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MM, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Classical Guitar Performance BM, Ithaca College, Classical Guitar Performance AS, Schenectady County Community College, Classical Guitar Performance
For the past 14 years, I've been a performer in both solo and band settings, and I've taught on various musical subjects/instruments for the past 6 years. I am a recent graduate of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where I received my Master of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance. During my studies in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area, I had the opportunity to teach at numerous private music schools on guitar, bass guitar, and ukulele. Additionally, I served as a music instructor for the Suzuki Music School of Maryland, and later as an instructor for the summer camp at the Queens Music Academy in Woodside, NY.
During my studies at Schenectady County Community College, I served as a music tutor within the School of Music. I offered tutoring to fellow students in the subjects of music theory, ear training/sight singing, and keyboard techniques. My experience working as a music tutor has given me the opportunity to connect these studies with a student's lessons on their chosen instrument. When teaching music theory and ear training to those studying an instrument, I keep in mind how these concepts apply to their chosen instrument, and how this knowledge can always remain relevant.
During your first lesson, we will work on learning chords, and how to read tablature. For younger students, we may start with abbreviated versions of chords in order to start playing popular songs and make the learning process easier. Also, I'll introduce 5-line staff paper sometime during the first few lessons, and we may start work on a simple tune/melody. The goal in the first few lessons is to make progress on a simple song or melody, and especially for adult students, long-term goals should be considered.
My goal in the first few lessons is to make progress toward a song that the student can play for friends, family, and even the public. I want to encourage students to play out at open mikes, and to find their own performance personality in the process. I eventually work toward more technical subjects on the instrument for the purpose of expanding a student's creativity. Hopefully, through exploring new musical territories and breaking creative boundaries, the student can begin to write their own music and improvise confidently and daringly.