TEACHING

private guitar lessons

Nathan has taught guitar to students of all ages for over 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Music from Humber College and Master’s of Music from The University of Toronto. He is passionate about guitar pedagogy and loves teaching students at any level. Fluent in jazz, classical, brazilian, and folk / country styles, Nathan  especially enjoys:

-getting beginner students inspired and started correctly
-helping intermediate students get out of ruts and gain momentum
-guiding advanced students down a clear path through the wide world of jazz guitar

Nathan has successfully prepared students for auditions at University of Toronto, Humber College, York University, and McGill University. 

Email me to book a lesson, or try out my new online booking portal by making a selection on the right. 

30 min $50 
60 min $70 
4 x 40 $160
4 x 60 $240 

All prices in CAD

LOCATION

Private lessons are currently available via Zoom, on my low latency syncspace.live server, and from my home studio in Toronto. Located near St Clair and Bathurst in the Casa Loma neighborhood.

pricing

1 hour lessons 
$60 / hour for weekly or bi-weekly lessons
$70 / hour for single lessons

30 min lessons
$40/30mins for weekly or bi-weekly lessons
$50/30mins for single lessons

Recurring lessons are paid one month in advance of the first lesson of each month. 

Cancellations within 24 hours of the  lesson are appreciated! 

F.A.Q.

Questions? Contact natehiltz@gmail.com

Nathan has performed at jazz clubs  across Canada like The Rex Hotel, The Jazz Bistro, Upstairs, Hermans, The Yardbird Suite, and Stayner’s Wharf and jazz festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Victoria, Niagara, Edmonton, Medicine Hat and Markham. He has worked with great singers like Alex Pangman, Ori Dagan, and Laura Hubert and with large ensembles like the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Toronto Concert Orchestra, and The Boss Brass.

The jazz guitar is the ultimate solo instrument. It beats piano in portability and expressiveness, is much softers and sweeeter than a loud an abrasive saxophone or trumpet, and is way more thrilling than a dreary solo bassist or drummer. If you want to create a sparkling, mellow, warm, unforgettable ambiance at your event a guitarist is your best bet! Email natehiltz@gmail.com 

Lenny Breau is to me the perfect guitarist : beautifully integrating jazz, country, classical and flamenco into an incredible whole. But there are many others as well: Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Pat Martino, Johnny Smith, Jim Hall, David Occhipinti, Ted Quinlan. Merle Travis, Garoto, Francisco Tárrega, Augustin Barrios, Bill Evans, Hank Williams, Gordon Lightfoot, Julian Bream, Alirio Diaz, Miguel Llobet

Guitar is a musical instrument that you can find in every corner of the earth, and even recently in space! The music that can be made on the guitar is as incredibly diverse as all the humans that happen to play it. Most amazing to me is learning enough guitar to strum and sing a folk song takes only a few hours of work. It is also very life affirming to know that there is an endless world of music to discover on this instrument, made and yet unmade. 

2004 Sadowsky ‘Jim Hall’ Model, 1939 Vega Deluxe, 1970 (?) Cervantes Hauser PE, 2010 Martin D-28, Fender AVRI 52′ Telecaster, 1945 Concertone Tenor Banjo, 1920 Oscar Schmidt Irish Tenor Banjo