I have been playing the guitar for about 20 years. I started playing at the age of 8, learning basic chords and bluegrass riffs. It was in the 6th grade that I had a breakthrough. I heard the song "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson and my life changed. I started practicing a lot, and by the age of 16 began teaching other guitarists to play. Through high school I was in several groups that wrote and recorded music and played local shows. In 1997 I enrolled in Berklee College of Music. During this time, I continued to teach, perform in local bands, and play theater gigs. By graduation in 2001, I was teaching full time and in 2004 opened my own private teaching studio. I am also the guitar/bass/guitar ensemble instructor at the Pingree School in Hamilton. Since the summer of 1997 I have been on the faculty at the UNH SYMS program. In August 2008 I taught at the Berklee College of Music Guitar Sessions. In addition to teaching around 80 private students I also perform with Kangaralien and Storms Approach.
My Teaching Approach
For me, teaching is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a musician. My world revolves around playing guitar and bass. I strive to bring the best possible experience to every one of my students. It is important to me that a guitar lesson does not end when the student walks out the door. I always encourage students to e-mail any questions to me so they do not have to wait until the next lesson to get an answer. Not only does this help the student, but it keeps me on my toes and involved in the learning process.