Mission Statement

Music is "The Great Gift" of entertainment and leisure-time enjoyment. It's my mission to open the doors to the great cathedral of sound that awaits you on your fingertips and in your voice. I teach classical or 'Folk Style' guitar, banjo, mandolin and dobro. I like to focus on the rudiments of beginning guitar and vocal accompaniment. When I see the light go on in my student’s eyes and the magic is felt I know my teaching day has been well-spent.



TEACHING IDEAS

    I HAVE THREE GOALS FOR EACH LESSON:
  1. Enjoy the instrument and learn to appreciate the timbre and voice it possesses, ultimately learning how to bring that particular instrument to life in a song.
  2. Solve one mystery of the instrument and music in general. This can be an on-going process of discovery.
  3. Build manual dexterity skill improvement through exercises and repetition. I concentrate on the particular skills needed for a course of study with equal attention to scale-melodic and chord-composition.



TEACHING TOOLS AND METHODS
  • I prepare lessons individually for the student.
  • I keep many books, methods and curriculum at my disposal and I blend many styles to make each student's journey a specific path toward a specific playing goal.
  • I use PRO TOOLS and GARAGE BAND to build CDs for the student to use to enhance and optimize practice time.
CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE (mp3 file of a part of a lesson)
ALSO INCLUDED are Guitar maintenance, tuning, and practice methods.

PAYMENT

Payment is made monthly in advance in cash unless other arrangements are made. Travel expense may be included to the fees. Cancellation with less than 48 hours notice will result in forfeiture of the payment.


STUDENTS:
  • LULA RAE – Lula Rae is 13 years old and already has studied guitar for 2.5 years and ukulele for 1 year. Her ability on piano has served her well with guitar and she's now performing at some of the Senior Centers where I play. Lula Rae performed for 400 students at Kitsap Lake Elementary School during one of my "Everyone Sings America's Songs" assemblies there in June. She also has taken up Saxophone at KPMS.

  • SCOTT RUNDE – Scott's goal to bring music as a gift to his young family is being realized on a weekly basis. He also strives to understand the theory and history behind the art. He's beginning on fingerstyle but has an eye on a banjo and has already begun to collect guitars. Scott has built a repertoire of American pop songs and folk standards that his children can be heard singing at all hours of day or night.

  • RAMON - Ramon is my youngest student at just 9 years but his concentration skills and artistic home have helped him to grasp guitar in a short time. His weekly lessons include melodic study, chording & basic music theory as it pertains to guitar. Ramon's accomplished "Camptown Races" instrumentally.

  • ELIZA - Such a bright singer! He choice of songs to sing run the full range of female-contemporary from Patsy Cline to Taylor Swift. She even throws in a Jason Mraz song for good measure. Eliza had a fine performances at The Mandolin Cafe & Peninsula Retirement. Eliza is an aspiring equine enthusiast.

  • MARY FARR - A member of a lively music & friend community Mary strives to add to her abilities and strengths as a vocalist / guitarist. With the full lesson time we explore the fine-tuning of being a rhythm guitarist.

  • LINDA NICOLE BLAIR - A fast learner, Linda has already advanced into multi-chord songs and with time should be able to realize her goal of being a self accompanied singer/songwriter. Her heart-songs really give give her connection to her music and so the practicing comes easy and often.

  • ADRIAN URBINA - Having grown up with a guitarist / father Adrian's goal to 'someday play with my Pa' will be realized sooner than later. With his interest lying in the 'classical' guitar realm it is fun for me to return to my first experienced sounds on a guitar with the gut-strings. Adrian's specific nature requires a full understanding of theory and the 'why's' & 'how-comes' of the music he's making.

  • CHRISTIAN - In fifth grade and already having studied one full year Christian passed beginner status quickly and now plays intermediate melodies arranged for fingerstyle guitar. His daily practice regimen is the secret to his success. His current instrumental; "Washington Square".

  • ROGER - Having studied guitar for two years Roger continues his journey on acoustic & electric with emphasis on theory, technique and study skill.

  • CATHY - Cathy bought a fine mandolin in Brazil and realized her dream of learning to play those 'lovely melodies' and sonnets. Her bi-monthly lessons keep her on track with her goal. Some songs she likes are "Blue Ridge Cabin Home" and "Michael Row The Boat Ashore".

