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Experienced Musician with a Love for Teaching
Willow L.

5.0 (297 ratings)

738 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $45
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About Willow

Bio

Hello! My name is Willow. I graduated with a master's degree in classical guitar performance (and a bachelor's in art and performance, summa cum laude, back in the day). I've taught guitar privately since 2002, and spent about ten years teaching subjects like guitar performance and basic music theory (Foundations-level courses and Music Theory II) at a community college. I've also written some music here and there. I really love teaching; helping a student understand something they've been...

Hello! My name is Willow. I graduated with a master's degree in classical guitar performance (and a bachelor's in art and performance, summa cum laude, back in the day). I've taught guitar privately since 2002, and spent about ten years teaching subjects like guitar performance and basic music theory (Foundations-level courses and Music Theory II) at a community college. I've also written some music here and there. I really love teaching; helping a student understand something they've been trying to grasp for a while is one of my favorite things. Another of my favorite things: questions! Don't hesitate to ask them when you have them--that's what I'm here for.

Some quick notes:
1) I'm only teaching online right now.
2) I teach both children and adults. I start teaching guitar students at around six years of age. The youngest students will need parental assistance as they learn, both during lesson and during practice time.
3) I'm teaching classical guitar, not acoustic or electric.

I'm open to everything from a single lesson to help with music theory concepts or this one guitar question you've been struggling with to an ongoing tutoring relationship. When writing to me, please be as specific as possible when you describe what you're hoping to learn. You can expect a response within 24 hours (but I'm usually much faster than that).

Scheduling notes:
My Friday availability is for one-off or occasional tutoring sessions rather than ongoing weekly lessons--I'm not available every Friday, unfortunately. Sometimes I'll have times available that aren't listed, also, so if you'd like a single lesson and don't see a matching time listed, please don't hesitate to write.

Name notes:
You might notice that the reviews my students were kind enough to write for me call me Rachel. Rachel is my first name, and Willow is my middle name. I initially created my account here under Rachel because it's front and center on my ID, but have since changed my display name to the one I most often go by. You can just call me Willow. :)

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Education

University of Texas at Dallas
Art and Performance
Southern Methodist University
Masters

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $45
  • Rate details: I offer guitar lesson lengths from 30-60 minutes. Recommended length for adults is 45-60 minutes. Music theory lessons are minimum one hour.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • No background check

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

Willow hasn’t set a schedule.

Approved Subjects

General Music

General Music

I studied classical guitar from the age of eight through earning a master's degree in guitar performance; along the way I also studied piano, music theory, arranging techniques, and a bit of music history. I've taught music subjects for a good twenty years, including second-semester music theory at the collegiate level, a music theory preparatory course (also to college students), classical guitar performance, basic guitar skills, and music appreciation. I've taught everyone from beginning students aged six and up to students in their seventies coming back to music after a while away. Questions on how to build your sight-reading ability? Questions on musical terms? Do you need someone to explain the circle of fifths to you so you get it and understand why it exists? I can help!
Guitar

Guitar

My goal is to help each of my students become the best musician possible. I'll provide technical and interpretive instruction, as well as instruction in reading music (as necessary) and in music theory (as desired). I'll teach you not just what to do, but why to do it; I believe technique exists to serve the music, not the other way around. I started playing classical guitar in 1989, and taught it for several years at a community college and a local music school, taking students aged six through adult. All in all, I've been teaching for over twenty years at this point! I have earned a Master's of Music in Guitar Performance. I also write music from time to time. I've played with string players, wind players, vocalists, and other guitarists. In a typical guitar lesson, the student and I choose music for the student to learn (from sheet music), and work on technical and interpretive aspects of playing within the context of that music. I'll teach exercises needed for honing the efficiency of the right and left hands, and we'll often use those for warm-ups. My ideal guitar student: 1. Loves music, and specifically loves classical guitar 2. Asks questions as they come up--all questions about guitar are welcome, especially the "why" ones! 3. Practices between lessons
Music Theory

