Guitar Lessons in Ithaca, NY

A Philosophy Rooted in Inspiration and Creativity

My teaching philosophy is founded on the belief that it’s healthy for everyone to be creative and to express themselves musically. My approach has always been to inspire students to realize musical possibilities they might have thought unattainable and to provide a fun atmosphere where they can see real growth. This approach is not just about teaching the person rather than the subject—each lesson is custom-tailored to meet the specific needs of the student, ensuring that no two lessons are the same.

Innovative Teaching That Fits Your Life

My guitar lessons lead on both quality and convenience. We offer learning experiences that are immediately applicable to real-world playing situations. This is because we prioritize content that is most relevant to each student based on their long-term goals, and we explain it in simple terms with a focus on doing rather than just understanding. Additionally, we provide completely hassle-free, flexible scheduling to accommodate today’s busy lifestyles, making it easier for working professionals, college students, teens, younger children, and retirees to find time for music education.

Immutable Laws of Learning

In my lessons, we abide by a few immutable laws: “Swim! We won’t let you sink,” which means at my school, you learn by doing. We focus on a variety of relevant topics that you rotate between, and the learning process is much faster than the traditional linear method of music education. It’s not what you know, it’s what you can do—implementation and integration are key concepts. The former means putting what you learn to immediate use in a variety of contexts, while integration involves connecting new knowledge with familiar elements.

It’s your divine right to express yourself, which is why we ask for student feedback on their musical priorities and adjust lesson content accordingly. There are so many genres, styles, and approaches to the guitar, and we honor all of them, supporting you as you develop your own unique voice on the instrument.

Community and Performance

At my school, community fosters learning. We emphasize but do not require performance opportunities such as recitals and recordings. To date, we have held five recitals and produced five student albums, the video and audio of which are available under the Free Resources section of our website. These events are not only terrific learning experiences but also allow students to showcase tangible results to their family and friends. We also average two student parties per year, which are open to former and prospective students.