Guitar Lessons in Moorestown, NJ

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

In my lessons, I value both exploring self expression and introducing new concrete information in each lesson. Self expression can manifest in picking songs we learn, learning how to improvise, exploring dynamics and tone quality, song writing, and countless other ways! Play and performance are very important to the learning process and are great ways to explore the skills my students acquire. I always encourage my students to seek out performance opportunities, the world needs your voice! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I find teaching only to be effective if the student is intrinsically motivated to learn more: I like to find a groove or pace that the student feels confident and motivated to practice, and I tailor the lessons to address any problem areas without losing their attention. I find short excerpts of lesson material to be the best way to teach. Short and sweet! For example, for a 30-minute class, three 10-minute exercises made up of: a lesson or two from Mel Bay; 1 new chord; and a pop song that combines the two. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I began teaching guitar towards the end of my college curriculum when the guitar instructors at my university informed me they needed more teachers at their outside studios. I've consistently been teaching students both in private studios as well as in their homes for the last 10+ years. My students have ranged between all ages and levels of ability from beginner to advanced. If a student is not having fun and feeling a sense of accomplishmentthen we are doing it wrong! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I knew that I wanted to be a teacher before I ever touched a guitar. Growing up in a family of school teachers allowed me to see the broad spectrum of the educaGonal process, from designing lesson plans to filing report cards, and I quickly realized that a teacher doesn’t stop working when the bell rings. Teaching history out of a textbook is one thing...teaching a student to hear the color of an altered dominant chord is a totally different beast. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba

My experience as an educator is from just teaching private lessons and running jazz combos for the past 5 years. I have always felt that being a well trained musician is the most importatnt part about being a teacher. You need to be well versed at your craft to convey what you want to your students. This is the preperation all teachers should hold themselves to. Personally, I play reguraly with groups such as: EBE LA Starz, Swift Technique, The Phonies, Whoaphat BrassBand, etc. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I like to start with learning the Pentatonic scale in it's 1st position and show how it can be played in 5 positions based on the components of the scale being built on 5 notes, or intervals. We'll look at the C major/A minor scales on every string to show where all of the natural notes are on the individual strings and then expand upon playing them in modes, and move on to another key to show how these scale patterns are inter related with all 12 keys followed by learning the chord shapes in open and closed positions and how and where to utilize them in songs or in a blues/jazz sensibility. Read More

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

I have published my own series of method books to cover a wide range student needs. In addition, I often create materials depending on the student's interests. For more formal styles, I will use traditional methods created by Hal Leonard, Mel Bay, Frederick Noad etc.. My philosophy of teaching is that lesson materials must match the students interests and ability. Methods and materials must be carefully chosen or created to move them to the next level of playing, without frustration or boredom. Read More