Piano with James M.

I have been playing music my entire life. When I was seven, I began taking piano lessons. At age ten I began playing trumpet in the marching band. It was on these instruments that I gained my knowledge for basic music theory and structure. When I was fourteen years old I began playing guitar. I began taking theory classes through the music department in my high school and played in the jazz band for fun. By the time I graduated high school I was an intermediate guitarist with a firm grip on theory, structure, and composition. While attending Umass Amherst I furthered my musical education by enrolling in a number of classes in the music department while earning a degree in Plant & Soil sciences. Throughout the four years at Umass I continued to study music and began to teach and perform. I played in different collaborations involving many different styles. I began giving dorm room guitar lessons to friends and neighbors. Most of my students were beginners. Many of them continued to play, and a few have even started there own bands. After College I moved to Boston and continued to study, teach, and play music. I currently play keyboards/synth in a trio that performs throughout the Northeast. I have performed in a number of different venues including, The Paradise, Boston, MA, Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME, The Middle East, Cambridge, MA, Up or On the Rocks Hartford, CT, etc. I have furthered my education in the past five years by studying music synthesis, studio engineering, and mixing and mastering. I have also produced a number of fully mixed/mastered recordings. *** Lesson Details *** I am a friendly, easy going person with a passion for music. I am experienced in most styles: jazz, blues, bluegrass, rock, funk, reggae, punk, metal, acoustic, pop, jam, electronica, etc. I am a versatile musician and am capable of teachings students of all levels. During the lessons, I cover a variety of topics: Strumming Patterns and Chords Scales and Modes Alternate Picking Sweep Picking bending Harmonics Hybrid Picking, Fingerpicking, and Slapping Creating Riffs, Licks, and Bass Lines Songwriting Technical Mastery Ear Training Sight Reading Music Theory Improvisation Guitar Maintenance, Amplifiers and Effects Music/Sound Synthesis *** Studio Equipment *** Music room with seating for parents. Rehearsal studio with seating. *** Travel Equipment *** I have multiple guitars, and an 88 weighted key Yamaha Stage Piano. My studio has a P.A. and multiple guitar amplifiers for students who want to learn electric guitar. If there are any students interested in more advances lessons in mixing and recording, I also have the necessary equipment for that. I would expect students to have there own guitar (although I could provide a guitar under certain circumstances). Any students taking piano lessons could share my 88 Key Stage Piano. *** Specialties *** styles: jazz, blues, bluegrass, rock, reggae, funk, hip-hop, pop, electronica/dance methods: finger picking, cross picking, singing and playing