Guitar Lessons Northeast

Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Synthesizer, Piccolo, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Oboe, Bassoon, English Horn, Acoustic Guitar

For my beginning piano students, I emphasize the twelve major and minor scales with proper fingering, first one octave and then two octaves. These exercises strengthens fingers and create more familiarity with the keyboard. I use the book, Level 1 The Older Beginner Piano Course by James Bastien and the companion book, Musicianship for the Older Beginner. I have seen results when these books are used in tandem. The student increases in technique and start to master music theory simultaneously. Read More

Instruments: Guitar, Trumpet, Trombone, Harmonica, Ukulele, Euphonium, Tuba, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements, especially for brass instruments. I also tend to mix in some fun songs that are more well known using my own arrangements. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. Read More

Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Drums, Bass Guitar, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Conga, Latin Percussion

For beginning students, I normally start with Alfred's Drum Method. This book works on the fundamentals of reading snare drum music and basic technique. Once the students grasps the basics on reading and playing with a metronome then we tend to move to Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials (while still working on the Alfred's Method). After the student has began to play with the audio tracks and have succesfully gone through a few lessons from Groove Essentials then we begin to work on some solo repertoire and personal favorites as well. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

THE TEACHER Annalisa Ewald, classical and baroque guitarist, studied with Segovia’s colleague, Sophocles Papas, then at the San Francisco Conservatory and Bard College, initiated the Cosmos Club Concerts in Washington, D.C., and won five grants from the New York State Council on the Arts. She feels privileged to also have been mentored for twenty years by the profound Patrick O’Brien, Juilliard Department Head and internationally recognized authority on early music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

Modern life is very busy and full of distraction. For many of us, daily life in particular is also filled with lots of obligations, which can drain us of our creative energy. Experience with hundreds of students over decades has shown me that when the music lesson becomes just another part of that sense of obligation, it produces negative outcomes. I've always felt that the music lesson should provide a respite from this, while still helping students to pursue their musical interests and develop their abilities to the fullest of their potential. Read More