Music Lessons in Morton, PA

Instruments: Drums Synthesizer Djembe

Moving from the public elementary school in the suburbs to urban magnet middle- and high-schools downtown, drums went from a retail hobby to a practice of cultural exchange and personal empowerment. My teenage explorations of punk and metal became immersed in and jams of the jazz roots and hip-hop futures of Tulsas historically progressive-black Greenwood district. Taking courses at Booker T. Washington in Jazz band, Concert Band, and MIDI-based Electronic Music, I learned to translate rhythmic ideas written chats, live jams, and/or mechanical drum machines, turning these barriers into bridges. Read More

Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar Keyboard

I've been fortunate to have some pretty amazing students in the past. The most rewarding part of any teachers job is seeing their students develop into better people, musicians, and instrumentalists through hard work and fun discoveries. Many of my students have gone on, or continued, to pursue careers in some form of music while many have not. Yet a common thred amongst them is a deeply rooted appreciation for music both as an art form and a science. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I first began teaching in high school, where I would tutor the younger middle school students. As my education progressed, so did my teaching experience. I attended American University, where I received my bachelor's degree in music performance, and then continued to study at Northwestern University, where I received my master's degree. After graduating, I started working at an El Sistema inspired program, called Sistema Ravinia in Chicago, where I was one of the first teachers. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

In addition to teaching material directly, I prefer to cultivate the skill of teaching oneself. Instead of scripting the direction of the students growth I help them to follow their own path by accentuating the qualities that make them special and removing technical roadblocks. My own education straddles many schools (rock, jazz, folk/bluegrass, classical, hip-hop, dance, experimental, funk, etc.), formal and informal. But standardized music education leads to standardized music! Read More

Instruments: Guitar

For a beggining student the main focus is to have an enjoyable experience whilst acheiving the fundamental elements required to play the guitar. By focussing on the music they enjoy incorporated with some of the techniques required to play the instrument their growth becomes apparent quickly. As they progress on the instrument we start to dig deeper into the techniques and theory behind the music they love whilst introducing them to new things. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Piccolo Oboe Bassoon English Horn Music Keyboard

For any beginning student, I make it a thing to always teach by ear as well as by sheet music. I find it equally important to be able to hear the notes that one can play on their instrument just like they can see the notes they can play in the process. The first two topics I will always focus on, regardless of the material, is the sound of the rhythm, eventually allowing the notes themselves to fall into place. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Music Acoustic Guitar

I have been teaching via a large retail chain and through my private studio for several years. Although this has worked out, I find the Retail operation to be a bit restrictive, especially for adults with limited time. I think the student benefits more by learning at a pace that is appropriate to their skill level. I currently teach students from kindergarten age though 70+ years. I teach guitar, bass, ukelele, and banjo. Read More