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Berklee College of Music US Scholarship Tour Winner
My name is Peter and I am passionate musician and teacher living in the the Lower Westchester, NY area. I graduated Berklee College of Music with a degree in Music Performance for guitar. I've studied and performed a wide variety of styles including rock, pop, jazz, blues, classical, country, and folk. I have been performing for over 30 years and have shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Shannon (Let The Music Play), Mark Rivera (Billy Joel's saxaphone player), Rusted Root, Dominic Chianese (The Sopranos and The Godfather II), The Loving's Spoonful, and Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage). I have had the honor to perform for many notable people including Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Douglas, and Andrea Bocelli. As a singer/songwriter my music has been featured on radio stations across the country, on TV networks such as STARZ and CMT, and reviewed and publications like Songwriting Magazine and Pop Wrapped. I continue to perform with several bands as well as write and record new music.
I had my first experience teaching private guitar lessons when I was just 16 years old. I immediately felt the rewards of passing on what I had learned up to that point. After nearly 30 years of working as a professional musician I have always maintained a roster of students. My experience has taught me that each student is different and that there is no one-size-fits-all method when it comes to teaching music. Getting to know the goals, musical tastes, and learning style of each of my students is the first step in creating a productive student/teacher relationship. I try to create lessons that blend my student's personal goals and interests with a strong foundation and understanding of the language of music. I want my students to have the knowledge and tools to discover all the possibilities that music has to offer.
I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to learning an instrument. I utilize a variety of different methods for the variety of instruments I teach (guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, voice). I like to meet with my students and get an idea of the pace in which the learn and how much effort they want to put in. Along with working on music the student wants to learn, I have a wide variety of books as well as my own handouts prepared for my students. When teaching guitar I often use the Hal Leonard Method for younger students. I am a big fan of the Berklee Modern Method books for those who learn a little faster. For piano I also have found several methods I like and often use the Hannon Piano exercise book as supplement. For voice I like to record the lessons so the student can practice what we've worked on at home. I bring a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy into each lesson do my best to customize my plan to best suit the student.
I try to approach each student as an individual. Every student has their own level of enthusiasm, patience, willingness, and availability. Learning music should always be fun and rewarding first and foremost. I believe in building a good teacher/student relationship and pushing my students beyond what they believe their limits are. Learning music is a never ending process. I want my students to be able to learn and grow outside of the lesson room. My lessons are designed to ensure progress and provide inspiration. My background and experience has given me a wealth of knowledge that I love passing on.
Peter is an excellent teacher. He is patient knowledgeable and very kind. His relationship to music and the instrument is beautiful. He is such a great Musician that he could be 'arrogant and snooty' but he has chosen the path of Devotion and Humbleness. As a older student (senior) I needed a patient soul with chops discipline and focus. Thanks for connecting us.
Peter is very patient, and knowledgeable. My sessions have been going well so far. Each week I get to practice new techniques and go home with cords to practice. Looking forward to continue and properly learn to play my guitar.