Ben Woolman: Instructor
- Lessons at St. Paul Guitar Studio
Ben is currently the lead finger-style guitar instructor at the St. Paul Guitar Studio located in the Lowertown area of St. Paul, MN. He works with students who are just beginning to pick (introducing alternating bass patterns, chord melodies, alternate tunings, etc.) on up to the advanced level student where he works on composition, arranging, and covering some of the most significant finger-style guitar repertoire available today.
For info regarding his teaching method, lesson rates, etc., please visit the St. Paul Guitar Studio website - www.stpaulguitarstudio.com - or you can email him at: ben@benwoolman.net
"Ben was able to take my basic skills and start me right away with some interesting fingerstyle pieces. After a year of lessons I am amazed at how much great music I've learned to play. Ben layers the skill development so well from one piece to the next so that you don't really notice how much and how steadily you are improving. You just think you're playing great music."
- Tom Clark (student)
- Online Lessons
Ben is now available for online guitar lessons using the free, web-based, real-time, video conferencing program, Skype. Visit skype.com to download the software.
Lessons may be scheduled on either a regular or irregular basis. Subject material will be considered at the time of the student's inquiry. Ben will e-mail lesson materials as applicable.
Lesson rates are $20/30min or $40/60min. All payments will be processed securely online through PayPal prior to the lesson. Contact Ben directly at ben@benwoolman.net for more info.
- Finger-Style Guitar Workshops and Master Classes
Ben is available for hire to lead finger-style guitar workshops and master classes for novice players on up to collegiate level performance majors. An inspiring, friendly, yet challenging teacher, Ben draws upon his historical knowledge of finger-style guitar, with a contemporary perspective, offering insights and thoughtful suggestions to help players improve and inspires them to achieve better results; moving beyond any perceived limitations. He assists the students with interpretive ideas, general musicianship, and refining any technical deficiencies they may have. This can be done by leading a class collectively through a new piece or working with students individually as a performance based master class.
Workshops and master classes are open ended, allowing students to prepare and perform established repertoire or new compositions of their own. Ben will teach his own compositions as appropriate or design a workshop tailored to fit a specific group's interests.Contact Ben directly at ben@benwoolman.net for more info.
"After nearly 30 years of letting my guitar gather dust in the basement, Ben helped bring back the joy of playing and provides an environment that gives me a lot of incentive to work and to grow in the types of music I play. Taking lessons from a professional musician is a rare opportunity and privilege. Ben has been great to work with and is constantly introducing me to new music, new musicians and new styles that are continuously challenging and interesting. I’m enjoying music more now than I ever have."
- Dan Cullen (Student)