Student
(and many other's)
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Comments
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(These opinions were sent to us and do not necessarily
represent those of CHODOSH GUITAR. The only requirement for posting is that they are
considered to be in good taste as determined by CHODOSH GUITAR.)
Achieve that dream!
How to get lesson information: lessons@chodoshguitar.com
How to send other comments: mailto:info@chodoshguitar.com
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From a student's younger sister. Drawn while we were in
a lesson at "Whole Life Center" in Fort Collins. This is
absolutely one of my favorite drawings. - M.C.
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Thank you, Ryan. - M.C.
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Hi micheal it's nicole! I was just looking at your site and I wanted to say you should take some more pictures at your new
studio and post them up there. Otherwise your site looks great. You're the best guitar teacher EVER! sincerely, Nicole
Sakwerda-Jeske
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YOU HELPED ME REDISCOVER MY POTENTIAL.
I don’t know whether this an article or a letter, but I just thought
that maybe if I wrote something, then maybe It could help some other guitar
player who has maybe given up hope.
Well I am a Ugandan who attended Michael’s guitar workshop when he came to
Uganda in Africa at the Jinja cultural center
Oh boy I had never seen anyone so fast on the guitar, at first I thought
that let me just check out this guy maybe to waste some time but I assure
you there was no time wasted, I just felt like I was playing guitar for the
first time,
I rediscovered my potential and now I practice at least 2 hours a day,
thanks to Michael Chodosh
Sincerely Tom, from Jinja Uganda East Africa
mtomy2001@yahoo.com
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"Hi Michael this is J.T. Hi how are you? is there anything new? my guitar
class is weird we're sposed to be learning classical but all we've done is go
over notes. I still havent forgoten the C-scale and I always practice it when
I get a chance. I miss colorado lots Its really hot down here in arizona. well
say hi to everyone for me k? thanx!"
I asked JT how his guitar classes were going, mentioning that a school class
might not learn at the rate he was used to and suggested that he at least
continue on 1/2 page of his method book each week too. He replied:
"Yeah it does seem to go really slow but there are a few good things
that come out of it. I taught a little freshie "pretty
woman". Okies I'll do 1/2 a page a week sound easy enough.. . ."
Finally I asked him, now that he wasn't a student here anymore if he had any
comments on what it was like studying at Chodosh Guitar. He
answered:
"I loved being at Chodosh Guitar it was awsome on a scale of one to 10
and ten is the highest I give Chodosh Guitar a 20 it rocks! I still need
to tap my foot more lol  but
its been a great experience and I will always remember the name Michael
Chodosh as the best guitar teacher in the world!"
Thanks JT! By the way, I told everyone in your old group that you
said "Hi," and they said to say, "Hi JT". -M.C.
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“Dear Mr. Chodosh,
I am Joe Mott’s little sister. I have to say that you did an excellent job on telling how my
brother proceeded from you onto Berklee. When
I read the article it made me cry, just thinking about him and all the things he
accomplished was
so. . . . INSPIRING! I only wish that I had half the talent he has.
Joe always believed in me and what I wanted to do.
I have had a secret passion to play the drums for a while now, and Joe is
the only one I ever really told and came to for help with trying to learn how to
play. Joe says, “the one thing you need to know in order to play
an instrument, is how to read music. The
one thing you need to have in order to play an instrument is passion!”
Passion is something he had for music, and still has it.
He learned a lot from you. I
just wanted to tell you how I felt about your article and how I thought about
Joe when I read it! - Jackie Mott"
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"Hey Micheal,
This is Mitchell Fyock. I just wanted to let you
know that I greatly appreciate EVERYTHING that you have ever taught me on
bass. Because of you, this year I started out in Jazz Band, quickly
moved on to Orchestra, and eventually won the award for jazz musician of the
year at my school. I don’t know why I chose 12:48 a.m. to tell you
this, especially after I
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have been out of school since June 2nd, but I felt
compelled to. In January I am leaving for 6 months in Australia on a
foreign exchange, I would join you earlier but I have an exchange student
coming to live with us on July 16th so this will take up all the time from now
until January. Anyways, when I return home next July I will hopefully be
coming back to you if you are still here to take some very advanced bass work.
