Private Lessons with Mike

We are here to make a sound.
—Philip Toshio Sudo

Mike is proud to offer private instruction in guitar, mandolin, and ukulele to the San Francisco Bay Area. A New England native, Mike opened his private studio in 2001 when he came westward with his band, Stand Up Eight. A graduate of Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Music, Mike has studied jazz guitar at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and classical guitar at the Royal College of Music in London. His stylistic palette bears many colors—from rock, jazz and funk to folk, latin, and classical.

For additional information about Mike, see the MTR section of this website.

• Lessons are available at Mike's home in the beautiful Marina district of San Francisco, close to the 22, 28, 30, and 43 MUNI lines and the Golden Gate Bridge.
  
  
• You have two options for lesson rates:
  
  Flexible: for $45 per hour, you have the option of cancelling your lesson, with more than 48 hours' notice, for a make-up lesson or a refund.
  
  Retainer: for $37.50 per hour, you agree to pay regularly for your time slot whether or not you use it. If you need to cancel, however, all efforts will be made to schedule a make-up lesson.
  
  You may switch payment options at any time. Students generally pay monthly in advance for both options (if you cancel under the flexible option, you will be credited the following month).
  
  
• Lessons are tailored to your individual needs, offering the guidance and resources needed to achieve your own musical goals. We'll chat about what those goals are for you, and how we can work together to get you there. Although I use many tried and true methods for acquiring specific skills, my overall teaching strategy varies from student to student, from beginners learning "Smoke on the Water" to advanced students studying bebop improvisation, and everything in between. It is a process of exploration and discovery that we undertake together. The path might be straight and narrow, but it is much more likely to be twisty and full of little detours that make the journey much more exciting than the destination. Which is good, because, truth be told, there is no destination. We are always on the way.
  
  

Read testimonials from some of Mike's current students

Read Mike's First Lesson Primer
(includes complete payment and cancellation policies)

Contact Mike at:
415 260 2091
mike@hotmike.com