Amon Sahelijo
Bachelor of Music from DePaul University
Guitar Instructor
Amon is a versatile guitarist with 10+ years of experience in jazz, rock, and classical music. He studied classical guitar performance at DePaul University’s School of Music and has performed with several ensembles and bands in the Chicagoland area. He loves the guitar for its expressiveness and virtually endless possibilities.
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Why do you play guitar?
There is so much to learn! After playing for 12 years, I’m still discovering new styles and techniques every day. I get so inspired from just noodling around or watching others play. It’s a never-ending process of learning and improving that feels incredibly rewarding. It’s also one of the most expressive instruments that allows players to develop their own style. Why do you teach other people to play the guitar? I think the guitar is especially fun because of its sheer amount of opportunities. You can accompany yourself as a singer-songwriter, or learn your favorite licks and become a great lead player. You can play just about any genre and arrange your favorite songs for the guitar because of how open and accessible it is. I love the feeling of helping a student figure out the part to their favorite song because it’s a joy that I still feel every time I learn something new. |
What makes your teaching style unique?
Everyone has their own musical tastes and goals when it comes to learning an instrument. I tailor each lesson to the student’s interests while also offering ideas that I think will inspire them. I try to help students overcome technical obstacles in a way that is intuitive and fun. I also encourage improvisation, writing, and collaboration as a way to develop their own unique style and ideas. What do you do in a first lesson with a student? I will ask them what kind of music they’re into and what they would like to learn. I’ll then assess their technical ability and figure out a suitable goal. For beginners, I’ll have them focus on staying relaxed and focused. No matter what skill level, I want to help them improve both in and outside of the lesson with an assignment to work on; my main goal is for the student to feel inspired to continue playing when they get home. |