Music Theory

I taught music theory courses for several years, including Foundations (an intro to music theory course) and Music Theory II. I love chatting about theory with people, and enjoy finding different ways to explain music theory topics so the sense of it gets across. Music theory is a framework for understanding music at a deeper level, and once it clicks, it can be really useful. If you're the kind of person who enjoys puzzles, it can also be fun! One of my favorite things is helping a student understand something about music theory they've been wrestling with for years on their own. No question is too basic; I'll meet you where you are. Personally, I have experience putting music theory knowledge to work in my performance (I'm a classical guitarist) and in composition (I write music from time to time). When sending me a message, please include some information about what music theory topics you're hoping to get some help with so I can make sure I'd be able to assist you.
Proofreading

Proofreading

I happen to really enjoy proofreading; finding and correcting grammatical errors is a game to me. I spent a few years proofreading professionally on the Quality Assurance team at a transcript production company. I'm also a music teacher (I've earned my master's in music), and I've corrected student essays as part of a college music-teaching job. If desired, I can also help with content edits by offering structural suggestions and feedback on your writing voice to improve your document. Though I haven't done much of this, I am proud to say that the last person I helped with content edits did get the job she was applying for. Please note that if I am editing, I will not be rewriting your document; taking the feedback and putting it into action is up to you, as the document is ultimately yours. I am open to scheduling a time for us to meet and work on your document on Google Docs in real time, though, so I can offer you continued feedback on the changes you make and you can ask questions as they arise. Examples of documents I am happy to help with include cover letters, essays, articles, and fiction (PG-13 rating max). The price is dependent on the length and style of your document, whether you want proofreading only or also content edits, and whether you want to work on editing with me in real time. Let me know what you'd like me to help with, and I can give you a quote.
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Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (297 ratings)
5 star
(296)
4 star
(1)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Highly Skilled Classical Guitar Teacher

Willow is a highly intuitive teacher that immediately helped me to build my confidence playing the classical guitar. In one hour, she made multiple pointers to help me improve my technique. I look forward to working with Willow on a long-term basis.

Nicholas, 2 lessons with Willow

amazing teacher very patient

I think my son might have learned more in his 50 min lesson than he did all semester. Great teacher

Rick, 4 lessons with Willow

great teacher

I finally understand how to read music. Willow is really good at explaining musical concepts to an adult. She is so patient and gives the most helpful exercises. So many times I’ve tried to understand basic music concepts and multiple instructors have tried to explain it to me. But, for the first time, I’ve understood due to the way in which Willow explains concepts.

Reza, 32 lessons with Willow

rachael is an extremely patient teacher

Rachel is not only teaching me how to read music, but has also taken time to show me how to use correct hand positioning and fingering techniques. This has really helped me improve my playing.

Greg, 169 lessons with Willow

Great Instructor That is focused on Classical Guitar

Rachel taught me a varied approach to alternation. During the lesson, Rachel also focused on warm up exercises, right hand position, alternation exercises and a song that helps to return to where I left off with the guitar.

Paul, 177 lessons with Willow

A real teacher

So many prospective guitar "teachers" tell you they performed "here" and "there" and have been playing guitar for x number of years. I was looking for someone who could teach, pure and simple. I didn't care if Keith Richards was available (well, slight exaggeration there). I wanted a teacher. If you're like me and tired of playing three chord songs and want to learn how to play the full instrument, then Rachel is for you.

Spenser, 42 lessons with Willow

great Tutor, the best !

We found Rachel last minute . She was so flexible , organized and very nice . We believe we found the best !

Mary, 2 lessons with Willow

Great teacher

She focused on getting the technical questions answered and assigning exercises that help improve the specific weakness I have. I have made a lot of improvements since I start the course.

Hongyan, 30 lessons with Willow
Hourly Rate: $45
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