"Az is one of the most passionate and approachable teacher that I have known. I have always wanted to learn to play a guitar but having a hectic schedule at work, I didn't pursue the interest thinking guitar lessons will be a routine and not feasible to be built into my plan. Having said that I realised that Az provided a flexible solutions to deal with the situation. Afterall my goal is not to sit for exams or to add stress to the learning experience. So indeed we managed to work on a plan for lessons to be managed with a balance of my work schedule of which I appreciate the most.
Being a beginner, I had to shop for a guitar for the first time and Az helped me out by taking time to share his knowledge on what are the things that I should look out for in buying a guitar and made the whole experience less intimidating and enjoyable.
I enjoyed taking classes with Az because he allowed me to progress at my own pace and he would translate 'technical' terms in a basic manner that can be understood easily for a beginner. There is always room for questions and creative approach taken by Az to explain the 'why' and 'how' throughout the lesson.
Indeed he has planted a seed of interest to continue to learn to play the guitar and making it a fun and fruitful experience for me."
Samantha Lee, Beginner Guitar Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
________________________________
"I was lucky enough to have a 2 hour lesson with Az each weekday for two weeks. Prior to meeting Az I was a competent electric rhythm and lead player. Having a degree in composition I had good theory knowledge and interest in analysing music. I was hoping to expand my acoustic playing techniques and to have challenging conversations about music in general and guitar in particular.
Each lesson was unique, this was great for me as Az and I did a very satisfying mix of playing and talking. We challenged each other and enjoyed the exchange of knowledge and opinion on music playing, composing, listening and also life in general.
When demonstrating techniques or pieces Az was very patient and considerate and moved at the pace that suited me. He also allowed me to video key aspects of lessons.
Each day I looked forward to the lesson and wondered what it would bring. I was never disappointed, the lessons were stimulating, challenging and fun.
Each day I left wanting more, but also intellectually spent as we covered a lot of ideas and materials in each session which suited my level of understanding and skill.
I am a much better player following our series of lessons, I have a friend in Malaysia and I learnt a lot about music, playing and life through my interactions with Az.
Thank you Az for sharing your knowledge, passion and skills with me. With eternal gratitude. Mat "
Mat, Acoustic Guitar & Music Theory Student, Christmas Island, Australia
________________________________
"Like most guitar enthusiasts, I started off young, enthusiastic and eager to learn, but eventually lost my zeal and got stuck in a rut with the same licks and chord progressions. Even though I wanted so much to learn about jazz guitar playing, the online resources available kept me away with their complex lingo on jazz standards and music theory. So when I heard about Az, I immediately called about classes.
I can remember the first class with Az so vividly, the way he handles guitar classes is truly a breath of fresh air. Always smiling and warm, he unravelled the basic jazz chords, as well as their arpeggios within the first lesson. I remember driving back and trying to recall all that I had learnt, and telling my mom how much I had enjoyed the class. Moreover, taking classes with Az has reinvigorated my desire to improve and practice harder than before. He has also opened up my playing from being a purely 'pentatonic scale' player to venture beyond my comfort zones on the fretboard. To put it in a nutshell, I've truly rediscovered my passion for the guitar.
From my experience with guitar teachers, I can testify that not all great guitar players make great guitar teachers. But Az is the exception to this rule, and I can't wait to get back to classes with him, so that I can continue learning! "
Arwin Goo, Jazz Guitar Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
________________________________
"Studying guitar with Az Samad is awesome. The 2 months of Jazz Guitar Masterclass is a kickass journey for me, made my money well spent. Haha. Az Samad's teachings is so well structured. Talking about soloing over changes, I spent most of my time finding more licks to solo, so that I don't play the same licks over and over again in every song. After I started Az Samad's lesson, I understand that being able to play a good solo is more than just practicing licks ! Hahaha. Good one.
