Music Lessons in Upper Saddle River, NJ

Instruments: Piano Drums Bass Guitar Double Bass Oboe English Horn Music

My teaching style is aimed at helping my students express themselves through music, and enjoy playing their instruments. The starting point for this is learning the basics (scales, long tones, arpeggios, etc), but I also encourage my students to improvise and allow themselves to freely play their instrument in a joyful way. I also help them learn pieces and styles that they love. Through working on all of these aspects of being a musician, and encouraging them to take performance opportunities, I help my students to really find their own voice on their instrument. Read More

Instruments: Violin Electric Violin Fiddle

While I do not subscribe to any particular school of study, such as Suzuki or Schrimer's, I am a firm beleiver in starting off with my students at their current level and pace. Once I have assessed a students's personal ability, there is discussion of what goals/objectives the student wshes to achieve. Once we have decided what direction the student wishes to take with their instrument, I typically use a variety of etudes, chamber, and solo music to offer both a strong technical base along with a freedom of choice. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have a very patient and laid back personality which I think benefits most students.  The last thing a student wants to feel is pressure from their teacher to perform up to the teacher's standards.  Everyone has a different idea of success and this also translates in the world of music.  Some want to become world-class virtuosos, while others want to simply enjoy playing music for their personal fulfillment.  Neither path is right or wrong and I will work with all of my students to maximize their particular goals. Read More

Instruments: Drums Latin Percussion Djembe

There's a ton of books about drumset out there. I like to use some of the best ones in my experience that offer us infinite possibilities to create our own individual practice routines. These include: - Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone - Syncopation by Ted Reed - Modern Rudimental Swing Solos by Charley Wilcoxon - The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by Alan Dawson More than the books I like to focus on the desire, the flame in the student which drives them to want to play music in the first place... a favorite song or band, and then use these books in order to service that. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Based on a child's interest and personal voice, I recommend pieces of music varying from musical theatre, 28 Italian Songs, Schirmer's Book of Solos, and Hal Leonard's Standard Literature. In our lessons, I teach students to warm up with the proper technique, and so that they may warm themselves up when practicing. We also work on sight reading and dictation to implement musical literacy. Most importantly, we discuss textual meaning and how it relates to our performance skills. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Electric Violin

I am very patient and encouraging with my students because I know firsthand that playing the violin and piano is extremely difficult. Progress is not only dependent on the student doing their part, but it is also my responsibility to instruct in a way tailored towards each of my student's individual needs. Being able to set short term and long term goals is very helpful especially when learned at a young age. Read More