Bass Lessons in Vauxhall, NJ

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My goal as a teacher is to avoid any type of dogmatic "one size fits all" curriculum.  I always want to know what music the student enjoys and build my lesson plans based on their tastes.  Chords can be physically challenging for beginners so I like to work with single-note melodies early on so that the student isn't quickly discouraged.  Learning chords becomes the medium-term goal.  As for the long-term, I will then use specific songs as examples for how music theory works in the context of their favorite bands. Read More

Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar Double Bass

I've been a musician for almost longer than I can remember and teaching has been the greatest part of my musical journey so far! I've been teaching for 4 years privately and have been teaching through Guitar Center for 1 year as well as teaching through other private lesson applications. I've seen that students grow faster in places that they're more passionately driven, so I want to provide a space for any student to learn or take steps to learning what they want to on their instrument, while also providing structure and giving other feedback along the way. Read More

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

For beginners to the guitar, bass or banjo I usually start with the basic notes and chord shapes. When they progress and for more advanced students, I introduce reading tab, music, scales and basic chord progressions. For advanced students I generally work with modes, finer technique and advanced sightreading, chordal and modal melodies. To work in practice exercises I typically bury them in pieces the student enjoys to better get the hang of them. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I do believe in the fundamentals of music and ultimately, no matter what you hear, learning music is not re-inventing the wheel. There is technique, reading music and understanding the basics of how the particular instrument works. I like the Essential Elements for Guitar or bass for guitarists and bassists and Alfred's Piano method books. Ted Reed's Guide to Syncopation is a good drum book. Ultimately I like to get the know the student as much as I can as soon as I can so I can help them get to what they want as soon as possible with a few laughs along the way. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I usually take the first lesson to gauge what the student wants from learning their specific instrument. If they want to learn a specific song, if they want to get better at a certain genre, or if they just want something to do as a hobby! I believe it is counterproductive to force a certain system or lesson series that the student is not interested in. I have tons of practice books, scales, and warmups that I like to use to help the student become more proficient and confident in their craft. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Bass Guitar Synthesizer Accordion Ukulele Euphonium French Horn Tuba Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My pedagogy is based on the American jazz tradition and the teachings of Orff and Kodaly. I like to impart a holistic love of music in my students, without boring them with too much history or theory. However, it is my belief that theory and musical literacy will open doors to a greater level of fulfillment and understanding of music as a whole. The materials I use vary from student to student and from instrument to instrument, depending on each student's goals and progress. Read More