Concert Listings
Directions
Workshops
Chord Charts
Music Notation
Stop Watch
Resources & Links

Classical Guitar Lessons and Music Theory

Private Instruction

Baird Guitar Studio, located at 117 Clark Street in Milford, Connecticut, offers private guitar lessons and small group workshops in a comfortable, convenient studio dedicated to teaching guitar lessons. Levels vary from beginner to conservatory students and professionals. Ages of students range from 6 to 76 years old. Amenities include a comfortable waiting room.

Baird Guitar Studio Workshop

Baird Guitar Studio Waiting Room

Offering guitar lessons and group guitar classes in private music studio.

Guitar Technique, Music Theory and Reading Standard Music Notation

Playing and studying music are very personal experiences. Whether you are just beginning or have played guitar for 20+ years, private lessons with a conservatory-trained professional are customized to your skill level and will accelerate your development as a guitarist and deepen your understanding of the music that you play. Students invariably experience surprising new musicial ideas.

A structured and balanced program of technique and music theory builds a firm foundation. Develop effective practice habits that lead to overcoming technical limitations, clear interpretive thinking and greater confidence when performing on stage.

"My family and I want to thank you for the outstanding job you did with my son Christopher. It's nice to see him interested in something else besides computer and video games. Thank you for contributing to the change in my Son."

~ Christine Fronckiewcz

Please send me more information - click here

Matthew and Iris in concert - New England Guitar Society
Baird Guitar studets Matthew and Iris performing on stage
New England Guitar Society Member's Recital

Guitar Technique

Guitar lessons include classically-based, finger-style guitar technique: left hand/right hand coordination, finger strength and independance, flexibility and speed building, tone production, music interpretation, and repertoire building. Lessons emphasize cultivation of productive practice habits and relaxation to optimize practice time, enhance memorization skills and to prepare students and working guitarists for more confident performance experiences.

Music Theory

Foundations of music theory include analysis of the 3 main components of music: rhythm, melody and harmony. Learn how scales and chords are constructed and woven together into the musical fabric of counterpoint and chord progressions. Learn to analyze musical compositions to better understand phrasing, imitation patterns, thematic material, contrasts and period style. Realize how the elements come together on the guitar to create complete contrapuntal music: melody, bass and accompaniment. Explore accompaniment styles for playing guitar with voice and other ensembles.

Reading Music Notation

Learn to read standard music notation and then apply it to entire guitar fingerboard. Learn to read music while studying guitar technique and develop into a complete musician able to understand melody, harmony and counterpoint. Centuries of music from all over the world become available when you can read standard musical notation. Learn to speed up and enhance the process of memorizing and interpreting musical pieces through score analysis.

James Baird with Guitar Student performers at Cider Mill Conservatory
James Baird with student performers at Cider Mill Conservatory
LtoR: Gabe, Stephanie, James, Ryan, Ian and Savanah

James Baird with guitar students at Cider Mill Winter Concert 2009
James with Cider Mill Students - 2009 Winter Recital
LtoR: Ryan, Stephanie and Isabella

Performance Opportunities

In cooperation with the New England Guitar Society (NEGS), students are offered opportunities to perform for and with guitarists in the informal setting of NEGS monthly meetings; in a friendly, supportive environment with fellow guitarists and classical guitar students. Additionally, formal recitals are arranged annually for NEGS members (www.newenglandguitar.org). NEGS meets monthly in the acoustically rich concert hall of the Milford Fine Arts Council (www.milfordarts.org).

James Baird and students at Cider Mill Conservatory
James with Cider Mill Conservatory Students in Wilton CT - 2010 Winter Recital
L to R: Isabella, Stephanie and Ryan

James and Jessica at Tabor Community Arts Center in Branford - March 2010 Recital

Performance Coaching

Have an important performance or audition in the near future? Schedule a few sessions to work on technical hurdles and music interpretation. We will work on musical phrasing, tone production and practice habits to make the most of your practice time. Build confidence in the knowledge that what you think you are playing is actually what others are hearing.

Learn more, in less time

Guitarists of all styles benefit from building a firm technical foundation and a solid music theory background. Develop a richer tone. Learn to play polyphony: melody, accompaniment and bass simultaneously. Acquaint yourself with the rich 400-year-old musical heritage of the classical guitar repertoire. Learn to be a better guitarist, performer, teacher and musician.

[ top of page ]

Small Group Guitar Classes

Small Group Guitar Class Program is designed to introduce beginning students to the basics of guitar playing, rhythmic strumming, reading music notation and playing with other guitarists. The classes are held at my teaching studio near downtown Milford. Rental guitars are available to participants of the program.

The program offers an affordable opportunity to students who want to explore playing the guitar. To get more information, please contact us.

[ top of page ]

6th Annual Guitar Summer Workshop 2010

The Guitar Summer Workshop is a 2-week program that meets during the month of August at the Milford Center for the Arts in Milford, CT. The workshop runs for 2 weeks, 4 days a week, culminating in an rewarding student recital for friends and family.

Classes run from August 9-10, 2010.
Student recital August 19 at 7:30 pm.

The guitar lesson workshop program covers:

Fundamentals of Guitar Playing for both hands,
Reading Standard Musical Notation, and
Ensemble Performance Skills, preparing for the student performance

Guitar lessons promote fundamental right and left hand techniques for finger-style guitar playing as applied to the classical guitar. Ensemble skills include listening, preparing for and playing in concert, and following musical direction. Quality student model guitars are available for rental, with option to purchase, during the workshop period.

Guitar Summer Workshop Class of 2007
Guitar Summer Workshop 2007
L to R: Derek, Christoper, Andrew, Cem Duruöz, Jamie, James Baird, Jessie and Kevin

Again this year, now the 4th year in a row, the Guitar Summer Workshop was an enthusiastic success. Students learned to read music and perform in ensemble, as well as worked up solos and duets. This year's recital program featured works by: Beethoven, Pachelbel, American, French, and Russian folk songs, as well as original compositions and arrangements of rock tunes.

Guitar Summer Workshop - Backstage
Backstage - Front: Andrew, Jamie, Kevin, and Jessie; Back: Derek and Christopher

Backstage: "Rockin' Out"

Guitar Summer Workshop Class of 2006
2006 Guitar Summer Workshop performers
L to R: Jennie, Sandra, Ariel, Jonathan, Stephanie and Jake

For the 3rd year in a row, the 2006 Workshop was a grand success. The students practiced their guitar lessons hard to produce another beautiful recital. The program featured works by Beethoven, Haydn, Pachelbel and traditional folk songs.

[ top of page ]

To schedule a free consultation regarding guitar and music instruction:
Request a Free Consultation | About Baird Music