I want to thank you for everything you have taught me because I will hopefully
be receiving scholarships from that award that you helped me to achieve.
Thanks for everything, Michael. - Mitchell"
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(Michell Fyock was a student and a group teacher at CHODOSH GUITAR. He has
a definite flair for funk and jazz on bass and I expect to hear a great deal
about him in the future.
Congratulations Mitchell! I'm very excited and proud to hear about
your Jazz Musician of the Year award. - M.C.)
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"Hi Michael, its
Joe Mott. Things have been going great at Berklee. However no matter how
much you told me that the workload was going to be intense nothing you
could have said could have prepared me for what was going to happen when
i got here. Its insanity how much work I have to do.When i first got here we had
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(click
hear Joe's jazz Demo)
(click
hear Joe's classical demo)
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Joe Mott at the 2004 Guitarmageddon contest
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to do a placement audition where you are rated
in technical ability, reading, improv, and rhythmic interpetation. They rate
you on a scale of 1-8 and i got a 4 in rhythmic interpretaion and reading
and 3 in the other two categories. I was pretty discouraged but the head of
the guitar department told me it was actually really good so i felt a little
better about it afte that.
Im really enjoying all of my classes except for ear training 1. We do alot
of sight singing and conducting the solfege syllables and the conducting are
not a problem for me its just matching pitch with my voice so i had to get a
private tutor. I also have a harmony class which is basically music theory.
Tomorrow I have a test and i have to be able to write all of the major
scales in under 11 minutes and each week he is going to lower the time by
one minute until we can do it in 6 minutes or less. And we are doing the
same with all of the minors. My writing skills class is really cool we learn
about writing parts for the other instruments and this week we have been
focusing on the drum set and writing parts for that. My project is to write
out parts for guitar, bass, drums and keys and have it played in class. My
music tech class is really neat. We are learning about MIDI and we have to
record a song using the prodction software on our computers using MIDI this
week. We also learn how to work the software on our computers like Garage
Band, Reason, Finale, and Smart Music Studio. I also have a private lesson
once a week which ironically is the same time i had my lesson with you,
Tuesdays at 5. My teacher is Sheryl Bailey and she is an amazing player. We
have been working on Drop 3 and 2 voicings in every key and adding walking
bass lines to chord progressions. She also has had me transcribing Charlie
Christian songs for guitar and i have to perform them for her. I have a
guitar lab which is like a group lesson where we work on stuff from the
private lesson with like 4 other people who have the same teacher. My
ensemble is really cool. My director is Chris Buono and he is amazing at
guitar. We have been doing mostly James Brown, John Scofield, and Muddy
Waters and i think this week we are adding a Chuck Loeb song.
To keep up with my lesson and everything i would say i need to practice a
minimum of 30 hours a week and then another 6-7 so i don't look like an
idiot in my ensemble. I have also been working with a funk/blues band as the
rhythm guitarist because the other guys are 3rd and 5th semester students so
they pretty much rock my world with their ability but its cool that they
thought enough of me to ask me to join. I also have been writing songs with
another guy and we performed at Virgin Records last thursday. . . .
. . . The competition out here is pretty crazy. . . .
Otherwise i have been having the time of my life. I have been getting to do
what i love 24 hours a day when back home i struggled to do it for 2 hours a
day, it is really intense, you just get lost in everything you are doing. I
can definitely see why there is such a high drop out rate though. You can
really tell the people that are taking this seriously and the people that
think they are going to be rock stars and think coming here is going to make
them a rock star. I got to do something really cool on Friday, John Mayer's
tour came through and he went to berklee for a while so he came and did a
private question and answer session for berklee students and did a concert
and it was completely free. It was really awesome. But thats all that has
been going on here. I hope everything is going well there and i wish
everyone the best. - Joe"
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Joe Mott
This link goes to the story about Joe Mott
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"MR Chodosh,
I'm Sergeant Richard Maldonado, I'm in
the US Army currently in S Korea. Let me say first that I love
your webpage, I'm pretty optimistic that I'll get the help I need from
your lessons. I bought an Ibanez the month before I got orders to
come to Korea but I've never had any way to learn how to play other than
pausing Social Distortions DVD and learning the Chords of off Mike Ness'
hands. I checked out other online lessons but you can't be sure
that you're not practicing poorly and will end up with bad habits that
can't be broken.
