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TEACHING

PHILOSOPHY //

My name is Thomas Powell and I am professional guitarist and composer based in Edmonton, AB. I have now been teaching music for over 10 years. While my background is in jazz guitar and composition, I have taught singer-songwriter material, classical guitar, beginner piano, and even some basic drumming technique to people of all ages.

Each of my lessons is customized to the individual student and their interests. I will never prescribe a preset curriculum to somebody, as everyone learns differently and at various rates. Lesson length can range from 15 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the needs of the student. During the lessons, I do everything I can to support and fuel their interests, however, I also add in concepts of ear training, theory, technique, and improvisation when appropriate, to ensure a well rounded musical training.

I prefer teaching in person, but due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, I am now set up to teach on Zoom and have learned many tricks for making online lessons effective and fulfilling. I can also offer hybrid lessons depending on your location and schedule, providing some lessons in person and some online. If you would like more information about conducting online lessons, you can visit my FAQ page under the “TEACHING” menu.

Click here to read the full version of my teaching philosophy
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WHAT I TEACH //

  • Guitar (Jazz, Rock, Pop, etc.)

  • Classical Guitar

  • Bass Guitar

  • Piano (Up to Grade 5)

  • Ukulele

  • Music Composition

  • Jazz Theory/Technique

  • General Music Theory

  • Ear Training

  • Basic Drumming Techniques

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  • Computer Notation (Sibelius)

  • Conduction

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I am also able to transcribe virtually any song you would like to learn, most often for free! No more incorrect internet tabs!

YOUTUBE LESSONS //

Feel free to check out some of my YouTube lessons as well. I always have a couple of series in the works, with new ideas always popping into my head (usually based on things I see in my students' playing). At this point, posting is based on time to record and upload my ideas, so be sure to subscribe if you don't want to miss any.

TRANSCRIPTIONS & ARRANGEMENTS //

One of my main focuses as a music teacher is to find what music inspires a student, and teach it to them. It is a simple idea, but it can be difficult to execute. The most effective way I have found is to forego the online TABs and arrangements, which were made by someone else, for different purposes, and often contain many mistakes; instead, I create custom transcriptions and arrangements to suit the needs of my students.* Check out some samples below!

Sample Guitar Arrangement (Notation)

Sample Guitar Transcription (TAB)

Sample Piano Arrangement (Notation)

*Most often these are free, however I may request a small fee depending on difficulty and time spent on the arrangement or transcription.

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