We talked about how to explore and practice chord voicings, melodic comping, writing lines over changes, rhythmic and melodic motif development . Trust me, Az Samad is a friendly guy and it's really easy for me to get information from Teacher Az in any topic related to guitar. At least enough for a year to practice I can say. Hahaha.
Now that I've completed this 2 months Jazz Guitar Course, I feel better at understanding about Jazz Guitar. One of the most important information that I've got from Teacher Az Samad is, there are too many things for us to practice, we have to be sure what is our goal and we want to achieve so that we can have a good direction to plan for our every practice session. Really appreciate all the information I got from classes and I'm PROUD to be Az Samad's student ! =)"
Chee Seng, Music College Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
_________________________________
"Before I join Az's class I had already learn and play for 4 years but all the while, my overall playing still quite stiff especially the percussive techniques that I learnt from Youtube. After getting his lessons, my previous weaknesses such as playing with no emotions, stiff techniques have removed! Moreover, after the lessons, I get to learn many things that are more than my expectations. Aside from the percussive techniques, I'd even discover my own play style and learn the way to compose guitar fingerstyle music. Aside from these, Az is also a very helpful and friendly mentor as he always provides me with good resources and suggestions even outside of class time. Finally, I can say is that my guitar playing skill has been ultimately reached the next level."
Lai Ze Ren, Fingerstyle Guitar Course Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
__________________________
"Learning with Az has been a unique experience, full of many paths and unexpected turns that have lead to satisfying places and better playing. Until recently, I've been a self-taught guitarist for the past 30 years. Initially, I figured we would need to spend time working on my incorrect ways of playing. But that didn't happen. Az saw these not as bad habits, but as other ways of playing. He urged me to build and add new voicing and phrases, as a way to add to my collection of existing techniques. In a very short period of time, I've found myself exploring the fretboard with a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity that I haven't experienced in years, and as a result, my playing and compositions have benefitted greatly.Az is probably one of the few instructors who knows how to engage his students, customize lessons, and enable you to discover what you're truly capable of."
Eric Hausmann, Multi-Instrumentalist & Composer, Skype Guitar Student, Portland, Oregon, USA
__________________________
"I have owned a guitar for 10 years before I finally decided to do something with it, and I picked the right teacher. Az seems to have a knack for mind-reading as he is able to dissect and explain the music to me even before I know what questions to ask. His emphasis on learning the basics well has helped me build a sound foundation to progress much faster.
One of the most helpful tools that Az uses well is technology. His videos of the songs and techniques that I'm learning let me review the lessons on my own, and has helped me learn so much better. Guitar is fun!"
Carolyn Hong, Beginner Guitar Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"Az is a guitar genius. Studying jazz guitar with him is a most eye-opening, musically-inspiring journey. His really unique approach to common musical challenges never fails to amaze me. What's best is Az teaches one "how to fish instead of giving him/her a fish", i really appreciate how he teaches one how to apply concepts, how to approach musical raw material and how to practice - which is knowledge that I can apply throughout my musical journey in life. His teaching style is really great too, as he is really friendly, concise and to-the-point. What's really cool too is that Az can make genres like funk sound really good on a classical guitar hahaha ! Az's mastery of any musical material he is working on is so admirable. I daresay Az is my most favorite guitar teacher ! :D"
Sapphire Ng, Music College Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
__________________________
"My lessons with Az was one of my most fruitful and provocative experiences in my 'guitaring' adventures. Being a guitar teacher myself, i noticed that Az's teaching technique is comprehensive and he would always managed to keep 'boring' subjects interesting and fun for the students. I was always excited to attend his classes although it would take 5 hours to reach his apartment (I'm from Penang, by the way!)!! Besides being an awesome performer, he's a great teacher and he'd emphasize on details of techniques from various perspectives. Flexibility is his 'middle' name and I'm happy that each lesson is somehow customized to my needs rather than a fixed or rigid syllabus. Thanks Az! "
Richard Leong, Professional Guitar Teacher, Penang, Malaysia
__________________________
"I'm a self-taught guitarist and have been playing for 12 years now. I started with piano lessons till Grade 5 but I never quite liked the piano, so I taught myself guitar instead. Thanks to the internet and Youtube, I've managed to learn quite a fair bit - till I hit the ceiling of free self-learning about 5 years ago. Try as I might, I could never get myself to the next level, and I started giving up and thought "this is the best I'll ever get". That was until I met Az.
