Teaching Bio - Resume

Thirty years experience as a professional musician - performing, booking, promoting, teaching and recording

Academic Background

• B. A. Ramapo College - graduated Magna cum Laude 3.82 GPA
  
• Graduate Work in Education - Rutgers University - Masters of Education Program
  
• Graduate Work in Liberal Arts - Ramapo College - MLA Program
  
• Studied Jazz with legendary jazz guitarists - Bucky Pizzarelli & John Pizzarelli

Teaching Bio - Profile

I have been teaching guitar and other string instruments (banjo, mandolin & bass guitar) for 30 years. I have been teaching full time since 1994.

Qualifications, Specialties& Strengths - Communications & Educational Skills

 I am equally adept at connecting and engaging with students of all age groups, interest and aptitude levels from young children and beginners to proficient adults. In addition to my comprehensive knowledge of general music theory and specific stringed instrument techniques, I specialize in making learning music relevant to my students. As a supplement
to whatever books & materials are relevant I transpose and teach students (on an understandable and digestible level) music they like and spark interest and love of their instrument and music in general. Students practice more, get better faster and show an interest in increasingly more challenging and esoterically rewarding music as a result. Music becomes fun to them.

Musical Strengths

• Strong sight reading ability
• Comprehensive knowledge of music theory
• Excellent "ears" - This enables me to transpose music for students quickly, accurately & efficiently
• Stylistic Versatility
On guitar, I am well versed in rock, blues, country, reggae, jazz, classical, bluegrass & other genres.
I teach pick-style and finger-style on all levels. I also teach beginning & intermediate banjo, mandolin & bass guitar

Specialties

I have tremendous rapport with children, keeping the lessons fun while fostering a love of music. Interestingly, one of the most valuable techniques I have learned came from seminars on positive reinforcement while teaching tennis at camps during summers off from college. I reinforce and encourage, every correct or good action. I make students "mistakes" just part of the journey to the "correct" notes or techniques. This positive approach works as well with adults as with children.

Many advance students who come to me - talented teens and adults already have had a large dose of technique, theory etc. Some are professional musicians themselves. They want to know how to play what they play better. In rock, blues & jazz especially, improvisation is a large part of the genre. I have developed very effective techniques for teaching students how to improvise creatively & coherently. We workshop playing over "changes" & songs and analyze the technique, styles, concepts & sounds of artists that interest them or artists I turn them onto.

From years of performing (I still play 3 to 6 nights a week) I have developed an encyclopedic repertoire of songs. This has been a huge enhancement to my teaching skills. From my extensive experience I can offer vast knowledge of how to work with instruments to get the best sound whether it be working with acoustic instruments or with amps and electronic setups and effects.

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