Charlottesville Classical Guitar Festival and Competition

Music Lessons
for beginners, intermediate and advanced students

Composition
Song Writing
Harmony
Counterpoint
Musical Analysis
Classical Guitar
Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar
Ukulele
Piano
Organ

During the pandemic, I'm teaching mostly online using Zoom or Skype. Please, contact me if you'd like to set up lessons online. Out of the three physical locations below, I'm only teaching in Charlottesville during the pandemic.

In Charlottesville, VA:
These two locations in Charlottesville are open with these strict guidelines:
- Wearing masks.
- 6 feet of social distance between teacher and student.
- Optional temperature check with touchless thermometer before lesson begins for both teacher and student.

1. In my music studio, near downtown.
(During the pandemic, lessons may be given outdoors, weather permitting).

2. At the Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Rio Rd., behind Fashion Square Mall.

In Lynchburg, VA:
(This location is closed during the pandemic)
In my guitar studio at Randolph College

In Staunton, VA:
(This location is closed during the pandemic)
In my guitar studio at Mary Baldwin University

Instructor: Rafael Scarfullery

BM, MM & Doctorate in classical guitar performance.
MM in orchestral conducting.
4 professional certifications from the American Guild of Organists.
Long experience playing classical guitar concerts.
Long experience playing organ and piano in churches.
Composer with published works played by international artists.
More than 20 years of academic & private teaching experience.
International career, including two solo guitar concerts at Carnegie Hall.
Guitar instructor at Randolph College & Mary Baldwin University.
Organizes the Charlottesville Classical Guitar Festival & Competition.

About My Teaching

Anybody can enjoy the benefits of playing a musical instrument or composng music. My teaching centers on the idea that we all can become proficient musicians if we acquire these simple habits:

1. Listening to the sounds we're making with awareness, simultaneously focusing on one note or chord and preparing the next one.
2. Observing our fingers for optimum movements and relaxation.
3. Questioning (What can I do to make it better? Was it what I wanted to achieve?
4. Thinking positively.
5. Isolating (understanding and repeating slowly until played with ease) music fragments for problem solutions.
6. Using the body in its most natural and efficient way.

All these habits, plus other things I teach, help us play with great confidence and mastery, thus allowing us to focus during a performance on the most important goal for a musician: Communicating and expressing the music.

Lesson Schedule

Once a week arranged on a monthly basis. I'm very flexible, so we can develop a plan that works for you. Use the Paypal links to pay your online lessons.

1) 30 minutes: $30

2) 45 minutes: $40

3) 1 hour: $50

Student Concerts

I organize guitar concerts to encourage development, persistence and solidarity.

Practice Routine
I encourage my students to do this practice routine every day of the week:

1. Warm-up exercises
2. Scales
3. Arpeggios
4. Slurs
5. Repertoire: studies and pieces

Videos for Practice

I have a Youtube channel where I upload videos with learning tools for my students. I encourage my students to watch and play the exercises found on these videos.