Music Lessons in Basking Ridge, NJ

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

I want students to learn what they're most interested in, with the caveat that I can teacg them a "song" or I can teach them the instrument and they can play any song. Whenever I can I play duets with the students. It makes what they're doing sound more like music. And I make mistakes. That shows that mistakes are no big deal (1 wrong note is a mistake. Make the same mistake repeatedly, you're doing it wrong). Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Synthesizer Keyboard

My philosophy is mainly individualistic. If a student is young, there are many personalities you may encounter- some naturally focused, others not. While I will still aim to deliver essentially the same content, my approach with each child varies based on their attention span and focus. A lack of focus often hints at a creative bent, so I may listen a bit more than with a student naturally prone to taking directions. Read More

Instruments: Viola

I was first introduced to viola through the Suzuki method, and so I am extremely familiar and comfortable with that method and have mostly taught that method as well. If the student is in school, as mentioned above, I will usually start by seeing what they need to learn and have been doing/learning there, and work from that point. For students more advanced or wanting to learn outside of the Suzuki method, I have many "starter" books at my home that I am happy to teach from for learning notes, rhythms, and other short songs, and will suggest etude books and scale books, such as Carl Flesch. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I value my student's love for the content they are learning. I seek to hear what students like to listen to and what music they enjoy, and using that information figure out how best to give listening recommendations and assignments. I hope that by allowing students to express themselves through the music they love, a strong relationship between the student and music can be cultivated for my student and me. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

Originally from Dallas, TX, I have nearly 20 years of music education experience at the elementary, secondary, and adult/college levels. After graduating from The University of North Texas, I spent several years as a band director in DFW before moving abroad to teach and perform. Recently, after spending 7 years as a professional musician in New York City, I realized how much I missed teaching in Texas! So it's time to return to my home and do for students what my music teachers did for me many years ago. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I have also performed with the American Symphony, Bach Aria Group, Musica Sacra, and the music festivals of Tanglewood, Basically Bach, Mostly Mozart, Ravinia, Saratoga, Madiera Bach, Mann Music Center (Philadelphia), Winter Park Bach Festival, Wolf Trap, Blossom Festival, and May Festival, Cincinnati. My recordings include Janacek's The Diary of One Who Disappeared, which won tremendous critical acclaim and was cited in Opera News as one of the "Best of the Year", in Newsweek as among "the season's best listening", in New York Magazine as a recommended CD release, in High Fidelity as one of the "Critics Choice Noteworthy Releases", and received high praise in The New York Times. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

There is nothing more gratifying for me than watching my students grow over time. I believe that success is achieved with a healthy balance of slow methodical practice and frequently playing fun and challenging music. I believe that every student is different and there is no right way to teach an instrument. I try to tailor my lessons to the student's special way of learning to ensure that our time together is well spent. Read More