Guitar with Lenny R.

Studying music has tremendous benefits including: discipline, self confidence, problem solving, and stronger connections in the brain! Understanding music can give you new perspectives on how to look at the world. If you have felt the power of music then you owe it to yourself to understand and harness what is already a part of you. OWN IT! While studying with me we will work on many facets of music including technique, sight reading, critical listening, music theory, improvisation, and how to apply these skills to a piece of music to truly express yourself. My goal is to instill a deep understanding of music to my students while letting their individual sensibilities show. STYLES: I can teach all styles of American music (i.e Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, R&B etc.) as well as classical and fingerstyle. I have a degree in classical guitar and have performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra as well as done concerts in the USA, Italy, and the UK. I have experience playing in many different bands in many styles including: Rock, Reggae, African, Blues, and Jazz groups. SUZUKI METHOD: I am trained and certified in the Suzuki Guitar Method and spent 3 years teaching Suzuki in studio with children as young as 5. This involves a significant parent-teacher-student commitment and regularly yields impressive results. ON TALENT: I agree with Shin-ichi Suzuki that talent is irrelevant and a myth. I believe that the potential of all my students are the same but they come to me with various starting skills levels and all learn at a very different pace. I believe that the myth of “talent” really just means that the individual has had a long exposure to music. This is why I emphasize critical listening in my lessons. If you have a large knowledge of music and sounds in your head it makes it easier to make connections and better assess your ideas.