I signed up for four weeks with Az, with high expectations and "big problems" that I wondered if we could cover in time. I wanted to master the fretboard, be able to play further than the 4th fret, understand jazz basics, play some harmonics - stuff like that - and I figured we'd need months and months for that. Az blew that out of the water - I knew how to master the fretboard within my first hour with him. Mind = blown.
In the weeks to come, Az not only taught me all I wanted to learn; he also corrected the many little errors I had in my playing that I never knew existed, and taught me so much about the guitar that I now have enough practice material to last me at least 6 months. All in very easy-to-understand lessons with no funky guitar jargon. He's incredibly easy to work with, is really patient, and best of all - he *knows* what exactly to teach and how to achieve my goals that there is no wasted time. I've learnt more in those 4 weeks than in my 5 years fumbling around in the dark.
True, Az's prices are premium prices - it's no secret that you can take normal guitar classes for a fraction of the price. But you don't get "normal" teaching with Az - you get customised, condensed, *premium* stuff that you absolutely cannot get anywhere else for this kind of price. Don't let the casual, down-to-earth look fool you. This guy knows his stuff, and he is amazing at teaching that stuff to you.
If his credentials listed in his website isn't enough to convince you, then let me leave you with this: If I had a choice to go back in time and decide whether or not to sign up for Az Samad's uber-premium classes - I would. Ten times out of ten. And I'm already planning to continue my classes once I've mastered what I've learnt so far.
Just sign up with him already. You will not regret it."
Michael Kwan, Tech Geek & Guitar Enthusiast, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"Az Samad was amazing when he came to work with us as the Jazz Consultant for the Young KL Singers' 10th Anniversary Concert, Popzzical! Knowledgeable and funny, he helped us understand the historical context behind Ain't Misbehavin', making good use of YouTube videos to highlight the different ways the song could be interpreted. He was also instrumental in getting us to groove properly for the rhythmic Sinaran, with his engaging and effective advice that was very easily grasped by all 40 of our members. He definitely helped us bring out the best in our jazz numbers for our concert. Thanks, Az!"
"I'm a 30-something, tone deaf IT professional and a father of 3 kids under 6. My previous music education ended after my third piano class when I was about 8 and the only other instrument I played and was decent at in school was the triangle. If Az can teach me to play the guitar like a warrior mariachi and tell apart mexican and spanish finger styles, imagine what magic he can work for you and your guitar.His brilliance on stage is only overshadowed by his patience and creativity in teaching. He doesn't just show you the techniques, he makes you fall in love with the guitar."
Wu Han Ngeow, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"I was interested in learning more about song writing, but have always had the fear of writing my ideas and having others listen to them. I had a Skype session with Az and learned about many a variety of valuable things, such as where to get an idea and how to translate that idea into a musical composition. I wrote my first song (Night, in Farsi, “Shab”) in 15 minutes, and I was actually pleased with it. It is amazing how creative one can get if the motivation and excitement is behind a project. Az gave me the motivation to get started. I am not a composer and did not study composition at music school, I am a vocalist who has very little knowledge of the 'rules of composition,' yet, Az created a very friendly environment that taught me and my boyfriend (an engineer) how to get our ideas organized and use them in making some very fun musical projects."
Sara Renee Morajev, Professional Vocalist & Music Educator, Livermore, California.
__________________________
"I have been playing for about five years before enrolling with Az Samad. I have gone to a few guitar classes before but I remained stuck in a rut. It was frustrating.
