Dr. Ben Lougheed

SAA Registered Training

(Guitar)

Core Units

• Every Child Can!
• Suzuki Principles in Action
• Guitar Unit 1
• Guitar Unit 2
• Guitar Unit 3
• Guitar Unit 4
• Guitar Unit 5
• Guitar Unit 6
• Guitar Unit 7
• Guitar Unit 8
• Guitar Unit 9
• Guitar Practicum

I started my musical journey as a Suzuki student when I was five years old and am well acquainted with the joys, discoveries, and excitement of learning and playing an instrument. I knew I wanted to share my positive musical experiences with students, so I began taking Suzuki Teaching Courses and am now the only guitarist in North America who has completed all nine Suzuki book trainings and a doctorate.

My teaching approach focuses on training not only classical guitar technique and musicianship but self-efficacy and a growth mindset. Through the guitar, children learn how to become problem solvers and develop their individual voices. Working with students as young as 3, children learn along with their parents. While more intensive than other lessons, the benefits to the child, the parent, and their relationship are evident and long-lasting.

While Suzuki is an excellent method for teaching music, its greatest strength is its humanist aspect, training not just good musicians, but good people. Towards this goal, students and parents learn skills that are transferable to all areas of life. One of the most important of these is to celebrate small accomplishments. Learning an instrument is a long journey, so I make sure that we recognize and applaud the little victories as we go along. This creates a positive learning environment and is motivating to the student, improving their confidence and helping them learn to enjoy the process of learning rather than just the result

In addition to my Suzuki studio, I have worked with advanced students at the Leon High School Lessons Academy and with college musicians as a teaching assistant at Florida State University where I taught private lessons as well as undergraduate and graduate classes.

My instruction also focuses on welcoming students into a community of music through semesterly recitals, supplemental group classes, and community performances. My students have been selected for the All-State and All-National Guitar ensembles, have received perfect scores at Solo and Ensemble, have advanced through the Suzuki books, and have won numerous prizes in competitions including the Florida Guitar Festival and the Latina Arts Guitar Festival. Perhaps most importantly of all though, they have become wonderful, hard-working individuals with a true love of music, guitar, and learning.