Bailey Dill
About
Hi! I'm Bailey, a guitarist and lifelong musician living on beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
I've been playing guitar and taking lessons since I was six years old. Over the years I've also learned classical piano, mandolin, clarinet, saxophone, trombone and harmonica. Music theory has been a huge part of that journey and has helped me understand how different instruments, chords, melodies and songs fit together.
I'm also a board director with the Vancouver Island Symphony, and music continues to be a big part of my life.
But here's what I really believe:
Learning an instrument should be fun.
You don't need to spend months learning scales and exercises before you're allowed to play a song you love. I believe the fastest way to stay motivated is to start making real music as early as possible.
We'll learn songs you actually enjoy, and I'll show you how to play along with the original recording. It's one of the most effective ways I've found to naturally develop your timing, rhythm, chord changes and musical ear, while actually enjoying your practice.
Whether you've never touched a guitar before or you've picked one up a few times and never quite figured out what to do next, I'll walk you through it step by step.
My goal isn't just to teach you guitar.
It's to get you excited to pick it up and play.
Teaching Style
My lessons are relaxed, encouraging and completely focused on helping you enjoy playing.
There is no pressure to be "musical" or to already know what you're doing. If you're a complete beginner, that's perfectly fine. I'll explain everything from the ground up and make sure you understand what you're doing before we move on.
I also don't believe you need to practice for an hour every day to make progress. Most people have busy lives, and the best practice routine is one you'll actually stick with.
That's why I like to make lessons practical and song-focused. Instead of spending an entire lesson doing exercises, we'll use the music you enjoy to develop the skills you're trying to learn.
You'll learn the fundamentals, but you'll also leave lessons knowing something you can actually play.
No intimidation. No unnecessary jargon. Just step-by-step progress and a lot more music.
Curriculum
We'll start with where you are and build from there.
For a complete beginner, I'll walk you through everything you need to know:
• How to hold and tune your guitar
• Your first chords
• How to change between chords
• Strumming and rhythm
• Reading chord charts and tabs
• Playing along with songs
• Basic fingerpicking
• Simple music theory that actually helps you play
• How to practice effectively
• Eventually, how to figure out more songs on your own
One of my favourite ways to teach is to take a song you love and break it down into small, manageable pieces.
We'll learn the chords, work on the changes, find the rhythm, and then put it together with the original recording. As you improve, we'll gradually introduce new techniques and theory through the music you're already enjoying.
This means you're learning the fundamentals while actually playing music, rather than waiting until you're "good enough" to start having fun.
And if you have a particular song you've always wanted to play, bring it to your first lesson. We can start there.
Credentials & Affiliations
I began studying guitar and piano as a child and took private lessons through Long & McQuade in Nanaimo from approximately 2009–2015. Alongside private lessons, I developed a broad foundation in music theory and went on to learn additional instruments including mandolin, clarinet, saxophone, trombone and harmonica.
During my time at Ladysmith Secondary School, I was heavily involved in the school music program for 5 years from 2010-2015 including an extracurricular jazz band that rehearsed before school. I also performed regularly with the school band, traveling to performances and music competitions throughout Vancouver Island.
I also gained hands-on teaching experience at Ladysmith Secondary School, where I worked as a teaching assistant for a Grade 7 guitar class of approximately 30 students for one school year. I helped students learn chords, songs and basic musical concepts, while working with students at different levels of experience.
My approach to teaching guitar comes from my own experience learning music: I want students to start making music as early as possible. Rather than spending weeks only learning exercises and theory, I like to get students playing recognizable songs while building the technique and understanding they need along the way.
Vancouver Island Symphony, Board Director
Serving as a board director with the Vancouver Island Symphony, supporting the organization's work in bringing live music and music education to the Vancouver Island community.