Francis Lumibao
About
Francis “LuWii” Lumibao is a Vancouver-based guitarist, composer, music producer, and educator. He began performing professionally in the Philippines in 2012 and has been teaching guitar since 2015, working with students of different ages, musical backgrounds, and experience levels.
A Berklee graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Guitar Performance and a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Music Arts, Francis brings together his experience in performance, composition, music production, and music theory in his teaching. His musical background spans classical, contemporary, rock, pop, jazz, and other styles, allowing lessons to develop around each student’s individual interests and goals.
Alongside teaching, he works as a composer and producer, with a growing focus on music for film and visual media. He is also active in Vancouver’s music community through his work with the Vancouver Classical Guitar Society.
Teaching Style
My teaching style is flexible and student-centered. I believe students learn best when strong fundamentals are connected to music they genuinely want to play.
Rather than following exactly the same program for every student, I adjust lessons according to the student’s goals, experience, learning style, and musical interests. Some students may want a structured approach to technique, reading, theory, and repertoire, while others may be more interested in chords, improvisation, songwriting, contemporary music, or playing by ear.
I also encourage students to understand "why" something works rather than simply memorizing shapes or exercises. Theory, technique, ear training, and reading are introduced as practical tools that students can immediately apply to real music.
Curriculum
My teaching approach is organized around four main areas: Chords, Scales, Reading, and Repertoire. These provide a flexible foundation that can be adapted from beginner through advanced study.
Technique and theory are generally taught in connection with repertoire rather than as isolated exercises. For example, scales, chord construction, inversions, rhythm, harmony, and fretboard knowledge are introduced according to the music the student is currently learning.
I use a combination of my own teaching materials, written lesson notes, repertoire, exercises, and established guitar methods. Recommended books and materials vary depending on the student’s age, level, musical interests, and goals. For classical guitar students, I may also incorporate graded repertoire and established classical-guitar methods, while contemporary students may work more extensively with chord vocabulary, lead playing, improvisation, rhythm guitar, and practical music theory.
My goal is ultimately to help students develop enough musical understanding that they can become increasingly independent musicians rather than relying entirely on a method book.
Credentials & Affiliations
Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Music Arts
Graduate-level studies integrating music performance, composition, production, and interdisciplinary creative practice.
Bachelor of Professional Studies Major in Guitar
Guitar Performance major with Bekrlee Online focusing on Jazz and Classical studies.
Vancouver Classical Guitar Society
Board member and active contributor to the Vancouver classical guitar community, including concert, festival, educational, and media projects.
Professional Music Educator
Teaching guitar since 2015, with experience teaching children, teenagers, and adults in private, online, and music-school settings.
Composer & Music Producer
Active in composition, arranging, recording, and music production, with current work focusing increasingly on film, visual media, and collaborative projects.
