Guitar Lessons in Bergen Beach, NY

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

I've found that after the preliminary work of getting a base skill set and familiarity with the instrument, technically proficiency, etc, it helps to let the student guide me in how i aid them on their journey and find where their passion is, in the great world of music. The most rewarding thing that can happen as a teacher is to see a student develop their own musicality and achieve their personal goals. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I focus on making sure student is comfortable and not lost at any point . Realistic expectations are important and we will assess these case by case. Pedagogy is extremely important to me as the future of many players is in the hands of a good teacher or a bad one. A bad teacher will harm a student and a good teacher will make sure no bad habits are developed . We will try and make it as fun as possible but classical guitar and flamenco guitar are very demanding so lots of practice is encouraged to maximize your results . Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice

I think voice especially has always been viewed as a bit of a mystery... you can't see or touch your voice as you sing, unlike playing instruments, so there's a certain amount of imagination that has to be involved. I do my best to straddle making singing as tangible as I can, and approach things somewhat scientifically ("This muscle is used in this way," etc.) while also inspiring visualization ("Send your sound out into the distance," etc.) I also really think it's important for musicians to be diverse, so not only will we learn chord and strumming patterns on a guitar, we'll also learn how to read simple lead lines of solos, etc. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I try to provide a good balance between working on theory, technique, and repertoire, and working on aspects that might be more fun like a students favorite song. This allows the student to make progress while also keeping motivated, which is really important for long term goals. For children, the balance has to lean more towards the more entertaining aspect, because of the reduced attention span. I actively work towards getting the younger students to increase their tolerance towards difficult challenges so that they can make more overall progress. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have enjoyed teaching music since I was in High School. I I enjoy using my experience as a multi-instrumentalist to teach students about the joy of playing with others. Social dynamics in music are important and once a student can learn the basics, I really enjoy encouraging them to find others to play with and learn to experience the music they enjoy on their own. Of course theory and regular practice are both very important. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass

I studied at Belmont University in Nashville with Roy Vogt and Jim Ferguson. In NYC, i have studied with Ben Wolfe (Juilliard jazz faculty and member of Wynton Marsalis sextet) Some of the artists i have played with (and continue to): Chaka Khan, Ashford & Simpson, Blood Sweat & Tears, Jason Miles, Max Weinberg Orchestra, MJ (Broadway) The Harlem Gospel Choir, Sachal Vasandani, Peter Cincotti, Jeff Lorber, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Vonda Shepard, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, hip-hop cult faves Camp Lo, the Metermaids, Felicia Collins (of Late Show with David Letterman). Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet

My teaching is based on the thought that everone can be comfortable with making music. Since comfort comes best when things are fun, I like to focus on music that the student likes. This usually involves improvising as soon as a student knows a few notes, which creates a chance for self-expression and leads to confidence in playing with others. I also place emphasis on phrasing, My experience is that many students get wrapped up in the mechanical process of playing at the expense of musicality. Read More