Lessons in your home

I’m a singer-songwriter and guitar teacher based in Los Angeles, taking on a small number of private students. I work with people who are serious about developing their own musical voice, whether you’re just starting or already making your own work. Lessons take place in your home on a consistent weekly schedule, with material built around the music you care about.

Approach

My work is to expand how students hear and relate to music. The most meaningful feedback I've received has come from students I taught as children, now grown, who've told me that they love music in a noticeably different way than they did before working with me, and that music has become a central part of their lives in a way they didn't expect. Hearing that, more than once, is what's made showing up week after week worth doing. I always start with the music they love and build from there.

Some students arrive already highly motivated and move quickly. I work well with students like that. I understand how important it is to meet that level of focus without diluting it. I was that kind of kid myself, and if that's yours, I'm here for it.

About

I've been playing music for thirty years (flutophone anyone?) and teaching guitar for over twenty. I taught in-home lessons, studio lessons, and masterclasses in Columbus, Ohio before moving to LA, and have worked with beginners through advanced students of all ages. My first album, My Favorite Razor's Edge, came out in 2022, and my second, Legitimate Child, will be out in April 2027. I studied guitar with Stan Smith, composition with Dr. Dina Lentsner, and poetry with Dr. Kevin Griffith, which shapes how I think about lyric writing. I play classical, steel-string acoustic, and electric guitar across a wide range of styles. My specialty involves taking the nylon string classical guitar out of its typical contexts.

What lessons look like

Lessons are 45 minutes, once a week, in your home. We work from the music you already care about and use it as the starting point for technique, writing, listening, and interpretation. Over time, the work tends to organize itself around whatever you’re trying to make or understand musically.

I work with students of all levels, ages 10 to 110. If your 7-year-old is unusually focused, feel free to reach out and we can talk about whether it’s a fit. Students under 18 require a parent or guardian to be present in the home during lessons.

What you'll need: a guitar in good playing condition (I can advise on instruments if you're starting out), a quiet space to work, and a notepad, analog or digital.

Rate and structure

$100 per 45-minute lesson, billed monthly in 4-lesson blocks ($400 per month).

Lessons are scheduled at a consistent weekly time. If you need to skip a week, just let me know at least 48 hours in advance and I’ll roll the lesson over to the following month. Lessons cancelled within 48 hours are non-refundable.

I teach within a tight radius around my home in Los Feliz.

Get in touch

To inquire about availability, email lessons@chrisgatton.com.

I take on a small number of students at a time and may not always have openings, but I'm happy to hear from you and will respond within a few days.