Being in the Army I've been abroad more than
I've been in America, but I've been spending a lot of time on your
lessons section since I found your webpage, and in just a month I was
able to strum between a few chords and make a melody.
I finally have some stability here and my
goal is to start another band and play some punk and rockabilly covers
at local venues here.
Anyway man, I'd like to ask you for some guidance
on what to focus on learning and really in whats a priority for
learning. I don't want to end up being the guy who only knows a
hundred different riffs but can't play a single song.
Thanks
Maldonado, Richard
Sergeant US Army"
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"Hey
Michael –
I just wanted to drop you a line, see how you were doing and what not.
I’m at CU Boulder now. I’m taking some interesting classes.
I’m taking Appreciation of Music, which is really interesting. We
just finished Gregorian Chants and are in Baroque right now. Next
semester I plan to take guitar lessons through the university and music
theory. If I can get good enough I hope to apply to the music school
here and major in music as well as English.
I hope all is going well with you. Tell Craig I said I if you get a
chance. I need to go. Keep in touch.
Later,
- Ryan
Tharp"
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So that Ryan doesn't get upset with me I will state this was taken long
before he went off to college. -M.C.
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"Michael;
Just wanted you to know that I really
appreciated my first lesson in countless years." . . . "To go into a little more detail in why I want to take lessons and increase
my abilities as guitar player, I am currently the worship leader at a
small start up church in Frederick. I had played guitar in other
worship teams when I lived in California but since moving here my wife and
I got involved with a small church in Frederick and the next thing I know
the pastor of the church wanted me to lead worship. Mostly I think
he felt I was a better guitar player than himself. At this time I'm
the only musician on the platform other than the two ladies I have singing
with me. I do all my own backing tracks from home with the help of
midi and sound modules but there is so much more I could be doing with
just the guitar if only I knew how to play better. Hence the reason
for coming to you. I know nothing of you other than the
flyer that I picked up at guitar center but your students speak
volumes of your capabilities in teaching. I have always held to the
idea that the student is a direct reflection of the teacher.
After being there for the one lesson and witnessing the abilities and
talents of your other students, I would be honored to be a student
yours.
Thank You Michael - Bill
Haggard"
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"Hey I want to say thanks for being an
awsome teacher.
I pick up my guitar and cant stop
playing (yes some of it is practice)
Oh I was wondering if there was
and web sight where you can type in guitar notes and chords and make a
song and see how it sounds?By the way when can i start chords? Well i gtg
play my guitar
Later-
Kyle Augustin"
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"Hi Michael,
After plugging in 'Guitarmageddon' into my Yahoo search engine, I was very
pleased to come across your site! Guitarmageddon
Thank you so much for supporting our event and supporting your students
participation in Guitarmageddon.
Now for 2003! Sign ups will begin January 2 and store level competitions will
begin Tuesday February 18. We are solidifying prizing and sponsors, right
now. But this year's competitions should be fantastic. Greater prizes, cooler
venues and a great Grand Finals destination! If there is anything that I
can do for you and your students to help them prepare for next
year's battles, please do not hesitate to ask!
. . . We will be using the LINE 6 Guitar Port backing tracks
again for 2003. Also, we have secured more tracks from which to choose
from. . . .
All the best,
-Andy Winston
Nation Promotions
Guitar Center Stores Inc."
