Ossining, NY Music Theory Lessons

irection of world-renowned jazz bassist and composer, Rodney Whitaker.

While studying at Michigan State University, I toured with the MSU Jazz Orchestra and performed at prestigious events such as the Detroit International Jazz Festival; the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL; the East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival; the Lansing Jazz Festival; and the 2011 Elmhurst Collegiate Jazz Festival in Elmhurst, IL, where I was honored with an "Outstanding Soloist" award for Jazz Vocal Performance.

In 2011, I was also featured in I AM ENTERTAINMENT magazine where my music was described as "...sheer and unexpected delight! Her music takes you to another place. That is what great music is supposed to do." In May of 2011, I was also featured on the cover of REVUE Mid-Michigan magazine.

After receiving my Masters Degree from MSU, I moved to New Jersey to pursue my teaching and performing career. I currently teach private lessons and am the Founder and Director of Music Beyond Measure, which creates music recovery programs for trauma survivors. Formerly, I was the Vocal Jazz Ensemble Director for Jazz House Kids in Montclair, NJ. In addition to teaching, I also perform with different bands in the NY metro area.

I have been fortunate to perform with an elite list of jazz musicians, such as Sean Jones, Tia Fuller, Rodney Whitaker, Sean Dobbins, Perry Hughes, Wes Anderson, Ron Blake, Jim Alfredson, Etienne Charles, Diego Rivera, Steve Ritchko, Paul Keller, and many more throughout my jazz career. I also had the honor of being chosen to perform for a master class with Grammy Award-winning artist, Esperanza Spalding.

Although I am mostly trained in jazz voice, I work with singers in various styles, such as pop, R&B, gospel, and musical theater. Whatever style you are interested in singing, I know that I can help you to approach singing in a way that will maximize your vocal potential.

*** Lesson Details ***
I believe that music is for everyone! Whether you are a beginner or a professional, I want to help develop your voice in the healthiest and the best way possible. Whatever your goals are for taking private singing lessons, I will be happy to customize a program according to what it is that you would like to accomplish.

It is extremely important for my students to be well-rounded musicians. Whether you are a country or Broadway singer, you will learn how to sing using classical technique. Aside from technique, you will learn everything from how songs are constructed to how to lead a band and everything in between. No matter what it is that you want to learn, I guarantee that you will have fun while doing it and you will learn how to fall in love with your voice!

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have an in-home studio with a keyboard, keyboard stand, digital recorder, microphone, professional amplifier, sheet music, binders, and pencils. Students don't have to bring anything.

*** Travel Equipment ***
When providing in-home lessons, I would prefer if the family provided a piano or a keyboard. However, if none of these are available, I will be happy to bring any equipment needed.

*** Specialties ***
Even though I am a jazz vocalist, I am happy to teach various styles, such as pop, R&B, gospel, musical theater, etc.

pel church, living in a building filled with musicians, accompanying vocal master classes, studying Sanskrit, Indian raga, world percussion, creative arts therapy and performance wellness.

I now compose and sing my songs - interweaving voice with keyboard or guitar. Besides teaching privately, I can be found performing my songs in clubs, outdoor festivals, coffee houses, and poetry/healing events. I currently attended a certificate program in sound & music healing and the focus of my music rests here. I incorporate many techniques to aid students in relaxation, breath awareness, and de-stressing.

Using traditional teaching methods, I create meaningful experiences for students by:
- being patient, flexible and creative in approach
- using visual, aural, and tactile teaching tools

*** Lesson Details ***
After 3 to 6 Months OF Lessons, you can use the important music fundamentals you've learned to create music you love.
After about a year, you are invited to share your music with others in an intimate family recital or a performance for charity in service to your community!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Upright piano, piano synthesizer, guitar, percussion instruments

*** Travel Equipment ***
Carolyn carries her own guitar, teaching aids, manuscript paper, pen/pencils, and handouts.

Recommended for students:
KEYBOARD - ideally, have your own keyboard/piano, piano books, staff paper
ACOUSTIC UKULELE/GUITAR - your own guitar, capo, tuner, staff & TAB paper (you can wait for teacher to help you choose)
VOICE - have sheet music, lyrics or charts of your songs
SONGWRITING - have manuscript paper, recording device and journal/tablets to record their ideas
ALL STUDENTS - small tablet for notes & keeping track of assignments and a recording device to hear your playing/singing/compositions (optional)

*** Specialties ***
Performing Singer-Songwriter specializing in improvisation and Sound & Music Healing.

o Equipment ***
I have several guitars, a drum kit, djembe, mandolin, clarinet and full-size keyboard.

