A New Live Session of Positively Dangerous is now open for Enrollment
Last summer’s pilot course was a wonderful time! Students experienced huge improvements and breakthroughs, while I learned a great deal about what worked well and what needed improvement.
I’m thrilled to offer the newest, updated, improved, and streamlined version!
Click here for a course description
This 6-part interactive course is designed to help you break through limitations and master the best, fastest, and most musical ways to learn the pieces you most want to play. By joining the course and doing the work seriously, you will be getting two-and-a-half months of direct feedback and help from me in conquering your technical and musical hurdles.
Every two weeks we will be focusing together on a different core skill. The course will culminate in an online concert/showcase of what we learned.
By the end of the course you will either have either
- learned and performed a new piece of repertoire you’ve been itching to get your fingers on, in a positively dangerous manner.
- or you will have brought to life and fully revamped and improved a piece that you’ve been long struggling with.
- Or both, if you have a lot of energy.I will be working through all of the material alongside you, and demoing it. and by the end of the course—just like you–I’ll have some new or transformed repertoire to show for it!
Each live session will be recorded for viewing if you can’t make it. The exact time for each session will be set depending on the most convenient time zones for those who sign up.
Click here for the Course Dates
Sunday, January 14th
Introduction and Expectations: Becoming Positively Dangerous
Get started with an overview of the main skills, mindsets and goals for transforming your playing. Choose your repertoire for the course. Dig into an arsenal of the most important and effective high-reward exercises for mastering repertoire..
Sunday, January 28rd
Building the Perfect Practice Session
Learn the many specific and powerful ways you can centre your guitar practice in a state of flow that fosters both accuracy and creativity. This is how practice miracles happen.
Sunday, February 11th
Making Technique Natural.
Learn the essence and essentials of good classical guitar technique. Identify and start to address the specific technical issues you can work on that will make the most difference to your playing
Sunday, February 25th
Natural Musicality
Get to the expressive heart of every piece you learn. Apply these essential principles and techniques to cultivate and develop your unique natural musicianship to the fullest.
Sunday, March 10st
Engaging Performance
Learn the ins and outs of preparing for a performance. This includes a timeline for pulling your piece into shape as you get closer to performing it, a practical overview of performance psychology, and a process for developing the best mindset with which to share the music you’ve worked so hard on with others. This is where we get the airplane off the ground.
Week of March 24th
Final Concert and Wrap-up session,
Share what we’ve learned with each other in the form of a concert or a prepared recording. Party time.
Click to see what's Included
The course will include:
- 5 time-unlimited online sessions (recorded) and a final concert/masterclass
- 2 individual 45-minute coaching sessions
- An online course portal with instructional posts, videos, exercises, and assignments.
- An online discussion portal within which course members can interact.
- The materials on the course portal will be available to you permanently.
- Permanent Access to the Self-Study Course “Building the Perfect Practice Session, created in 2023
- Permanent access to all instructional videos in the course “Basic Classical Guitar Mastery” which I created in 2011.
- Optional additional private online lessons at a generous package-discount price.
Click to read student testimonials
For two and a half years, I dedicated myself to learning classical guitar in a small group setting with a teacher. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my progress was slower than I desired. I stumbled upon Jay’s interpretation of “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” on YouTube. It captivated me, and I found myself listening to it repeatedly, completely enamored by his skill and musicality. Intrigued, I delved further into Jay’s work and discovered his Positively Dangerous course.
Knowing how much I admired his interpretation and the depth of knowledge he showcased, I had no doubt that participating in the Positively Dangerous course would be worthwhile. It was a chance to learn from someone who seemed to have unlocked the secrets of playing classical guitar.
Jay’s course was transformative for me. It completely changed my approach to the instrument. One of the most significant areas where I struggled was discipline in practicing. Jay’s teachings helped me structure my practice sessions and become more aware of my actions, ultimately leading to increased productivity. His guidance and insights have genuinely improved my practice routines.
Jay left an indelible impression on me. He not only possessed exceptional guitar skills but also had the patience and expertise of a seasoned teacher. His individual approach to instruction ensured that every student received the guidance they needed to progress.
I highly recommend Jay as a teacher to guitar players of any skill level. His Positively Dangerous course not only revealed hidden aspects of classical guitar playing but also provided invaluable guidance on discipline and productivity in practice. Thanks to Jay’s teachings, I have experienced significant improvements in my playing and a renewed enthusiasm for my musical journey.
Thank you Jay!
I was looking to get back into playing classical guitar again. It had been several years since I last took lessons and I had not been playing very much for a while so was searching for a class where I could start playing once more and start to improve my technique. Not only did this class fit the bill on both fronts but had the bonus of also learning a new piece.
It was just what I was looking for and got me back into playing regularly. I learned so much from Jay and really enjoyed the class. He is a phenomenal player and had so many helpful
suggestions. I was very happy the course also included so much info on technique, practicing, and more than just the mechanics. And, watching Jay play while demonstrating different processes was a pleasure! I hold Jay in the highest esteem and gladly recommend his classes.
Allan M, New York, NY
Jay’s gotten me even more enthusiastic about classical guitar and classical music in general. I’ve become motivated to practice more. He’s very conscious of every aspect of what he’s doing and can teach that clearly. He gives me reference points in my mind when I practice. He also uses good analogies and thought pictures in his teaching, so the guitar becomes more alive. He teaches how you can look at it from a bigger perspective– you get deeper into playing that way. I’ve also become more emotionally engaged when I play. I’ve started listening more, I’ve started feeling more, and I’m more connected to the music. This is something I’ve been looking for, and and is hard to find.
Magnus Gautestad Guitarist, Musician and Performer (Norsecode), Teacher, Kristiansand, Norway
Jay is a gifted teacher who works with the student and engages them. He develops students as musicians and also develops their confidence in playing in front of an audience. He’s a fantastic teacher.
Matthew Solum Guitar Student Parent, New York
Jay is one of the few mentors I have worked with who made me feel truly seen and validated as an artist. He saw talent in me and helped me grow it in the most earnest and lovely way. His contribution to my confidence is invaluable, and I will take it with me throughout my career and my life. Thanks Jay.
Jess Mastro Filmmaker, Songwriter, Playwright, New York
Jay’s pedagogy is clear and accessible. He takes into account all levels of students, so the beginner doesn’t run away discouraged or the advanced turn off because they’re not challenged.
Mark Scott. Guitarist, guitar student,Ohio
With Jay’s advice… I feel like I’ve gone from 1 and 1/2 pistons to a V8. And I’m not talking about tomato juice.
Mai Mollman Student, Guitarist, Writer,Iowa
Jay’s approach to teaching is distracting me TO the music and away from the usual din in my head which disconnects me from both my hands and the guitar. The second thing is coming naturally from the first: I am feeling a direct connect between my mind, hands and back and shoulders and what sounds are happening. So I feel in control.
Rachel M Guitarist, Guitar Student, New York
