Berlin Music Lessons

15 mile radius of Franklin MA (Plainville, Wrentham, Norfolk, Medway, Holliston, Bellingham, Milford, Millis, Hopkinton, Holliston. etc.)

Please double check with me about scheduling as my schedule changes often and my calendar isn’t always 100% accurate

*** Studio Equipment ***
PIANO
Fender Rhodes
Casio PX-150

DRUMS
Pearl Masters, Yamaha, DW, Roland TD-6

CYMBALS
Zildjian, Sabian, Wuhan, Paiste,

HARDWARE
Pearl, Yamaha, DW, Axis, Tama

STICKS / BRUSHES / MALLETS
Vic Firth, Vater, Regal Tip

PA
QSC - K8

MICROPHONES
SURE, Rhodes

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide handouts, transcriptions, and a PA speaker to play music.
Students should have a Piano, drum set, or percussion instrument.

*** Specialties ***
PIANO / DRUMS / PERCUSSION

Traditional / Suzuki Method

Rock, FunK, Jazz, World, Classical, Orchestral

Note reading and writing, Harmony, Music Theory, Scales, Ear Training, Arranging

Rudiments, Technique, Brushes, Mallets, Double Bass Drumming, Odd Meters, Reading, Soloing

Timpani, Marimba, Bells, Chimes, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Percussion, Congas, Bongos, Djembe, Frame Drums

than 30 years, I am currently the Director of Worship for the chapel at Gordon College, a small Christian school north of Boston. I'm often involved in city-wide music events in Boston’s faith-based community and in demand as a featured musician for church services, parties, concerts and other events.

I hold a Masters of Music from New England Conservatory in Jazz Piano and am comfortable and fluent in a number of musical styles. In addition to private lessons and performing, I do music transcription, workshops, and all forms of vocal and instrumental arranging. My passions include morning coffee, finding new guitar chords, creating killer PowerPoint presentations, and trying to figure out how to use my smart phone.

*** Lesson Details ***
My priority as a teacher is to make the learning process fun, life-giving, and productive. I teach with patience and humor, at a challenging but not frustrating pace.

Some quotes from my students:
"I absolutely love learning from Bil! I've watched my playing and the playing of others at church vastly improve as a result of his training."

"[Bil] is filled with a large amount of knowledge, so while sitting under him you not only learn about how to play but you learn about music history and theory. Beyond being a good teacher he is genuine and friendly and cares about others."

"I have really enjoyed working with Bil. His patience and wealth of knowledge has helped me come out of my musical shell and has encouraged me to discover my musical voice."

"Bil makes learning theory fun! His deep understanding of music is complemented by his contagious enthusiasm."

"Bil has taken me to a different level. I went from tab and basic guitar chords, to building jazz chords and a far greater understanding of music theory."

There are at least two ways that might set me apart from other teachers.

Firstly, I have honed and developed "people skills". I am an ordained minister and have held positions where I was formally and informally in a mentoring/pastoring role. I bring that sensitivity to my music lessons, understanding that personal and emotional issues can be triggered by the engagement with the music and skills being worked on.

Secondly, I've had a remarkable broad base of experience. My coursework has exposed me to a wide breadth of ideas and tools; my work life has been long and varied; I have had extensive experience in many different cultural contexts, both musically and otherwise; and I work well with many age groups and skill levels.

Regarding my teaching approach:
For beginners, I have a fairly consistent set of topics and skill sets to cover. Generally, in a few months, piano students (particularly those in middle school through adulthood) should know how to play major, minor and seventh chords, how to read simple chord charts and some very basic accompanying skills. Guitar students should know a dozen open chords and have been introduced to barre chords, and to have learned several styles of finger picking as well as strumming. Bass students should know how to find notes on the board and will have begun to learn how to fill out a song with an expressive but non-obtrusive bass line.

For intermediate students, the pace, direction and focus on lessons depends upon the goals and passions of the student along with the amount of time he or she has to practice. My goals for students at this level and beyond is to learn how to learn. I will use outstanding recorded examples of particular skills or stylistic idioms to help my students understand and master each new concept. I often will check in with my student to make sure that we are on track with what they are hoping for.

For advanced students, we will generally target very specific objectives. I also try to add elements of theory, history, culture, and even life lessons to apply to the topics we address. Because of my background in pastoral ministry, I can serve as a mentor addressing the emotional and relational issues of playing music as well as its technical aspects.

*** Studio Equipment ***
upstairs music room: fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, amps, drum set, seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
if for guitar or bass, that instrument; I expect piano students to have an available keyboard and for other students to have their own instrument(s).

*** Specialties ***
strong in jazz, rock, pop, gospel, sacred, R&B.

rently I teach from my home studio in Boston, and I'm also available to come to your location.

I look forward to helping you reach your goals!

te and record new material for my upcoming debut EP.
***Note: My availability is flexible! Please send me a message if my calendar doesn't fit with your schedule and we'll work it out!***

the student.

My personal passion is contemporary music but I firmly believe that great technique is essential to any and every style. I look forward to meeting you and helping you to become a better musician!

nadian Maritimes, and Alaska, playing jazz sets and accompanying cabaret singers and other guest entertainers on the mainstage. While aboard ship, Jeff devoted his free time to his own musical development and composition, culminating in the work All the Anthills, an etude for solo violin in 5-limit extended just intonation. (This piece was later premiered by violinist Isabella Costanza and was the subject of Jeff’s Capstone project for his Theory Minor at NEC.)

Jeff’s teaching career began coaching musical theater students at the Theater Arts Workshop in his native Westchester County, New York. While still in his early teens, Jeff maintained a busy performing schedule, participating in and having works performed by ensembles such as the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Jazz Big Band and Small Jazz Ensemble and the InterSchool Orchestras of New York Symphony. He was concurrently selected to conduct a six week internship directing the school bands in his own elementary and middle schools. During the summers, he worked as a counselor at summer music festivals such as the New York State Summer Music Festival and French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. During his time at NEC, Jeff completed another semester-long teaching internship, which included mentoring a college student at Emmanuel College in music reading skills, piano, and music theory. Since his recent graduation from NEC in May 2018, he has kickstarted a private music teaching studio in a pursuit to give back to the musical community from which he has learned so much.

I encourage my students to use time-saving methods like ClassicalFingers (finger training) as well as endurance building exercises with simple items like straws and a wall.

My main concentrations are orchestral, chamber music, and contemporary music. I will help the student prepare for All-State, Solo/Ensemble, or their wind band/orchestra/audition repertoire. I also will bring duets to help the student learn to play along with others and improve sight-reading ability.