Private Blues Guitar tutoring lessons Clifton, NJ.

y students are now well respected pro guitar players.
All of my students love my lessons and benefit greatly from them
in so many ways.

*** Lesson Details ***
I customize the lessons to fit the level of proficiency of my students,and to fit to their schedule of practicing.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Guitars,Bass,Amps,recording equipment

*** Specialties ***
Guitar,Bass,& Music Theory teacher.
Blues/Rock/Jazz

him while he played toy harmonica. Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Iridium, Bluenote, Birdland, U.N., IAJE, Cape Cod Jazz Festival, NJPAC, Sweet Rhythm, Smalls, Zinc Bar, Smoke Jazz Club, internationally: Japan, Spain, Russia, Brasil, St. Kitts, Canada, France, Bermuda, Sweden, Israel

-Toured/recorded and/or worked as sideman with Antonique Smith, Jon Batiste (from the Colbert show), Jimmy McGriff, Teddy Charles, Bill Charlap, Sonny Dallas, Victor Jones and Cultur-versy, Vince Giordano & The Night Hawks, Frank Vignola/Joe Ascione, Miles Griffith, David Pleasant, Jim Nolet (former violinist for the Jazz Passengers), Dandy Wellington, Jon Weber, Aurora Nealand (from New Orleans), Anastasia Rene, Mona's Hot Four, Gordon Au's Grand Street Stompers, Michael Arenella's Dreamland Orchestra, with Jesse Gelber, Raphael McGregor, Emily Asher's Garden Party, and many other groups.

-Appears in Sam Mendes Film "Away We Go"

-Movie Soundtrack: King George.

-Guitar/banjo: "Jew Grows in Brooklyn," "Take Me Along," "The Big Apple Circus" + others.

-Banjo/Guitar Chair: "New Girl In Town" (Irish Rep Theatre)

-Author: Metallica Legendary Licks series,volume 1 & 2)
-Editor GRP chords (both Cherry Lane Music/Hal Leonard).

M.A. from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College
(partial scholarship)

B.S. from S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook, graduated magna cum laude. Dean's list all semesters

-Published interview (book): A New Face of Jazz (Cicily Janus)

-Playing guitar/banjo on first episode of new PBS cartoon "Peg and Cat"

- Current adjunct professor at Essex College

-Guest lecturing professor at Manhattanville College

-Substitute adjunct professor at Queens College

-Winning participant: I.A.J.E. with Miles Griffith's New Ting 2007. Performance and educational certificate granted.

-Winning participant; part-scholarship award: 2004 International Jazz Workshop at BANFF Centre, Canada (dir, Dave Douglas)

-Winning participant; full-scholarship award of the 2001 JAS academy in Aspen Colorado (dir, Christian McBride (Down Beat Dec. 2001)

-Studying Bol (Indian rhythmic system) with tabla player, Pandit Samir Chatterjee 2006-2007; 2013-current

-Studied with Pat Martino, Billy Bauer, Ben Monder, Tony Purrone, Pete Bernstein, Dr. Stephen Salerno, Dr. David Belser

-Studying African Rhythms with drummer, Harvey Wirht

*** Lesson Details ***
With over 20 years teaching experience, Nick is patient with children & adults. He has a creative, unique pedagogy emphasizing hearing through singing, ear-training & natural, organic listening. Nick instills healthy absorption of music while students have fun learning their music, sight reading, internalizing with focus on rhythm and time.
As a student, you will get to work on music that you, the student select as well as work on sight-reading, technique, ear-training. We will also work out of method books and use other sources of information.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Chairs, music stands, instrument stands, classical foot pedals, classical guitar pillows, guitar amps, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, drum set. Students usually provide their own instruments but it's possible to borrow an instrument during the lesson at the studio on the first lesson. (free street parking right in front!)

*** Specialties ***
Nick's pedagogy emphasizes ear-training, singing, reading and truly hearing the music we are working on. Rather than rote teaching and guitar tablature, he instills natural listening, transcribing, sight-reading and proper technique. Lessons are always enjoyable as Nick observes each student's unique needs and listen's to their song preferences and musical goals. Students have the opportunity to learn pieces and genres they select and they are trained to figure out tunes by ear (ear-training) and transcribe.

Nick teaches:

-classical guitar and Brazilian guitar (nylon 6 string and nylon 7 string guitar)
-acoustic steel string guitar, electric 6 string and electric 7 string guitar
- jazz guitar + an eclectic mix of styles: blues, Brazilian music, Latin Jazz, Afro-Peruvian, Indian music, rock, heavy metal, funk, R & B, Motown, reggae + other genres.
- tenor banjo (traditional jazz, jazz from New Orleans, Dixieland and world music)
-5 string banjo (Earl Scruggs finger picking [bluegrass and country])
-tenor guitar
-ukulele
-mandolin
-resonator slide/Dobro.
-baritone resonator (slide)

aving been reared in one of the richest and most diverse musical scenes in the country, NYC. This enables Matt to teach and perform in a broad range from the traditional classical guitar/piano to experimental.
As an educator, Matt is different from other teachers in his ability to inspire and motivate. Learning to play and master an instrument is challenging and can be a very frustrating experience. Matthew has techniques proven student after student to be successful in overcoming learning obstacles so that the student is able to meet his/her individualized goals. Matthew also has experience teaching individuals with disabilities ranging from Autism to Cancer patients. This ability has helped Matthew become a teacher with over 15 years experience.

*** Lesson Details ***
Lessons are provided in a private studio in Astoria, NY or your home. Once, a location is established I work with each student to identify his or her goals and objectives both musically and personally. Students are assessed to determine where their individual ability is at the time of assessment. From there, I work in partnership with the student as we begin mastering the guitar or the piano in a fun and supportive environment. Whether you are interested in learning to play the blues, classical or jazz guitar or any other genre or just learning how to play songs on the piano, I can help. If you are a beginner, don't worry it won't all be scales. In fact I guarantee you will be playing a song within your first lesson. If you are an advanced or intermediate student, I can help you master your skills. We (you and I) will revisit proper right and left hand techniques; utilize exercises to improve your speed and accuracy. You will learn new methods to strengthen your improvisation abilities. In short, you and I will make sure to build on your strengths and undo any bad habits that are hindering your ability to grow as a guitarist or pianist.

*** Specialties ***
music, Guitar and Piano
I begin with meeting the student where they are in relation to their musical experience. After establishing trust, through encouragement I empower students to recognize their potential with out pre-determined expectations or limits. I am comfortable in various genres from classical to punk.

inging is encouraged, but not required.

helping you accomplish your musical goals.