Music Lessons in Dumbo, NY

Instruments: Cello

I truly appreciate all efforts to produce sound. I am never bored or impatient! My approach to my students is informal, unpressured and encouraging. I play with my students all the time, creating occasions for performance and giving my students contexts for taking pride in their musical achievements. I feel that playing should not be an isolating experience but something to be shared. I organize groups every year: beginner and advanced kids; beginner, intermediate and advanced adults. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Orchestral Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I've been teaching for over 10 years now and I truly enjoy helping my students get more out of themselves. I started on classical piano at a young age, then played a whole lot of guitar focusing on the likes of Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and more, before joining marching band and jazz band diving deep into drums. In College I started playing bass in bands in Manhattan, and I believe it's this transitions of hopping to many different instruments, starting on the piano, that makes it easy for me to relay the main musical concepts to my students that overlap through all of these instruments. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

For my beginning students, I start off with Hal Leonard's Absolute Beginners - Alto Saxophone method book to start them off with the basic fundamentals of reading music and playing the saxophone. For my more advanced students, I introduce fundamental saxophone techniques as well as solo repertoire. For adults, I encourage them to come up with a set of goals, and I set up each lesson so that we meet these goals. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga

I teach rudiments, technique, and reading drum charts for my beginner students. Wity more advanced students, we study sightreading, and explore different styles of drumming. Typically, I favor using drum method books, and listening to recordings for students to use and listen to in between lessons. Keeping a steady tempo is of course an essential part of good drumming -- I use a metronome to help mystudents achieve that skill, and encourage them to use one when practicing. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I believe a lot in a "democratic classroom". This applies to public school teaching as well as private teaching. I always ask for the students input, opinions on rep, and am always asking them questions to get to know their personalities and other interests. With a beginner student, I would take the time to understand their long-term goals, why they're taking private lessons, and what they hope to get out of them. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Recorder

I have been giving private lessons and group masterclasses to students since high school, and ever since I have been teaching students on and off in my home studio over the last 5 years or so. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the main points I like to emphasize for younger students, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for the instrument. Read More

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

Depending on the students goals, current aptitude, and innate abilities I'll select exercises, etudes, and methodologies from a variety of materials. I work from Hal Leonard's, and Berklee's libraries primarily, but most often use a smattering of tools, exercises, and excerpts that have worked for me and past students; creating a lesson plan over time that is better tailored to the student as an individual. One of the major obstacles when learning the guitar versus, say, the piano, are the immediate physical demands. Read More