Every lesson is tailored to fit the student.  I have been teaching music professionally since 1989, full-time since the late 1990’s.  With over 3 decades’ experience as a musician, I draw upon the creativity and flexibility I've acquired in the wide span of my own work to fine-tune lessons to each student's needs and interests, and above all to make the process rewarding and fun.  My pedagogy focuses on establishing a basis of traditional technique and appreciation of music; well-rounded musicianship, however, requires open ears, an open mind, and a breadth of experience.  There is a lot to cover- we will begin with a solid foundation and build from there.

Here are some One-Liners that will help to guide you as you practice.

You will learn:

Essential technical skills:

In your lessons you will learn to touch the instrument you choose with strength and grace.  As a part of the process you will learn the technique-building exercises I learned in lessons with master teachers and the mindful practice techniques necessary to achieve your goals quickly.  In this process you will learn to hear more aspects of the music you listen to and gain more control of the sounds you make.

How to build the music you are inspired by:

When you study with me you will be invited to bring the music you want to learn to the lesson.  We will build your lessons around that specific material to enable you to play in the styles and genres that are most inspiring to you.  Your theory lessons will be focused directly on the music you are interested in playing.  I encourage students to bring questions to the lessons.  If you are truly interested in a more general course of study, I can create one for you.

What to actually do during that practice time:

You will learn to practice effectively, making the most of your time, learning quickly and solidly.  You will be given highly specific effective and practice techniques to use.  Our lesson time will be used to model these. 

About Materials:

I teach in tablature or standard notation, depending on the goals of the student.  I can recommend books as my understanding of the student’s goals and strengths develops.  Beyond paper-based materials, I strongly encourage students to develop their ability to play by ear.  Improvisation is an essential musical skill that you will develop through exercises I will tailor to your abilities and your strengths as a player.