Susan Palmer's Guitar Studio

"The Guitar Lesson Companion" has more exercises & learning strategies so you internalize the fundamentals and play more music!

The music is in you. A good teacher sees what's holding you back, gives you direction, & holds you accountable.

LeadCatPress.com

"The COVID-19 pandemic took that from me. Actually, that’s not quite right. It was the perceived “end” of the pandemic that really ruined my teaching career.

I am immunocompromised and rely on medication to manage an autoimmune disease. This means vaccine protection from the virus is probably less effective for me than for most people. Also, my particular illness – Crohn’s, an inflammatory bowel disease – has been shown to put me at significantly greater risk than most for long COVID: a potentially chronic condition that can be very debilitating. And despite how it may seem, COVID circulates widely much of the year: We are still in a pandemic.

I know that the people I have been sparring with are, for the most part, decent folks: They are just ill informed. But I can’t keep trying to do the job of a public-health official to ensure my own health. It’s quite literally making me sick. I’m done. I quit. I have to.

Disability activists have fought long and hard for workplace accessibility to be a right. But the culture has not caught up to understanding the particular accessibility needs of the immunocompromised."

_______________________________________________

I am so lucky that I left my teaching position at the University before the pandemic hit. I had a healthy private studio and was able to make the challenging but doable shift to online teaching, where I again feel so lucky to have been able to make it work so well for both my students and myself. - Susan Palmer of LeadCatPress.com

Opinion: I loved my teaching career. COVID normalization stole it from me I am immunocompromised and rely on medication to manage an autoimmune disease. This means vaccine protection from the virus is probably less effective for me than most people

Yes, I've been teaching a long time! Here's proof, as I demonstrate how to create a chord melody arrangement for "Here's That Rainy Day" I recorded well over a decade ago. Remember that these concepts can be applied to any tune!

Music Education for Guitarists: LeadCatPress.com

"Here's That Rainy Day" Chord/Melody on Guitar: Susan Palmer's Special Topic Guitar Lesson #6 This is an easy chord melody arrangement of "Here's That Rainy Day." I have students work through this after they have completed Volume One of "The Guitar Le...

I found this old video where I'm playing Charlie Christian's "Grand Slam" solo. I've always been a big fan of Charlie Christian, and this is a really fun solo to learn and play!

Susan Palmer of LeadCatPress.com

Charlie Christian 🎸 solo on "Grand Slam" is a great solo to learn! Music Education for Guitarists: http://LeadCatPress.comABOUT SUSAN PALMER+ Guitar Instructor at Seattle University 2006-18+ Author of “The Guitar Lesson Com...

One of my teachers said that if you can play over this chord progression in all keys, you've got it! I made the track for you.

🎸More Must Know Jazz Practice Progressions: https://leadcatpress.com/must-know-jazz-chord-progressions-backing-tracks-in-all-keys

🎸Music Education for Guitarists: LeadCatPress.com

1 6 2 5 ( I VI ii V ) progression (VI7alt & V7alt) 2 min per key, all keys Jazz Warm Up Practice Routines: https://leadcatpress.com/jazzwarmuppracticeroutines This is a very popular jazz turnaround chord progression in many jazz st...

Latest Episode!

Music Education for Guitarists: LeadCatPress.com

Episode 51 | This Week in My Guitar Studio: Skills, Tips, & Concepts Music Education for Guitarists: http://LeadCatPress.comVIDEO CHAPTERS:00:00 INTRODUCTION0​0:43 TECHNIQUE: ​J​azz Lick in 12 Keys0​3:33 READING: ​The Spiral S...

Just dropped: https://youtu.be/7hOvBrtPboU

For all 51 episodes: https://leadcatpress.com/this-week-in-my-guitar-studio

Cheers!
- Susan Palmer of LeadCatPress.com

Does this strike a chord with you?

🤔 You know a lot of stuff but you have not internalized it to the point that it feels easy.

😮 Maybe you have some gaps in your playing that you keep promising yourself that you’ll work out, when you have the time.

😬 You feel excited to learn but overwhelmed when it comes to making a plan and following through.

🎸 I’m probably one of the most structured teachers you’ll ever meet and I’m one of the weirdos who really enjoys teaching the fundamentals.

🎸 I love the challenge of pinpointing exactly where a student needs to improve, creating a plan with the right exercises so they can reach their goals quickly, and helping them learn how to get it done!

✏️ Check out my website and send an email, let's get this stuff done! (If I don't think I'm the best teacher for you, I'll let you know who I think might be a good fit.) ➡️ MUSIC EDUCATION FOR GUITARISTS: LeadCatPress.com

ABOUT SUSAN PALMER
🏫 Guitar Instructor at Seattle University 2006-18
📚 Author of “The Guitar Lesson Companion” method books
🎼 Instructor for Jazz Camp at University of Washington 2018-19
🧑🏻‍🏫 Created & Taught Workshops at Cornish College: 2010-15
💻 Offers Private Guitar Lessons & Group Classes Online