A friend suggested Az Samad whom he saw performing and true enough, his vast musical knowledge and performing experience helped me a lot. My guitar playing improved by leaps and bounds. His approach to teaching guitar is very systematic, helped greatly by his personality that truly inspiring. We started with minor pentatonic before moving to major pentatonic. By my third class, listening to a song became a new experience and I could identify and understood the mechanic behind the songwriting, as if a veil has been removed.
With the help of Line 6 JM4 looper, I practiced what I have been taught and voila, I found myself jamming for hours. The best part was when my wife complimented my playing. Initially she thought it was the stereo.
If you are serious about guitar playing, I recommend my sifu very highly. Go to him and you will be surprised by how fast you can improve. He inspires me to improve and he will do the same to you too."
Hisham Zaman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"My name is Amirhooman and I major in music and before taking classes with Az Samad I was lost I didn't know how to get my tone how to apply the theory on my playing and much more in one sentence AZ SAMAD WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO PLAY THE GUITAR AND NOT THE GUITAR PLAYING YOU and my playing changed from the first hour of the class. And he is a true mentor."
Amirhooman Hesmati, Music College Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"I learnt more than I ever did in the past few months with my previous guitar teacher simply because he (Az) can effectively get the message across while keeping the subject matter simple. You won't regret it!"
Arthur Song, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"Az Samad is a wonderful musician and teacher. He is familiar with a vast array of guitar styles and techniques from classical to contemporary. What's more, he knows how explain the guitar in simple terms."
Eli Harrison, M.Mus. student, San Francisco, California.
__________________________
"Az has a flawless technique for teaching guitar concepts, and is one of the top guitar players in the Bay Area. I highly recommend him for lessons or gigs!"
Keith Hunter, SJSU Music Education and Trombone Performance major, San Jose, California.
__________________________
"Az Samad is not only an incredible performer but has the ability to explain the techniques behind his phenomenal playing. His knowledge expands from Classical to nearly every contemporary style under the sun. Along with his teaching skills, Az has the ability to truly inspire his students to be outstanding musicians. Mr. Samad's teaching style is perfect for beginner, intermediate and advanced students!"
Alex Upegui, SJSU B.A. in Vocal Performance, San Jose, California.
__________________________
"Through our weekly guitar lessons, Az has inspired me in fingerstyle guitar. Our musical pursuits in class as student and teacher have broaden both our musical interests in terms of genre; our sources of music come from the current Top 40s to videos on YouTube, to classical sheet music. Az is an awesome teacher who is passionate about every song he plays."
Johnny Wong, High School Student, Fremont, California.
__________________________
"As a student of many guitar instructors, Mr. Az Samad stands among the greats. His humble and patient approach, along with a wide breadth of knowledge, combines to create a perfect learning environment. Mr. Samad has an innate ability to pinpoint problem areas and focus your practice in a way that is enjoyable and highly productive. Simply put, a lesson with Mr. Samad is a truly 'Azesome' experience."
Mason Hutchinson, SJSU Undergraduate, San Jose, California.
__________________________
" My lessons with Az has turned out to be one of the most valuable and worthwhile experience throughout all the time I've spent on the guitar. It is not just the instruction of technique but the impartation of his experiences, thoughts & observations, interjected with humour and good advice that sets him apart from the rest. Highly skilled and an excellent teacher, Az is a must for anyone looking to improve themselves as a guitarist. "
Aidan Chung, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"Az Samad was born to play teach and play the guitar! He is a natural! His style of teaching is easy to understand. Each time I met with him I was amazed at how easily he could get his point across. Every time I asked him a question in class, he was always knew the answer. Az is an excellent teacher! He is patient, kind and an expert at his craft! You will do well to learn from him." Barbara Ramos, SJSU Music Education Major, San Jose, California.
__________________________
"As a private student of Az, I can simply say that no other private lesson I've attended was as comprehensive for both practical & theory. Not a single minute was wasted. The session I attended filled me full of new knowledge & vision that I later applied to my very own music.
