Many of my students have found that within just a few lessons they are playing songs and really enjoying music in a whole new way.

Here’s what you’ll be learning right away:

• Introduction to basic chords and rhythms. 
• Learn how to properly care for your guitar; including cleaning, transporting and storage.
• How to keep your guitar in tune so you always sound great.
• How to keep a steady rhythm, and listen to others while playing.

In my experience most students that practice 10-15 minutes per day will be playing simple songs within the first 6 weeks. 

Maybe you’ve got the basics down and it’s time to take it to the next level.  The next step is often to deepen your understanding of rhythm, melody, and chord structure. 

You will learn:

• Chords voicings over the whole neck.
• Odd rhythms and metres. 
• Soloing over a chord chart.
• How to practice with a metronome.

Mastering your instrument is really about mastering your mind. You see, rarely are the roadblocks in the fingers or the ears.  To truly master music takes a great deal of focus and discipline.  You must expand your mental capacity to consciously evolve higher and more complex thought processes.

You will learn:

• Meditation and how to maximize your practice time.
• Advanced chord voicings.
• The chakra system.
• Emotional expression and communication skills.

Although there are many similarities between Guitar and Bass, the Bass requires an entirely different approach. Playing the Bass requires that you have very solid timing.  You are the foundation for the music and must support the other players.  This is not the instrument for you if you like to ‘show off’.  The best Bass players are almost invisible.

Here’s what you’ll be learning right away:

• Learning all the notes and basic rhythms. 
• Learn how to properly care for your Bass; including cleaning, transporting and storage.
• How to keep your Bass in tune so you always sound great.
• How to keep a steady rhythm, and listen to others while playing.

In my experience most students that practice 10-15 minutes per day will be playing simple songs within the first 6 weeks. 

Maybe you’ve got the basics down and it’s time to take it to the next level.  The next step is to deepen your understanding of rhythm, melody, and chord mapping.  Chord mapping is a way of ‘finding your way’ through a piece of music.  You must have a good understanding of music theory so I recommend that you attend my music theory class in conjunction with your lessons.  You will also need to develop your sense of timing; you must have a metronome.

You will learn:

• How to play chords over the whole neck.
• Odd rhythms and metres. 
• Playing through a chord chart.
• How to practice with a metronome.

Mastering your instrument is really about mastering your mind.  You see, rarely are the roadblocks in the fingers or the ears. To truly master music takes a great deal of focus and discipline.  You must nurture mental capacity to evolve into higher and more complex thought processes.

You will learn:

• Meditation and how to maximize your practice time.
• Advanced chord mapping and chord expansion. 
• The chakra system.
• Emotional expression and communication skills.

How to Get Started

I’m glad you want to get started in music lessons. I’ve found music to be one of the greatest joys of my life.  You will soon find that you have a whole new appreciation for the world of sound.

The first step in getting started is to contact me so that we can schedule a meeting.  I am available Monday through Thursday, from 10:00 am through 8:00pm.  I would like to meet with you before we start formal lessons.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by their parent for this meeting.

Fees

Private lessons are 45 minutes once per week: $100 per month.
Group lessons are 60 minutes once per week: $50 per month.
Metronome/Tuner: $45 (Mandatory for all students).
Acoustic guitars and cases are available and vary in price starting at $80.

Group Classes

Group classes are a great way to learn music. You will learn to listen to others better, and meet others with similar interests. Playing in a group will also improve your ability to work with together; you will learn to help and be helped by those in the class.

I teach Music Theory, Rhythm, Guitar, and Musical Meditation classes. All are taught in a fun, yet focussed atmosphere which you will enjoy.

Music Theory is the study of the written language of music. Your musicianship will benefit greatly by understanding how music is put together. The group class will be held as a Weekend Intensive so that you can immerse yourself in the class.

You must know all the notes on your guitar/bass and know basic chords to enrol in this class. 

A steady rhythm is the foundation of a good player. The Rhythm Class is a time to focus on timing. This is a very ‘hands on’ class and there is very little teaching. We’ll be using an assortment of percussion instruments so if you have a drum or rattle bring it along.

The Musical Meditation Class is like a journey back to a sacred temple in Tibet. You will learn throat singing, overtone singing, and will experience a new stillness inside as you focus on nurturing your inner self. Many of my students have experienced physical and emotional healing through this practice.

I come from a musical family and both my parents do as well.  My father and uncles used to host ‘barn dances’ in Saskatewan in the 50’s.  I have early memories of my mother and father playing and singing together.  Both my brothers and my sister have studied music.

I started my study of music in October of 1982, at the age of 11.  My brother gave me an old Bass and my parents enrolled me in lessons.  I think I actually wanted to play the electric guitar, but didn’t really know the difference.  I’m now glad I ended up with the Bass; this one event has shaped the course of my life in many important ways.

I took lessons for about 2 years and got bored of it, so I quit.  My parents were a bit disappointed but never made too much of it.  I forgot about playing music for about 4 years.  But then I started getting my act together and started going to a nearby church where I met some friends who happened to be musicians.  They didn’t have a Bass player so I got some money together and bought a Bass.

This is the real beginning of my musical career.  All of a sudden I had an identity; I was a musician. My hair grew long and my clothes became wild (despite the church influence).  Now I was meeting other musicians everywhere; at school, other churches, the local music shop.  I had a new confidence about me.  Now at school I felt like the coolest guy around, instead of the previous years where I had very low self-esteem.  For this reason my high school years were very good. I got into the school band and choir; I took a year of music theory.  It was here that I developed my love of classical music, thanks to Ms. Olfrey.  I spend much of my spare time listening to and playing music.

Then another key event; on the way home from the last day of school, report card day, I had a bicycle accident.  I broke my collar bone, which meant that I had to stay pretty much still for about 6 weeks.  My friend Ken Gouldsward was going to Hawaii for 3 weeks and lent me his electric guitar.  To play I had to sit up really straight and hold it like a classical guitar, in other words, properly.  I spent the next 3 weeks practicing 8-10 hours a day.  It hurt to move my arm to I developed very good picking skills.  This experience really solidified my skills.

After high school my friends went to collage and I worked at various jobs.  I wasn’t yet a good enough player to actually ‘get paid’ for playing (or so I thought at the time).  The next year (1989), after hearing all the great stories of collage life from Ken, I went to collage.

I met some other musicians and began playing Bass regularly with players much more skilled than myself.  I enrolled in music theory and piano, and studied classical guitar in my spare time.  During the next two years I had to practice hard so that I could continue playing with these guys (Lionel Dupperon and Doug Dunbar), they were really good!  The three of us played together for over 8 years under the name RedSide; even recorded and EP and a full length CD.

During the 1990’s I played with numerous musicians and recorded many solo pieces.  I also began teaching at this time. 

Then in 2000 I decided that I would take my study in a new direction.  I had been practicing martial arts since 1994 and it was time to give it my full attention.  I didn’t perform music, other than for family and friends from 2001-2005.  I became like a monk; studying, practicing, and meditating.  I did however keep up my music practice so that I would not lose my skills.

Then, in early 2005 after hearing way too many people tell me that when I spoke of music the ‘lights came on’, and listening to my heart of course, I decided that it was time to go back to my first love, music.

Justin Lee, November 2005