Private Bluegrass Guitar tutoring lessons Allendale, NJ.

I have taught guitar since 2012 and have been playing since 2000. I am happy to take students at the beginner and intermediate levels. I believe strongly in integrating music theory and ultimately moving students toward musical self-suffiency, rather than focusing exclusively on learning particular pieces. I have extensive training in the theory, practice, and genre conventions of bluegrass.

I have had the great opportunity to teach all levels for over 15 years in the United Kingdom, South Africa and the USA. I have held positions as guitar teacher at many Colleges, Universities and Companies around the UK and USA. I have worked in the distant learning department at the Manhattan School of Music, teaching students around the country from their studio base. With many of my students going onto music schools such as The New School, NYC, Queens College, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire I believe that I have a wide range of experience with all age ranges from beginners to beyond advanced. I focus on making the lessons as fun and engaging as possible whilst keeping on track to certain goals set by myself and the student throughout the year.

Students will learn the rhythms and chords that are popular with Bluegrass music and learn how to play many common bluegrass tunes.

From strumming chords & holding a pick, to using thumb & finger picks, alternate tuning & capo strategies, I work to inspire & elevate technique, musicality & fluency in the bluegrass genre.

I studied hazz and classical guitar at Shenandoah Conservatory receiving my degree as what amounts to a double major double minor in Jazz piano/Recording engineering and jazz and classical guitar. I teach reading, writing, theory, improv, etc

I am a nurturing and encouraging teacher. Learning the guitar as a child was really difficult and frustrating for me and I haven't forgotten about it. This helps me guide students through the different stages of learning that often have new students giving up before they've given themselves a chance.

Lessons are tailored to the needs/interests of the student unless they prefer that I guide them in a direction that I see fit. I've been playing and teaching for 25 years. Don't let my degrees in classical guitar give you the wrong idea about me. I also love rock, blues, country and pop.