*** Specialties ***
Guitar: Classical, jazz, American or Irish folk, rock and pop; lead or rhythm.
Drums & Percussion: All genres
Piano: Classical (includes sight reading)

New York City in Midtown Manhattan on the West Side. I began performing professionally at age 16, doing session work, teaching and performing. I attended the National Guitar Summer Workshop, New Milford, Connecticut, to diversify my skills, participating in master classes with guitar icons Vinnie Moore, Stanley Jordan and Mick Goodrick.

I started college at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, and completed a Bachelor of Music degree summa cum laude, studying jazz guitar and composition/arranging, as well as completd the Honors program at Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music. My studies included jazz guitar with Tom Giacobetti and Ed Flanagan; jazz composition/arranging with Don Glanden, Ben Schacter and Larry McKenna; and classical composition with Matthew Greenbaum, Ph.D., Maurice Wright, D.M.A., Richard Brodhead, Ph.D., and Mark Rimple, D.M.A. I also conducted/arranged the School's Jazz Vocal Ensemble and was awarded membership in the Golden Key Honor Society. I also studied guitar privately with Shrapnel/Tone Center recording artist Greg Howe, Lasers Edge recording artist Scott McGill and Jazz icons Pat Martino (Blue Note) and Jimmy Bruno (Mel Bay).

I earned a Masters of Arts degree in music composition at Rutgers University, studying with world renowned, Pulitzer Prize winning composer Charles Wuorinen. In my first year, he was awarded a Teaching Assistantship in Music Composition and Theory.

I pursued additional studies (and master classes) in composition with celebrated composers Aaron Jay Kernis, Harvey Sollberger, Jukka Tiensuu, David Felder, Mario Davidovsky, Charles Fussell, Austin Clarkson and George Russell; film score orchestration with Scott Smalley (Film Music Institute) and film scoring with Rick Baitz (The Manhattan Producer's Alliance), as well as performance studies with Wynton Marsalis, Max Roach, Billy Taylor, Bill Shindling, Magmus Andersson, Stu Hamm, Terry Bozzio, Frank Gambale, Larry Mitchell, Andy Timmons, Adrian Legg and Blues Saraceno.

I was the Music Director and conductor for the Mondfleck Orchestra, Music Director and Composer-In-Residence for the Trash Can Society Theater Company and composer for improv theater group, The Glass Metropolis Project.

I released my critically acclaimed debut CD, a collection of virtuosic instrumental guitar music and have been interviewed and featured in many publications and websites worldwide, including Guitar Player, Guitar World, 20th Century Guitar, Guitar Chef (Italy), Guitar Mania (Canada), among many others. I was selected as a Top 5 Finalist in the 2006 North American Rock Guitar Competition, presented by Guitar Player magazine and Gibson guitars and was inducted as a new member into the 2007 Independent Artist Registry.

I was selected to be a part of the June in Buffalo Festival for Emerging Composers in Buffalo, New York, where celebrated pianist Marilyn Nonken performed my solo piano piece, Aerial Surveying. I was commissioned to compose, conduct and perform the music for Sirens, a modern dance presentation in collaboration with celebrated choreographer Julia Ritter. I was also commissioned to write a modern composition for Renaissance lute titled A Mosaic of Cement and Barbed Wire, performed at the Sarah Lawrence Summer Guitar Institute. My piece, Like Giants Through a Keyhole, trio for flute, cello and piano performed as part of the Network for New Music's Cross-Currents in Jazz and New Music: The Schooling and School of Stefan Wolpe series. My orchestra composition, Ideological Explosions of the Absurd Hero, was performed in Milan, Italy.

My music has been featured throughout film and television. I have composed the scores for many feature films, television, web and ad campaigns, and my music has been featured on MTV, VH1, NBC, CBS, ABC, Discovery, History Channel, PBS, etc.

I was a featured speaker at the Music for My Web Series Panel as part of the BlogWorld & New Media Expo held at the Javits Center in NYC on June 7, 2012.

I am a proud endorsee of Seymour Duncan pickups, Morley pedals, Madison Amps, Curt Mangan strings and Neck Sock.

*ASCAP affiliated composer and publisher

*International Alliance Of Composer's member

*Independent Film Project (IFP) member

*** Lesson Details ***
Guitar, Music Theory, Composition/Arranging, Songwriting, Improvisation and Home Recording.

Instruction in any style - Rock, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Metal, Shred, Progressive, Classical, Folk, R&B, etc.,

*20 Years of Teaching experience, privately, in music schools and in universities. *

ALL LEVELS
For all ages. From beginner to advanced!

I am also a University Faculty and hold both a Bachelors of Music and Masters in Music

I am located in Midtown Manhattan on the West Side in a relaxed comfortable environment.

Learn the kind of music you want to learn. We will always focus on the music you want to play and use examples of the music and performers that you want to play to teach each new technique. That way it’s always FUN! The way it should be.

