Although most of my playing experience has been with rock bands, big bands and weddings, I have a B.A. in classical performance/music education from William Paterson University. Most of my private study has been with Dave Larson of the New Jersey Symphony and Dave Rogers, a William Paterson jazz adjunct. My classroom career began at the Passaic County Elks' Cerebral Palsy Center in Clifton, NJ, and in 2001 I moved to my present position as Elementary Music Teacher in Middlesex, NJ.  I love to play blues on my trumpet, but my latest passion is learning finger-picking on guitar. 

I am a dynamic entrepreneurial musician and aspiring composer for Film/TV, with over 20 year record of achievement and demonstrated success in teaching, composing, arranging, recording and performing. I've attended "The Juilliard School" in NYC from 2005 to 2009 to further my study of composition and orchestration. During this time the Juilliard Orchestra Students performed two of my major works for orchestra at a reading in 2006 and 2009 with great success. I have been working in a music career all my life. I'm a passionate and motivated instructor who loves working with students and sharing my love of music. Many of my students that I have trained, that have gone on to pursue careers in music have remained life long friends, and I still mentor them in some way.

I have always been a musician first and everything else second.  I have found fulfillment in sharing music with others as a teacher, performer and music therapist.  I graduated in May with my master's in voice from the Eastman School of Music.  I hold bachelor's degrees and certifications in music education and music therapy.  Currently, I am teaching all levels of voice, beginning to intermediate piano and violin and beginner guitar while I pursue a career in opera performance.  I have experience with students of all ages including those with disabilities and on the autism spectrum.

Learning music, especially at a young age, can have a positive impact in life. From simply playing in the home to performing music for large audiences, the basic goal is the same: the enjoyment of being a proficient musician. I have written a bit about my experience and how I can use it to help you to become a great musician.    I began studying music when I was 8 years old. My early lessons taught me not only about keyboard playing but about music teaching.  As a result of these experiences, I vow to teach students music that is meaningful to them. Moving along, in high school I played in rock bands with my friends. I can never stress how important it is to play with other people. I always encourage my students to form bands, join music groups in school, or just find a friend to jam with. Not only does this raise the level of musicality, it is a great motivational tool.  After high school, I studied music at Colorado State University, where I focused on jazz performance, theory, classical performance, and double bass pedagogy. I earned a bachelor of arts in music from Colorado State University in 2000.  My home studio is fully equipped with guitars, basses, keyboards, amps, and digital recording equipment. I am highly knowledgeable in audio and midi recording through the use of recording software.  *** Studio Equipment *** 20 x 20 room...equipped with the following instruments: piano---Casio 88 key fully weighted, electric guitar, electric bass, 4 amplifiers,  2 computers, and recording software *** Travel Equipment *** If my students need an instrument to play, I will provide all the necessary equipment for them.  *** Specialties *** I teach rock, blues, jazz, classical, and pop music.

I started playing trumpet in grade school and was in the marching band the first year of high school. I then switched to playing upright bass in the orchestra. This led to me being a part of the jazz band and playing instrumentals for school musicals. Upon graduation time, I received the gold medal for music performance in strings. I was also an AP music theory student. After, I pursued a bachelor's degree in music and took education courses. I have tutored music theory and given instrument lessons, but they were always self employed or from the university. I wish to help others make music an enjoying part of their lives, as it is in mine.