Music Lessons in William Penn Annex West, PA

Instruments: Violin Viola

My teaching philosophy follows the belief that musical understanding and maturity are easier to discuss once the student is able to execute a variety of technical details. I often say that technique is teaching a student how to make ten shades of blue, but musicality is deciding which shade of blue to use. Musicality can be more subjective than technique, although there are certain guidelines for each period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, etc.). Read More

Instruments: Guitar Lute Music Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My Teaching Style might be called the Charles Rosen Approach holistic use of numerous aspects: 1. Efficient instrumental mechanics (the basis of a strong and accurate technique); 2. Causal influences both historical and theoretical, which inevitably affect each other in a constant give-and-take and which we perceive through the sieve of time after the event. 3. Proper use of the body as demonstrated in Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, and Body-Mapping, which can be grouped together under the umbrella of Ergonomics! Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

As a teacher, I know that every student is different and learns differently. So I determine through lessons how each student learns best and set goals that each student can attain weekly. I mark off lines that students pass in their book and give a happy face, or a kind of positive acknowledgement, when he or she passes the whole page. I am very persistent with students and will not breeze over something they really need to know. Read More

Instruments: Flute

I have a few different options for method books, and I base what method to use depending on what you have learned before starting lessons with me and your age. I have acquired a variety of method books from my own studies, from my sister (who also played flute), and from teaching over the years. I don't like to follow one 'correct' way of teaching the flute, because there isn't one! Read More

Instruments: Guitar

As a beginner, nothing is more satisfying than being able to play recognizable tunes as soon as possible. I typically lay out apatterned tier of simple and well knownmusical phrasesfor a student to gain initial confidence with while introducing basic performance principles. Once the the fundamentals of playingare beginning to click, we will start to customize our approach based on the student's particular goals. Not to worry, many students have a loose idea of what they are striving for at first and their curriculum develops naturally as they master certain skills and knowledge. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Bass Guitar Double Bass

I have been studying and playing music since I was 7. I began on saxophone in my school's concert band and jazz band proceded by my own musical endeavors on electric bass playing rock and jazz music. I spent high school gigging Philadelphia with The Paisley Haze Quintet. In my undergrad studies at University of Vermont, I picked up the upright bass, studying both jazz and classical styles. I became heavily active in the Burlington, VT music scene performing with such groups as: The Object Three, Nuevos Comediantes, Divine Lorraine, Anna Pardenik and the Holy Smoke-Off, Brass Balagan, Duke Aeroplane and the Wrong Numbers, and Grup Anwar. Read More

Instruments: Drums Synthesizer Djembe

I then lent my production and teaching skills to help lead the FUCP to provide remote-workship music: recording drums, preparing guide-tracks, and editing and/or mixing songs (while training others to do the same), contributing to over 30 of the FUCPs music videos between 2020 and 2022. I continued support the FUCPs 2022 transition into hybrid worship, playing in ensembles and/or working backstage mixing live band live sound for audiences in sanctuary and over video conference simultaneously (while teaching others to do the same). Read More