Guitar Instruction
It’s important to ask the right questions when looking for a guitar teacher.
Here are a few you should ask, with my answers.

1- Are you a professional, full-time musician?
How often do you perform in public?
What styles do you play when you perform?
Are you a member of the Musicians’ Association of Ottawa-Gatineau [union]?

Peter Forêt: I’ve been a full-time professional musician since 1972, and currently average 3-4 gigs per week. I’ve played classic rock, mainstream jazz, Latin jazz, acoustic pop/folk/blues, funk/smooth jazz, country. I’ve played theatre shows, recording sessions, and telethons. I perform with my own bands and free-lance with many groups from the region. I’ve been a member of the Musicians’ Association of Ottawa-Gatineau, local 180, since 1983.

2- Where did you receive your training?
How long have you been teaching?
What guitar methods and materials do you use?
What other resources do you use?
Is your teaching studio properly equipped [sound system, computer, music books, audio files, etc]?

PF: I received my training at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
I’ve been teaching since 1982. Some of my students have gone on to study music in university and play professionally.
I use William Leavitt’s Modern Method for Guitar [vols. 1, 2 and 3, from Berklee Press].
I supplement this method with many other materials intended to have my students playing music as soon as possible. In lessons we perform rock, pop or jazz classics, learn to improvise, learn music theory, and read music.
Unlike the small, bare rooms you find in music stores and academies, our studio is large [12’x15’], well-ventilated, equipped with computer, sound system, guitar amps and effects and stocked with hundreds of instructional mp3s, music books and materials.

3- I want to learn to strum a few chords to accompany my voice. Can you show me?

PF: I can. Unlike most guitar teachers I’m also a professional singer, and I have a large repertoire of folk, classic rock, pop, blues, and country. Once I’ve introduced some basic techniques to you we start rehearsing songs right away.

4- Do I have to sign a contract?

PF: No, you don’t have to. However, I ask that you pay in advance one month at a time, but you can cancel lessons at any time and I will refund the balance. You can postpone a lesson at any time before the lesson, no charge, as long as you call me to let me know. If you’d like, you can pay for one “trial” lesson [your first lesson] before paying in advance.

5- How long is a lesson? How often? What do you charge?

PF: For beginners, a ½ hour lesson, once a week, is recommended.
The fee is $20. For intermediate and advanced students, 55 minutes is
best, either once a week or once every 2 weeks. The fee is $40.

6- Do you have references?

PF: Yes. I will provide references, if requested.

7- Donnez-vous des cours en français?

PF : No, but I’ve taught many francophone students who spoke a little bit of
English, and I can respond with a mix of the 2 languages.

Peter Forêt
501 Court
Gatineau,(Aylmer sector)
819-685-0610
p.foret@videotron.ca

Peter and the Wolves: Love Hate thing:, our latest CD.
Buy Love/Hate Thing CD or MP3's

Peter and the Wolves can perform in three different formats to suit
your budget. The 3-piece band is guitar, keyboard/bass and drums.
The 5-piece is guitar, keyboards, bass, drums and Latin percussion, or
add trumpet, 2 saxes and trombone for the 9-piece band.

My Space:
http://www.myspace.com/peterandwolves

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=635050876&ref=name

Reverbnation:
http://www.reverbnation.com/peterandthewolves