Welcome to Schoenberg Guitars

Group and Private Lessons on Guitar and Ukulele

Both group and private lessons are offered here at the store. Absolute beginners are welcome.

For more information, or to schedule private lessons at the store, please call Joe Miller at 510-466-5260, or email him at joemiller1@gmail.com.

Private Lessons: Most private students take a half-hour lesson once a week. Styles taught include folk, pop, blues and beginning classical. The emphasis is on technique, theory, reading and rhythm. Private lessons are given on Sunday evening and Monday and Tuesday afternoons and evenings. Joe especially likes to work with young children (ages 5 and up) and has years of experience with them. These are real music lessons with homework (10 minutes a day).

Group Lessons: Beginning Folk/Pop Guitar, for teens and adults, is taught to groups of 10-14 students. Many students who have played guitar for years choose to take the "Beginning" Folk/Pop class. The emphasis is on reading notes and developing good technique. Most students continue for another six weeks or more. (See below for schedule of classes).

The Teacher

Joe Miller is a funny singer-songwriter and an award-winning acoustic guitarist. He pokes fun at modern life with songs like "Racing Off to Yoga Class" and "Are You From Berkeley?".

Playing a "Doc Watson" model Gallagher guitar, custom made for him in Tennessee, Joe has performed across the U. S. and Canada. His off-beat humor and dazzling instrumentals have been well received from Berkeley's Freight and Salvage to festivals in Canada, California and the eastern U. S.

After studying classical guitar, sitar, and Renaissance music in Toronto, Miller settled down to master his original instrument, the acoustic steel string flat top. He moved to the Bay Area in 1978, and won both the California State Flatpicking Championship and the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas.

Miller's 2 CD's, "West Coast Music for Guitar" and "Semi-Traditional Guitar Solos" (available from ITunes and CDBaby.com) of guitar solos (and two duets with mandolin master David Grisman) brought rave reviews:

"Mesmerizing, astounding... a virtuoso in every sense of the word." - The Daily Californian.

"Awesome solo acoustic... a real talent." - Guitar Player.

"Stunning, vastly entertaining... you have to marvel at the man's technique." - Folk Roots, London.

Other reviewers compared him to John Renbourn and Leo Kottke, who are among Miller's heroes.

Miller performed two of his favorite instrumental pieces for Stefan Grossman's Vestapol video series. On these videos he shares the stage with John Renbourn, Duck Baker, Pat Donohue (of Prairie Home Companion), Bob Brozman, and other prominent fingerstyle players.

As a novelty, Miller developed the ability to play two songs at the same time, an offbeat trick he displays in his "Medley of Medleys". More than one reviewer wrote that the medley "has to be heard to be believed."

His reputation as a teacher has brought him thousands of students, including famous musicians like Dr. Elmo, Country Joe McDonald, and John Fogerty's son Sean.

His teaching also brought him into contact with keyboardist Tom Constanten, who was brought into the Grateful Dead to be "the far out guy." Joe recorded two of Tom's piano pieces on solo guitar, and the two have remained close friends.

Information

For more information, or to schedule private lessons at the store, please leave a message for Joe Miller at 510-466-5260, or email him at joemiller1@gmail.com..

Before

After

Schedule of Upcoming Group Classes (for adults and teens)

Beginning Folk/Pop Guitar
2011

Tuesdays, Jan. 24 - March 6, 2012; 7:00 - 8:00 PM
(no class Feb. 21)
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Learn to Play the Guitar! Absolute beginners welcome, as are other players who want to work on their technique, theory and reading. This class teaches the basics of playing folk, rock, jazz and blues. The emphasis is on good technique and knowing the names of the notes you play.

The cost is only $125 for six weeks of one-hour classes.

Fee includes a method book.

Advance registration is required as classes usually fill up. _________________________________________

Intermediate to Advanced Classes

Ongoing

Guitarists who can read notes are welcome to join a more advanced group. These groups are continuously ongoing. For more information call Joe Miller at 510-466-5260

Music Theory for Guitarists

Tuesdays, Sept. 27 to Nov. 1, 2011; 7:00 to 8:00 PM

Learn what scales go with what chords, and how to communicate with other muscians. This is a pencil & paper class, not a playing class.

Advance Registration Required:

Mail a check for $125 to:

Joe Miller
c/o Eric Schoenberg Guitars
106 Main St
Tiburon, CA 94920

Please include your phone number.

You can also pay at the store by cash or credit card; or send your credit card information by Fax to (415) 480-1414