Maurice is a thoughtful and committed guitar teacher. His approach is methodical, patient and responsive to the individual skill level of the student. I know because I took lessons with Maurice for almost two years until I moved away from the area, and recommend his personal approach to any guitar player whatever level, if they have the desire to learn how to improve toward mastery the instrument.
He is kind and agreeable, not at all weird. He taught from in a studio in a comfy home in Carrboro. As a teacher, he leaves room for the little quirks in everyone's way of handling a guitar, but tries to stamp out bad technique, posture or grip before it becomes ingrained as a habit. Every hand is different, and Maurice will use a physical therapist's instincts to help you find the best way for your fingers to make the chord sound right.
When I took lessons with him, I was a 20-year old beginner with a full college course load. I am not an expert player and don't pretend to be, but things Maurice said and taught stuck with me for years after I moved away.
He also gives printed exercises that familiarize the student with basic styles of playing (flat-picking, chomping, blues shuffles, staple licks and patterns) Some of these exercises are designed to emphasize an important skill (muting, skipping strings, pull-offs, etc.) and I think others are to give his student a greater vocabulary for the instrument and its history. Most of these exercises he has transcribed himself from the work of master guitar players in his large music library.
He has also transcribed, not for note and bend for bend, some of the blistering solos of Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and other guitar gods.
If you want someday to be able to play the hooks and solos of masters like Jimi and Duane, rhythm-guitar of Pete Townsend or Jimmy Reed, learn licks, riffs and runs, jazz chords, or learn how to improvise solos, Maurice will be your guide. read more
