It's guitarist-songwriter mentorship, not merely "guitar lessons."

Based on your goals, I’ll assess the areas we should work on, and together, we’ll build a plan for helping you achieve them.

It might involve improving your folk guitar technique to help you add inspiration, maturity, and emotional depth to your playing and writing.

We could cover a range of topics, including fingerpicking technique, chord inversions, melodic theory, strumming, song arranging, creating impactful lyrics, etc.

But we'll also improve your originals, write new songs together, learn the theory that drives great songwriting, and discuss the latest music biz updates to help you share your music...

From beginner to seasoned artist ready to release their music to the world, these sessions are tailored to where you're at in your journey - with the goal of helping you become the guitarist-songwriter you've always dreamed of being.

Hell yes, we can work on whatever helps you achieve your goals. Some of my most fulfilling sessions involve refining original songs.

Typically, I don't work with folks under 15/16 years old, unless the person demonstrates a serious passion and willingness to put in the work required to become a guitarist-songwriter.

If you think your kiddo checks those boxes, we can try a free mini lesson to see if it’s a good fit.

*Pricing has changed recently, so please check below for details:

Private Lessons
(Online or In-Person)
$100 - (45 minutes)

No other costs are incurred.

Be on the lookout! I’ll run monthly specials with lesson-pack discounts!

That’s right!

I know people have different needs and I’m happy to accommodate by offering lessons:

1. Online

2. In-person, at my home studio

All pricing is the same, as noted in the Pricing section.

*The option to play with amps/drums and record demos is only available for students who attend sessions at my home studio.

I teach from absolute beginner to intermediate guitarists. We all gotta start somewhere! If you’re experienced, get in touch, I may be able to provide instruction for you depending on what you’re looking for. If not, I’ll provide suggestions for other teachers.

Hell yeah, they do! Zoom sessions are incredibly effective and offer the safety and convenience of never leaving home (let’s be honest - not changing out of their sweatpants). Oftentimes, people prefer online because it allows the sharing of documents directly to your screen.

In-person: A guitar, a pen, a smartphone, and a notebook.

Online: a guitar (acoustic or electric), a strong internet connection, a quiet room, a Zoom account, headphones (any quality level)

I offer music sessions in my home studio located in Old Lyme, CT.

Sure, here are some links to a live performance:

• Live in the NYC subways

Here’s a link to a playlist with some of my recorded music:

• This is James A.M. Downes on Spotify

I request that we all wear masks until the Covid numbers chill out.

My family is exercising caution because we have a young child who isn’t able to be vaccinated yet. Thank you for understanding.

If you still have questions, you can email me here: james@forestparkdiy.com