Music Lessons in Gwynedd Valley, PA

Instruments: Drums

Since the age of 12, the study and performance of music has been a driving force in my life. As such I have developed to spend the better part of the last 28 years recording and performing as a drummer. I am most experienced in the rock, hard rock and metal genres but consistently study and develop a variety of basic to advanced drum set patterns, techniques and fills. These additional styles include Bossa Nova, Brazilian Samba, Afro-Cuban, Funk and Blues. Read More

Instruments: Drums Synthesizer Djembe

I combine traditional technique and modern A/V technology to teach immersive drum-lessons that accelerate the student drummers skill, musicality, listening, and notation literacy. While I may reach for a book to cite exercises from books like GL Stones Stick Control or example patterns from Hal Leonwards The New Breed, I do not teach by the book for my students. Instead, I survey students inspiration, goals, and learning style to progress from their passion first, with a focus on learning the drum parts of the songs they love, both by ear and charting in notation. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

I started mentoring and teaching students when I was in high school. I have been very successful with preparing students for auditions and to get them to the next level with their performance. Many of my students have gone on to study at Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard Preparatory program and Laguardia High School. I have worked as a teaching artist with Brooklyn Conservatory, Midori and Friends, Harlem Children's Zone, Louis Armstrong Foundation, New York Pops, Harlem School of the Arts and Menchey's Music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I first began teaching while still completing my Bachelors degree at William Paterson in 2011. Most of my students were beginning level piano students, but I had a few more advanced students as well as some people studying saxophone with me. My teaching philosophy is to combine teaching the technique of an instrument with learning songs as well as theory and improvisation/composition. Everyone learns technique, but learning music that I wanted to learn, learning how those songs were written (theory), and eventually elaborating on those songs (improvisation), and writing my own music (composition), was what really got me deeply engaged in the act of practicing and making music, and I have found over several years of teaching that it keeps my students engaged and enjoying the learning process. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Above all else, I believe that the learning process should be rewarding and fun! Setting incremental goals that can realistically be accomplished is important because developing skills of this type takes time and patience. I like students to work on both things that are their bread and butter while simultaneously working on more challenging material that will get students out of their comfort zone. I value having a positive personal and professional relationship with students, as lessons should feel like a safe space that students should WANT to come to! Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone

I'm adamant about learning exercises from the "Arbans Book". This book is essential the brass bible that teaches proper fundamental techniques while developing reading skills. We will extensively on flexibility and scales through out all stages of development as well as intonation on the instrument. I am also really detailed about developing ear training to identify notes with out use of music and vice versa. A complete musician can both read and use his trained ear. Read More