernardino Valley College and University of Redlands and studied privately with over 30 different instructors.
Transcriber/arranger/editor for Hal Leonard, Warner Bros Publications, AMSCO/WISE (Music Sales), Cherry Lane, Alfred, World Music 4All.
If you want to learn this amazing and fun instrument, I will be very happy to hear from you even if you do not sign up with me. (786) 663-4041
TESTIMONIALS:
"I had been playing guitar for 16 years when I decided to return to lessons to learn some advanced theory and techniques. I found Colgan and from our first exchange, I could tell he understood how to teach; it's an art form and many people cannot do it.
Lessons with Colgan aren't just the run of the mill "let me show you how to play songs you like." He breaks things down and explains them in a way that causes you to see songs you've listened to for years in an entirely different light. Colgan is also a keen observer of his students' playing. He's frequently caught my problem spots and has shown me how making minor adjustments to basic elements of my playing can really improve my chops.
Interpersonally, Colgan is friendly, personable, and working with him is fun. It's obvious that he is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to music but he always comes across as down to earth and easy to talk to. I look forward to my time working with Colgan every week, and I'd highly recommend him to anyone interested in learning guitar, from someone who has never played before all the way up to people who have been playing for years."
- Dr. Nick Maccarrone, Deerfield Beach
"My 13 year old son and I have been taking guitar and bass lessons from Colgan for the past 4 months. For both of us, it was our first time taking lessons and playing for that matter. I've been really happy with our progression. He's been able to teach us to play any song that we've brought to him, down to the tuning, and playing style. We couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable and experienced teacher. We drive 45 minutes every week for lessons, and it's definitely worth it."
-Jim Andrews Miami, Fl
"I had been ripped off and misled, wasting money, until I met Colgan he taught with the music I enjoy and always explained every thing to my understanding which made my bass guitar fun and easy, he is a wealth of knowledge. A few months later I'm playing songs by ear as well as sheet music. At 48 I'm having the time of my life.
I would recommend Colgan to any one wishing to learn guitar or bass."
-Jeff Doe Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
"After years of simply playing the guitar and struggling to teach myself how to take my playing to the next level, a family member bought me a few lessons with Colgan as a gift. I had taken lessons from teachers in the past and appreciated the outside perspective that they provided to my playing. My expectations for Colgan were to receive the same level of instruction from previous teachers. I was shocked to actually experience everything that Colgan brought to the table.
He immediately related to some of walls that I hit in my playing and explained to me how he overcame the same difficulties in his very own playing. His wealth of musical experience and taste has helped me to truly develop my guitar skills, listening ability, and rediscover my passion for the guitar and music. In a few short weeks I quickly noticed how my ability had greatly improved and my motivation to continue to develop as a guitarist was back."
-J.J. Creegan Health Club Director Boca Raton FL
"A great teacher who knows how to teach - which in itself is hard to find in a teacher. He helps you open doors so you can understand the guitar, and begin to be creative as a student."
-Michael Lauderdale by Sea - Florida
"It is my sincere pleasure to recommend Colgan Bryan to you! I have had the privilege to work with Colgan on many occasions as a fellow musician and have found him to be extremely gifted, refreshingly flexible, and surprisingly humble. By surprising, I mean that most of today's musicians with extreme talents are either arrogant or self-absorbed. I have found neither in Colgan. It is a true joy to work with him!
I have also been privileged to have him as a teacher. When I decided to take on a second instrument, I could think of no one else I would rather have as an instructor than Colgan. He is as gifted teaching as he is playing! He uses only the best interest of his student as his motivation and tailors his lessons accordingly. More than anything, it is a real honor to call him a friend!"
-Rusty Hintz Pembroke Pines, FL Pastor
I met Colgan in the early 1990's he was teaching at Caleb's Guitar in Redlands, Ca. I had some guitar experience but wanted to go to the next level with my playing. I had met with a few other instructors before meeting with Colgan to feel them out before committing but the first meeting I had with Colgan I said "this was the guy I want teaching/coaching me to that next level." In my experience he was, and still is to this day the only instructor who sat down and talked with me first about the direction I wanted to go and how we would work together to get the results I wanted. I could never say enough about Colgan as an instructor or a person.
Colgan really loves what he does and you can tell when you first meet him! Colgan loves playing, teaching, talking about teaching and his super cool metaphors are my personal favorite!
Colgan, as an instructor you exceedingly transcend the vast majority of others in your field, as a human being you are a top notch, class act with a ton of heart. Thank you for all the wisdom you have passed down to me over the years. Because of you and your wisdom I have reached the next level and will continue to grow every time I pick up the guitar. The things I have learned from you about guitar and music I have actually been able to apply to other areas in my life as well and that is True Wisdom! I was looking for someone to show me how to be a better guitar player and made a true friend! Thank You for the unexpected friendship and for staying in touch all these years!
-Tim Neumann Lead guitar/vox ELIAH
"Tutoring under Colgan Bryan has opened my eyes to a whole new world of guitar playing. Colgan offers concise, efficient, no-fluff teaching that can allow anyone to begin playing immediately. For people who have never touch a guitar before, to those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the instrument, I fully endorse Mr. Bryan to you. You will thank me later."
-Rick Rodriguez School Teacher
Return to Forever is a jazz fusion group founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. Through its existence, the band has cycled through a number of different members, with the only consistent band mate of Corea's being bassist Stanley Clarke. Along with Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever is often cited as one of the core groups of the jazz-fusion movement of the 1970s. Several musicians, including Clarke, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Al Di Meola, first came to prominence through their performances on Return to Forever's albums.
After playing on Miles Davis's groundbreaking jazz-fusion albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew, Corea formed an avant-garde jazz band called Circle with Dave Holland, Anthony Braxton and Barry Altschul. However in 1972, after having become a disciple of Scientology, Corea decided that he wanted to better "communicate" with the audience. This essentially translated into his performing a more popularly accessible style of music, since avant-garde jazz enjoyed a relatively small audience.