Music Lessons in Upper Montclair, NJ

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

For beginner students on drums I use Ted Reed's Syncopation and Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone. These books provide a great foundation for every drummer and once we put together a great foundation our potential greatly increases. I also assign a great deal of listening for my students from all areas of music. For more advanced students we do use Syncopation and Stick Control as well but there are a number of other great resources such as The New Breed by Gary Chester or Creative Coordination by Keith Copeland. Read More

Instruments: Cello

I have also spent my summers teaching at such music festivals as Luzerne Music Center, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and NYSSSA School of Orchestral Studies. My duties included teaching students aged 9-19 private lessons, coaching up to three chamber ensembles daily, conducting orchestral sectionals, and rehearsing from within the orchestra. My summer students there have been concerto competition winners, were granted opportunities to perform in the student showcase and for donor events, sat as section leaders in the orchestra, and performed in masterclass for cellists of the Philadelphia Orchestra and for the Johannes Quartet. Read More

Instruments: Piano Harp

For beginners:  learning to read music and count rhythms is essential. For intermediates:  hand technique, musicianship, style of composer, learning your own personal strengths and weaknesses is an ingrediant to success For advanced:  learning to stay focused, having stamina, how to memorize difficult passages, understanding complex rhythm patterns, learning about the intentions of the composer is a key to mastering a piece For improvisational players:  music theory, musical genre and style, learning rhythmical patterns is a good focus Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching experience started a couple of years ago when I started teaching in my Home city. I have taught students of different ages while focusing on different styles with the goal of always trying to make the student happy by enabling them to learn the music that THEY want to learn. I know that the fundamental part of learning is to be passionate and to like the subject, every style can gift you different abilities and knowledges that can all translate into the same elemental thing which is music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I want my students to enjoy their music lessons, I don't want it to feel like a chore. It can be really fulfilling when I see a student playing or singing something with joy! I pay close attention to what exercises students seem to want to spend the most time on and the ones they get frustrated with. This helps me balance the lesson by breaking things up and putting them in an appropriate order so the student will stay engaged. Read More

Instruments: Cello

I started teaching cello lessons 10 years ago in an after school program for 3rd and 4th graders. In this program, I taught music theory and group cello lessons for classes of 4-20 students. Around this time I also started teaching private cello lessons to students who wanted to move at a faster pace than group lessons. Since then I have taught many students of all ages and and levels. Many of my students have started to play the cello with no musical background or knowledge. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I have always enjoyed teaching others and watching the lightbulb snap on with inspiration. I started teaching my fellow high school students and middle school students my junior and senior years of high school while guided by a Music Buddies program through my youth orchestra. I have tried to continue teaching privately ever since where ever I am. I have also taught some wonderful adult beginners, but I have mostly taught middle and high school students and understand the challenges of balancing school, possible work, with fitting in the time to work on and benefit from all that music programs have to offer at those ages. Read More