FAQs

WHICH INSTRUMENTS DO YOU TEACH?

I teach Drum Kit, Piano, Guitar (Acoustic & Electric), and Bass. I also teach Music Theory, Composition, and Production.

WHAT AGE DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE TO TAKE LESSONS?

It depends on the instrument and the lesson type. If I am able to work with the student in-person either at my studio or in-home, I would recommend that a student be at least 5 years-old for Drum Kit; 3 or 4 years-old for Piano; 7 or 8 years-old for Guitar. If I’m working with a student online and a parent or guardian is not able to also be present during lessons then a student would need to be 10 years-old for Drum Kit; 8 or 9 years-old for Piano; 9 or 10 years-old for Guitar. For students learning Music Theory, Composition, or Production either online or in-person, I recommend starting at age 10 or 11.

WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL PROCESS FOR WORKING WITH A NEW STUDENT?

I am a great believer in meeting any student where they are at both in their knowledge of a subject as well as their natural interest. Music is multi-faceted and highly personal. Playing music is even more so. I remember loving the practical side of it, and feeling less enthused by the theoretical side when I was in school. This natural interest is often hard to discern because we are all conditioned to feel like, unless we learn all the aspects of a subject, we won’t be proficient in it. This leaves little room for a student's individual way of learning. In my first lesson with a student, I am focused on discovering not only what interests a student the most, but also how best to prioritize the information I’ll need to furnish them with. For example, if a student can play a melody or a rhythm perfectly by ear but struggles when I ask them to play it while reading sheet music, I can tailor their curriculum so that any information related to theory is woven seamlessly into a lesson plan that focuses on performance and musicianship. On the other hand, many of my students show a great aptitude, and even a preference for the nitty-gritty of music theory. For these students, I create lesson plans that use performance more as a means to put into practice what we learn in our more conversational sessions.

WILL I NEED TO PURCHASE ANY ADDITIONAL MATERIALS?

As a rule, I only give suggestions for any additional materials/equipment after a students’ first lesson. This is because the curriculum that I tailor to each individual student depends on their innate skill level, their specific area of interest, and their natural capacity for learning the subject. For example, if I’m working with an online student who wants to learn Drums, our first lesson will involve a series of tests and exercises that allow me to gauge the students instinctive sense of tempo, their hand-eye coordination, their ability to absorb information and respond to instructions, and their interest-levels in the practical versus the theoretical. Based on this, I’m able to determine whether the student will need/would benefit from only a practice pad, a hand drum like a Djembe, or a full Drum Kit.

IF MY SCHEDULE CHANGES, HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE TO CHANGE MY LESSON?

I am always happy to work out a different time for a lesson if the student needs to reschedule. I ask, however, that the student lets me know of any change at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled lesson. If a student requests rescheduling within 24 hours of the scheduled lesson, a cancellation fee of 50% of the lesson fee will apply.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR A MUSIC TEACHER?

When you're going to the great effort of looking for quality instruction and deciding to spend money on it, an essential first step is to have a phone consultation with a teacher. Professional musicians and teachers can be accomplished in many ways, but there is a level of human connection that needs to exist for the fit to be right. My advice is to speak over the phone with whichever teacher you're interested in so that you get a chance to ask whatever questions you need to and to hear authentic answers from your potential provider.

Where is your studio located?