Guitar Lessons in Bergenfield, NJ

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar

My approach to teaching varies in accordance with a students playing level and needs. With beginners and young students, experience has taught me that it is best to get someone playing actual music as soon as possible, usually in the first lesson. It is just as well to have a student begin by learning a simple riff from a song that they like, as to make them learn some hokey melody from a one size fits all how-to book.Going forward, I continue to work with a new player on music that they would like to play, while simultaneously covering music theory, and technical information, as they relate to the choice of repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Ukulele Music Acoustic Guitar

I have been playing guitar since I was 16 years old I've been playing music since I was 5 years old when I started playing the organ and the recorder. I continue to learn music and started playing a little bit of flute as I got older I also played drums in marching band in high school. I started teaching guitar when I was about 18 years old just so I could play with some friends who wanted to play but didn't know how to so I started teaching them and over time I realize that I was actually pretty good at teaching so I started teaching other people outside of my friends and started doing pretty good with it. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I am an intuitive teacher: I have learned how to observe my students, their moods, their energy levels, and adjust my lesson plan on the fly. For instance, one student has ADHD, which I manage by injecting exciting new rhythms for him to mimic when I see his attention wander. I then harness that renewed focus towards the original goal of the lesson, whether it’s learning a new time signature or a complex cross-rhythm. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I begin my Classical students with the Julian Sagreras guitar method book, then move into the Aaron Shearer Learning the Classic Guitar series. Once students have a firm grasp of the fundamentals, we begin on solo repertoire. For contemporary styles, I prefer to start complete beginners on the Hal Leonard guitar method books, and then I encourage them to seek out artists that they enjoy. In all of my lessons, students will analyze chord structures, sing and dictate melodies, and learn history about the guitar and general music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

By far the greatest feeling as a teacher is that moment when the "lightbulb" turns on for the student and the idea clicks. It's an amazing feeling and to see growth happening is such a privelege. I remember the excitement of learning a new song when someone would show me, or when I'd get a challenging part. Honestly, there's not a feeling on earth as gratifying for me as in the moment, knowing that I used to not be able to do this, and now I can do it. Read More