Ian's vast and diverse experience on the Northeast music scene has given him the background that rivals the best of many professional musicians working today. From band tours of the US, Canada, and Hong Kong and a handful of recordings under various acts, Ian remains busy in his home city of Philadelphia. Ian has performed with such acts as Jazz great Grover Washington Jr. to the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra.

Teaching Experience

Ian has taught private lessons in Bass both electric and acoustic, piano, and guitar for the last eight years in which he has also lent his talents to the esteemed Paul Green School of Rock and DayJams Summer Rock School. He is also involved with a number of after-school programs in the Philadelphia area where he teaches private lessons, music theory, and rock ensemble.

Musical Education

Ian's musical training began with piano at 7, saxophone at 9, self-taught guitar at 11, and finally electric and acoustic bass in high...

Learning music, especially at a young age, can have a positive impact in life. From simply playing music in the home to performing music for large audiences, the basic goal is the same: the enjoyment of being a proficient musician. I have written a bit about my experience and how I can use this to help you to become a great musician.
I began studying music when I was 8 years old. My early lessons taught me not only about music but about music teaching. As a result of these experiences, I vowed to teach students music that is meaningful to them.
Moving along, in high school I played in rock bands with my friends. I can never stress how important it is to play with other people. I always encourage my students to form bands, join music groups in school, or just find a friend to jam with. Not only does this raise the level of musicality, it is a great motivational tool.
After high school, I studied music at...

I am a jazz performance major on the upright bass at Temple University. Yet, I am also a guitar player and a folk rock musician that plays around the Philadelphia area. I have been playing music my whole life and one of the most important things for me is to share my musical knowledge and abilities with others. This is a concept that several of my fantastic teachers have passed on to me. Music is emotional and it would be nice if everyone was emotional about it. We might be Phillies fans, but we still understand the finer concepts of life. The following genres of music that I can cover are as follows:
Guitar- rock, blues, jazz, folk, songwriting, bluegrass, funk, country, hip-hop
Electric Bass- same as guitar
Upright Bass- classical, jazz, folk/country, blues, rock
There is no better feeling for me than to teach you something. You walk away from a lesson having accomplished something and I could even learn something from you as well.

Hello! I am a professional music educator in the Philadelphia, PA area. I graduated magna cum laude from Mansfield University, with a bachelor's degree in Music Education and hold a master's degree in Flute Performance from the University of Connecticut. I have taught all ages of students, from pre-K to adult, a wide variety of instruments. I am a member of MENC (The National Association for Music Education) and Sigma Alpha Iota (Professional International Music Fraternity for Women). In addition to music, I love animals. Currently we have 2 cats, a turtle, and a red iguana that all put up with my practicing and lessons quite well (or they just hide under the bed).

A professional musician and music instructor for over 30 years, Mike has established himself as not only a world class player but also an excellent teacher of all ages and skill levels. He teaches for several area conservatories and hosts master classes on composition, performance, guitar and bass improvisation. Mike now offers lessons in his professional home studio.