I believe each student requires their own unique approach, but there are common themes that I try to implment with most students:
I encourage every student to persue an optional project of some kind, and I've found tremendous success with students who engage with this idea. Examples include my very own biannual concerts, recording a song here in my studio, starting their own social media channel through YouTube, starting a band with friends or classmates, etc.
Whenever possible, I incorporate the latest technology into my lessons in ways that continue to make learning to play an instrument much easier. I'm also a software developer, and I am continually working to grow and improve my own guitar learning platform, Stringsmith. I use and highly recommend Guitar Pro software, and all students have access to my 50% off code to buy it yourself.
Musicians view songs as a fluid collection of ideas, and the same song can be played many different ways and at different skill levels. In most cases, when we work on songs together, I'll transpose a version of it that is both fun and challenging for you. We call this the zone of proximal development, and it is the sweet spot for quick and effective learning.
Lessons are offered in 30 minute recurring weekly blocks at the following times:
| Mon-Thu | 4:30pm - 8:00pm |
| Fri | 4:30pm - 6:00pm |
| Sun | 10:00am - 12:00pm |
Students interested in longer or more frequent lessons are welcome to book multiple spots.
Lessons are held at my home music studio in Fletcher Hills, CA. As this is my personal residence as well, the address is not listed here and is provided upon booking a lesson.
I also offer lessons online via Zoom. These lessons can be much more convenient, but I don't recommend them for all situations. Feel free to reach out if this is something you'd like to discuss!
Fees are the same every month, regardless of attendance or the number of weeks/lessons in the month.
Most months will include 4 weekly lessons; some will include an extra 5th depending on how the calendar lines up.
$120/month
Cash, personal check, Venmo, Zelle, Paypal
Good attendance is expected of every student.
Missed lessons can be rescheduled as long as they are cancelled in the app with two hours notice.
Missed lessons do not reduce monthly fees - fees are the same regardless of attendance.
New students can begin in the middle of the month at a prorated fee based on the number of remaining weeks in the month.
My home studio is both a fun and professional environment for kids and adults alike to learn. When you arrive, you'll enter into the waiting room where you can access the wifi and use the restroom while you wait. Parents are welcome to sit in on lessons, wait in the waiting room, or drop their kiddos off, so long as they are sure to return before the end of the lesson.
Studio (daytime)
Studio (daytime)
Studio (daytime)
Studio (daytime)
Studio (nighttime)
Studio (nighttime)
Studio (nighttime)
Studio (nighttime)
Studio (nighttime)
Studio (nighttime)
Studio (nighttime)
Waiting Room
Waiting Room
Waiting Room
Waiting Room
My name is Tim and I teach guitar under the name of The La Mesa String School. I'm a La Mesa native. I picked up the guitar early in grade school and I've been playing ever since. In the 20 some years since then, I've learned from many of San Diego's best guitar instructors. I spent several years after high school in a band gaining experience as both a musician and a businessman. We were signed to a record label, released one album and then promptly broke up!
I began working for the La Mesa/Spring Valley School District in 2006 in the after school program with children grades K-8th. For several years I taught my very own RockStar Guitar Troupe, traveling to various schools throughout the district to teach guitar and culminating in a student concert. In 2009 I began offering private guitar lessons while attending San Diego State University. As I continued to teach, I began to develop a deep interest in music pedagogy and in finding ways to help my students learn quickly and more effectively. In the years since then, I've prided myself in offering innovative and effective ideas to improve my lessons and help students learn quickly and more effectively.
Around 2021 I returned to school myself to study software development. In 2024 I left the LMSV school district to pursue a career in software development. I now work as a web developer for a media company in San Francisco and continue to teach in the evenings. In my spare time I'm continuing to develop Stringsmith, my very own guitar learning and practice platform, which I hope to launch in early 2025.
As 2024 begins to conclude, I'm still working closely with the LMSV school district to construct a very exciting and elaborate stage set and lighting system for future String School concerts and school events. The set I've designed and am constructing alongside the Parkway Academy engineering class will outshine almost any real concert venue in San Diego, and I'm beyond excited to unveil this at the next concert in March 2025!
Home Studio, 2022
Soma San Diego, circa 2005
Soma San Diego, circa 2005
Soma San Diego, circa 2005
Soma San Diego, circa 2005
Starlight Theater, Los Angeles 2013