Music Lessons in Rhawnhurst, PA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I teach reading to all of my younger and beginner students but I like to balance that with material that is a little more enjoyable for them. I like to work with the student to settle on something from their own music collection that is at an appropriate level for them to learn. I can learn guitar parts by ear very quickly so it's easy to jump right in to whatever a student may suggest, but I also have a collection of tunes at different levels that I have had success with in the past. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar

When I give students pieces, exercises, and examples to improve their skills, it is crucial that they not only enjoy what theyre playing but are able to apply it to other areas in their musical vocabulary. From my experience, I have noticed this excites the students the most because they are able to grasp the information in terms of how to play as opposed to what to play. When a student feels accomplished, they are more likely to practice and have the mindset of practicing to be more of a personal decision rather than a requirement. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Electric Violin Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For my students learning guitar, bass guitar or ukulele, I recommend the Hal Leonard Series. Depending on the age and level of the student, there are a number of options to pick from, which allows me to get just the right fit! Along with the method book, I recommend what's called a blank TAB book which is used to write down chords, exercises and songs. Although the method books are important in guiding the students' progress and developing their technique, they are just a piece of the bigger picture. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

A typical lesson will include Warm ups (for breath and tone development) Technical exercises (scales, etc.) Etudes (changes weekly) Solo repertoire (long-term study) Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

In addition to teaching material directly, I prefer to cultivate the skill of teaching oneself. Instead of scripting the direction of the students growth I help them to follow their own path by accentuating the qualities that make them special and removing technical roadblocks. My own education straddles many schools (rock, jazz, folk/bluegrass, classical, hip-hop, dance, experimental, funk, etc.), formal and informal. But standardized music education leads to standardized music! Read More

Instruments: Drums

My teaching experience begins in June of 2018. Prior I had experience teaching at a non profit organization that I was the Executive Assistant Director of. I had taught students business English, museum management, & digital editing during summer exchange programs. In regards to drums, I began regular tutelage in June of 2019, growing my students to 8 total before the pandemic. During my time teaching virtually, I have found that focusing on theoretical points of discussions, balanced by applicable examples of these topical discussions in older & contemporary forms of music, is a wonderful & effective way to teach the instrument. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I first began teaching while still completing my Bachelors degree at William Paterson in 2011. Most of my students were beginning level piano students, but I had a few more advanced students as well as some people studying saxophone with me. My teaching philosophy is to combine teaching the technique of an instrument with learning songs as well as theory and improvisation/composition. Everyone learns technique, but learning music that I wanted to learn, learning how those songs were written (theory), and eventually elaborating on those songs (improvisation), and writing my own music (composition), was what really got me deeply engaged in the act of practicing and making music, and I have found over several years of teaching that it keeps my students engaged and enjoying the learning process. Read More