Jonathan Garner has been teaching guitar lessons since the age of 17. Teaching while attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (B. Music ), making pizza money, some rent, and beginning to understand the challenges of the regular student. After graduating, Jon focused on performing primarily, although he had been performing since the age of 14 in various settings. After a few years, and many requests from those who happened to see Jon play guitar, he began to take students again. Mostly adults at first.
Around this time, Jon enrolled in the Master of Music program at San Diego State University, focusing on Jazz Studies. He soon was honored to be asked by professors to student teach classes, proctor exams, and teach undergraduate guitar students. Graduating with a 4.0, Jon focused again on performing. During this time he began to teach children how to play guitar. He soon found that he enjoyed it immensely. Teaching at various locations around town, he eventually settled in at Music for Kids in Rancho Bernardo, and has remained there since 2003.
Jon maintains an active performing schedule, and has been on many professional recordings. He is an engaging, youthful, and thorough teacher who has developed an approach to music tailored to each students needs. His philosophy is simple.
“I want to make sure we keep music fun, while still challenging the student. I am not interested in creating a new type of homework. I want the student to look forward to coming to lessons each week. I want to develop a real love for music, so that they have something they can keep with them throughout their lives. Some of my students are successful professional musicians, and that’s fantastic, but most will not become that. And that’s fine. I want them to be able to sit down when they are older, and go to their instrument, and be able to experience the joy, release, and really, therapy, of being able to play music. So they can play songs for their family, their kids someday. Not to mention all the enormous benefits to the mind and work ethic that a student who learns music acquires.”
“I do want to keep it fun. This is my story. When I was in third grade, I took guitar for a few months and then I quit. Why? I hated to practice. My teacher had me playing Camptown Ladies endlessly, and that wasn’t right for me. At some time, that is the perfect song for someone. It just wasn’t for me, and my teacher did not adapt. I still loved guitar though, and a couple of years later picked it up again. Taught myself for a few years (since my parents didn’t want to spend any money since they thought I’d just quit again), and eventually got a teacher. He was a great teacher and really helped me along. So I have vowed to not be the Camptown Ladies teacher. Doesn’t mean it’s all easy, and that the student runs the show, that wouldn’t work either. But, I try to mold the path based upon what I see in the student. We have fun, but we work hard, and I think it’s been working quite well.”
Part Time Faculty Music
jgarner@palomar.edu
(760) 744-1150 ext 2316