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Guitar Lessons

guitar lessons illustration

Overview

one of our guitar lessons in progress

Whether you want to be in a band, impress your friends at a party, or just play for yourself - the possibilities are endless when it comes to the guitar! No wonder it's one of the most popular instruments today!

At DCAM, we believe proper technique is fundamental to becoming a skilled guitarist. From correct hand positioning and finger placement to proper posture and pick technique, we emphasize building strong foundations from the very first lesson. Learning correct technique early prevents bad habits that can limit your progress and even cause injury later on.

We teach guitar through a fun and gradual process that combines essential technique with music that you actually want to play! Just like guitars, we realize that students come in many different "shapes and sizes", which is why our teachers do their best to tailor lessons to each student's individual skill level and musical taste.

What is a good age to start guitar lessons?

Six is our minimum recommended age for starting guitar lessons. At this age, most children are developed enough physically to be able to comfortably hold a small guitar and have enough finger-strength to be able to depress the strings.

For children ages 6-8, we typically recommend starting with a 1/2 size or 3/4 size classical guitar with nylon strings, as these are gentler on young fingers and easier to press down. Children in this age group usually begin with 30-minute lessons to match their attention span and energy levels.

Older children (9+) and teens can often handle full-size guitars and may benefit from 45-minute or 60-minute lessons, depending on their focus and commitment level. Many teenagers are motivated by learning their favorite songs, which we incorporate into their lesson plans.

However, if your child is younger than 6 and you think they are ready to start, we would be happy to give them a free trial lesson and give you our recommendation based on their individual development and interest level.

Lesson Format

Private lessons: these are one-on-one lessons with student and teacher. Private lessons are a great option for students looking for highly-focused and individualized music instruction. The teacher is able to give their full attention to one student and students normally progress faster in this environment.

Semi-private lessons: these lessons consist of two students per teacher. Semi-private lessons can be a budget-friendly option for parents with two children or two friends wanting to learn the same instrument together. The one obvious drawback is that students don't receive as much focused and individualized attention from the teacher as they do with private lessons.

Lesson Duration

At DCAM, students can choose between 30-minute, 45-minute, or 1-hour lessons. The right lesson length depends on your age, experience level, and learning goals.

30-minute lessons are ideal for young children (ages 6-8) who are just starting out. This duration matches their natural attention span and allows them to stay focused and engaged throughout the entire lesson. These shorter sessions help build positive associations with learning music.

45-minute lessons work well for older children (ages 9-12) and are our minimum recommendation for teenagers and adults. This extra time allows for more comprehensive technique work, theory instruction, and the opportunity to work on multiple songs or skills in a single lesson.

60-minute lessons are perfect for serious students, advanced players, or those preparing for performances or exams. The full hour provides time for warm-up exercises, technique development, repertoire building, music theory, and performance practice all in one session.

As students progress and their attention span increases, many naturally transition to longer lesson durations with their teacher's recommendation. This gradual progression ensures students are always challenged appropriately without becoming overwhelmed.

Books & Materials

Intro to Guitar book series
The Standard Guitar Method by Dick Bennett

Beginning students often start out with our "Intro to Guitar" book series, which includes 3 books. These books help lay all the important foundation for beginning guitarists, including the reading of tablature, strumming patterns, and lots of fun songs to play along to!

For some students, the teacher might recommend jumping straight into "The Standard Guitar Method" book series by Dick Bennett. This well-regarded method provides systematic instruction in both standard notation and tablature, covering essential techniques like fingerpicking, chord progressions, and music theory concepts that help students understand how music works.

Beyond published methods, our teachers frequently create custom handouts and materials tailored to each student's unique learning style and musical interests. Whether you want to learn your favorite pop song, master a specific technique, or need extra practice with challenging concepts, our instructors develop personalized exercises to keep you motivated and progressing.

At any time during their guitar-learning journey, students are welcome to join our Band Experience Program, which allows them to get a feel for what it's like to play in a group with other instruments and musicians!

