About Me:
My approach is to base the teaching of music and learning of the guitar primarily on the music the student feels the most passionate about. The first thing I usually teach students is how to play a song of their choosing. I use the song as a means of learning about theory, technique, ear training and all of the other important aspects of music. I believe that understanding music on its most fundamental levels is extremely important. That means understanding more than just how a song relates to the instrument its being played on (i.e. the guitar). The study of intervals, ear training, form in music, rhythm, and harmony are all very important in gaining a broad, deep understanding of how the language of music works, and I enjoy taking interested students down this path of study.

Styles:
Jazz, Rock, Blues, Pop, Funk, Heavy Metal, Fusion, Folk, Indian

Subjects:
Harmony, Theory, Ear Training, Songwriting, Jazz Music History, Rock Music History

Ages:
Elementary School, Pre-teen, Teenage, Adult

Availability:
Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Carrol Gardens, Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace

Major Influences:
Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Parker, Ted Greene, Jim Hall, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, J.S. Bach

Experience:

• New York, Jan 2006-present, private instruction
• New York, Jan 2006-present, freelance performance, venues including Louis 649, Barbés, Bowery Poetry Club
• Nagasaki, Japan, Jan 2004-Dec 2004, guitarist for house band at resort
• Los Angeles, 2000-2003, private instruction
• Los Angeles, 2000-2003, freelance performance, performances with: Eric Marienthal, Gregg Bisonette, Jeff Lorber, Dave Koz, Brian Bromberg, Brenda Russell, Nate Birkey

Education:

• Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance (BFA), California Institute of the Arts [2003]

Studied With:

• Mark Turner [2006]
• Ben Monder [2005]
• Ted Greene [2003]
• Dr. Rajeev Taranath [2001 - 2003]

Awards:

• Music Scholarship - California Institute of the Arts - 1999 - 2003 [1999]

Recent Performances:

• Bowery Poetry Club (every Tuesday, midnight) [January, 2007]
• Louis 649 [December, 2006]
• Barbes [December, 2006]