Az was so helpful that he was even willing to let me organize a group workshop for my guitar community, ACPickers. Everyone who attended the workshop had nothing but good things to say and were satisfied with the overall output! I'm already looking forward for the next one which is coming soon at the end of the year!
Az is not only a great performer - full of sense of humor but also great educator who is willing to teach and share all that he has learnt and experienced!" Yowech Yong, Guitarist and Music Teacher, Malacca, Malaysia.
Thomas Leeb Residential Acoustic Guitar Workshop [SOLD OUT] (with Thomas Leeb, Jon Gomm, Mike Dawes, George Lowden, Wilfried Lepuschitz and Az Samad) Turracher Höhe, Austria, July 13th - 19th 2013
How to practice: 1. Play the G13 chord 2. Play the G7 arpeggio 3. Alternate playing the chord and the arpeggio 4. Slowly play Line #1 (a few notes at a time until you can play the entire phrase) 5. Alternate playing the G13 chord & Line #1. This will get the sound of the line over the chord in your ears and fingers. 6. Repeat for Line #2. 7. Try writing 2 of your own lines. Experiment & have fun! =)
Here's a piece I wrote for intermediate guitar students looking to learn more chords in the key of A minor. It's inspired by the classical guitar studies I used to play when I started learning guitar.
One of the things I use a lot are blank chord diagrams to draw interesting chord forms that I find on the guitar. Here's a template that you can print and use. It's the same one I used to write the chords above! =)
Imagine playing your favorite Jazz Standard like your favorite guitarists - without getting frustrated figuring out how to turn random scales, chords, licks and vocabulary you’ve been practicing into music...
Have you been learning Jazz Guitar but still get stuck?
Do you learn how to solo but everything still seems so rigid and lick-based?
Do you ever feel like you ‘sort of’ know a song but never really get it?
Does your single note soloing sound epic BUT your comping sound boring?
A lot of people buy instructional books, watch YouTube videos, download lessons from the Internet...
But that’s easy to do. Information is easy to find but...
The question is:
How much of this is getting into your actual playing? How can you actually sound more awesome? How can you improve your improv?
Welcome to the [Jazz Guitar Masterclass]
In this epic 2-month course, you’ll learn Jazz Guitar by directly working on the repertoire.
You’ll learn a song and you learn it inside-out.
The same song is studied:
melody+ harmony (via chord melody)
harmonically (comping)
melodically (improv)
We meet twice a month in 1-on-1 private lessons. Each class lasts 2 hours. We work on 1 song for one month.
And, in the process, you’ll learn how to create idiomatic Jazz phrases, understand how to memorize the song, comp beautiful voice-lead phrases that enhance the music, and be on the way to being an awesome confident Jazz Guitarist.
This is how the classes will be:
[1st Month]
Class 1
30 min - Harmony 30 min - Improv 15 min - BREAK 45 min - Chord Melody
Class 2
30 min - Review of material 30 min - Harmony 15 min - BREAK 30 min - Improv 15 min - Jam / Recording / Analysis
[2nd Month]
Class 3
30 min - Harmony 30 min - Improv 15 min - BREAK 45 min - Chord Melody
Class 4
30 min - Review of material 30 min - Harmony 15 min - BREAK 30 min - Improv 15 min - Jam / Recording/ Analysis (REVIEW of 2-month progress, next steps etc.)
WHAT YOU GET:
Learn how to sound awesome on a song Learn it inside-out & master the song Recordings + Critique of your playing in every class.
Some of the concepts we will be covering in the classes:
1. Improvisation Arpeggios Phrasing Concepts Building Lines Approach Notes
Basically, you'll learn how to create lines that sound Jazz AND you'll understand how it works!
Here's an example of how you use triads in your lines:
Don't just sound like you learned some chords from a book! You'll learn the chord voicings that the Pros use AND how they use it! After every class, you'll be one step closer to voicing mastery!
