Guitar Lessons in Millneck, NY

Instruments: Piano Guitar Ukulele

My gift is understanding concepts and explaining them in a way people can understand (and adapting it to their learning style). I try to combine the best aspects of the instruction I received on piano and guitar, with useful and practical concepts (and styles) I had to seek out on my own. Typically I work out of the Ernie Ball How To Play Guitar books (Phases 1 and 2), while also incorporating popular songs (including songs the student wants to learn, as soon as they are compatible with his/her skill level). Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar

My curriculum varies significantly depending upon the experience/age/aptitude goals of the student. For example, a self-taught adult that aspires to play blues or classic rock cover tunes in a "garage band" type of situation doesn't really need to spend much time if any learning to read music. This calls for a more "show tell" approach. Conversely, a 5-year old beginner should learn to read as a matter of course. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Synthesizer Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe that creativity is important and I use Alfred and Hal Leonard books as well as theory books to help with the lessons. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. I also try to teach music theory, chord progressions and all the musical scales in the major keys. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Drums Bass Guitar

I believe the student is there to find a passion. It is so important to find love for the art, and this is what I try to provide. A lead-by-example approach is the core of what I do. I "draw" the student toward their own voice. It is imperative to help them find their own "style." The greatest musicians are true originals; and so I do not encourage my students to follow in my footsteps, but to blaze their own trails. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

My first exposure to the guitar came from both my Grandmother and Uncle listening to them play on the Classical guitar and the four string guitar when I was about 12 years old. During High School I discovered some recordings my grandmother had purchased of Chet Atkins playing Classical guitar piece and Larindo Almeida playing a standard Jazz tune. After graduating High School I began learning the guitar on my own. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Viola Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I draw inspiration largely from my Rudolf Steiner-inspired pre-college education and my Carl Orff-inspired higher education. Waldorf/Steiner education "emphasizes the role of imagination in learning, striving to integrate holistically the intellectual, practical, and artistic development of pupils" while the Orff Approach "combines music, movement, drama, and speech into lessons that are similar to child's world of play." 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