Instruments

various guitars used in our guitar lessons

At DCAM, students can choose to play acoustic, electric, or classical guitar depending on their musical interests and goals. For young children, we strongly recommend starting with a classical guitar with nylon strings, as they are much easier on the fingers and require less pressure to create clear notes.

Proper guitar sizing is crucial for learning success. A full-size guitar will work well for adult students, but can be uncomfortable and hinder progress for younger students. We offer 1/2, 3/4, and full-size guitars to ensure every student has the right fit. You can learn more about guitar sizes in our illustrated guide to child guitar sizes.

Students are expected to have their own guitar and bring it to every lesson. This ensures consistent practice at home and familiarity with their instrument. If you don't have a guitar yet and not quite ready to buy one, ask us about our rental options.

Need a guitar? Talk to us or check out Long & McQuade. They offer a wide selection of guitars for both purchase and rental, with expert staff to help you choose the perfect instrument.

Styles

Students can choose to learn any musical style they want on the guitar, such as pop, rock, jazz, classical, blues, folk, and more. Those wishing to go the Royal Conservatory route should expect a heavy focus on classical guitar music.

Teachers

guitar teacher Giancarlo

Giancarlo

guitar

Giancarlo is a graduate of the 'Music Industry Arts and Performance Program' at Centennial College. His primary focus lies in playing the guitar, which has led to his performing at multiple venues across Toronto. He started his musical journey at the age of 12 with classical guitar, later immersing himself in a wide range of musical genres such as blues, rock, bluegrass and improvising. After high school, he finished a pre-university program at the Barranquilla School of Fine Arts and then continued his studies at Centennial College in Toronto. Giancarlo has practical experience in studio recording utilizing digital audio workstations and has provided his expertise as a session musician to others. He is filled with enthusiasm for music and is committed to sharing it with his students as he helps them to develop as musicians.

piano,

Joseph

piano, drums, guitar, trumpet

Joe is a multi-instrumentalist currently in his third year studying Jazz Piano Performance at the University of Toronto. He started taking trumpet lessons when he was still missing his two front teeth, and began studying guitar only a couple of years later. Having been extremely lucky to study with teachers who prioritized building a personal relationship with music, Joe has spent the last decade learning new instruments, writing and recording original music, and geeking out over music theory. Today he dedicates time between his classes to performing in local venues and teaching a variety of musical instruments. His dream is to be able to help his students build the same joyous, curiosity-driven relationship to music that his teachers fostered in him.

guitar, lute and theory teacher Jonathan

Jonathan

guitar, lute, music theory

Jonathan is a classical guitarist and a specialist in lutes and historical guitars. As an educator, he encourages students to explore their musical interests while laying strong technical foundations and helping students approach their instruments with ease. In addition to being a guitar and lute teacher, Jonathan is also a repertoire coach for vocalists and instrumentalists working on baroque and renaissance music. He is busy as a performer at home and abroad where he is active with multiple ensembles and festivals. Jonathan holds a Master's in Historical Performance from the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona. He was also recognized for outstanding achievement in lute at McGill's Schulich School of Music, receiving his B.Mus. in guitar and lute under teachers Jérôme Ducharme and Sylvain Bergeron.

Our teachers are all qualified professionals and passionate musicians. We do our best to match a student with a teacher that we think would best fit their musical goals as well as their personalities. We understand that while some students prefer a relaxed teaching approach, there are always those for whom a more strict approach is more effective. Students also have the option to request to change their teacher if they wish to do so. Learn more about our teachers on our Teachers Section.

FREE TRIAL LESSON

Just fill out our quick trial lesson form and wait to hear from us within 1-2 business days. If you like your trial lesson, you can sign up for regular lessons with us! Our lessons are available online (Zoom or Skype) as well as in-person if you live close to our location. Start learning your favorite instrument with one of our amazing teachers today!