About
Sing what you play and play from the heart. As a Guitar Performance graduate from Musicians Institute, I was fortunate enough to have been taught these ideas from guitarists I considered to be my idols; Jake Eckert (Dirty Dozen Brass Band), Rick Zunigar (Stevie Wonder) and the late Ross Bolton (Al Jarreau). My approach is to provide that unique experience to my students and inspire them to achieve their goals. Through my 15+ years of experience as a session guitarist and instructor, I have had the opportunity to perform and record with some of the top musicians in Los Angeles, while teaching students of various ages and skill levels. As a student, each lesson is tailored to the unique individual with core training in technique and theory. In addition, if you are an aspiring songwriter, I provide instructions on how to effectively reach audiences with original music through my experience as a composer, where I have scored ad campaigns for Ray Ban, Reef and Arnette. You can view my original scores at www.salsaflask.com.
Simply put, I love teaching. Helping inspire students to achieve their goals and discover new things about themselves is what brings me joy.
Highlights
Reviews
Paul N.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The priority is to get to know the student before jumping into a lesson plan. It is important that I understand each individuals goals and aspirations in order for me to formulate a way to help them achieve it.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
As stated in my "About" section - I have a degree in Guitar Performance from Musicians Institute. Through my time there, I have had the opportunity to play multiple genres, learn various methods of training and hone in ideal ways to help me become the player that I wanted to be. In addition, the instruction from Jake Eckert (Dirty Dozen Brass Band), Rick Zunigar (Stevie Wonder), and the late Ross Bolton provided me with the tools I need to be able to translate ideas to students.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
$60 per hour
How did you get started teaching?
As a student, my friends enjoyed the way I played so I taught lessons in dorm rooms and eventually moved on to a music shop where I had over 30+ students with ranging skill level and age.
What types of students have you worked with?
From a skill level standpoint, I have worked with beginners and seasoned players. My youngest student was 6 years old and my oldest was 60. In addition, I have had the opportunity to train established actors and artists including Caity Lotz (Arrow), Noreen Juliano (BG5) and Paul Niedermier (Thriving Ivory).
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I recently went to New York to see one of my favorite artists, D'Angelo, speak about his life and his achievements at the Red Bull Music Academy. It was truly a highlight for me.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for someone you feel comfortable with and who will work at your tempo. It is easy to lose interest when you are not on the same page as your instructor.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Why do you want to take lessons?
What do you want to accomplish?
How often can I practice?