James Cortright
Guitar lessons for all, with a focus on accessibility and fun, but also excellence through music
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James Cortright
Bachelors degree
Enroll after the free trial
Each lesson is 55 min
50 lessons
20% off
/ lesson
30 lessons
15% off
/ lesson
20 lessons
10% off
/ lesson
10 lessons
5% off
/ lesson
5 lessons
-
/ lesson
1 lessons
-
/ lesson
James - Know your guitar teacher
I've dedicated my life to teaching music, while constantly improving my abilities as a teacher and musician. For over 15 years of work experience I've taught lessons and ensembles, learned from some of the best teachers, and remained a life-long student of music pedagogy. My education includes a 4 year Bachelor's degree in music, and a 2 year certificate in audio technology. I've won first place as a performing member and a teacher with ensembles in world class international competitions, and received perfect scores in competitions as a soloist. Through all of this, I've learned that each student is a unique and special musical mind that requires adaptability from a teacher who has mastered their craft, but still has the ability to make the material understandable to a complete beginner. Thank you for reading this and considering taking lessons with me!
Your guitar teacher expertise
Songs and Repertoire
Music theory
Fingerstyle
Scales and Modes
Guitar for beginners
Strumming and Picking Techniques
Chord Progressions
Learner for guitar lessons
Guitar for beginners
Guitar for intermediate
Guitar for kids
Guitar for adults
Guitar for advanced
Guitar lessons quick guide
My teaching methodology is based on a combination of studying a variety of music education techniques such as Orff, Kodaly, and Suzuki, while also learning from first hand experience teaching thousands of students. I believe that there is no one right way to teach music, but instead it is best to have a large tool kit and extensive background of knowledge to draw from based on the needs of any individual student. From beginners to advanced, from elementary age to adults, there will always be some creativity and flexibility involved in how I go about conveying the information that will help a student learn about music and improve their abilities on their instrument. I incorporate lessons from all areas of the subject of music including music theory, history, and ear training, while drawing from a variety of styles including classical, jazz, and folk.
Strumming made easy in class
89% students say rhythm and timing improved quickly
Guitar lessons that keep kids motivated
No reminders needed, students are eager to attend
Step-by-step guitar classes tracking
86% students see clear milestones across levels
Types of guitar lessons
Guitar
Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Classical Guitar
Bass Guitar
Flexible Scheduling
Allows 1h early scheduling
Allows 1h early rescheduling
Can wait for 20 mins after joining
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10 day Refund
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Free Tutor Swap
Guitar concepts taught by James
The student and tutor worked on piano scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions in the key of C, focusing on proper fingerings and hand positions for full octave scales and arpeggios. The student received written exercises to practice, and a follow-up lesson was scheduled to assess progress and explore transposing to other keys.
Arpeggios - Full Octave
Major vs Minor
Transposition
Full Octave Scales
Chord Progressions (Cadences)
The student reviewed and refined their performance of "River Flows in You" and "Simple Gifts", focusing on specific sections and techniques to improve accuracy and fluency. The lesson also covered chord symbol reading and playing simple songs from lead sheets. The tutor assigned the student to practice the discussed sections and explore playing songs from chord sheets.
Understanding Musical Transitions
Reading Chord Charts and Lead Sheets
Recognizing Chord Shapes and Qualities
Breaking Down Complex Music
Importance of Consistent Tempo and Rhythm
Chunking and Repetition in Practice
The Student and Tutor reviewed guitar chord progressions, the use of a metronome for tempo control, and the identification of notes on the fretboard. They practiced playing the chromatic scale and explored various voicings for chords like F major and bar chords, with plans to review song structures and simple songs in future sessions.
Chord Progressions & Roman Numerals
Chromatic Scale & Note Naming
Barre Chords & Fretboard Navigation
Muting Strings & Chord Voicing
The student and tutor reviewed major scales, progressing through the circle of fifths and fourths, and tackled more challenging black-key scales like B-flat, E-flat, and A-flat major. They also worked on refining rhythmic accuracy and hand coordination in a piano piece, "Viva La Vida," focusing on specific challenging measures and practice techniques. The next steps involve continuing to build comfort with A-flat major and further developing ensemble playing.
Circle of Fifths and Fourths
Scale Fingerings and Transitions
Rhythmic Articulation and Accuracy
Hand Independence and Coordination
Octave Shifting in Notation Software
Managing Rests and Shifting Notes
Inserting Notes into Existing Music
Using Playback and File Sharing
The Student and Tutor reviewed and practiced piano pieces "River Flows in You" and "Simple Gifts," focusing on note accuracy, rhythm, timing, and fingering. They also worked on scales and arpeggios, with the Tutor providing specific feedback and practice strategies for improvement.
Rhythmic Subdivision and Timing
Developing Consistent Musical Timing
Hand Position and Fingerings in Scales
The Psychology of Learning and Unlearning
Learning tools used in guitar classes
Amp Simulators
Backing Track Libraries
Ear Training Software
DAWs
Guitar Tuner Apps
PDF Sheet Music
Engaging guitar lessons
Weekend lessons
Note taking
Chat for quick help
Parent feedback
Open Q&A
Guitar teachers on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.