Unionville, CT Mandolin Lessons

in music.

David received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Classical Guitar from The State University of New York at Fredonia studying with James Piorkowski. David recently completed his Masters Degree in Classical Guitar Performance under the direction of Joanne Castellani. David currently performs with a guitar built by luthier Jim Holler.

*** Lesson Details ***
Students can expect to receive a firm foundation in music & guitar while becoming a better musician every day. It is vital for students to have lessons that specialize in not only guitar but also music theory. My primary goals are to make each student a great guitarist and also a well-rounded musician. I firmly believe that any student at any age can become a successful guitarist when engaged in instruction that is appropriate and motivating.

Typically a lesson begins with a quick warm up to center your focus on guitar, then we move into scales and technique, followed by working on previous repertoire and picking new repertoire. and then concluding with sight-reading.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living room with seating for parents.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I ask my students to purchase any instruments or method books.

*** Specialties ***
Classical Guitar

ory that I knew how much I not only loved the thrill of playing music but the discovery of how it worked. With this experience I can show you or your child why learning an instrument can be not only an exciting experience but an interesting and enthralling one as well.

I have been teaching music for over 7 years and have had the privilege of teaching children as young as 4 to adults in their late 80's. I am a very attentive teacher who can not only help get you moving in the right direction but keep you on that path until your are a self-sufficient musician. A level of musicianship that simply means you can learn whatever you want on your instrument on your own, whether it be for business, pleasure or for mere self-improvement.

Through my own student career in private lessons I had the chance to study with graduates of the Musician's Institute (MI), the California Institute of the Arts (CAL Arts) and Berklee College of Music. This has provided me with an inside look into how and what each institute teaches, as well as a first hand look at the techniques and ideas that the great players from these remarkable schools have come to produce.

My formal music education consists of 2 years at Pasadena City College where I obtained my general Associates Degree (much of the studies included music) and a semester at California State University Long Beach as a Jazz Guitar Performance Major. Additionally, I completed a great deal of California State University Long Beach's teaching credential program (focusing on the teaching of history/social studies), where I learned strategies and theories of how and what to teach my students - making me that much more knowledgable of my craft. At Pasadena City College I studied with jazz/classical guitarist, Ron Berman, who has played with such jazz greats as Herb Ellis and Jimmy Wyble. At Cal State Long Beach I studied with jazz guitarist Ron Eschete, a former teacher at MI who has toured with the likes of Ray Brown, John Dizzy Gillespie and Jim Hall.

Most importantly I hope to show you or your child a new way to love and appreciate music. And to provide you with the ability and know-how to have the most fun on your instrument as possible.

*** Lesson Details ***
Throughout my lessons, I always encourage basic skills including scales, sight-reading and technical exercises. But what I hope to give all my students is a basic understanding of music and their instrument, providing them with a practical ability to navigate the vast world of music for a lifetime.

Beyond these skills, I always have songs, styles and theory for you to work on but I am often more interested in what you as an individual want to learn on your instrument. Getting to learn concepts that you have chosen yourself will help encourage practice and will make the finished product all the more the rewarding.

I can custom tailor a teaching curriculum and/or style for any of my students: we can focus on learning songs, learning to read, how to write music, how music works, and even how to play specific styles of music (including funk, rock, jazz, Latin, flamenco, classical, country and blues). I also self tailor my own worksheets and set weekly goals with my students to help encourage practice, understanding and progress. For students interested in more advanced concepts, I can also teach ear training, music theory, advanced jazz improvisation as well as advanced playing techniques.

All this in a friendly and easy-going teaching environment.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Located in my home garage, it is equipped with a small stage, an upright piano, an electric keyboard, a PA system, amplifiers, a drum set, a lap steel guitar, a pedal steel guitar, 2 cellos, multiple guitars, 3 mandolins, a dobro, a 5-string banjo, a 4-string tenor banjo, 2 ukuleles, 2 accordions and 2 electric basses.

*** Specialties ***
Styles: Jazz, Rock, Reggae, Metal, Funk, Progressive Rock, Classical, Folk, Bluegrass, Country, Various forms of Latin Music, Blues, and a few others.

Instruments: Beginning to Intermediate - Drums, Accordion and Piano.

Beginning to Advanced - Guitar, Mandolin, Cello, Banjo (5 String), Irish Tenor Banjo (4 String GDAE), Tenor Banjo (4 String CGDA), Electric Bass, Ukulele, Dobro, Lap Steel Guitar (6 String C6 Tuning), Slide Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar (10 String E9 Tuning).

I also teach the beginning and advanced concepts of:
Music Theory, Ear Training, Sight Reading, and Song Writing.

u learn to play your favorite instrument. Interactive online lessons will help you to avoid the stumbling blocks and hang ups that occur while using books and videos – nothing can replace live lessons with a caring teacher. Now, no matter where you live, you can take lessons in real time with a qualified instructor – it’s almost like taking lessons at the local music store.

Lessons are structured for each individual student to provide the personal attention needed for effective learning.

*** Lesson Details ***
Through my in person and online lessons, a music student will not only learn to play a stringed instrument he or she will also learn important elements of basic music theory. The student will be taught timing, notation, improvisation, chords, tablature, playing in group situations and more. With this knowledge, an aspiring musician will be prepared to enjoy a lifetime of playing music. Basic music theory can be taught using popular fretted stringed instruments like guitar, banjo, mandolin, and mountain dulcimer that can be played and enjoyed for an entire lifetime. Here is some of what will be covered in your online music lessons. The fundamentals of music covered are Note Values and Rhythm, Time Signatures, Sharps and Flats, Common Scales, Chord Structure, Chord Inversions and more of the elements of music. Lessons will also cover improvisation, playing with other people, music styles and other skills that will help students of any age to open doors to the world of music. *You will be up and playing quickly with painless and fun lessons.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Deering Banjos, Boucher Minstrel Banjo for early playing styles, mandolin, mountain dulcimer, autoharp.
High defination webcam.
Full recording studio.
Cubase DAW.

*** Specialties ***
Banjo styles include Scruggs or 3 finger, Reno, melodic, early minstrel style. Mandolin style folk, country. Autoharp and dulcimer are taught using traditional styles.

sity of Illinois, specializing in Ethnomusicology (the study of music of different cultures). This education gave him a strong background in music theory and history in the Western tradition, but also opened him up to a vast experience of a diverse cross section of music from around the world. His insatiable love for learning new instruments started here, where he studied music from West Africa to Bali.

Currently Ryan is a co-lead singer, songwriter and stringed instrument player for the local band Distant Brothers, a folk rock band based out of Chicago. They play venues throughout the Midwest, with some of the notable venues being House of Blues, Metro and Cubby Bear in Chicago. Another highlight of his time with the band has been a collaboration with Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra, where he not only was able to play in collaboration with the orchestra, but joined in the arranging and conceptualization of some of the pieces played.

fter getting into to teaching a while back, I realized that I really enjoy it! It is highly rewarding, and a great chance to share the joy of music with others. I currently teach at three different locations for two different businesses in NJ, and I've set up my profile on Take Lessons so that I can continue expanding my student base, which consists of students ranging from 8-70 years of age.

I am always studying music, even to this day, and constantly trying to understand new styles that are outside of my wheelhouse. My approach to teaching is simple: connect with the student, help find common ground in musical tastes and set up an engaging foundation with which the student can reach their goals while having fun in the process!