Derek C. TakeLessons Instructor music, Guitar, note reading, improvisation, fingerstyle, pick technique, jazz, classical, blues,... east talmadge drive, San Diego, CA

Derek is a classically trained musician who plays a variety of musical styles. He has performed throughout Southern California as a flamenco, jazz, and classical guitarist. Equally at home performing as a soloist, or with the Presidio Guitar Quartet, Derek is an ardent traditionalist who also presents his own originality to the world of guitar. Derek began his guitar studies at Grossmont College under the esteemed performer and educator, Fred Benedetti.  He has studied with the San Diego based flamenco guitarist Juan Moro and also spent a year living in Granada, Spain studying flamenco guitar with the gypsies of the Albacin neighborhood.   He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance in 2007 from San Diego State University where he is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Classical Guitar Performance.

Let me take this opportunity to discuss what studying with me will be like.  First, I want to say that I think studying the guitar is a fun and enjoyable experience.  I get great joy in sharing what I have learned and seeing my students progress into real musicians,  but I don't make empty promises with a guarantee of making you an incredible guitarist.  That is up to you.  My job for the past 6 years has been to guide my students in the direction of making themselves a better guitarist, but most of the work and responsibility will be up to you, the student.  The guitar is an instrument which asks for your devotion, patience, sensitivity and love, with that said, here is what you will learn in our lessons.

   Although I specialize in classical guitar, I expose my students to all genres of music, but with a classical foundation.  Within the first month the student will be reading notes (yes that right!!) and playing classically with the fingers of the right hand.  We will learn the basics such as chords, scales and arpeggios.  With these tools we can improvise over jazz standards, play our favorite pop songs, learn the traditional flamenco rhythms such as solea, bulerias, alegrias, and tangos, and most importantly gain the tools for musical self expression.  I wish you the best of luck on your musical journey!

I teach out of a book called "Your in the Band" for chords and note reading. I teach out of "Pumping Nylon" for classical technique and studies. For jazz I introduce songs from the Real Book. However my style is different from student to student because I have learned that each person learns differently

USDHS - general High School - 1996-2000
SDSU - Classical Guitar - 2000-2007
SDSU - Classical Guitar - current

music, Guitar, note reading, improvisation, fingerstyle, pick technique, jazz, classical, blues, rock