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"Michael,
Thanks for your infinite patience in teaching me the guitar - your great and I'm
having a ball. My wife says that there are actually some good sounds coming out
every once in a while. - Dave Siems"
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"The article by Jack Riemer on Itzhak Perlman playing a concert with only 3
strings (Itzhah) was a wonderful review - to the point, concise, simply written
but from the heart. Thank you. - Don Lechman"
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(after we answered a question via email)
"hey thanks man. that hopo thingy
really worked. Also i went to the cyberfret website ( Cyberfret.com)
and noticed you were there too with the appregios. those are cool too. - Brian"
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"Michael,
I happened upon your site via the Jason
Newstead/Mike Lansing conspiracy link (Coincidence) .
I found your site and your enthusiasm for helping students achieve their
musical goals inspiring.
I used to play in High School . . . Thank
you for your time and congratulations on your wonderful school/studio. -
Margie Owen"
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"Dear Michael,
Thank you for doing such a phenomenal job teaching Kris guitar. He really
enjoys it and tells me his goal is to be a 'really good guitar
player.' . . . - Carolyn" Meehan
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Kris Meehan
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"Thanks Mike.
I realize you must be very busy and to take the time to help me tells me
something about your character.
My father is a lifetime musician and my grandfather started the first music
store in (censored town) so I have been around music for my entire life . .
. Thank you again. - Tony Giancola"
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"Hey! This is Lisa and i have been
talking to u on the phone about lessons and stuff and i just wanted to let u
know that i really liked your web site and i can't wait to learn how to play. It
looks like u have taught a lot of very gifted people and i am really excited to
learn from such a successful guy. Thanks again!
Lisa :)
P.S. I don't
really understand tablature."
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"You missed Ricky Nelson on your died by plane crash list. (March)
- Leslie Stephens"
(We requested suggestions and have ammended the page. Thanks Leslie for sending one in.)
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"Nice Web site.0 - Chuck
Koelle"
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"Was browsing last night and found your site through a link on Cyberfret.com.
Since I am a BRAND SPANKING NEW guitarist, I was happy to see the nice selection
of lessons. I will definitely use the Gymnastics for Guitar
immediately.
I just wanted to give you some ideas for your 12 Months
on the
What's new board. How about 'Crooners and Divas' and 'Great
Licks'. Also, what is the difference between 'Strange' and 'Strange Life'?
Thanks for the resource, - Dan Halberg"
(We requested suggestions and thank Dan for sending one in.)
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"Michael,
. . . thank you so much for giving my dad such encouragement. -
Kristen Schairer" (regarding her father David who is a student at Chodosh
Guitar.)
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"Dear M, Chodosh
To answer your first question, yes I've just bought a new guitar and it's
a Cort. I really like it. 100% jazz.
And for the other questions, I am from Québec and I've been playing guitar for
one year. I've won a few contests and I think I'm doing fine with my
guitar. I love jazz, that is what I want to play and I would like to be
the best. My favorite guitarist is Django Reinharts. I am the only
musician of the family and I think that the only way to play good guitar is to
play your style." . . .
"Say Hi to all of your students and always remember that practicing is the
only key to success. - Daniel Valois "
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"Aaron is really improving . . . he really loves playing. He has numerous
books and has learned quite a few riffs from Van Halen to Led Zeppelin.
I'm really impressed. You have done a great job with him . . . -
Dana Isoline"
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Aaron Isoline
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" I have been taking lessons with Michael Chodosh for a little while.
I like the way he has been teaching me and I hope to keep taking lessons with
him, because he makes it fun and I have learned a lot in this short time.
- Carlos Garcia."
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Carlos Garcia
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"Dear Santa,
For Christmas I would like a water pic. I would also like a
kid's size guitar. I would also love to have a kid's note guitar
book. I would also like a lap top. I would also love good exciting
books and a doll house. I also wanted some play clothes and play
shoes.
Would you get my dad a Michael Chodosh CD and some perfume for my
mom.
Love,
Talyor A."
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- brought into us by Taylor's dad, Mark Baker.
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"Your site is full of interesting information and looks like a lot of
fun. - Todd Thalimer"
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"I
love being on your email list . . . - Andrew Johnston"
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