Music Lessons in Turtle Bay, NY

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele

For every student, I initally assess why they are taking lessons and what their goals are. Together we create a plan to acheive those goals.  For young beginners, I like the FJH guitar series. It was written by guitar educators. I also teach the student to play fun songs and tunes to supplmement the books.  For teens and adults, the path depends on their goals, which aren't always in a book. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

Seeing that "Eureka" moment in a student's eyes is one of the best experiences in the world. It is my goal to have that moment with all my students and have them consistently improving each lesson. I will do this by setting realistic goals and giving them positive encouragement along the way. If they are struggling, I will work with them every step of the way to ensure they learn correctly and have a good foundation for future learning. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard

I have a deep passion for the convergence of theory and performance, because I believe that understanding the theoretical reasons behind musical decisions opens up vast realms of experimentation and creativity. Consequently, my teaching style revolves around the marriage of music theory and performance, so that my students can learn how to build on the foundation that has been laid by the musicians who have come before us. I believe that it is the educator's duty to tailor his or her teaching to the unique learning style and needs of each student. Read More

Instruments: Voice

Singing is about expressing yourself, not about fitting into "molds." I'm interested in helping you find YOUR voice. Because of this, I use a highly individualized method of teaching, adapting my approach based on your wants and needs. If you want to sing classical music, let's sing classical music. If you want to get into pop or rock genres, let's rock out. With this in mind, my number one objective is to help you grow and develop towards your goals in a way that's both healthy and sustainable. Read More

Instruments: Voice

The body is an important part of singing. My lessons often incorporate fun, sometimes silly but Always useful movement. I like to send students home with one challenge every week, and a larger challenge for every month. Success feels good for any student, and short term goals that tie in to long term goals are a good way to keep feeling inspired and developing a drive to succeed. Students are encouraged to bring in music they would actually ENJOY singing, in addition to music I assign based on various vocal challenges. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music

My teaching experience dates back to my college days, as I began teaching private lessons part time 9 years ago and have been consistently teaching student in my studio for the last 2 years. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the key point I like to emphasize for younger students, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for singing. I've also found that a combination of classical and modern music can go a long way in helping students enjoy singing and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My goal as a teacher is to avoid any type of dogmatic "one size fits all" curriculum.  I always want to know what music the student enjoys and build my lesson plans based on their tastes.  Chords can be physically challenging for beginners so I like to work with single-note melodies early on so that the student isn't quickly discouraged.  Learning chords becomes the medium-term goal.  As for the long-term, I will then use specific songs as examples for how music theory works in the context of their favorite bands. Read More