Guitar Lessons in Island Park, NY

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: Guitar Voice

Hello! I'm a singer, songwriter, and music teacher from Brooklyn, NY. I have a formal musical education, with a degree in composition from Purchase College, (Regina Spektor also graduated from this program!), 6 years of experience as a solo performer, and worked extensively in recent years on writing songs, and releasing recordings (my producer plays keys for Ingrid Michaelson!) Read More

Instruments: Guitar Cello Bass Guitar

For beginner students I always like to start from the Hal Leanords Essential Elements. It is a great way to start a student off and provides them the fundamentals they need to improve. After that I like to mix in a combination of scales and etudes to continue their technical training while introducing solo pieces to give them something more interesting to play. Starting from a strong foundation will allow the student to progress much faster and helps keep them from getting discouraged. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

With the small devotion of 30 minutes a day to your practicing, I can make a novice player become a good guitarist, and a good guitarist into a great player. For beginning pre-teen students, I most often begin with the Alfred Auberge method.  For those who can already read music or have played another instrument, the Mel Bay method is a good start.  For adults, I often use the Frederick Noad books Segovia Diatonic scales and Giuliani arpeggios. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Synthesizer Music Keyboard

As a composer and performer myself, I understand the benefits of consistent and productive regular practice. I have studied the classical canon, contemporary classical music, jazz, and popular styles, and performed them all in halls and clubs throughout the Northeast and the world. I have found the best way to motivate students is to partner with them to define their individual goals for each lesson. When they are excited to be working toward a goal that is meaningful for them, they will rapidly make progress! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For me, the most vital aspect of teaching involves creating a self-motivated student. I believe that you can do this by teaching music that is of interest to the person you're teaching, and by introducing material that is graded in such a way that it is always a little bit more challenging than what your student is used to (no matter the level they happen to play at). If a student has no reason to practice by themselves, and if a sense of curiosity and desire for exploration and accomplishment haven't been developed, the teaching itself becomes obsolete. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Recorder

I am a jazz musician and composer at heart. The woodwinds (saxophone, flute, clarinet and ewi (Electronic Wind Instrument)) will always be my main performing instruments. Although my journey into composition and teaching has given me practical experience on many other instruments as well, so that I am a competent player and teacher for beginner and intermediate students on piano, guitar and electric bass. Sharing music with others, with an audience or with an eager student, is a magical and rewarding experience that I cherish. Read More