The Circle Method - Private Music Instruction
Phil Circle has been teaching music for more than twenty years, spending seven years working in schools as a classroom teacher and private tutor, and more than fifteen of his years coaching private students in music stores and home studio and during recording sessions. He has also conducted countless group workshops in everything from guitar performance to building a band and music marketing. With a degree in music composition and performance from Columbia College Chicago and a lifetime of performance and as a songwriter, Phil's knowledge and ability allow him to understand your needs as an aspiring or working musician. Often times, lessons will move into areas of songwriting, how to adapt to a changing music scene, performance techniques (reading the audience, dealing with stage fright, etc.), and what it's like trying to make a living and to live as a creative person.
Currently, Phil is offering private lessons for guitar and vocal performance at Eau Claire Music School. Additionally, he offers workshops on music performance and promotion. Sessions are one hour long and typically are held once a week. His students range from total beginners to working professionals. For guitar, all styles are taught. For voice, all contemporary styles are taught. Sessions are also available via Skype.
The Circle Method of teaching involves tailoring the lessons to the unique needs of each student, while still giving him/her a full understanding of their instrument. All theory is taught as applicable, so there is no erroneous teaching going on. All technique and skill building is designed to complete your knowledge of your instrument so that you can apply it to any style of music or particular song you enjoy.
Music is not something you parrot through imitating what another does, so much as a series of skills you learn in concert with a language that allow you to express on your own terms and with your own creative voice any piece of music, whether you've written it or not. Every time we play an instrument or sing, we are creating from thin air a magical thing that no one can live without. Music permeates all of our lives and all of our waking hours. Make it your own.
Lesson times are limited and vary week to week.
Lessons occur during the daytimes and evenings Monday through Thursday and Saturday noon til 6pm.
Rates are as follows for hour sessions:
Single Lesson Standard Rate: $32 per hour ($16 per half hour)
Discounts can be offered based on financial hardship, just ask.
Group Lesson Rates are also Available.
When students look for one hour group sessions, they will need to have the additional students in mind. For example, many group sessions of this kind have been bands that wanted to work together with Phil Circle to improve their vocal skills.
Occasionally, performance workshops will be scheduled for runs of a month or two. Check back for more information.
Phil Circle is available for outside workshops, in-home lessons, and in-studio coaching and production. Please use the contact page on this site to get more information.
You can read an article I wrote on learning guitar for Teach Street by clicking here.
