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Mark Newstetter - Balboa Guitars

Contact for price

Interested musical styles
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About
I'm devoted to teaching. This is not merely a sideline for me. I've put over twenty years into developing my teaching method and have had hundreds of students who have found great enjoyment playing their favorite music and learning about the way music really works! I really enjoy seeing a student develop new skills. Some people take longer than others, and I enjoy the challenge of finding what works for each student. It's my job as a teacher to adapt my method to the individual.
Overview

Hired 14 times

1 employee

17 years in business

Business hours

Sun11:00 am - 7:00 pmMon11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Payment methods

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Services offered

Interested musical styles

Rock

Blues

Classical

Country

Work location

My customers travel to me

Doesn’t offer: I travel to my customers

Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Exceptional 5.0

13 reviews

5

100%

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pro avatar
Jake P.

Apr 27, 2014

Hired on Thumbtack

I hired Mark to teach my roommate guitar: Great intro to guitar for a beginner! I tried to teach myself years ago so had some rough semblance of understanding of what a guitar is, but no real training and no true guitar playing skills. Mark walked me through the basics including the rhythmic and mathematical patterns to learn how to play going forward, not just for our one-hour lesson. He catered the lesson to my understanding and the progress I made along the way. I’m not riffing or moving onto electric guitar just yet, but Mark did a great job for a first lesson. I’ve already set up follow-up lessons to continue with Mark. Logistically, Mark came to my place so it was super easy and he was very flexible with timing for the lesson. He has score sheets to walk you through notes, chords, etc. and uses colored pencils to really show you what is happening on the page so that you can easily translate it into the guitar. Super nice and encouraging. He also did a good job balancing time on and off the guitar so that I was able to play around but also retain some knowledge to practice on my own. Great lesson and instructor!
Guitar Lessons
pro avatar
Marcello M.

Aug 3, 2014

Hired on Thumbtack

Mark is an amazing teacher. I had a great time with him learning music theory and bass. I would definitely recommend him anytime. Couldn't have been better.
Music Theory Lessons
pro avatar
Rick L.

Dec 28, 2013

I began lessons with Mark as an adult who had been soured on music lessons as a kid. I was a 3 chord player (not a good one) who wanted to learn music and the instrument. Mark has patiently made me a better player (and better appreciator of music) than I would have thought possible. He is a master at teaching the fretboard, chord construction, how to deal with difficulties and how to enjoy what you are doing. I know now more theory than I thought possible. Picking up the guitar is now one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things I do, and I have Mark to thank.
pro avatar
Pidge M.

Oct 25, 2014

Mark is an exceptional guitar teacher. I came to him when I was "relearning" guitar, after about a 12 year hiatus from when I initially learned to play. His teaching style is simultaneously relaxed and laser-focused, which makes for enjoyable lessons that also really help me to achieve significant progress week over week. He gives great, specific feedback and it's always in a positive context. His own guitar playing is amazing, and his knowledge of music and music theory is expert-level. He is always very flexible in terms of focusing on what is most important to me -- he easily shifts gears between teaching me fundamentals, to working on specific songs I'm learning to play, to helping me understand chord theory and musical notation, to giving me feedback and help in arranging songs that I am writing. I have worked with a lot of music teachers over the 35 years that I have sung and played music (guitar, piano, clarinet, and voice) and Mark is the best of the best. His lessons are worth so much more than what he charges -- every session is master class level.
pro avatar
Tommy S.

Jan 3, 2014

FAQs

  • What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

    Lessons rates are; $50 for an individual one hour lesson $270 for a series of 6 lessons. ($45 per hour/lesson) This rate includes my lesson book worth $20 $400 for a series of 10 lessons. ($40 per hour/lesson) This rate also includes my lesson book worth $20

  • How did you get started doing this type of work?

    I've been playing the guitar since I was nine years old. By the time I was in my thirties I had played at dozens of clubs, been in a few bands and had extensive performing experience as a solo artist. It's tough making money as a musician, so I've had many "day jobs" over the years, but splitting your life in two also takes its toll. Teaching guitar has enabled me to keep my whole life focused on what I love most.

  • What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

    Students sometimes think that they have to please the teacher. As far as I'm concerned, the only person a guitar student needs to please is their self. Getting good on the guitar is the result of diligent practice. You have to enjoy the process. Ultimately others will enjoy hearing you play when you've reached a certain level of proficiency. My job is to help you get there - but you're not doing it for me, but for yourself.