Don't let your first attempt to learn guitar go bad... learn to play beautifully from the start.
why work with Me?
You'll start off by learning some simple scales and melodies to develop finger strength and coordination and continue to develop this as you learn more.
Once your fretboard fingers develop strength and coordination, you'll learn the most common chord progressions and strumming patterns.
You'll also learn advanced picking patterns that improve your pick accuracy while also making your chord progressions sound amazing.
about me
I’ve been teaching guitar to students ages 3-76 since 2006. I double-majored in Classical Guitar Performance and Music Theory at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance. While at Temple, I performed in a masterclass for world-renowned guitarist David Leiser and presented my research paper on Franz Liszt at the Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic’s annual conference.
After graduation, I continued my guitar studies with world-renowned lute and classical guitar teacher Patrick O’Brien and Rowan University Professor Kathleen Mayes. I’ve trained in the Suzuki Teaching Philosophy and Guitar Pedagogy under the guidance of Wan-Tsai Chen, David Madsen, Andrea Cannon, and Bill Kossler. I’ve also performed with the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Concert Ensemble.
My main hobbies are chess and gardening, although those have recently taken a backseat to raising my child.
approach
Playing music poorly is hard.
Over your lifetime of listening to music, you've developed musical instincts that help you know when music sounds good and when it sounds bad.
The problem is that most beginners and most teachers are so focused on developing the basic physical skills that they neglect the musical. The result: Guitarists who can physically execute music but don't feel like they're playing is good.
I help students become excellent guitarists by focusing on musicality as early as possible. This focus aligns my student's physical abilities with their natural musical instincts, increasing their confidence and enjoyment.
testimonials
I've been playing guitar for 1 year with Kale.
He is knowledgeable on the subject of classical guitar The instructor uses a multitude of teaching tactics to help the learners The lessons do not cause stress to the learner
Playing an instrument can build your confidence and give you goals to strive for which is healthy for people to have.
I would 100% recommend. Kale is a great teacher. I've been playing classical for 1 year and it has been fun, and stress-free, and brings value to my life
After studying classical guitar throughout college I was concerned about finding a local instructor with a solid classical background, who could teach well beyond the basics.
With Kale, I was able to jump in comfortably where I had left off. He has an outstanding knowledge of the instrument, theory, and the genre, surpassed only by his knack for teaching it.
He truly understands the nuances and techniques of great playing, and is able to hone in on areas of improvement that I wouldn't pick up on otherwise. He takes the time to find music and exercises that are enjoyable and challenging - at the appropriate level for each student. On top of all this, Kale is relatable, patient, encouraging, and a blast to work with; I look forward to his lessons each week. He couldn't come with a higher recommendation!
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for taking me on as a student, and let you know how much it has meant to me over the past couple of years. Learning to play this instrument has given me an extremely fulfilling new way to express myself musically, reawakening a part of myself that had lay dormant for the better part of a decade. Not only that, it's given me something to work toward and look forward to each week that lies entirely outside of my responsibilities as a father or at my job.
You really are a fantastic teacher, able to meet me at my level at every step of the way, and creatively introducing new technology and side materials organically as new challenges emerge on my journey. Thanks again, and I'm looking forward to the next year of study!
‘Breakthrough.’ ‘I had decent breakthrough.’ I find myself actually saying this. I believe that my lessons with Kale are why. I'm John. I have always really loved music, constantly feeling it, listening to music a lot, several hours most days. I have always wanted to be able to play music. So I turned 50 this year. Time left now for me in life is obviously less than when you are 20 but more perhaps in time to devote to music... Decided to finally to pick up a guitar. Began playing with a very good a guitar player who was teaching but I was not actually learning and soon became frustrated. Sound familiar? I needed to find a good teacher. I believe I found one with Kale. I felt very comfortable right away with my lessons and I am really learning. I think Kale can see what type of person you are and player you can potentially become and teach you to play where it remains fun and challenging but not frustrating... I had another breakthrough this week. I can truly say this most weeks. Thanks, Kale!
Your lessons got me started on something great and now I'm going to be attending Berklee College of Music this fall! I really appreciate you working with me and getting me started.
Kale relates to his students, meeting them at their level. From young toddlers thru college-age, he connects the activities and the music to fit their interests and learning style.
He assesses the needs and interests of his students, and formulates a teaching plan for them as individuals. In this way, they receive instruction that truly motivates them to learn.
I think students will feel that their teacher takes an interest in them and cares to see them progress. They will appreciate the energy he brings to his teaching and will benefit from that.
I've been taking lessons from Kale for about ten months, and it's been pretty awesome! Kale has a great sense of humor, is very personable, and is a really good teacher. He's very perceptive during lessons, and quickly spots mistakes I'm making, and helps me make corrections. He also gives me really good advice about practicing, and teaches me little tricks so that I am making the most out of my practice time. And on the administrative side, everything seems to run smoothly; he's very professional, and always replies when I reach out to him with questions and whatnot. All this stuff adds up to Kale being a great teacher!
Prior to taking lessons with Kale, I was more or less self-taught, having taken only a few lessons from other guitar teachers over the years, and could string a few chords together and play the songs of some of my favorite artists. I've been working with Kale for less than a year and have seen significant improvement in my playing, musical rhythm, and understanding of music theory. Kale's classically trained background coupled with his enthusiasm to share his musical passion are unparalleled. Highly recommended.
Kale Good, the Guitarist, is classically trained and professional. He has the scholarship and the know-how to teach and explain things clearly and effectively. Kale Good, the person, is very genuine and good-spirited. He is patient and approachable. I've been taking guitar lessons for two months now, and I'm progressing quite notably. I'm learning and having fun too --Kale, the Guitarist and the Person, comes highly recommended.
In my first lesson with Kale, he quickly gave me a context in which I could put everything I knew about guitar chords - a system which made further exploration of the guitar possible and exciting. I realized I had a fear of heights when it came to guitar frets - I became less confident the higher up the neck I went, and I'd have to question where I was all the time. Kale didn't just give me new information, he gave me a new way to think. Kale aims to make his students self-sufficient. In doing so, he benefits as well; he will never have to answer another specific question from me about, "How do I play X chord this far up the neck?" and I'll never need to refer to a chord chart again.
(via personal email) I just wanted to say that I auditioned your student ***** yesterday at Temple. She was very well prepared and had obviously been taught well so credit to you for your good teaching.
After years of guitar lessons, I have found a teacher that will guide me to my fullest potential on the guitar. In my other lessons I always felt that there was no long-term plan for what I was going to learn. There was no system, just "Bring in a song you want to learn". The songs I wanted to learn were WAY too hard for a beginner to learn. I would struggle to learn the song; sometimes I would get it but more often I would not. Frustration would follow and the guitar would sit un-played for days.
Now, I know where we are headed. The songs that I learn are challenging but not so far over my head that I put down the guitar. The lessons build on the skill that you have learned. Kale makes you feel comfortable from the first lesson. He watches you play and then gives immediate feed back on how you can improve. It is all-positive. My playing has improved so much in three months it is incredible.