Take Lessons on Zoom or In-Person (Richmond VA)

Guitar / Bass/ Ukulele (all styles and levels)

Improvising/Composing/Songwriting

Alexander Technique / Mindfulness Practice

I Encourage my students to dig deeper 

• What do I like about this song or band? What are the musical elements that draw me in?

• Become a better problem solver, practice finding the root of your problem

• Become a more creative person

• Show dedication, the only way to improve is with consistency, for beginners that means consistent practicing and consistent lessons.

My Approach

As an educator I create a personal curriculum for each student that incorporates technique, fundamentals, and music relevant to the student’s interests. I have studied many traditions and styles (with degrees in classical and jazz) and I believe in finding the common threads amongst genres.

I specialize in American musical traditions including jazz, folk, and rock all of which contain extensive guitar stylings. In addition to studying the instrument I guide my students into being proficient musicians able to interact with and play music through reading, listening, improvising, interpreting and composing. I encourage my students to be as creative as possible in the learning process and incorporate improvising as early as the first lesson. 

As a certified Alexander Technique teacher I also help my students develop a mindfulness aspect to their music study. I do this by incorporating Alexander principles in lessons and practice exercises. Through this aspect of my teaching students find ways to play with less pain and more ease. 

Studying music is one way to cultivate a creative, mindful space for self-exploration and I work to help my students understand this at each stage of the journey. With this approach students are developing essential musical skills while also developing tools to grow as people.