Guitar Lessons in Merion Station, PA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Flute Harmonica Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

There are often good lessons that go along with these pieces, and I pick pieces that are famous for good reason! For students of any level, it is useful to have a combination of repertoire that is more challenging, and pushes my students to see beyond their current skill level, as well as repertoire that allows them to enjoy the expression that is possible with their current skill level. There are 4 components to every lesson, and for me, every practice sessions as well: warm up exercises, technical exercises, repertoire, and play (aka performing the repertoire, improvising, writing music, etc). Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I am a kind, patient man who believes that learning to play music is it's own reward. I struggled frequently while I was learning the guitar, and I don't believe that there is a right or wrong pace to learning. Each student is different, but all students should feel excited about learning, and rewarded by the work that they put in. My style is simply to encourage students as they progress and address difficulties in a positive and and constructive method. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Ukulele

For beginning students on instruments, I begin with a method book, usually Hal Leonard Essential Elements for Guitar and Ukulele, and Piano Discoveries for young beginning pianists, and Piano Adventures for older beginning pianists. From there, I follow my students' interests. For voice, we begin with breathing techniques and vocalizing, and then follow the student's interests from there. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

For beginner students I use the Hal Leonard method to teach reading and positioning. Chords I teach at the pace the student is learning to play them cleanly (and this varies tremendously), starting with the easier open chords and moving on to progressively more difficult voicings. There are certainly some good beginner pieces in the hal leonard books and sometimes I pull recital material out of the William Leavit book. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Music Acoustic Guitar

Prior to starting the formal lessons with the student, I like to understand why they want to play that particular instrument and the type of music that they enjoy. I also ask them about their musical experience. For example, can they read music, did they play any prior instruments, etc. Furthermore, to monitor each students' progress, I keep a lesson sheet that records what we worked on, what has been assigned, and any pertinent notes about the lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Synthesizer

I began teaching almost 4 years ago during my last years in Boston before moving to the Philadelphia area.  Stylistically, I focus on practice, patience and passion with my students and have seen great results thus far.  I believe in using both contemporary references as well as references from former decades or eras in music.  When a student is able to hear the music coupled with seeing the music; amazing things can happen! Read More

Instruments: Guitar

My experience teaching for those first few years set the ground work for the methods I like to employ as a teacher. I found that self-expression found through music that the student enjoys, and then later music that they themselves create brings the most joy and magic to the students learning experience. I also have a knack for understanding where a student is confused when dealing with more abstract conceptual problems regarding music theory. Read More