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Singing
Online Vocal Lessons (1/2 hour)
Do you live outside of Chico, or are you self-quarantining due to COVID-19, but would still like to pursue your craft? I offer online lessons via Skype, Zoom & Facetime using an HD camera and mini condenser, so you won't miss out on any of the fine details that I am able to portray in my in-person lessons. Please make sure that you have a camera available with microphone capabilities, and let me know your streaming program of choice as well as your username. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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Online Vocal Lessons (1 hour)
Looking to book a lesson & hoping for more time? I offer lessons online that will focus on breathing & singing techniques, posture, theory, songwriting, pitch and tone, and I would be happy to cater our lessons towards a specific project you are working on. I offer online lessons via Skype, Zoom and Facetime. Please communicate with me beforehand your streaming media preference as well as your username. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$60 · 1 hour
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In-Person Vocal Lessons (1/2 Hour)
I offer lessons online that will focus on breathing & singing techniques, posture, theory, songwriting, pitch and tone, and I would be happy to cater our lessons towards a specific project you are working on. 1/2 hour lessons are recommended for beginners, individuals under 10 years old, and those who are casually looking to build up their technique/learn more about singing. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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In-Person Vocal Lessons (1 Hour)
Looking to book a lesson & hoping for more time? I offer lessons online that will focus on breathing & singing techniques, posture, theory, songwriting, pitch and tone, and I would be happy to cater our lessons towards a specific project you are working on. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$60 · 1 hour
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Guitar
Online Beginning Guitar Lessons (1/2 hour)
Learn the basics of playing the guitar, including simple chords, scales, an introduction into fingerpicking, strumming, reading tabs and understanding how the instrument is built and how it works. I offer online lessons via Skype, Zoom and Facetime. Please communicate with me beforehand your streaming media preference as well as your username. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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In-Person Beginning Guitar Lessons (1/2 Hour)
Learn the basics of playing the guitar, including simple chords, scales, an introduction into fingerpicking, strumming, reading tabs and understanding how the instrument is built and how it works. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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In-Person Beginning Guitar Lessons (1 Hour)
Looking to book a lesson & hoping for more time? Learn the basics of playing the guitar, including simple chords, scales, an introduction into fingerpicking, strumming, reading tabs and understanding how the instrument is built and how it works. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$60 · 1 hour
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Piano
Online Beginning Piano Lessons (1/2 hour)
Start learning about music on one of the easiest instruments to visually grasp how notes are laid out. We will go over the basics including proper finger placement, finding middle C, the musical alphabet, beginning music theory, and playing simple songs, among other things. I offer online lessons via Skype, Zoom and Facetime. Please communicate with me beforehand your streaming media preference as well as your username. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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In-Person Beginning Piano Lessons (1/2 hour)
Start learning about music on one of the easiest instruments to visually grasp how notes are laid out. We will go over the basics including proper finger placement, finding middle C, the musical alphabet, beginning music theory, and playing simple songs, among other things. We will share one keyboard during our lesson, but you are more than welcome to bring your instrument and set up before your lesson if you would like to learn on your own. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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In-Person Beginning Piano Lessons (1 hour)
Start learning about music on one of the easiest instruments to visually grasp how notes are laid out. We will go over the basics including proper finger placement, finding middle C, the musical alphabet, beginning music theory, and playing simple songs, among other things. We will share one keyboard during our lesson, but you are more than welcome to bring your instrument and set up before your lesson if you would like to learn on your own. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$60 · 1 hour
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Harmonica
Online Beginning Harmonica Lessons (1/2 hour)
Learn the basics of the harmonica, including reading tabs, how to care and maintain your instrument, and how to play it. I offer online lessons via Skype, Zoom and Facetime. Please communicate with me beforehand your streaming media preference as well as your username. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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In-Person Beginning Harmonica Lessons (1/2 hour)
Learn the basics of the harmonica, including reading tabs, how to care and maintain your instrument, and how to play it. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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Flute
Online Beginning Flute Lessons (1/2 hour)
