Guitar Lessons in Red Hook, NY

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trombone

Sharing music with my students is my greatest passion. I have been playing music since I was nine years old. Music has provided me with many valuable lessons and opportunities of which I instill on my students. I am a Trombonist, Guitarist, Composer and Arranger with a BFA in Jazz Performance from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. Some of my experiences as a professional musician include touring Europe with the JMI World Orchestra in 2017, performing at Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, Dizzy's Club Coca Cola and many other venues through New York City, as well as many years of teaching, both privately and in groups. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Often I do use Mel Bay or Hal Leonard books to get a student started reading, but try to shift to popular music as soon as possible to keep the repertoire interesting and relevant for the student, as well has their families and peers. As the student develops, students will learn to expand on these ideas with theory based improvisation to "make the song their own." For More Advanced students, we can work from the Real or Fake Books, or the Ireel App to increase improvisational experience and confidence. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Organ Electric Violin

Seeing a student thrive and succeed is the number one goal for a teacher. Understanding the student is important to me, as it would greatly help me in producing an effective and practical lesson plan. In my experience, rewards in accomplishing small tasks goes a long way for the student. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer Double Bass

For young beginners, I typically start with keyboard exercises and basic lessons in music theory fundamentals and ear training. Upon mastery of a few fundamental skills, students are introduced to a range of compositions that they can choose to learn to study and to play. For all my students at various levels, I assess their abilities and consistently challenge them to sharpen their skills.  Now i'm incorporating concentration, breathing, counting and stretching exercises. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I do believe in the fundamentals of music and ultimately, no matter what you hear, learning music is not re-inventing the wheel. There is technique, reading music and understanding the basics of how the particular instrument works. I like the Essential Elements for Guitar or bass for guitarists and bassists and Alfred's Piano method books. Ted Reed's Guide to Syncopation is a good drum book. Ultimately I like to get the know the student as much as I can as soon as I can so I can help them get to what they want as soon as possible with a few laughs along the way. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Conga Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style is all about the growth of the student and doing what I can to spur their progress. Being new to private instruction, I am eager to discover what teaching methods work most effectively for each student I interact with, and even strengthen my own guitar skills in the process. In teaching, I aim to help make music feel like fun as opposed to a chore or obligation and pass on what I have found most effective and helpful in my journey thus far. Read More