Guitar Lessons in Perryman, MD

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Lap Steel Guitar Ukulele Double Bass Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I can't remember a time when I wasn't singing, banging on the family piano, or making joyful noise with whatever could be hit, shaken or kicked. I got a guitar at age ten--blame the Beatles!-- took some lessons, learned some songs by ear, and was giving my first lesson before I was out of high school. I studied music formally at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., graduating Cum Laude. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Cello Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style is informed by trauma-informed care and a student-led philosophy. This means that I take into account the frustration that learning a new instrument can entail, and use therapeutic techniques to make sure my students are regulated during these moments of frustration. I provide structure and guidance for my students, but give them opportunities for free exploration, decision making, and leadership throughout a lesson. During lessons, I like to emphasize practice techniques and thinking outside the box when approaching difficult or new musical content. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I encourage a regular practice schedule but also aknoledge the realities of other commitments outside of music. For children I mix method structure and 'fun' music (pop songs, kids' songs, TV show themes) so as to keep them interested and engaged without a struggle. In addition to a 'custom' approach, I have a curriculum that I follow to make sure every student gets all the basics and consistency in intermediate and advanced educationI have coached students through auditions into school bands, through music theater productions and though auditions for bands and taught them how to excel when placed in all the aforementioned positions. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar Organ Music Keyboard

Recently I was hired as piano instructor for Quartertonez Music, in Washington DC. Also, I have had experience teaching and studying music education under my high school mentor, renowned music teacher Tim Savage; I was his student-teacher for a semester course at St. Lawrence University. Additionally, throughout my experience as his music student, his teaching approach has infused music education and facilitation lessons within the musical instruction itself. My past teaching experience also includes being a Drill Instructor for the Italian Department at Vassar College for two years during my time as an undergrad (I not only "ran drills" for students who had already started learning the material, but also had to compensate in a variety of ways for the unsuccessful, dysfunctional, or half-hearted engagement that is typical in a foreign language class). Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Firstly, I teach the student the anatomy of the guitar and how to tune it, along with how to hold a pick. After that, I start teaching students how to identify notes on the fretboard. When they have a good grasp on that, I start to teach the basic modes, such as the major, minor, pentatonic, blues, lydian, mixolydian, and dorian modes, and while they are learning these, I give them exercises that use these modes to increase the student's mechanical skill, such as going up and down the scales in patterns of three/four/etc. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Bass Guitar

I have several tools that I use to get students playing music.  One of my favorite tools is the Music Flashcards made by Bastien.  Rather than teaching notes using an acronym like "every good boy deserves fudge" to teach notes, I use landmarks which get students to see the relationship between notes and allow them to read music with fluidity and ease.  I pair these flashcards with Music Tree book 1 and feel that they compliment each other very well. Read More