Sean S.

I began teaching acoustic guitar and voice lessons in 1984, also offering harmonium and tabla lessons a few years later. Some of my students have approached music mainly for personal enjoyment and deepening their self-identity, while others have used the skills they learned in their careers.

I've found that in order to be a successful teacher, I must be patient and compassionate, and try to always put myself in the shoes of a learner. I feel my greatest teaching strengths come from listening to my students, as well as drawing from my experience as a singer-songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist.

I'm grateful for my exposure to the music of different cultures, especially the fascinating polyrhythms of traditional African drumming and the deeply moving melodies of Indian Classical music. I had the good fortune to study these disciplines intensively with Master Teachers during my time at Dartmouth College, at Wesleyan University, and through independent studies in India. My teacher training at Pacific Oaks College further deepened my appreciation of cultural diversity as well as my sensitivity to different learning styles.

This experience has enriched my own compositions, as well as my ability to connect with learners from diverse cultural backgrounds, and to help guide people in developing a personal style free from artificial boundaries of genre.

Currently, I'm working on recording an album of original songs based on the poetry of Rumi, Hafiz and other mystics.