About
With more than 30-years experience teaching raw beginners to advanced, I will give you expert instrumental lessons on piano, guitar, bass, 5-string banjo, tenor banjo, mandolin and trumpet. I am also a fully-trained in proper vocal technique.
My styles of expertise are rock, country (all types, including bluegrass), jazz (standards and improv techniques) and classical. But remember, technique is not always style-specific. There are a number of fundamental things you should learn that will provide firm-footing, regardless of your ultimate style/genre.
I will teach you through traditional notation, by ear or diagram (TAB). Usually, it's a little of all-of-the-above. Also, I will ensure music theory is appropriately implemented along the way.
Many of my students love learning in a more relaxed style, such as playing riffs directly from your favorite songs, bands and artists. It's all doable! I'll have you playing in a remarkably short period of time.
You’ll be getting your lessons in a full, state-of-the-art recording studio. This means we'll have access to professional recording equipment when needed. It has always been my experience that recording is an essential tool of learning to play an instrument. You'll have an opportunity to hear yourself on playback, and self-critique. I will simply email you an MP3 at the end of our session. This kind of service is difficult to find anywhere.
Each student will be given their own Google Drive folder for detailed lesson logs, as well as audio and video files, when applicable.
The most rewarding part of my work is when I get to witness, first-hand, the enthusiasm when a student learns something they'd been struggling with. I love when people call me or text me after I send them an MP3 of a recording from their lesson. They can hardly believe it's them playing/singing. It's the "reward factor"; all of the hard work finally pays off when they get to sit back and listen to themselves.
My father was a music teacher. He'd allow me to sit in on some of his lessons, when I was a kid. I watched how he'd encourage the student in a gentle way, helping them to recognize their own strengths. I knew I wanted to do the same.
Details
Musical styles
Guitar style
Has instrument
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Reviews
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Louis D.
Mouza G.
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Luke D.
Luke D.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
It's always about recognizing each student's personal strengths and capitalizing on them. If it's someone with prior experience, I will help them find ways of playing cleaner, more efficiently, or maybe just spruce up their theory-knowledge so they have a more stable understanding of what they're doing.
For a beginner, the process is not terribly different. There is never a one-size-fits-all scenario. Everybody is different. This is why online lessons are not ideal. The human factor is an essential part of the learning process.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been trained by some of the best instructors in Philadelphia from the age of two. By the age of 6, I was awarded a scholarship after having performed for a spring concert at Andrew Jackson School in Philadelphia. My training continued at The New School of Music, as well as a number of highly-respected private teachers.
At age fifteen, I began an apprenticeship with a private teacher. This part of my training was invaluable. I learned that no two students are alike. There's always an important balance between a traditional/rigid approach, and a gentle/flexible approach.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $50 p/hour. After having experimented over the years with other lesson-lengths, I've decided that anything less than an hour can be relatively unproductive. I will make exceptions for younger students with a short attention-span.
How did you get started teaching?
My father was a great teacher. I was inspired by him at a very young age. It didn't take long for me to realize I wanted to do the same thing. I'm thankful to him for his encouragement. He and I opened our teaching studio together in 1985.