About the website and the teaching program
This website is an expression and an information hub for the teaching method and plan used by Tom Foley called The Foley Method. The actual phrase “Guitar In Five Lessons” was originally created for two reasons: first, obviously, was the advertising and marketing element for it’s kind of shock value yet simple explanation for what some view as a difficult task, and two, it actually is so easy and simple that it is and has become a truth… “Yes, you can learn how to play guitar in five lesson.” Will you know everything about guitar in five lessons? No. But will you be able to play songs using full chords and have a intro / beginner level understanding of what s going on? Yes.
I can put it in a better way in which everyone will understand. I’ll give two examples. First; my daughter goes to school for kindergarten. I asked if they teach how to play an instrument in music class or is it just music appreciation. I was told it was music appreciation (dancing, singing, and listening to music) and not learning an instrument. My second example is what I saw when I go to one of my student’s homes. My student’s mom showed me her eldest son’s guitar teacher’s “plan book” to learn from. Apparently, this child (not the one I teach but his older brother) quit after another teacher used this very boring and time consuming method. This is what people experience and why some say learning guitar “was difficult.” It isn’t. Anyway this book and plan is where you play on one string at a time until half way through the book and months later when you get to the second string and a month or two later and maybe the third string. At some point they have the student play a chord that is using one finger on one string and strumming thee other open strings. That’s ridiculous and that is horrible. So the first example I see they don’t have any confidence that a young child can even learn an instrument and the second example I see when a slightly older child (or even an adult) is given any confidence, it is to only allow that student to play on one string at a time … and for a long time.
I see things differently. I have confidence that anyone can play chords right away. I don’t ignore the details or theory like many of the other teachers might do; like the young teacher who plays in a band and says “Just do this” with no explanation. I sprinkle details and explanation of all as we go along. Do you really need to know how many flats or sharps are in the key of “B” or the key of “D” when you are first starting out? Do you really need to know why and how a Dm (that’s D minor) chord is different than a D major chord when you are starting out? No. Positive reinforcement is what I do. It’s all fun, songs, and chords and all done quickly.
This is why I say “Guitar In Five Lessons.” Because I have taught many students (like the younger brother I mentioned above) who are 5, 6 or 7 years old and they play songs using full chords after a few lessons. Sometimes after three to four lessons. It’s amazing. You should see the faces on these kids when they are singing and playing guitar.
About the teacher
History:
At age four, I began taking piano lessons and learned guitar at age twelve. At age thirteen, I started playing in bands and by seventeen years of age one of my bands got the interest of two record labels. I learned how to use a recording studio at seventeen years of age and became very experienced with my own studio at age twenty two. By the age of twenty four, I had already written songs used by other bands and had recorded other artists. In the following years, I have learned other instruments and can play five other instruments as well as teach piano. The whole guitar lesson concept and method began at age thirty when I lived in New York City.
Now:
I am a professional musician with years of experience writing, recording, producing and performing. I also have produced film and music videos. Over the years I have done music for film, TV, commercials and bands (whose music has been released on iTunes and more). I am young at heart and adaptable; meaning I don’t teach the same way for each student but I teach according to who they are and what they need. I have my own method of teaching that makes learning guitar so incredibly easy and fun that you will be amazed and very happy with the process. I make the teaching schedule flexible for working adults and so very fun for kids as well.
I get many students who give up on other teachers and then come to me, so contact me to learn why.