In brief…

• Online or in the flesh (North Pittsburgh)

• Guitar, Piano, Theory, Songwriting, Singing

• All ages welcome!

• Catered and personalized for your needs

• Roughly $40 for 30 minutes (depending on location)

I've been playing guitar for 30 years and teaching for nearly 20. I have a theoretical knowledge of music from studying the books, as well as a practical knowledge from songwriting and gigging. I have experience teaching adults as well as children, which has taught me to make difficult concepts silly, light, and digestible by breaking them down to their core elements.  

At length…

the Philosophy/Mission:
We need more creators and less consumers. In order to turn our children into free and critical thinkers we need to empower them with creativity and instill in them a great appreciation of the arts. Being able to connect with the arts in life links us to spirituality and a deeper sense of self.

It gives us the confidence to believe in our own ability and our own problem solving skills. This has become even more critical in a modern, digital age. It is art and artistic endeavors that empower us. Art is creation. Creation puts life and the future into our own hands.

Creating art is one of the few endeavors that acts as a reflecting medium allowing us to see that we really are each completely unique individuals.

Art enriches us by affirming and highlighting our innate abilities and talents. As emotional and intelligent beings we are all able to create objects, songs, poems, paintings, stories, and compositions that no other human would or could produce in quite the same way...

We create because God created us. 

Or we can throw that heady stuff out the window, and say it in the simple words of Garth: “I like to play”. 

about the Lessons:

I try to keep the lessons fun. Music is an art form. Art is about self expression, joy, and curiosity.

I try to make the lessons as engaging, interactive, and hands on as possible.

Music is a pretty broad category and there several paths we may take together should we decide it’s the right fit for you. Here’s a few major concepts we’ll consider tackling:

playing by ear:

as valueable as sight reading is, it is easy to forget that music is heard. It is through our ears that we perceive music, through our ears we find it pleasing, or displeasing, through our ears that we hear harmony and dissonance, intervals and melodies. I believe nurturing the innate ability to play and learn music by ears alone is one of the most important aspects of becoming both a great musician and composer.

chord charts:

it's a simple concept that can get one playing some of their favorite songs in weeks. It's also how jazz players comp, how folk musicians communicate, and how blues players know what they're improvising over.

sight reading:

since the 1400s, and solidified in 1600s with the compositions of Bach, the West now has a very sound and ingrained form of musical notation. Yup, those little note heads on lines. Anyone with a desire to learn and understand classical music must become efficient at 'sight reading' (simply playing as if reading a book, without much or any preparation beforehand). Of course, the advantages and joys don't merely extend to classical music but can be applied to every musical genre: jazz, showtunes, death metal, bubblegum pop, rock, folk, etc...

learning popular songs:

most of my students find this to be the most exciting part of the lessons, and possibly the most valuable. There is nothing quite as inspiring and motivating as the ability to play the songs you love and enjoy. Learning dull melodies or tired nursery rhymes can only take you so far. I try to spend a portion of every lesson teaching his student's any song of their choice (movie scores, video game music, and silly songs you heard on youtube are all fair game!)

music theory:

it's one thing to learn to play a Cmajor7 chord, and it's another to understand it consists of a root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 7th. Understanding theory supplies the player and songwriter with the inner workings of music. The 'physics' or 'architecture' of music. Every great composer throughout history either knew this intellectually and/or intuitively with their ear. Knowing theory gives one the ability to improvise, learn songs faster, compose more efficiently, transpose songs to different keys, and gives the player an overall better appreciation for how and why music sounds so pleasing (or displeasing) to the ear and brain.

improvisation:

the ability to flow. One of  my favorite aspects of music, and one that makes it the most meditative is the ability to improvise. Improvising is understanding what notes create what effects over certain chords and in certain key signatures, and then using this knowledge to let go of inhibition and let the notes fly. From Mozart to Muddy Waters to John Coltrane, all were proficient improvisers. Without learning the ability to improvise it is nearly impossible to continue towards song writing. Two fascinating articles revealing the brain science behind improvisation: This Is Your Brain on Jazz and Music Can be Good for Your Brain

songwriting:

there is nothing in life that compares to the ability to create art that is unique, individual, and moving. There are consumers and creators and in a modern world where we are bombarded with television, movies, video games, and screens from every which angle, it becomes more difficult for both adults and children to set aside time to create instead of consume. On the surface it's a fun time out to explore or extrapolate on various topics and ideas. On a deeper level it is one of the few ways to commune with one's spirituality. Self expression is empowering on many levels. It gives one the quiet and confidence to trust in themselves and explore the infinite inner workings of the human heart and infinite subconscious (insert rant about metaphysics and cosmology and God)...but putting the profundity of the act of creation aside...it's just plain FUN!

about the Students:

I have taught children as old as 4 and as young as 82.

I’m a father of 4 and previous to my ten years of teaching students of all ages I spent summers as a Camp Counselor for the Chicago Park District and enjoyed running around, entertaining, educating, leading activities, and keeping safe various age groups of kids in both indoor and outdoor settings.

I’m comfortable teaching the bare-boned beginner, but also the intermediate piano player, and the advanced guitarist looking to improve upon and fine tune their craft. No willing student is turned away. I’m dedicated and willing to work with anyone who shows up with a positive attitude. If for any reason I feels ill equipped for getting you to reach your goals as quickly as possible he will happily pass you on to other excellent teachers.

about the Pricing:

$40 per 30 minute lesson.

This may vary slightly depending on your location and payment method.

And if anyone out there is really struggling financially but is driven and motivated to learn, please reach out and maybe we can figure something out.