Video Lessons

Educational

I have many years of teaching experience privately, and at formal institutions. I've taught at places such as: The Hit Music Studio (Pembroke Pines), Sounds of Excellence School of Music (Miami, FL), Musicall (Kendal, FL), Boston School of Music Arts (Boston, MA). Currently, I'm a Graduate Adjunct Instructor at New York University (New York, NY), online teacher at Jolie Musique (online), as well as an instructor at Guitar Center Union Square (New York, NY).  While I am predominantly a guitar player, I have experience with and have often enjoyed teaching musical/compositional concepts as well as improvisational tools and music theory to other instruments. 

Here are a few topics I can discuss with students:

  • Beginning to advanced Music/Jazz Theory
  • Introduction to Jazz Guitar 
  • Guitar Fretboard knowledge
  • Individualized approaches to learning and improvisation
  • Transcription and analysis
  • Compositional/Songwriting/Arranging techniques
  • Counterpoint and Guitar Polyphony/Solo Guitar
  • Guitarist technique
  • Time metronome exercises
  • Polyrhythms, polyphony, and polytonality in composition and improvisation
  • George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization
  • In addition to many other topics upon request!

On the right, I've attached some samples of one topic I find very useful and share with all my students, chord scale relationships.

I'm available for in person lessons in the New York area, as well as Skype/Facetime lessons in 30, 45, or 60 minute intervals. I also believe that financial situations shouldn't be a gatekeeper for education, and that everyone should have access to a quality musical education. While I unfortunately am not in a position where I can offer free lessons, I post a ton of lesson videos on my YouTube Channel. There you'll find a plethora of topics and can get examples of what to work on.

Testimonials

"As someone who's fallen out of practice, I had a lot of questions on what to tackle next as a guitar player. I was really happy that Nicholas took the time to give me concise, but thorough explanations on topics that I was curious about but had no idea how to proceed with as a guitar player. He threw a lot of information out on some questions I had on where to start in playing jazz as a guitar player, but he was really encouraging and patient in making sure I had the materials and resources to keep diving further on my own." 

-Diego Ugaz