Here's 3 videos that give you an idea of some of things you'll get to learn (but even more in-depth and personalized when you're enrolled in the course!):
How to Play Walking Bass Lines:
How to Play Jazz Guitar Voicings:
How to Use Melodic Comping:
3. Chord Melody
2 (TWO) Chord Melody Studies - one every other class
Choices:
Autumn Leaves Beautiful Love Blue Bossa Misty Satin Doll Stella By Starlight Someday My Prince Will Come My Favorite Things
You'll learn how to play idiomatic Chord Melody arrangements inspired by Solo Jazz Guitarists like Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Ted Greene and Ben Monder!
[NOTE]: The arrangements will be specific to your level so if you can already play a chord melody version of the song then you'll learn how to take your arrangement to the next level!
Here’s how my lessons have helped previous/current students:
"Az is a guitar genius.Studying jazz guitar with him is a most eye-opening, musically-inspiring journey. His really unique approach to common musical challenges never fails to amaze me. What's best is Az teaches one "how to fish instead of giving him/her a fish", i really appreciate how he teaches one how to apply concepts, how to approach musical raw material and how to practice - which is knowledge that I can apply throughout my musical journey in life. His teaching style is really great too, as he is really friendly, concise and to-the-point. What's really cool too is that Az can make genres like funk sound really good on a classical guitar hahaha ! Az's mastery of any musical material he is working on is so admirable. I daresay Az is my most favorite guitar teacher ! :D" Sapphire Ng, Music College Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
__________________________
"My lessons with Az was one of my most fruitful and provocative experiences in my 'guitaring' adventures. Being a guitar teacher myself, i noticed that Az's teaching technique is comprehensive and he would always managed to keep 'boring' subjects interesting and fun for the students. I was always excited to attend his classes although it would take 5 hours to reach his apartment (I'm from Penang, by the way!)!! Besides being an awesome performer, he's a great teacher and he'd emphasize on details of techniques from various perspectives. Flexibility is his 'middle' name and I'm happy that each lesson is somehow customized to my needs rather than a fixed or rigid syllabus. Thanks Az! " Richard Leong, Professional Guitar Teacher, Penang, Malaysia
__________________________
"Can't wait to practice guitar and add these tools you've given me into my songwriting. You're an AMAZING teacher and guitarist, hands down!" Grace Sng, Emerton Records Artist, Vancouver, British Columbia
__________________________
"I'm a 30-something, tone deaf IT professional and a father of 3 kids under 6. My previous music education ended after my third piano class when I was about 8 and the only other instrument I played and was decent at in school was the triangle. If Az can teach me to play the guitar like a warrior mariachi and tell apart mexican and spanish finger styles, imagine what magic he can work for you and your guitar.His brilliance on stage is only overshadowed by his patience and creativity in teaching. He doesn't just show you the techniques, he makes you fall in love with the guitar." Wu Han Ngeow, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"I have been playing for about five years before enrolling with Az Samad. I have gone to a few guitar classes before but I remained stuck in a rut. It was frustrating.
A friend suggested Az Samad whom he saw performing and true enough, his vast musical knowledge and performing experience helped me a lot. My guitar playing improved by leaps and bounds. His approach to teaching guitar is very systematic, helped greatly by his personality that truly inspiring. We started with minor pentatonic before moving to major pentatonic. By my third class, listening to a song became a new experience and I could identify and understood the mechanic behind the songwriting, as if a veil has been removed.
With the help of Line 6 JM4 looper, I practiced what I have been taught and voila, I found myself jamming for hours. The best part was when my wife complimented my playing. Initially she thought it was the stereo.
