Music Theory Lessons

in Valley Stream.

Amazing Teachers.

liard Artist Diploma program auditions; 2015-Selected Participant in Banff International Summer Intensive Program in Jazz and Creative Music ; 2016-Semi Finalist in International Songwriting Competition; 2016-Recipient of the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award; 2017-Honorable Mention and Finalist in International Songwriting Competition; 2016-19-Full Scholarship w/ Paid Assistantship/Instructorship for Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder; 2019-Selected Participant in Banff Early Fall Musicians in Residence program; 2019-Finalist in Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works Grant Competition.

I perform and record as a featured musician with Festival of New Trumpet Music, having participated in two world premieres, and in ensembles led by highly acclaimed and/or Grammy-nominated/winning artists such as Steve Coleman, Henry Cole, Maria Schneider, Darcy James Argue, Orrin Evans, Josh Evans, Jimmy Greene, Tyshawn Sorey, Eric Bergen and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. I've performed at arenas, clubs, and concert halls alike, such as Carnegie Hall, The Putra World Tower, Symphony Space, the Barclay's Center, Dizzy's Club Coco-Cola, and Rockefeller Center to name only a few venues. As a leader, I've been performing original music all over NYC at known creative and jazz venues like Seeds, Cornelia St. Café, The Bar Next Door, Jazz at the Kitano, Shapeshifter Lab and Smalls Jazz Club, which Down Beat magazine considers to be two of the best jazz clubs in the world.

Besides professing a passion and skill-set for music within the ‘jazz’ idiom, my interest in and usage of sound draws from and many other forms of art. I've composed and arranged music for lyricists, improvised music for poetry readings at the Firehouse Space, and have provided musical accompaniment for dance classes, workshops, and performances presented by the Martha Graham Dance Academy and the Jeoffrey Ballet School. I've even co-choreographed short plays and have played for Marc Jacobs fashion runway shows.

My music also extends into the health and wellness community. I've served as a regular performer at the New Life Expo, and as a musical aid for art exhibitions (including a Syrian-post war realist art exhibition), Yoga classes at Jivamukti Jersey City, and meditation classes for WeWork, St. Peter's Church at the Citicorp Center, The Tibet House, Triskelion Arts the Firehouse Space, the Jewish Community Center, the New York Insight Meditation Center, and the NYU Skirball Theater.

As an educator, I have taught all-level/all-age group music playing and appreciation courses for several New York-based organizations: The Afro-Latin Jazz Academy, The Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York, New York Ensemble Classes, the Lyceum Kennedy International School, Jubilee Enrichment Programs, Jazz Empowers and The New York Jazz Academy. I have also completed 6 semesters of service as a Graduate Part-Time Instructor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where I taught multiple playing ensembles as well as three semesters of a 100+ student History of Jazz lecture class for non-majors.

I teach out of a my home apartment studio on the upper east side, complete with weighted 88-key digital piano, Bose high quality speakers, recording equipment, as well as musical media, and tablature spanning many musical genres, cultures and time periods. I also am equipped with a spacious floor space for Yoga, Pilates, Weight Lifting, Meditation, and more.

While I specialize in the following broad areas of musical study, my specialties are not limited to: General Music, Composition, Arranging, Ear Training, Music History (includes classical, jazz, and world musics), Music Theory, Sight Singing, and Songwriting. I also specialize in the following instruments: Trumpet, flugelhorn, and Piano/Keyboards.

Last but not least, while I have invested over 30,000 hours into my musical training, my interests, practices, and skill sets extend beyond sound and visual art, and into the realm of philosophy, science, physics and spirituality. I have been practicing various forms of fitness, meditation and Yoga for the past 5 years, and my studies span the gamut of psychology, philosophy, calisthenics, Astral Projection, Reiki, Vipassana Meditation, Visualization, and much more.

I believe and live by the idea that creativity is an energy that flows through us, and one's creative abilities can be improved and expanded, through the emotional body, which is influenced by one's perceptions. Throughout my training in music, the arts, as well as my physical, mental and spiritual pursuits, I have realized that discipline, creative flow, and love for what one is and what one does can come together and yield great fulfillment and sense of purpose.

I look forward to being a part of your journey!

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Upright bass, 2 Spector Bass guitars, Keyboard, acoustic guitar, Bass amp, and guitar amp

*** Travel Equipment ***
I have my own instruments and amps. I expect my students to have to same. Student must have piano for piano lessons

*** Specialties ***
Jazz, Classical, Latin, R&B, Rock, Arco

I have developed a teaching method that is efficient and creative, and is backed by over thirty years of professional performing experience.

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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.

ege of Music Learning Center for subjects such as harmony, ear training, arranging and counterpoint. As a music tutor, I was responsible for helping students, who were having trouble, advance in these subjects.

Along with teaching, I continue working as a composer and performer for a variety of local and remote projects ranging from music for film to concert music for jazz orchestra.

Please let me know if you have any questions,
Looking forward to working with you!

sic itself builds a stronger appreciation for the act of playing music. I have written a lot of pieces for myself on clarinet, and would be thrilled to help you on your own compositions if that is something your interested in. Contemporary classical music is my passion, but I want to help you explore the repertoire that fascinates you.