Learn the techniques to reach your fullest potential in speed, dexterity, strength and musicality. My technique, derived from classical, jazz, fusion, rock, blues, metal and shred players, includes specific exercises to help develop proficiency in both hands for the best results.

Music Theory: Musical concepts and terminologies, presented in the simplest and clearest way, unlock musicians’ secrets and help you understand and apply theoretical ideas to achieve your greatest potential and musical competence.

Improvisation: Learn soloing, melodic phrasing, rhythmic analysis and how to apply various musical styles and articulations, along with scales for all types of chords and key structures, including major/minor, pentatonic, blues, modes, harmonic and melodic minor modes, as well as exotic and synthetic scales - all skills for lead guitarists. Practice diverse approaches to various musical genres and proficiencies.

Soloing: Master advanced techniques including legato, alternate, economy and hybrid picking, sweep picking, arpeggios, double stops and much more. Become an accomplished melodic guitarist, know how to play whatever you want and reach your optimum level of proficiency.

Chord Structures: Learn modulation, transposition, inversions, voicings and the use of extended and advanced chords from basic triads to sevenths and compound extensions, as well as songwriting, accompaniment and creating chord progressions. You will explore the essential vocabulary and exercises for writing guitar parts, songs and chord-based harmonies.

Composition: Cover all aspects of composition and songwriting for any genre including analysis, harmonic/chord structures and progressions, approaches to melody, counter melody and counterpoint and how to apply these to various styles of music and composition, including arranging and orchestration from rock and pop to jazz and full orchestrations.

Lessons are developed to meet your individual needs and ensure your progress.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I have guitars available that students are welcome to use in their lessons, as well as amplifiers, etc.

*** Specialties ***
I am an experienced teacher of guitar, composition, arranging, orchestration, music theory and have developed my own personal teaching concepts and methods for improving technique, chord/scale theory and counterpoint for various styles and genres of music including advanced techniques for Jazz, Pop, Rock, Metal, Shred, Fusion, Blues, others. I have developed teaching methods to improve a students speed, accuracy and facility on the instrument. I am a professional freelance, live, studio and session guitarist, composer, arranger and producer.

usic to Your Home

Having trouble finding the right teacher locally?
Webcam lessons/online live guitar lessons are also a possibility. Good for long distance lessons, late night/off hour lessons....

* All ages
* Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced
* In My Home - Stony Point
* In your home- Rockland County(Stony Point, Nanuet, Nyack, New City, Pearl River, Congers,Pomona...)
* Pop *Rock *Blues *Jazz
* Music Theory *Harmony * Reading/Sightreading *Rock & Jazz Improv *Ear training
* Computer Recording - GargeBand, Logic, Guitar Rig, Sibelius
* Midi Guitar

With my past experience in Music Retail sales, I can help you with purchasing guitars, effects, and equipment. I call also help you use any equipment or music software.

I graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor's of Music(B.M.) in performance. I also have studied guitar with Steve Khan, John Abercrombie, Bill Connors and Ken Hatfield.

My Rock influences include Alex Lifeson, Neil Geraldo(Pat Benatar), Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck....

Jazz influences include Steve Khan, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Michael Brecker, Chic Corea, Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino.....

nal piano goals and skill levels are, I will help you improve and enjoy playing the piano more. I am very patient, encouraging and supportive of your desire to play the piano better. In addition to piano, I teach beginner and intermediate violin and viola students.

I encourage all my students to perform once or twice a year but this is entirely optional and based on the student's comfort level.

I am available and willing to travel to your home for an extra fee as long as public transportation is available.

stra, the Garden State Philharmonic, and freelance groups around the New York area, as well as with several Jazz Bands at clubs such as Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

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I usually have 3 main paths that the student can choose.
1st - Learn the instrument enough so you can play your favorite songs and have fun with friends.
2nd(most requested) - Learn the instrument from scratch. Study technique, repertoire, a little of reading and music theory and learn how to improvise. This will allow the person to have their own tools to study on their own after attending classes with me.
3rd - Usually people who have been playing before like this one. We will go deep in music theory, ear training, reading, improvising and technique. Always leaning challenging tunes that will develop the student skills. This one allows the student to follow a professional path on the future, or maybe go into a music college.

*Location
Classes can take place at my studio or at your own location with an extra fee for transportation.

*Under 18 students
For children under 18 parents are more than welcome to stay for the classes, tell me if there is any specific goal you are looking for or talk about any subject that you might want.

*AUDITION PREP
I also help people to prepare for auditions. For this subject, I will tell you how to get ready for an audition. If you are trying to get in a college I have many contacts around the country and know how most auditions work and can help you with any question there might be. For auditions for orchestras or band we can work on repertoire and behavior to get you ready and all set to get accepted.