We will go over breathing, posture, naming of the notes and fingering positions, working our way through rhythm and melody exercises and eventually getting to songs. I offer online lessons via Skype, Zoom and Facetime. Please communicate with me beforehand your streaming media preference as well as your username. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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In-Person Beginning Flute Lessons (1/2 hour)
We will go over breathing, posture, naming of the notes and fingering positions, working our way through rhythm and melody exercises and eventually getting to songs. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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Ukulele
In-Person Beginning Ukulele Lessons (1 Hour)
Looking to book a lesson & hoping for more time? Learn the basics of playing the ukulele, including simple chords, scales, an introduction into fingerpicking, strumming, reading tabs and understanding how the instrument is built and how it works. Student is required to bring their own ukulele to lessons. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$60 · 1 hour
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In-Person Beginning Ukulele Lessons (1/2 Hour)
Learn the basics of playing the ukulele, including simple chords, scales, an introduction into fingerpicking, strumming, reading tabs and understanding how the instrument is built and how it works. Student is required to bring their own ukulele to lessons. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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Bass Guitar
In-Person Beginning Bass Guitar Lessons (1 Hour)
Looking to book a lesson & hoping for more time? Learn the basics of playing the bass guitar, including simple chords, scales, an introduction into fingerpicking, reading tabs, how to use an amplifier, and understanding how the instrument is built and how it works. Student is required to supply own bass guitar, bass amp and instrument cable for lessons. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$60 · 1 hour
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In-Person Beginning Bass Guitar Lessons (1/2 Hour)
Learn the basics of playing the bass guitar, including simple chords, scales, an introduction into fingerpicking, reading tabs, how to use an amplifier, and understanding how the instrument is built and how it works. Student is required to supply own bass guitar, bass amp and instrument cable for lessons. Please take some time to review the "Policies and Procedures" and "Commonly Asked Questions" found on my website before our lesson.
$30 · 30 minutes
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Other
Tech Check
Do you need a first time walk-through/need a refresher on using your electronic devices/acquired a new device for lessons? I offer free “Tech Checks” where I will be available via phone, text and Zoom to help you dial in your set up from your desired lesson area. Please visit my "Commonly Asked Questions" page for a description of the items you will need for online lessons. You can also text/email/add in the ‘Appointment Notes’ when you book your Tech Check that you would like to request a helpful checklist to refer to for setting up for online lessons. As far as difficulty goes, I like to compare it to making Mac n’ Cheese; you’ll need a few things, and it takes a few tries to master, but you’ll memorize the recipe after a few tries & be a pro in no time! For clarification, this is not a lesson where we will go over anything musical; this time is strictly for setting up electronic equipment so that you will be fully prepared for your actual lesson. They are half hour segments, but we may not need the full 30 minutes. If you feel you need more time than that, please contact me via phone & we will discuss options.
Free · 30 minutes
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Combination Lessons (guitar and vocals - 60 minutes)
For lessons where you just need an extra bit of time to go over material, but other conflicts on the schedule keep us from booking a full hour. Student is required to bring their own guitar to lessons.
$60 · 1 hour
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Combination Lessons (guitar and piano - 60 minutes)
For those students who are interested in more than one instrument, I offer lessons where half an hour is dedicated to one instrument, and the second half is dedicated to another. Student is required to bring their own guitar to lessons.
$60 · 1 hour
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Ben Ruttenburg
Ben has over 30 years of experience in live performance, starting in local community theater, then in New York City, performing original music in classic venues like The Bitter End, The Mean Fiddler, and SideWalk Cafe, then in the popular California-based cover band, Decades, as the singer, keyboardist, and rhythm guitarist for 9 years, and currently in the acoustic vocal harmony duo called The Sun Followers, with his beautiful and talented fiancé, Samantha Francis. In those rare moments when Ben is not writing or playing music, he enjoys taking long walks, listening to podcasts, spending time with his family and friends, watching movies, and making and eating delicious home-cooked meals in the kitchen.
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Samantha Francis
Samantha has been performing for over 30 years, and teaching for over 13 years. Her full-time career is performing with her partner Ben Ruttenburg in their acoustic duo called 'The Sun Followers'. She teaches music part-time in her private lessons as well as at Capay Elementary with K-5, and has worked several years with the Exceptional Education and neurodivergent communities. She loves to help people better themselves and discover the joy of music through working on their artistic crafts. When she is not performing or teaching, Samantha loves to travel, paint, read, write, and watch movies in her spare time.