"Many of my students have gone into professional music-- recording, performing, and teaching -- others have continued to savor music as a lifelong, passionate pursuit...they all have had my admiration..and undivided attention..."

​​   Call or Email me for further information !                                    

  (410) 446-5109 / ​lh.hoff@comcast.net

LESSONS

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   Students10-85 years of age!

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GUITAR 

Forty Years Experience

I have been playing and teaching professionally for over forty years.

After playing professionally in San Francisco and Cape Cod as a self-taught folk, blues, country artist, I returned to Baltimore and was sought-out by players who approached me for lessons. I analyzed how I  had taught myself, and came up with a unique system of chording, along with finger-style techniques.  

My subsequent jazz studies with Dennis Sandole, the teacher of John Coltrane, Pat Martino, and Jim Hall— among many other jazz giants— added sight-reading / exercises for both left and  right-hand / a scale-system covering the entire neck / an additional, advanced chordal system / and an approach to jazz improvisation, as well as an introduction to all aspects of music theory including extensive work in areas of ear-training and sight-singing.

I later earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Theory and Composition from the Peabody Conservatory

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When the Peabody hired me as faculty, my duties encompassed guitar instruction and all levels of music theory.  I was soon appointed co-chairman of the preparatory theory department there.

 As creator / director of a new jazz department, I founded the first jazz ensemble at Peabody, while teaching jazz improvisation, and music history (classical, blues, and jazz). During that time I also taught courses at the Johns Hopkins Evening College, Johns Hopkins University,  and Goucher College Center.

Playing professionally in Cape Cod, San Francisco, and Baltimore

--I played various styles: acoustic solo; as part of an acoustic duo with bass player and / or  harmonica player, performing blues, folk, country, and original material.

--I also played electric, with a band, (rhythm section plus harmonica )

--in Baltimore, I played in blues and rock bands.. usually party and club dates

---I began playing jazz dates with small groups in the 1970's

---Former educator at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University

-----Co-chairman of the Preparatory Theory Department /All levels of music theory: From basic scales, intervals, and  triads, to creation of fugues and sonata form works. 

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--My students— former and present—include professional musicians now performing, composing, recording, and  teaching and throughout the United States.

My program includes:

___CHORDS---- I teach a thorough understanding of chords, from the simplest to the most complex-- with all voicings and resolutions, as well as how to build and implement them  in all keys and progressions.

____SCALES -- I teach all scales and modes, from the most basic major, minor, blues, and jazz variants to the more obscure and synthetic , and how to implement them in leads, fills, and improvisations.

____ARPEGGIOS .. how to make melodies from the most simple to advanced chords throughout the fingerboard.

____PICK TECHNIQUE .. how to effectively use a flat-pick in various styles, from folk to jazz.

____FINGER PICKING TECHNIQUES.. as used by the great blues, folk, and ragtime players. 

____LEFT HAND TECHNIQUE — exercises to create strength and flexibility in the use of the left hand.

ALSO INCLUDED:

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____MUSIC THEORY —  A fascinating, easy-to-understand study of all aspects of Music Theory as taught in the leading music conservatories in the fields of jazz, classical, and folk music.

____ EAR TRAINING / SIGHT SINGING / RHYTHM TRAINING—You have to hear it before you can play it! essential elements of musicianship as offered and required in the nation’s most prestigious music schools.

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