Ken L  

5

  5.0 (4)

Instruments: Guitar, Violin, Cello, Viola, Bass Guitar, Electric Violin, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Funk, Showtunes, Reggae, Punk

After receiving my degree in 2000, my first job was in the public school system in Bridgeton, NJ. I was brought in to build the orchestra program from scratch. I was in charge of selecting instruments and supplies to be purchased for the district as well as write the curriculum. During my time in the district, I taught 4th to 8th grade strings, as well as band, and was the assistant marching band director for the high school. My next job was in the South Brunswick public school district where I taught elementary strings and band, as well as some general music classes. Upon leaving the public school system, I shifted my focus to teaching private individual lessons. Although I enjoyed working in the public schools, this was the best decision I ever made! I have found so much joy in being able to work with students one on one, to help them become the best musician they can be. Besides teaching privately, I am also the adjunct cello teacher for The Pennington School. My responsibilities also include running sectionals, orchestra rehearsals as well as performing for various functions and with the students in their concerts. This has given me the opportunity to work with an ensemble, which is something I did really enjoy while working in the public schools. With over 20 years of teaching experience, I have worked with students from the beginning level through advanced. I have taught students as young as 4 years old to adults in their 70's. I have worked with students who want to learn to play an instrument just to have a basic knowledge, as well as those who are preparing to audition to get into a community, regional or college level orchestra. No matter the goal of the student, I am here to help on the journey ; )

For my string students learning violin, viola or cello I typically use the Suzuki method books. There are times that I might recommend the Essential Elements series for those who are just starting off, but at some point I switch the student over to Suzuki. Another supplemental book I encourage my students to get when they get to a certain level is Essentials for Strings. This is primarily a scale book, but it also contains a number of other helpful exercises and resources. 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. The student may need help working on music from school so sometimes that becomes the priority. Other times, the student is interested in learning a song for their own enjoyment, and that will guide the direction of the lesson. In a typical lesson I will try to incorporate a little of all these things where applicable. I customize the learning experience based on the students' needs so they get the most that they can out of each lesson.