Music Lessons in Palmyra, NJ

Instruments: Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Electric Violin Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My next job was in the South Brunswick public school district where I taught elementary strings and band, as well as some general music classes. Upon leaving the public school system, I shifted my focus to teaching private individual lessons. Although I enjoyed working in the public schools, this was the best decision I ever made! I have found so much joy in being able to work with students one on one, to help them become the best musician they can be. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Right around age six, I discovered that my hands were finally big enough to fret a guitar! I spent the next decade banging away on my own amongst the redwoods north of San Francisco. Bass, keys, mandolin, and vocals soon slipped into my repertoire, filling the space where a proper social life might otherwise have been. I swore to never go pro, lest it ruin the fun. For most of this time, I had assumed that good music died when The Beatles broke up, but in high school I flung my mind open to the stylistic diversity of the digital age. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium

In the first lesson, I always make sure to spend the time gauging the student's skill level. For beginners, I will look to introduce them to Herbert L. Clarke's studies in technique for euphonium players. For trombones, I look to be sure they are hitting trombone positions accurately and quickly, using either the same Clarke book or by using the first exercises in Arban's essentials for trombone. At the intermediate level, I begin to use the Rochut etude books so that all students can grasp musicality and phrasing in a simple setting. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music

For young beginning piano students, I typically start with John Thompson's Modern Course for the Piano: The First Grade Book and move up throughout the series from there. For young beginning voice students, I start with lessons on proper breath support, sight-singing, intonation exercises, and warm-ups to shape their voice. For both my piano and voice students, I establish a strong, classical foundation that is built on fundamentals to get their instrument working properly and then branch out to other genres from there. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Lute Music Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I was also already teaching privately due to demand from the members of of the Princeton and New Jersey Classical Guitar Societies. I was concentrating on classical students but also taught folk, pop, rock, and jazz styles. I did this until the age of 16, when I moved to NYC to begin my Bachelors studies at the Manhattan School of Music under the legendary Manuel Barrueco. I taught both privately and at local NYC music schools during my Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral years of study. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ Keyboard

My approach to teaching is, basically, that playing piano should be enjoyable and fun so I tailor the lessons to the type of music in which the student has interest. I do, however, have a basic structure that includes reading music, finger dexterity and songs at the student's playing level. If there is an interest in contemporary music I have an "easy to learn" approach to chords and accompaniments. I also give lessons in music composition. Read More

Instruments: Flute Recorder Piccolo

I always encourage students to find contemporary books with fun songs to try out, like a Disney series or pop songs. In addition, for those who are in school band, I highly recommend they bring in their materials at the beginning and have a lesson or two on them, especially if they have any solos or auditions pending. As the student advances, so do the materials. At the intermediate to advanced level, we will explore more technically engaging solos, and focus a lot on etude and scale work. Read More