I started playing piano when I was 8. I started writing compositions around 9. Since I was singing in the choir, I began to fuse piano and singing, until I wrote my first song with words when I was twelve. Along the way I learned guitar, bass, drums, and various forms of composition and recording techniques. I toured with my band The Navigators for several years and I have had compositions of mine in TV shows like "The Unit" and in the documentary "Dreamriders" as well as various independent films. Along the way I have taught every age group from six months of age up to adult.

I love music, I love teaching, and I've been fortunate enough to make a living doing both.

A little about me: I'm originally from Erie, PA. I started playing guitar in high school, and realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to music. I went on to earn my Bachelor's degree in music education from SUNY Fredonia. For my undergrad, I learned how to play piano and most of the band instruments (trumpet, saxophone, flute, percussion, etc), but I focused on classical guitar. I performed three separate recitals, and also played with the Fredonia Guitar Quartet for two years. I also learned how to play mandolin and tenor banjo (which I played with a Dixieland jazz band). While I am classical trained, my true love has always been rock and folk music.

I moved down to Louisville, KY to earn a masters degree in music history and literature. I wrote my thesis on Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich, and also published an article on a trip he made to Louisville. I currently teach both...

I am an involved teacher who has a strong passion for learning and teaching. I love to watch my students learn and succeed, and I make it my goal to give the students all the tools they require to do so. I have received music training on the bass guitar as well as rhythm guitar, and can offer everything from jazz training and bluegrass to rock and blues on bass, and from basic to intermediate lessons to rock guitar training on guitar. I have a music technology, as well as music degrees from Bellarmine University, and can also offer lessons in music theory and as well as recording lessons, and can even offer lessons about stage performance, and how to play to a crowd.

I am a professional musician who can give instruction on many musical styles ranging from Classical to Folk Music from several different countries. All ages are welcome!
As a student, I was involved for many years as a violist with The Louisville Youth Orchestra, I became a graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, Ky. in 1981 majoring in music and theater. I have since performed in a a broad spectrum of musical involvements including accompanying international folk dance troupes, performing Celtic and traditional music at events in several countries, composing music for, and directing several theatrical productions. At the same time I have been involved in educating children in music in several Community Schools throughout the Eastern U.S.. I now reside in Crestwood, Ky, where where I teach and operate a music shop called 'Hewn from the Mountain Music Cafe''.