With 20 years' teaching experience both online and face-to-face the heart of John's teaching philosophy is fostering a supportive and enjoyable learning environment where students can take responsibility for their learning free from ridicule and draconian instruction methods.  He works with students ages 7 through adult with student-centered, hands-on pedagogies. Lessons are customized to each student's learning needs and tastes including jazz, blues, rock, and pop.

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John's credentials include a 2021 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Berklee College of Music and holder of an M.Ed from the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. 

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Here are questions prospective students ask most often:

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What Can I Learn?

• Instrument components (e.g. bridge, nut, frets, etc.) and care

• Proper posture and using a pick/finger picking

• Tuning by ear and with a tuner

• Comprehensive music theory

• Keeping time and tempo

• Notation and chord voicings

• Playing in a band; it’s more than just playing the instrument!

 

What Will I Need ?

• A guitar  (acoustic preferred) or ukulele in good condition with new strings. I recommend Russo Music in Hamilton

• Picks, medium weight is suggested (for guitar)

• Clip-on Tuner (e.g. Snark)

• Music stand

• Workbook (title and skill level to be determined)

• Recommended: a "hard shell" case or at least a soft-sided “gig bag”

• Recommended: strap for guitar

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What Do I Need for Online Lessons?

• In addition to the above, a laptop, desktop, or tablet with Internet access (smartphone screens are too small to get the most from sessions). Windows, Mac, or LINUX operating system.

• Internet service, the faster the better. If you want to test your connection speed use this test.

• The best of the online music lessons apps is the free FarPlay app (https://farplay.io/) which will require an Ethernet cable connection and wired headphones  [Apple or smartphone earbuds with a built-in mic work well].) Inexpensive adapters for Ethernet cables to laptop ports or Apple Lightning ports should work fine. 

• In case FarPlay won't work for you, Zoom, Google, or  Whereby can be used. Be aware we may lose some sound quality. 

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What Do Lessons Cost?

There are two plans from which to choose. Both are based on $35 per 30 minutes and $65 for an hour. 30-minute sessions are strongly encouraged.
 

Please remember you're paying for the time slot whether nor not you attend the session. If you need to reschedule please contact me immediately.  I'll do my best to find a reschedule date that works for us both. There are no credits for sessions that aren’t rescheduled, and sessions can’t be carried over into the next month.  Per diem will no longer be available. 

Monthly Plan
Pay for four (or five, depending on the number of weeks that month) sessions in advance on the first session day of each month. That entitles you to four (or five) sessions that month. Missed sessions can be made up but they must be rescheduled by the end of that month.

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“Semester” (Quarterly) Plan
Pay three months in advance, on the first session date, which entitles you to up to 15 sessions over a three-month period. For example, the first “semester” for 2023 is from January 2 to March 31. Then we have April 3 to June 30, July 3 to September 29,  and lastly, October  2 to December 29.

Missed sessions can be made up but they must be rescheduled by the end of that month.

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 Send me an email to sign up! 

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Questions?

• Feel welcome to send me an email message. I'll reply within two business days.

• References are available upon request