"...Just wanted to let you know i got accepted to San Francisco Conservatory... still waiting to hear from Eastman. You're the one that got me started down this classical guitar path, so thanks for everything man."

-Kahlil S. (currently attending Eastman School of Music)

 

"...I still miss taking lessons with you. Thank you for preparing me so well last year. I feel that if it wasn't for your influence I would not have decided to study classical guitar and commit myself to becoming a performance major. I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to meet you and learn from you."

Matthew S. (currently attending U. Mass Lowell)

 

"The best teacher you could have for music."

-anonymous review, Rate My Professors

__________

 

Instructional Philosophy

I.
Everyone has the ability to play the guitar well, provided that they want to learn, are willing to work hard, have an open mind, and have access to high-quality instruction.

II.
Playing and learning the guitar should be FUN.

III.
I believe that performing music artistically requires a process of analysis, thought, introspection, and decision-making.  To facilitate this, a student should be actively exposed to new ideas over the course of his lessons, and encouraged to be creative in her self-expression.

IV.
I believe that music history, music theory, and performance are integral to each other, and are each essential areas of study. 

V.
In the area of performance, technique and musicality are intrinsically connected, forming a continuum.  They, too, are inseparable.    

VI.
It is essential that a student be given a solid technical foundation.  At no time is this more important than when a student is a beginner and forming the basic patterns of motion that will be used for the rest of his/her life.  In fact, a poor technical foundation is one of the leading reasons students become frustrated and quit, since they eventually hit a "ceiling" and progress stalls.  A good teacher can be an enormous help with this.  (See the "Thoughts" section for ideas on how to choose an appropriate teacher).

VII.
I am not a believer in forcing a child to take music lessons against their will.  Or adults either, for that matter. 

VIII.
Much of music is about solving problems.  These might include working out a compositional idea, creating an analysis of a piece, deciphering music history, or interpreting a piece of music.  Critical thought is essential.  The most powerful resource is one's mind (not the hands!).

IX.
Politely questioning the teacher's ideas is actively encouraged.

X.
The mark of a good teacher is not what he puts into the student, but what he's able to bring out of the student.

For specific information about instruction, please contact me directly.