Guitar Lessons Northeast

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

Since last November I have led what I call an After-School Jam Session for a small group of middle schoolers at the Science Leadership Academy Middle School in West Philly. We meet twice a week for 90 minutes and practice experimental techniques to foster musicality and jamming skills. I make up the curriculum as I go along, according to what the kids want and what I perceive to be their weak points. Read More

Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

For beginners just learning how to play their instrument, I start with exercises from an assortment of beginner books as well as teaching the fundamentals of scales, and basic chords which would give them the grasp on the music they want to learn. For students of all levels I basically care about finding what the student is interested in and building upon their tastes. I find that the most important thing is keeping the student engaged by being interested in not only the music itself but also the practice and routine. Read More

Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Recorder, Keyboard, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

For the younger students that take lessons with me I introduce them to Alfred's Basic Piano Methods. After the child understands the different notes and scales I will begin to introduce simple songs then gradually moving them up to their first guild and recital performance. If my lesson student is an adult however I will often ask what pieces they are interested in learning how to play. Once they tell me I will adjust my lesson plans to help the student reach their goal of learning that song that they wanted to play then encourage them to find harder pieces that they would like to learn how to play. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

When the student performs the pieces that they have practiced I will what to see if they have all the correct fingerings and hit all the correct notes on the correct frets and strings. I am very good at music theory and history, and I will talk about this a little if it is relevant to how to perform the piece. While I believe that most students will want to learn pieces have heard someone else play, I can answer any questions they have about music theory or the historical context of the piece. Read More

Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Trumpet, Keyboard, Acoustic Guitar

I typically create my own lesson plans and try to cater them to the student. Most recently I've been working with trying to find a balance of teaching music theory and practical piano. When teaching theory, I often refer to Kotska's and Payne's "Tonal Harmony" for the order of the curriculum, and when it comes to exercises I will either write them out on the spot to demonstrate something to the student (I also feel it is important to SHOW the student how to MAKE music, ie. proper note notation, and symbol shape), or prepare them in advance if the content is more complex. Read More