
Blake P.

Teaching Locations:


Teaching Locations:


Levels taught:
Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedMy “Complete Musicianship Course™” will not only make you a better guitarist, but a holistic musician. With lessons grounded in fundamentals we’ll start small and develop your musical identity within a larger musical tradition. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for your instrument and the music you love.
I hold a BFA with honors from the Eastman School of Music, studying under Bob Sneider. I’ve studied at Concordia University with Gary Schwarts and Greg Amirault as well as Bob Thompson. I have been a full-time professional musician for 10 years, performing 146 gigs in 2019. I have been fortunate to have opportunities in a variety of musical arenas; whether it’s rock n’ roll clubs, International jazz festivals, or opening for Ice Cube. I am experienced with ages 5 and up; I’ve been a coach, a counsellor, a high-school choir director and am currently a faculty member of the Rochester Contemporary School of Music.
Complete Musicianship Course™ Outline:
Warm-up routines: A strong foundation in technique and form.
Repertoire and Styles Study: Learn your favorite songs and common stylistic conventions to authentically perform jazz, hip-hop, funk, rock, blues and pop.
Rhythmic studies: The key to great music is great rhythm. We’ll learn how to count, subdivide, and groove at any tempo or feel.
Harmony: Learn chords and scales, and how they work in tandem to create the songs you love!
Improvisation: Learn how to take a solo and make the changes! We’ll go beyond the basic elements to give you vocabulary taken directly from your guitar idols.
Ear training: Basic intervals to scales, chords, and transcribing full songs. You will gain the ability to listen to a song and play along without the need for tab-books or written sheet-music.
Equipment Consultation: We’ll discuss your guitar, amp, pedals, and even recording equipment. You’ll learn how to play your favorite music with authentic tone.
About Blake P.
Students can expect lessons with me to be personalized, professional and most importantly, rooted in inspiration and joy. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to get into a top music conservatory, we will work together to create a program with clear goals while working at a pace that suits your musical needs. My mantra is “music is easy,” and my goal is to break-down difficult musical concepts in a way that gives you the confidence of a master. We will unlock your potential and have a ton of fun along the way.
My “Complete Musicianship Course™” will not only make you a better guitarist, but a holistic musician. With lessons grounded in fundamentals we’ll start small and develop your musical identity within a larger musical tradition. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for your instrument and the music you love.
I hold a BFA with honors from the Eastman School of Music, studying under Bob Sneider. I’ve studied at Concordia University with Gary Schwarts and Greg Amirault as well as Bob Thompson. I have been a full-time professional musician for 10 years, performing 146 gigs in 2019. I have been fortunate to have opportunities in a variety of musical arenas; whether it’s rock n’ roll clubs, International jazz festivals, or opening for Ice Cube. I am experienced with ages 5 and up; I’ve been a coach, a counsellor, a high-school choir director and am currently a faculty member of the Rochester Contemporary School of Music.
Complete Musicianship Course™ Outline:
Warm-up routines: A strong foundation in technique and form.
Repertoire and Styles Study: Learn your favorite songs and common stylistic conventions to authentically perform jazz, hip-hop, funk, rock, blues and pop.
Rhythmic studies: The key to great music is great rhythm. We’ll learn how to count, subdivide, and groove at any tempo or feel.
Harmony: Learn chords and scales, and how they work in tandem to create the songs you love!
Improvisation: Learn how to take a solo and make the changes! We’ll go beyond the basic elements to give you vocabulary taken directly from your guitar idols.
Ear training: Basic intervals to scales, chords, and transcribing full songs. You will gain the ability to listen to a song and play along without the need for tab-books or written sheet-music.
Equipment Consultation: We’ll discuss your guitar, amp, pedals, and even recording equipment. You’ll learn how to play your favorite music with authentic tone.
Reviews
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Blake is a really great teacher. I've been taking weekly vocal/guitar lessons with him for about 4 months and have seen really impressive improvement. On guitar I've gone from playing basic acoustic chords to transcribing and playing electric solos. He's also been teaching me theory at a nice digestible rate which has helped a lot too. I would definitely recommend Blake for anyone who's serious about vocals or guitar. If you put in the time to practice he can definitely make you better!

Learning so many new techniques!

Blake is great! Super helpful and very funny as well. He made me feel very comfortable and gave me a lot of great tips as well as exercises to work on!

Blake is a great instructor. He made me feel comfortable and relaxed right away. He went at the pace I needed (glacial) and encouraged me every step of the way. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Blake is a seasoned musician with experience in just about every genre imaginable. Whether it's technique, harmony, theory or aural skills, he can explain any seemingly difficult idea in a concise, logical way. With all the knowledge of a conservatory trained guitarist and gigging musician, he's a down to earth teacher who simply loves music and is passionate about sharing it with his students.

Blake is a dedicated teacher who helped me improve right away! I wasn't at all sure what I wanted (or needed) to work on next but he picked up right away what was best for me. So grateful to have worked with him.
Photos & Videos
13 Photos & VideosExperience
Freelance Musician
Jul 2010 - PresentSelf-Employed
Professional Since age 16. Benchmarks in my career so far: -Performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Rochester Jazz Festival -Performed Notorious B.I.G.’s music to a sold out show in Brooklyn with his best friend Lil’ Cease. -Opened for Ice Cube. -Have toured the East Coast. -Performed at exactly 50 weddings for 2019 and had over 150 gigs total in 2019. -Currently working in several creative projects, and working as a recording artist.
Camp Counsellor
May 2015 - Aug 2015Camp Beech Cliff
Worked as a Camp Counsellor for one of Maine's premier summer camp's for kids. Worked specifically with ages 5-6. This age group is often high energy and excited. I like being able to help them focus some of their excited energy into fun and simple music tasks.
High School Choir Director
Sep 2014 - Jun 2015Ellsworth High School
I substitute taught for one year at Ellsworth High School. During which time the vocal teacher's mother got very ill, and for a majority of the year I took her place as the head of the school choir. This gave me great hands on experience working with vocalist of varying skill levels.
Track Coach
Mar 2015 - May 2015Ellsworth Elementary Middle School
For a track season, I worked with middle schoolers as their track coach. I realize this isn't exactly music related, but it is important to note that I have field experience working with middle school aged students. I currently also have a sister who has just graduated middle school, so I am well acquainted with this age group.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Jazz and Contemporary Media (jazz guitar)
Sep 2015 - May 2018Eastman School of Music
Bachelor's in Music Performance (Transferred to Eastman)
Sep 2012 - May 2014Concordia University - MTL
Languages
English
Fluent / Native Proficiency
Certifications
BFA with JCM focus
May 2018Eastman School of Music
Awards
Charles Ellison Scholarship - Concordia University
Feb 2014Charles Ellison
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