2025 Students’ Christmas Album
This past fall, 20 of my students worked on a collaborative multi-track recording project, and recorded nine Christmas classics!
Dawn Reflections on Island Lake
Dawn Reflections on Island Lake is a photographic art installation by Stewart Gunn in Orangeville.
Guitar Lessons with Stew
Guitar lessons for students of all ages, experience and in most styles, including RCM exam exam preparation. Electric, acoustic and classical.
Mauro Giuliani’s Arpeggio Studies
Mauro Giuliani’s Arpeggio Studies are designed to build right hand strength, independence and dexterity through a series of progressive exercises.
Drum Lessons with Stew
I’m excited to announce that starting in September 2025, I will be offering drum lessons! Please contact me for availability.
Students’ Spring Concert
I am very excited to announce that on Saturday, May 24, I will be hosting my first Spring Student Concert!
Music at Windrush Estate Winery
Not only does Windrush produce some delightful VQA wines, they also regularly host world-class concerts in their purpose built Concert Hall.
Spring Lessons Availability
Starting April 1, 2025, I have afternoon lesson availability Monday through Thursday–read the post for all the details!
Making A Guitar Arrangement of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Every Christmas, I make festive sheet music for my students and myself. One of the pieces I made this year is a guitar arrangement for O Little Town of Bethlehem.
What I Did This Summer
It’s hard to believe that it’s already mid August, yet here we more than half-way through the summer of ‘24.
Fretboard Diagrams
The guitar is an amazing instrument, and may be the most versatile instrument in common use today. Its versatility derives in large part from its tuning and and the layout of the fretboard.
ODSS Battle of the Bands
For the last few years, I’ve had the great pleasure to be invited to Westside High School in Orangeville to spend a day coaching student rock bands.
Understanding Guitar Notation Book
I’m developing a book to help guitar students master the fundamentals of reading musical notation for the guitar.
Major and Minor Scales
Music is patterns of sound, and two fundamentals in music are rhythm patterns (how combinations of long and short notes relate to a steady beat or pulse) and pitch patterns (what notes are played).
The specific pitches used in a piece of music are usually derived from a scale. This
Why I Make My Own Sheet Music
I became proficient at making high quality, individualized sheet music during the pandemic, and the benefit to students was apparent immediately. I was able to present them with exactly what they needed so they could learn what they wanted.
The Circle of Fifths
The circle of fifths is a way of organizing the keys so that their patterns become apparent by arranging the 12 keys like the 12 positions on a clock, with each position being a fifth away from the keys on either side.
One Octave Major Scales for Piano in 12 Keys
This is the second complete set of scales I’ve added to my website. These one octave scales are required preparation for playing formula patterns.
How and Why I Teach the Way I Do
I tailor lessons to the individual student. I have always loved music, and my life has been enriched by music, so I believe helping students find a lifelong connection to music is the most important thing I do.
Larghetto and Étude, Op. 35 – by Fernando Sor
Larghetto No 3. and Étude No. 4 introduce some more challenging techniques for the classical guitar, like partial barre chords and ornaments. While still considered “easy” pieces, there will be measures that require extra attention.
One Octave Scales in Three Positions in 12 Keys
The most common one octave scale positions in all 12 keys. These are a great way to begin to see the different shapes a major can take on the classical guitar and the electric guitar and will prepare you for 2 octave scales.
Sight Reading Exercises for Guitar
I’m in the process of making a book of exercises for students learning to read notation for the guitar, suitable for all musical styles.
Exercices très faciles (24 Very Easy Exercises) – by Fernando Sor
Fernando Sor (1778 – 1839) was one of history’s greatest players and composers for the classical guitar.
BWV 999
One of the greatest joys of my life as a musician has been playing music written by J.S. Bach. This piece, originally composed for keyboard in the key of C minor, has been transposed to the key of D minor for the classical guitar.
Reading Rhythmic Notation and Rhythm Exercises
No matter what instrument you play, practising stand-alone rhythm exercises can help build skill and confidence.
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