Music Lessons in Ridgewood Bogota, NJ

Instruments: Flute

My teaching experience dates back to my high school days, as I began teaching private lessons part-time 8 years ago, teaching primarily young beginning and intermediate students. I have served as a teaching assistant for the 2016 Ervin Monroe Summer Flute Choir Workshop, where I played side-by-side with the members of the flute choir and offered advice and guidance. I have also served as the the primary flute instructor for the annual McCourts Music Fifth Grade Instrument Fittings in Berkley, Michigan for the past 5 years, where I work with fifth grade students teaching them how to play the flute. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

I cater the lessons towards the individual needs of the students.  For beginning students 6 years old and under, I prefer to use Shirley Givens' books, "Adventures In Violinland", along with Suzuki materials through rote memorization.  When the student is 5 or 6 years old or older, I like to use Suzuki materials but supplement with note reading right away.  Also, I love it when a student brings a specific piece of music in that they would like to play, whether it is from the classical repertoire, or jazz, pop, etc. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar Double Bass

I have been teaching bass lessons since I was 17 years old. It can be extremely gratifying when a student and teacher are working together in a focused way, especially once the student begins to truly grasp what they have been taught. In addition to private bass lessons, I also have extensive experience running workshops and leading ensemble courses. I have taught all over, domestically and internationally, through colleges and jazz workshops. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I love to see how much all of my students improve and overcome their "blocks" on the drums. I usually make a little recording of the new student on day 1 and then make them listen to it after a few lessons: It always surprises them to see how far they've gone! Those little accomplishments are a great motivation for my students to "keep at it" and continue progressing and growing as musicians. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

I have been teaching for over 45 years, mostly in students' homes. I started in the 1970's in my NYC apartment and since moving to Westchester 30 years ago have been going to student's homes. Many of my students have been accepted to colleges as music majors or minors and my students frequently get the highest ratings in solo competitions. School band directors often recommend me as a coach for their most serious students, since school music programs usually do not have the capacity for intensive individual coaching. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass

I studied at Belmont University in Nashville with Roy Vogt and Jim Ferguson. In NYC, i have studied with Ben Wolfe (Juilliard jazz faculty and member of Wynton Marsalis sextet) Some of the artists i have played with (and continue to): Chaka Khan, Ashford & Simpson, Blood Sweat & Tears, Jason Miles, Max Weinberg Orchestra, MJ (Broadway) The Harlem Gospel Choir, Sachal Vasandani, Peter Cincotti, Jeff Lorber, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Vonda Shepard, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, hip-hop cult faves Camp Lo, the Metermaids, Felicia Collins (of Late Show with David Letterman). Read More

Instruments: Voice

One last thing that is important about me and my journey as a teacher is that I am a baritone. This is something I used to fight. I felt like I was being left out of the musical theatre scene because I couldn't sing as high as some of my tenor peers. I spent pretty much all of undergrad screaming in practice rooms trying to gain an upper range. Unfortunately, my teachers at the time didn't have the knowledge necessary to healthily guide me through this process (see above). Read More