Piano and Guitar - Scroll down for Acoustic Guitar


Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People
In just a few hours, you can learn enough secrets of the trade to give you years of musical enjoyment. Learn to play piano the way professionals do - using chords. The chord method is LOTS of fun and dramatically easier to learn than reading notes. Fee includes the online book, online follow up lessons, a recording of the class and also an optional periodic question and answer session. Class is held online using zoom and is partly hands on instruction and partly lecture demonstration. Instructor: Craig Coffman is an experienced piano and guitar instructor, professional pianist and music director. He has over 30 years’ experience teaching piano privately. His piano and guitar seminars, offered through Community Colleges and Community Education Programs, have been attended by over 30,000 students throughout Arizona, Minnesota and the United States over the last 27 years. He has a degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University in Illinois (where he also studied piano) and a Master of Divinity degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Sat., 10/11 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Sat., 10/18 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Mon., 10/20 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Mon., 10/27 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Sat., 11/15 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Mon., 11/17 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Zoom.


How To Play Piano by Ear
Learn one of musics deepest mysteries: how to play songs without relying on music. A very practical presentation of music theory that includes predicting chord progressions, learning from recordings, and transposing-all expressed in everyday language. This is an ideal follow-up to the Instant Piano class and is open to anyone who has a basic understanding of chords on any instrument. Expand your musical horizons, and free yourself from sheet-music dependence, and be the life of the party! Prior experience with chords recommended. Fee includes the online book, online follow-up lessons, a recording of the class and an optional monthly question and answer session. Class is held online using zoom. Instructor: Craig Coffman is an experienced piano and guitar instructor, professional pianist and music director. He has over 30 years’ experience teaching piano privately. His piano and guitar seminars, offered through Community Colleges and Community Education Programs, have been attended by over 30,000 students throughout Arizona, Minnesota and the United States over the last 27 years. He has a degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University in Illinois (where he also studied piano) and a Master of Divinity degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, follow up online lessons)
Sat., 11/22 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom


Guitar - Zoom Option with Craig Coffman and in-Person Option with Tom Elliott


Instant Guitar for Hopelessly Busy People - on Zoom
In just a few hours you can learn enough about playing the guitar to give you years of musical enjoyment, and you won’t have to take private lessons to do it. This crash course will teach you some basic chords and get you playing along with your favorite songs right away. Fee includes the online book, online follow up lessons, a recording of the class and also an optional periodic question and answer session. Class is held online using zoom and is partly hands on instruction and partly lecture/demonstration. For ages 13+. Instructor: Craig Coffman is an experienced piano and guitar instructor, professional pianist and music director. He has over 30 years’ experience teaching piano privately. His piano and guitar seminars, offered through Community Colleges and Community Education Programs, have been attended by over 30,000 students throughout Arizona, Minnesota and the United States over the last 27 years. He has a degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University in Illinois (where he also studied piano) and a Master of Divinity degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Sat., 10/11 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Sat., 10/18 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Tue., 10/21 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Mon., 10/27 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Sat., 11/15 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Zoom.

1 Session $ 69 (includes materials, online follow up lessons)
Tue., 11/18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Zoom.


Introduction to Acoustic Guitar
This class, structured for beginners will assist you in acquiring the technique you will need to deal with the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic possibilities of the most widely played instrument of our time. How to get those favorite tunes from your ears to your fingers is the question we will try to answer for you. You will receive guidance as to how to make your instrument easier to play. Instructor Tom Elliott began study of the guitar at age ten. He has operated his own music studio in Ridgefield, CT since 1976 and continues to welcome committed students of all ages (age 6 and above). He has taught at colleges and private schools and also led his own popular music group as well as appearing as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles. He has been teaching in Ridgefield Continuing Education since 2015 as well as the Wilton Conservatory. Class size limited.

Date and time and number of sessions to be determined. Please call (203) 431-2812 or email ridgefieldce@gmail.com to be on a notification list.

Materials List for Tom Elliott's Beginner class:

1) Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 MB93200 (Blue cover and about $10 to distinguish it from the expanded version)
2) A manuscript book of blank music paper (sheets, not tablature) or notepad and pencil
3) 1/2 dozen Fender style extra heavy guitar picks

Everything else will be provided by Tom Elliott during the course of the class.