Guitar Lessons in West Cornwall, CT

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students I start out with an introduction to the fretboard and tuning the guitar. We then move on to basic chords, strumming and one-line melodies. Intermediate students will move on to more complex riffs, fingerpicking and arpeggios, as well as learning how to improvise using chord inversions and scales. For me it's important that we work on proper technique and musical concepts, but to do so while learning songs by artists that you like. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

Some time in 2006 I was asked by the director to become his assistant and began taking on groups of my own. In 2007 I also joined ECMM as a sales associate and apprentice luthier in their shop, selling and working on guitars and other instruments. It was unfortunate that ECMM closed in 2009 after 33 years. Working at East Coast was a great experience for me and something I will always cherish. What I loved most about the ROA program was that as I transitioned from a student to a teacher, I adopted the same teaching style as my mentor: let the students choose what they want to learn and help them to learn and perfect it. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trombone

I believe that aside from developing a sense of accomplishment and pride in my students, as they improve on their instrument, it is essential that from the beginning they learn to sight read, and this is especially true on the piano. The joy that they derive in their later years, when the lessons stop, when they are able to pick up a piece of music and play it, is invaluable. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Viola Ukulele

I typically start violinists with the Suzuki method books and I start my piano and guitar students with the Alfred and Essential Elements books. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp on fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first performance. However, if a student isn't learning effectively from the book they were originally given, I either change the method book or compose my own exercises that I think the student would benefit from. Read More

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

Every student is different, so the first thing I like to do is get to know them as a musician, where they are on their instrument, and what they wish to accomplish in lessons. I want to keep the student comfortable with what they are working on and at the same time find ways to go beyond the comfort zone. I like to incorporate music fundamentals with all of my students, including notation, scales, chords, and rhythms. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

From my experiences teaching in classroom settings, I have come to realize the importance of setting short and longer term learning goals for my students and adjusting these goals together with them as we work towards reaching these objectives. Sometimes the goals are very specific, like mastering a particular concept, or practicing towards a specific audition, and some, more general, like developing certain techniques which then need to be further explored and practiced by the student. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Organ Mandolin Conga

My teaching method is based on good old time tested traditional methods. This is combined with whatever new findings can help in easier understanding and progress of students. My students are partially participate in creating their own repertoire. This makes them feel as an active and important member in their own artistic and emotional development. Read More