About
I am a music teacher with a very eclectic background. I am a musical theatre composer, but I also have experience performing as a guitarist, vocalist, bassist, pianist, and percussionist in various bands (many different genres of music).
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Musical Theatre. I completed the BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop. I also am a graduate of the Hunter College Music Education Program.
I offer private instruction on:
- the guitar
- voice
- the piano
- the electric bass
- various percussion (drum kit, djembe)
- ukulele
- fun instruments (kazoo, harmonica)
- songwriting
I can also offer:
- vocal coaching
- monologue coaching
I can...
-work with your schedule and find a time that works for you
-provide affordable rates
-teach specific genres (rock, folk, jazz, reggae, funk, metal, classical)
-*vocalists: get you playing rhythm guitar/piano/bass and singing simultaneously
Professional Composer Bio:
Matt is a composer, lyricist and playwright. He is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College (BA), Hunter College (MA) and the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop. His show, “How’s This Sound?!” has received multiple sold-out runs at The Duplex in NYC.
Matt’s projects include Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot (with Nathan Brisby, dir. Tom Wojtunik, SoundBites Festival: TheatreNowNY), The Coincidentals (with Emma Jeszke, The Pitch: Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival), How's This Sound?! (The Duplex), The Adventures of Manny McDougal, and Zombie Friend. His original material has also been featured at the Detention Series (Primary Stages), Tune in Time (The Triad Theatre), The Metropolitan Room, 54 Below, The 2012 and 2017 Annual Gala (The Duplex), Pianos, The Bowery Electric, Rockwood Music Hall, The 45th Street Theatre and Arlene's Grocery. He has also competed in over ten national video game jams as a composer and sound designer. He is a member of BMI and The Dramatists Guild.
He still maintains a private music studio of students and is happily married with a beautiful wife and daughter. In his spare time, he enjoys saving the world with his crime-fighting cats and replaying old 90's games on his modded GameBoy.
I've done so many interesting things as a teacher. I helped a man propose to his wife by teaching him to play ukulele and sing a song in the course of four 30-minute lessons, and guess what...she said yes! I've prepped students for their Broadway callbacks! I've even taught, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" to a student who's uncle wrote, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay."
Being a teacher is a great profession. Being a music teacher is the greatest profession. I literally consider myself lucky that I was given musical abilities that I am able to share with students of all ages. It's a language that everyone can speak, no matter what restrictions life has put upon them.
Highlights
Photos and videos
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I have one motto: learn as you go. If you're not "doing," you're not taking a lesson. I don't believe our first lesson needs to be a big meet and greet. If you're learning a new instrument, let's start learning how to play some chords. If you're trying to build up your rep book, let's hear your sixteen bar cut! We can learn about each other as we learn the craft. After all, you're paying for the time, so it's important that we get right to the service that you paid for.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BA in musical theatre from Marymount Manhattan College.
I have an MA in music education from Hunter College.
I am a graduate of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writing Workshop.
I am a member of the Dramatists Guild and Broadcast Music International.
I am a certified NYC K-12 Music Instructor.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Please reach out for rates.