I have known sam for years as a friend. Not only is he a wonderful person but a great teacher. While we have never had formal lessons, he is always gracious and willing to explain and slow down whatever he is playing. And he is always playing! He is super talented and a joy to be around.

Samuel has been a top notch teacher and is very patient with my son. My son always tells me that he's inspired after every lesson. So much so that another one of my other sons has observed these lessons and is interested in taking lessons from Samuel as well.

Over the past 20 years I have taken guitar lessons twice. The episodes were separated by 15 years. I was engaged and even intense about learning. Both times ended in frustration and more important, failure. After only 5 lessons with Samuel Bean, I have learned to strum chords in time, learned several scales, 12 bar and 8 bar patterns and a bit of music theory. The result is playing to a level that provides personal satisfaction. I look forward to playing. So for you beginners and frustrated musicians out there, you know who you are, give it a try. I predict success.

I have had known Sam for many years. I am friends with his parents and his sister Emmy, also a very talented musician.
Although I don't live near him, unfortunately, when he visits NYC I make it a point to check in with him and ask for his his advice on my rather limited guitar skills. I always come away from our sessions feeling much better about my playing and can see what an improvement he has made for me. He is very patient and so eager to help, even a beginner like myself. i just wish he lived closer!

When I joined Sasona's housing cooperative community, I didn't know how to do anything. Sam provided an orientation for me that was above and beyond. Whenever I didn't know how to do something I knew I could ask him and he would not only tell me how, he would teach me how. Teaching is an integral part of who he is. He is conscientious, compassionate, and committed to his students. I absolutely recommend him as an instructor for people of all ages.

Having taken almost a dozen lessons from Sam, I can say with assurance that he is a competent, serious and sensitive instructor. Before the first lesson he inquired as to my purpose in learning the guitar and my goals. He then tailored his instruction accordingly.

As to his competence, he is a talented artist who plays with mastery and teaches with the belief that with time and practice, the student can attain comparable skill. He looks for and provides alternative methods when I have difficulty with a chord. He provides links to artists online so I can work on subtle changes in a tune during my week's practice.

Sam teaches scales which we review at each session. We also review songs/chords with an emphasis on clarity and rhythm (and graciously, not my singing). He is very serious about getting it 'right', but he is also sensitive.

Besides being sensitive in correcting mistakes, he is also sensitive to my preference in music. Without abandoning the basics, he is kindly teaching me more Blues songs than campfire ones since I like the moody melodies.

I'm very pleased and happy with my experience as Sam's student.

Great guitar lessons

We tried a few different guitar teachers for our two young daughters, but they learned the most with Sam. He is one of those rare individuals with a gift for working with children, and has made a career for himself in teaching. He has a strong presence in the space that keeps children very focused on the music. I highly recommend.