Music Lessons in Waldwick, NJ

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe

I am a professional musician and educator with a passion for sharing what I have learned with others. I have had a wide array of opportunities to study, perform, and work within the music industry, and I want to communicate the tools I have found useful in those endeavors. I hold a BM in Education from University of New Hampshire and a MM in Performance from New England Conservatory of Music. Read More

Instruments: Violin

When I was two years old, I saw a young girl play the violin in a concert. I was so inspired that I begged my parents to let me begin violin lessons. Finally, at five years old, I stood proudly with my tiny violin and have not put it down since. Playing the violin has taken me around the world for various performances, music festivals, and teaching workshops. I have performed as a soloist with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta in Carnegie Hall, traveled to three different continents for music festival concerts, and co-founded the Heartbeat Project and the Joining Hands Project. Read More

Instruments: Drums

We start by doing proper warm up exercises followed by learning or practicing rudiments. We work on our grip of the sticks and our movements while drumming. In other words, I teach economy of movement for maximum energy. If a student is flailing their arms, we talk about a more fluid movement by utilizing the wrists and incorporating finger control. Then we move on to reading out of instructional books which is then followed by practical application on the drum sets.With a beginner student I find Basix Syncopation for Drums by Alfred Publishing to be a very effective tool. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I begin my Classical students with the Julian Sagreras guitar method book, then move into the Aaron Shearer Learning the Classic Guitar series. Once students have a firm grasp of the fundamentals, we begin on solo repertoire. For contemporary styles, I prefer to start complete beginners on the Hal Leonard guitar method books, and then I encourage them to seek out artists that they enjoy. In all of my lessons, students will analyze chord structures, sing and dictate melodies, and learn history about the guitar and general music. Read More

Instruments: Piano

Music has been part of my life from a yound age. I started playing piano when I was five. At age nine I entered St. Thomas Choir School, a boarding choir school in midtown Manhattan. At age fourteen I started studying music theory and composition with a local kappelmeister. In university I continued to study classical theory at Syracuse University and then Jazz Theory at Hampshire College. I moved to the West coast and played iin the big band jazz ensembles at San Francisco State University which is where I eventually got my degree in Music Ed. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar

My first ever performance was at a piano recital as a 6-year old. By the 5th grade I was performing with a genuine garage band, making our debut performance headlining at our elementary schools talent show. From that time forward I've been in countless multifarious bands and have been performing music in some form or other ever since. I have performed with and sat in for some of the finest NY metro area musicians including the late great Melvin Sparks, Scott Spray (Johnny Winter), Scott Lebish (James Brown) Gil Paris and Jeff Smith. Read More