If you are serious about guitar playing, I recommend my sifu very highly. Go to him and you will be surprised by how fast you can improve. He inspires me to improve and he will do the same to you too." Hisham Zaman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"My name is Amirhooman and I major in music and before taking classes with Az Samad I was lost I didn't know how to get my tone how to apply the theory on my playing and much more in one sentence AZ SAMAD WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO PLAY THE GUITAR AND NOT THE GUITAR PLAYING YOU and my playing changed from the first hour of the class. And he is a true mentor." Amirhooman Hesmati, Music College Student, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"I learnt more than I ever did in the past few months with my previous guitar teacher simply because he (Az) can effectively get the message across while keeping the subject matter simple. You won't regret it!" Arthur Song, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"We all know that Az is a great guitarist, but he's an exceptional teacher. Learning guitar with him totally exceeded my expectations. It's not just his attention to technical detail that improved my playing. He adjusted the teachings to my current level of skills and, most importantly, taught me what I want to achieve. Within the first two lessons, I understood the guitar better than I ever had before. I no longer need a chord book. Best of all, I now have the freedom to compose new chord progressions, experiment with new sounds, play around with fingerstyle dynamics, and take my songwriting to a whole new level! Songwriting has become fun again :) Anyone who (like me) has been frustrated writing the same kind of songs over and over again will find new inspirations after learning with Az. You won't regret it." Lisa Zahran, Singer-Songwriter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"Az Samad is a wonderful musician and teacher. He is familiar with a vast array of guitar styles and techniques from classical to contemporary. What's more, he knows how explain the guitar in simple terms." Eli Harrison, M.Mus. student, San Francisco, California.
__________________________
"I've gained a better playing sound from Az Samad's fingerstyle short course than from 6 years of classical guitar classes. Az has an incredibly technical ear and vast knowledge of technique which allows him to give lessons that improves your guitar skills from the very beginning. The lessons are structured in a way that allows you to learn new things at a comfortable pace yet flexible enough to accomodate musical experimentation.You'll also produce an original composition by the end of the course, and be equipped to produce many, many more." Lutfi Hakim, Percussive Guitar Course Student, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
__________________________
"Az has a flawless technique for teaching guitar concepts, and is one of the top guitar players in the Bay Area. I highly recommend him for lessons or gigs!" Keith Hunter, SJSU Music Education and Trombone Performance major, San Jose, California.
__________________________
"Az Samad is not only an incredible performer but has the ability to explain the techniques behind his phenomenal playing. His knowledge expands from Classical to nearly every contemporary style under the sun. Along with his teaching skills, Az has the ability to truly inspire his students to be outstanding musicians. Mr. Samad's teaching style is perfect for beginner, intermediate and advanced students!" Alex Upegui, SJSU B.A. in Vocal Performance, San Jose, California.
__________________________
"As a student of many guitar instructors, Mr. Az Samad stands among the greats. His humble and patient approach, along with a wide breadth of knowledge, combines to create a perfect learning environment. Mr. Samad has an innate ability to pinpoint problem areas and focus your practice in a way that is enjoyable and highly productive. Simply put, a lesson with Mr. Samad is a truly 'Azesome' experience." Mason Hutchinson, SJSU Undergraduate, San Jose, California.
__________________________
" My lessons with Az has turned out to be one of the most valuable and worthwhile experience throughout all the time I've spent on the guitar. It is not just the instruction of technique but the impartation of his experiences, thoughts & observations, interjected with humour and good advice that sets him apart from the rest. Highly skilled and an excellent teacher, Az is a must for anyone looking to improve themselves as a guitarist. " Aidan Chung, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
__________________________
"Az Samad was born to play teach and play the guitar! He is a natural! His style of teaching is easy to understand.Each time I met with him I was amazed at how easily he could get his point across. Every time I asked him a question in class, he was always knew the answer. Az is an excellent teacher! He is patient, kind and an expert at his craft! You will do well to learn from him." Barbara Ramos, SJSU Music Education Major, San Jose, California.
