Private lessons with top Bluegrass Guitar instructors near New York, NY

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.

Flat picking is the name of the game with this style. You will learn the scales and picking pattern to create and authentic bluegrass sound.

Flat pickin to finger pickin and even chicken pickin! Lets get pickin!

TBA

Bluegrass has progressed beyond guitar for me and has now moved into mandolin and banjo studies. There are so many cool licks and sounds!

I'm a guitarist and educator based out of Raleigh, NC. I received training at the University of South Carolina (Bachelors of Music, 2011) and East Carolina University (Masters of Music, 2015). I am an active performer in the Triangle area, drawing inspiration from American roots music, classical, and jazz traditions. I have seen hundreds of students over ten years of private teaching, working with beginner to advanced students of all age levels. I teach in a wide range of styles, and I specialize in classical guitar and flatpicking (bluegrass/old time). I hope to help you along as you grow as a musician and a guitarist!

We will cover the fundamentals (technique, scales, chords, note reading (not for everyone), and as the student progresses, we will cover more sophisticated concepts of improvisation and performance with special attention to 'bluegrass' artists and repertoire.

Fifty years ago, I was listening to Bluegrass musicians on the back porches of rural North Carolina, so this music is in my veins and I can teach you how to play it. You'll learn some basic exercises to develop core skills including basic to advanced chord formations, fingerpicking "banjo rolls," rhythm guitar styles, riffs and fills - gradually increasing technical challenges as your skills grow. Soon you'll find yourself moving smoothly between chords without missing a beat, playing by ear, or writing your own songs. I'm often asked if you need to read music to learn guitar, and while it can be useful for advanced students, it is not necessary for beginners, and I don't place a lot of emphasis on it. While my approach is grass-roots, you'll learn to "work smarter, not harder," use scientifically-based learning techniques to train your brain and build "muscle memory." I believe that playing music should be enjoyable, and you should also be able to have a lot of fun in the process of learning it! Of course, it's important to devote regular time to practice in between lessons to make steady progress. This effort will bring its own reward as you start playing with greater ease of expression, and your self-motivation will help you gain momentum. I look forward to working with you and seeing your progress as you unfold your potential!