About Me:
There is no one method for teaching music. However, structure is important and of great value for a musician among musicians. As a teacher, I look to build upon a student's natural strengths, whether that be an ear for music, a passion for a particular type of music, or the ability to read, write and decipher written music. At the same time, I find value in approaching any weakness in different ways to produce a well-rounded student that can eventually flourish as a professional musician.

Styles:
Rock, Blues, Folk, Pop, R&B, Rockabilly, Country

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

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

Availability:
All of Manhattan

Major Influences:
Bob Dylan, Laurel Aitken, Jimmy Reed

Experience:

• University of Texas at Austin
  Master of Music in Ethnomusicology
  Thesis: Black Music Spaces and Subjectivity : The Chitlin Circuit, Juke Joints and the Preservation of the Victory Grill
  Supervisors: Dr. Slawek and Dr. Mooney [2005 - 2007]
• Freelance Guitar Teacher - Austin TX
  Specializing in students with special needs and younger ages [2005 - 2007]
• The Stingers ATX
  Professional/International Touring Band
  Guitarist, Vocalist, Principal Songwriter & Manager
  Signed with Grover Records (Germany
  Mossburg Music (USA)
  Music featured in Gold Circle Films The Long Weekend, completed 4 European tours, 3 South American tours, and 3 regional tours, recorded seven CDs with the group.
  
  Rokkatone
  Professional/International Touring Band
  Guitarist, Vocalist, Principal Songwriter & Manager.
  Signed with Grover Records (Germany)
  
  Ska in the World (Japan)
  Recorded debut CD in 2006. [1998 - Present]
• Solo Singer-Songwriter. Music has been featured in Gold Circle Films : The Long Weekend [2006 - Present]
• Teaching Assistant - University of Texas at Austin - Music Department and Department of Special Education. Courses The Blues according to Clifford Antone and Field Experience in Special Education [2005 - 2007]
• Classroom teacher - Public School - Brooklyn, NY Special Education, Reading - Middle School age. Secondary School Language Arts Tutor - Austin, TX [1995 - 2005]

Education:

• Master of Music - Ethnomusicology (MM ), University of Texas at Austin [2007]
• English (BA), SUNY Albany [1995]

Studied With:

• Kevin Mooney [2005 - 2007]
• Stephen Slawek [2005 - 2007]
• Gerard behague [2005 - 2007]
• Danny Begelman [1986 - 1991]

Recent Performances:

• Luna Lounge [February, 2008]
• Banjo Jim's [February, 2008]
• Bowery Ballroom [December, 2007]

Discography:

• The Stingers ATX - "This Time Around" [2008]
• The Stingers ATX - "Rude Roots" [2006]
• RokkaTone - "In This Life" [2006]
• The Stingers ATX - "All In a Day" [2004]
• The Stingers ATX - "Three Points" [2003]
• The Stingers ATX - "This Good Thing" [2002]
• The Stingers ATX - "Rich Boy" [2001]
• The Stingers - "self titled" [2000]
• Blue Bones - "Resolutions" [1996]