Music Lessons in Graterford, PA

Instruments: Bass Guitar Double Bass

With my bass students, I begin with basic technique and ear training. My first goal for a student is to learn one of their favorite simple folk songs by ear, while also developing basic musical skills and instrumental technique. I believe that it is extremely important to begin developing a students aural abilities and creativity early on. I also will have the student begin to work out of the Simandl bass method book for simple exercises and introduction to reading music. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium

I look to be sure that each student enjoys the material as well as music as a whole. Therefore, each student should be able to progress at their own pace. As a student progresses, I do have an admittedly bad habit of speeding up material a bit too much, so I encourage all students to let me know when something is too much for them. As i look to select material, I like to do a 5 minute test run of the piece to ensure that students enjoy the material before assigning it. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I teach my students to read music as well as to play by ear. I host 2 recitals each year. We learn one song start to finish and I hire a professional band to learn and perform the songs with my students at a local establishment or at my studio. I encourage all of my students to perform with our recital band. As far as books, I prefer to use the "new Breed", by Gary Chester, the ''Art of Bop Drumming'', by John Riley , and the ''encyclopedia of reading rhythms'', by Garry Hess, but there are many other books I recommend for specific needs. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I started teaching guitar by making videos early 2021 and then I started teaching classes on takelessons.com. I have been teaching classes and students ever since then. I created a guitar course with takelessons.com and you can see it on takelessons live. I also made a practice guitar course onthinkific.com on guitar chords and guitar chord theory. I enjoy helping students learn how to play guitar or bass guitar. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Synthesizer Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Acoustic Guitar

I love the learning process and to see students progress through the stages of learning an instrument. I taught myself to play the piano before I started formal lessons. I began playing the saxophone at the same time I took up the piano. I entered my undergraduate program in 1992, majoring in music education with the saxophone and piano as my principle instruments. During my studies at the University of South Alabama, a new program was started in MIDI and I attended an extra year to master digital audio. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I think that students learn best when they are relaxed and having fun.  So, anything I can do to keep it light - whether it's drawing a picture to make a point or making up silly words to learn a complex rhythm or using crayons to mark the sections in our music - is a win in my book!  Laughing and making mistakes are a big part of learning.  When my students make errors, I don't scold, I say "good for you, now we can learn something!" I believe that it is both possible and critical to develop the student-teacher relationship as a collaboration. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

For beginning students, I generally start with Suzuki Method, Sassmannshaus, and my own methods which I have created over the years. I emphasize the importance of ear training, becuase that is what allows us to know if we are playing correctly. For intermediate and advanced students, we work very heavily on warm ups, scales, etudes, and repertoire. Repertoire is a personal thing, and many of my adult students already have an idea of what they would like to play. Read More