About Me:
I have been a private music instructor for almost a decade. Not so long ago I was a shy 10 year old kid who wanted to learn Nirvana songs and was fortunate to learn from someone who could relate to me and make playing the guitar a lot of fun. My students enjoy lessons not just for the opportunity to study and create music, but they also appreciate a positive and fun environment I tend to put forth. My primary goal is to help people accomplish personal goals they are pursuing and not to orient them to what I consider most important.

Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Blues, Country, Pop, Folk

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

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

Major Influences:
Brad Mehldau, Keith Jarrett, Bud Powell, and Ashkenazy.

Experience:

• Performance in local electric blues band. [1998 - 2000]
• Performance in instrumental Progressive Rock band and second fusion group. [2000 - 2002]
• Taught private lessons for guitar. [2000 - Present]
• Working Jazz trio in NYC, Jazz performances with such legends as Jimmy Heath and Dave Leibman. [2004 - Present]
• Tour of France performing original tunes in a solo blues and folk genre. [2007 - 2007]
• Regular sideman performances with NYC based singer-songwriters and Jazz musicians. [2006 - 2007]

Studied With:

• Lage Lund [2006]
• Fred Hamilton [2003 - 2005]

Seminars and Workshops Attended:

• National Guitar Workshop, NGW [2001]
• National Guitar Workshop, NGW [2000]

Recent Performances:

• Freddy's Backroom [June, 2008]

Discography:

• Michael Schoen - ""Addiction" EP" [2008]

Scholarships:

• National Student Exchange [2005 - 2006]