__________________________
"As a private student of Az, I can simply say that no other private lesson I've attended was as comprehensive for both practical & theory. Not a single minute was wasted. The session I attended filled me full of new knowledge & vision that I later applied to my very own music.
Az was so helpful that he was even willing to let me organize a group workshop for my guitar community, ACPickers. Everyone who attended the workshop had nothing but good things to say and were satisfied with the overall output! I'm already looking forward for the next one which is coming soon at the end of the year!
Az is not only a great performer - full of sense of humor but also great educator who is willing to teach and share all that he has learnt and experienced!" Yowech Yong, Guitarist and Music Teacher, Malacca, Malaysia.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. How long is the course?
It’s a 2-month course. We meet twice a month, once every 2 weeks.
2. How long are the classes?
Classes last for 2 hours including a 15-minute break in between the 2 class blocks. One hour class, 15-minute break, 45-minute class.
3. Why the 15-minute break?
The most effective learning takes place when you’re alert and have time to reflect. Also, we get to hang out for a bit & chill out over some tea.
4. Are these group classes?
No. These are all 1-on-1 private guitar lessons. You get 4 private lessons.
5. What will I learn?
In the classes, you’ll learn how to accompany, improvise and play a solo version of the song we study.
6. If I repeat the course, will I learn something new?
Yes, if you repeat the course, you’ll learn new harmony concepts, different ways to improvise and more advanced chord melody arrangements.
7. Can I repeat the course and work on the same two songs?
Yes, you can. Although, I would actually recommend picking different songs so you increase your repertoire too!
8. I'm a beginner in Jazz Guitar. Is the course suitable for me?
Depends. If you've played some Jazz Guitar before, know some scales, arpeggios and licks BUT you're having problems connecting all of it together - then, this is for you. However, if you've never played any Jazz, then I would recommend you taking my weekly one-hour guitar lessons. [Click here for weekly Jazz Guitar Lessons!]
9. Do we work on 2 songs at once or 1 at a time?
We work on 1 song per month. Each month has 2 lessons, each lasting 2 hours. That's a total of 4 hours per song, with a total of 4 classes (8 hours of instruction) on 2 Jazz Standards of your choice (from the given list).
10. What's your musical background?
I've been teaching & studying jazz guitar for the past 14 years.
I lived in Boston for 2 years where I pursued my Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition and Performance (Summa Cum Laude) from Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA. Some of my teachers included Mick Goodrick, Jon Damian (teacher to Mike Stern & Bill Frisell), Bret Willmott, Hal Crook, David Tronzo, Rick Peckham and Steve Rochinski.
I also spent 4 years in Berkeley, California and during that time, I obtained my Masters in Music (Jazz Studies) from San Jose State University. My primary guitar instructor was Professor Rick Vandivier and at that time I also studied with John Stowell. I also participated in workshops with Adam Levy (of Norah Jones fame), Julian Lage, Taylor Eigsti and Mark Levine.
I’ve relocated back to Kuala Lumpur since June 2011.
How much is the investment for this course?
You can choose between two options: 1. Complete Payment (Save RM220): One-time payment of RM1100 2. Installment Payment Plan: Two monthly payments of RM660 (That adds up to RM1320)
Enrollment is limited to 3 (THREE) students only ONLY 2 (TWO SLOTS LEFT) (February 2013-April 2013) and after this, I’ll only be taking new students for this course in September 2013. I look forward to help guide you in your your Jazz Guitar journey.
If You're Ready To Take Your Guitar Playing To The Next Level, If You Want World-Class Jazz Guitar Instruction, If You Want Personalized Paced Lessons That Focus On You,
ENROLLMENT FOR the February-April 2013 session is now OPEN.
***** [ACTION STEPS] How can you learn this better?
1. Understand the Parallel Aproach process I explained in the video & apply it to another Major Scale. 2. Play a 1-octave Major Scale on your instrument & change one note at a time to get different modes. 3. Pick one mode and improvise using it over a one chord backing track.
;)
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