  • JC KIM - The man who invented Tacoma Guitars, has taken a serious interest in playing them. Our course of study will encompass building his song-book for personal enjoyment.

  • KELSEY WEEKS - She is beginning melodic development and chord structure. Her desire to play music is inspired by her love for radio and the internet.



Testamonials
    Billy Farmer is a very skilled teacher. When you first start out, he teaches you the basics instead of jumping right in and teaching you cords. What I mean by basics, I mean he teaches you how to hold your hand and the correct way to sit on a chair while playing etc. Once you master those basics, you then get to choose songs that you know and have wanted to learn for a long time, like I'm learning the song "Anyone Else but You" by The Moldy Peaches. When teaching that song, he actually takes time to show you the individual chords, and show you techniques to use when learning them. Like how to strum slowly and finger placement on the correct string and fret. Since Billy is a professional guitar player he does in fact know what he is doing.

    -Eliza Weeks
    Vaughn, WA


    Billy's instruction has been great for me. He has been extremely patient yet cunningly persistent! Billy’s method is very flexible too. He has gone beyond lessons on paper and will often make recordings for me to take home and work through specific challenges.

    Billy has a solid grasp on a broad spectrum of music and a variety of instruments to challenge your learning. It has been fun and beneficial to learn to play guitar along with his banjo, mandolin, piano, dojo, or his killer collection of guitars. Billy’s years of experience in the local music scene has helped me develop other great connections too, such as the best guitar service, supplies, discovery aides and music venues. I would recommend Billy’s instruction with all my heart and soul!

    -Scott Runde
    Gig Harbor, WA


    "I'm having a wonderful experience with Billy Farmer's method of guitar instruction. I have the freedom to choose the songs and type of music I want to study and it has made all the difference. Playing and perfecting familiar tunes has given me the desire to practice regularly. Billy has helped me enjoy my guitar playing more with customized lessons and figuring out my favorite songs. I recommend Billy to anyone interested in learning guitar."

    -Glenda Broyles


    I look forward to my weekly guitar lessons with Billy Farmer, not only because he is a stellar musician whom has a wealth of music knowledge but because he is a remarkable teacher...

    At my first lesson, Billy listened to what my specific goals were to improve my guitar playing and subsequently, has designed lessons that are purposeful with skill building built into each lesson.

    He incorporates effective teaching methods of modeling, guided practice, and checking for understanding during his instruction. He is extremely gifted in his ability to analyze a specific skill and break it down into small steps. His teaching method is very multi-sensory with the use of visual cues, auditory tracks, and a kinesthetic approach as well. Whatever it takes until "I get it."

    Billy yakes the time to develop a relationship with his students and shares equal responsibility that the learning is happening. At each lesson he is very present, encouraging and exceedingly patient. he motivates me to continue to practice because he focuses on what I am doing right and then with his keen observation skills, offers techniques that will help me in the challenging areas and therefore, after just two months of lessons, I am hearing a noticeable difference in my playing. He is a remarkable teacher!

    -Mary Farr
    Elementary Music Specialist


    Hello there! My name is Lula Rae L. and I take guitar lessons from Billy Farmer. Billy has been my teacher for 2 years now. I've progressed a whole bunch since I've been taking lessons from hie got inspired at a school talent show when he saw Billy playing with another student. The type of music Billy teaches me are country and folk songs. Sometimes, Billy will ask me what I want to play. I'll choose a song, find the lyrics, then he'll take it home with him and find out the chords or picking pattern. Then, he'll teach it to me. It's a lot of fun, especially when you've been playing a lot, so then you're pretty good at it and you do well.

    Also, Billy and I will play at nursing homes sometimes. They're a lot of fun too. Although the guitar is really fun and cool to play, it's a lot of hard work too. I have to practice twenty to thirty minutes a day. Sometimes I don't get it all done though. Then I'll have an embarassing lesson. You have to really be good at the guitar. My parents and I really like the way Billy teaches. He gets to know you so he knows how mucch potential you have. Billy will push you just enough to make you happy and proud of yourself. I really enjoy the Guitar, it's a lot of fun to make music!

    -Lula Rae