About
I have been teaching guitar, music performance, theory, composition, and production since 1989. I enjoy working with players of all levels from absolute beginner to seasoned professional. I have taught thousands of students in private settings, college classrooms, public schools, master classes, and in international clinics.
Highlights
Photos and videos
Reviews
Susan P.
Tracy H.
Melissa G.
Melissa G.
Nate N.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We analyze your interests, take note of your strengths and weaknesses, and work together to create a lesson plan that will support and encourage you to take the right steps in your practice to reach higher levels of playing. This holds true for the absolute beginner to the seasoned professional.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been teaching full-time since 1989, and hold a terminal Master of Fine Arts degree in Guitar Performance and Pedagogy, and bachelors degrees in jazz guitar and music theory and composition. I have taught as a college professor for 12 years, and as a faculty member at the internationally known National Guitar Workshop for over a decade. I have studied with some of the biggest names in the guitar community and am well-versed in many different styles of playing. I am a seasoned professional teacher with a track record of thousands of successful students who are performing all over the globe.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
lessons are $30 per half hour or $55 per hour on Skype, Zoom, or in-person in Niagara Falls and Youngstown, NY.
How did you get started teaching?
I was asked by some friends in 1989 to teach them privately. Since that time, I have taken my professsion seriously and have worked hard to refine my abilities through an exhaustive formal study of the instrument and ways to transmit information to new, intermediate, and advanced players.
What types of students have you worked with?
i have taught absolute beginners from ages 5-85, college students in undergraduate and graduate music programs, master classes to international guitarists, special interest clinics for working professionals, private lessons to hobbyists who enjoy strumming chords and playing songs at home, and many others. My depth of experience as a guitar educator spans over three decades and has allowed me to share my love of music with people of all backgrounds, interests, and abilities.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Although other professions, such as a dentist or lawyer or school teacher, have governing bodies that set standards to determine proficiency, guitar teachers do not answer to any set of qualifications or standards that allow the prospective student to gauge quality. Unfortunately, this has led to an abundance of under-qualified teachers leading unknowing students to develop poor musical habits that are detrimental to growth. It is important to ask for the background, education, and experience of any prospective teacher, including their college degrees. If these answers seem promising, ask to schedule a paid trial lesson. This can help one find the right fit in order to make the most progress on the guitar without having to overcome any bad habits that might be burned in through poor instruction.