Benjamin Kunkel
Guitar lessons tailored to the needs of each student, designed to help you progress and reach your goals as a guitarist and musician.
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Benjamin Kunkel
Bachelors degree
/ 55 min
Benjamin - Know your guitar teacher
My name is Benjamin Kunkel, I am a professional classical guitarist and music educator. I hold a master’s and bachelor’s degree in guitar performance, and have over 15 years of teaching experience. I am an active solo and chamber musician, and have performed concerts across the United States, Europe and China. I have been a member of the acclaimed Minneapolis Guitar Quartet since 2014, with whom I have toured extensively, recorded a CD, and taught numerous workshops and masterclasses. I have performed in many other ensembles, including a guitar duo with my wife. While my specialty as a performer is classical guitar, I also have years of experience playing and teaching many other styles of music, including jazz, rock, blues, folk, and fingerstyle. As an educator, I have taught guitar and music at many schools, and am passionate about teaching students of all ages and abilities. So whether a complete beginner, or an experienced guitarist who wants to push your playing to the next level, I'm excited to work together!
Benjamin graduated from University of Minnesota
Your guitar teacher expertise
Fingerstyle
Guitar for beginners
Strumming and Picking Techniques
Chords and Rhythms
Guitar Techniques
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Guitar lessons quick guide
I offer engaging guitar lessons to students of all ages and ability levels. My lessons are focused on you, and I love finding the music and approach that works for each individual student, always in a relaxed and positive environment. I have taught students of all kinds, from young beginners to college students, aspiring professionals to older adults. My online teaching focuses on building sound technique and musicianship from the beginning, no matter what style of music you are interested in. I strongly believe that a good foundation is key to a student’s success, and I prioritize building good habits (and avoiding bad ones!) while applying them to music you’re excited about. Whatever your background and ability level, I approach our lessons with your goals in mind. I tailor my approach to your needs and interests, building confidence, creativity and fun!
Types of guitar lessons
Guitar
Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Classical Guitar
Guitar concepts taught by Benjamin
The Student and Tutor refined advanced fingerpicking techniques for the song "Landslide," focusing on smoother chord transitions and sustaining notes. They also introduced and began learning a new fingerpicking song, "Scarborough Fair," with the Tutor demonstrating the basic right-hand pattern and initial chord shapes. The Student is to practice the new song for their next session.
Refining Guitar Performance & Smooth Transitions
The Power of Deliberate Slow Practice
Optimizing Finger Dexterity and Avoiding Limiting Habits
The Effectiveness of Consistent
Focused Practice
Introduction to 'Scarborough Fair': 6/8 Fingerpicking Pattern
Navigating Guitar Learning Resources and Notation
The Student and Tutor explored music theory concepts relevant to guitar improvisation, focusing on major and minor scales and their construction. They discussed scale shapes on the fretboard and the relationship between major, minor, and pentatonic scales, with the Student encouraged to practice specific scale shapes to improve their improvisational abilities.
The Major Scale Construction
Guitar Scale Shapes and Movability
Minor Scales and Their Relation to Major Scales
Pentatonic Scales: Simplicity and Versatility
The Student and Tutor reviewed strategies for maintaining guitar skills, focusing on practicing bar chords and movable chord shapes. They discussed various technical exercises such as scales, legato, hammer-ons, and pull-offs, and the Tutor provided guidance on applying these techniques. The session concluded with planning for flexible future lessons, with the Tutor offering to send practice materials.
Applying Theory to Songwriting and Improvisation
Scales and Technique Development
Movable Chord Shapes and Root Notes
Bar Chords: The Foundation
The student and tutor worked on guitar chord transitions and finger dexterity, focusing on specific chords like C, G, A minor, and D. They also addressed guitar holding posture and practiced techniques to improve chord shapes and strumming patterns, with the student planning to continue practice and potentially resume lessons in the future.
Developing Chord Voicings and Variations
Rhythmic Feel and Strumming Patterns
Left Hand Technique: Thumb Position and Finger Independence
Efficient Chord Transitions
Guitar Holding and Posture Stability
The student and tutor worked on refining guitar playing techniques, focusing on the precise rhythmic execution of hammer-ons and pull-offs, and proper finger lifting for cleaner note transitions. They planned to apply these technical improvements to the piece being studied.
Slurs: Hammer-ons and Pull-offs
Finger Technique: Pinky Management
Articulation: Connecting Notes
The student and tutor worked on learning the chords and song structure for "Hurt" by Johnny Cash. They reviewed basic chords like A minor, C, and D, and then progressed to the song's verse and chorus progressions. The tutor provided practice techniques and suggested focusing on chord shapes before complex transitions.
Basic Guitar Chords
Chord Transitions and Timing
Chord Voicings and Variations
Picking and Strumming Patterns
Practical Application: Song 'Hurt'
Learning tools used in guitar classes
Guitar Tuner Apps
Metronome Apps
Chord Diagram Apps
PDF Sheet Music
Engaging guitar lessons
Pets are welcomed
Parent feedback
Chat for quick help
Weekend lessons
Open Q&A
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