Music Lessons in Valley Forge, PA

Instruments: Drums

I usually teach from Alfred’s Basic Guitar Method for preteens and young teens at a beginner level. These instruction books are structured from Book 1 to Book 6. As for older teens, young adults and adults, I usually teach from the acclaimed method book: Hal Leonard’s Music Guitar Method. These books are structured from Volume 1 through Volume 3. Although I use these books, it is not the end all be all. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I will provide students with diagrams on what is called guitar tablature, which is the easiest way to read music for guitar, for various chords and scales. Students will be able to play songs and guitar riffs by their favorite bands as well as create their own music and even create their own guitar solos and improvise over chords. I can teach students songs they want to learn as well provide music for songs that will help them learn chords and guitar riffs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Ukulele

As a teacher, I have taught private lessons, small and large jazz groups, concert bands, and in a classroom situation. I believe that being a part of diverse musical ensembles is essential to musical education. Many core concepts can be found in any style of music, and playing with as many people as you can find in many situations helps to make you the best possible musician you can be. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

For absolute beginners I make sure that they know the guitar strings and make sure they get to know the fretboard by learning the pentatonic scales and basic chord shapes. First we will learn what an octave is and where they are on the fretboard. After we learn octaves we learn the scales and the notes on the high and low E string. After that we start with our sharps and flats. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Music Keyboard Electric Guitar

For beginner students, I often begin with the foundations of the instrument. For drums, we would be practice the rhythmic subdivisions (quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes) and slowly work them into grooves that they can easily start to pick out of their favorite songs. When the fundamentals have been established, we can learn more advanced grooves, dissect songs together, and learn how to improvise and write our own drum parts. My biggest focus as a teacher is to help the student discover the music that they want to learn and make so that they can develop their own unique voice. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Ive always found it incredibly rewarding when hard work pays off, and this means something different to everyone. Ive found in my own studies that I can have breakthrough moments merely vocalizing or finally getting that one measure perfect after Ive spent a day working at it over and over. As a vocal captain for fellow professional colleagues, hearing their voices come together in harmony after working diligently on a piece of music has taken me to that place in your soul where you feel like youve awakened. Read More

Instruments: Drums

For beginner students Ill usually start with George Lawrences Stick Control and Ted Reeds Syncopation. Once I know they have a grasp of the fundamentals, Ill usually see what their interests are or what they are working on personally and help them improve and build upon those things. This could be repertoire for school or auditions or simply a song they have been trying to learn for a while. Once I understand the students interests and goals I try and tailor my curriculum to that. Read More