Guitar Lessons in Mid City East, PA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I have a love for teaching students of all levels and ages. My specialty as a guitarist is in jazz, but I bring that love for improvised music to a number of other styles: blues, rock, funk, acoustic/fingerstyle, country, folk, ska, reggae, RB etc. I graduated from Duquesne University in 2013 with a degree in jazz performance. Pittsburgh is a great jazz town with a fantastic local scene, which was a very fun and nurturing environment for me as a student. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba

My experience as an educator is from just teaching private lessons and running jazz combos for the past 5 years. I have always felt that being a well trained musician is the most importatnt part about being a teacher. You need to be well versed at your craft to convey what you want to your students. This is the preperation all teachers should hold themselves to. Personally, I play reguraly with groups such as: EBE LA Starz, Swift Technique, The Phonies, Whoaphat BrassBand, etc. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

Going from singing for fun, to performing professionally, to music therapy has only intensified my passion for helping others. Teaching others is such a unique experience, especially when when it involves music. I believe teaching is at its best when the teacher her/himself discovers something new as well. I always include a strong understanding of vocal padagogy; vocal health; piano pedagogy; Classical, pop, musical theatre; stage performance; basic music theory and solfedge. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Music Acoustic Guitar

Prior to starting the formal lessons with the student, I like to understand why they want to play that particular instrument and the type of music that they enjoy. I also ask them about their musical experience. For example, can they read music, did they play any prior instruments, etc. Furthermore, to monitor each students' progress, I keep a lesson sheet that records what we worked on, what has been assigned, and any pertinent notes about the lessons. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginner students, I usually start off with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. Once they start to progress. I will move them on to some songs / tab books by their favorite artist. For Intermediate students, I will move them to Guitar Fretboard Workbook by Hal Leonard, as well as Arpeggios for the Modern Guitarist, and a signature Lick book. Once they started to become Advance. I will start them on something by Ear Training using online methods as well as, A Modern Method for Guitar by Berklee Press for Sight Reading. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar

I am very patient, friendly, humorous, approachable and humble/modest in demeanor, where many other teachers have a huge ego and "God complex", where they talk down to the student and make them feel uneasy and overly self-conscious. I am completely flexible with my lessons, teaching exactly what the student (or parent) wants (them) to learn, anything from the standard traditional approach (i.e reading music) to the rock approach just teaching them how to play their favorite songs, which I figure out by ear on the spot from the recording which the student asks me to listen to. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Clarinet Bass Guitar Double Bass

In regards to teaching style, I am persistant with practice, while understanding of ability. This is a method that is applied by setting goals and following a direction that introduces and builds upon ideas, all while taking the student's progress and aptitude into account. I often try to balance out the harder, sometimes tedious work of technique and theory with songs that the student requests or shows interest in playing. Read More