I offer year-round, private piano lessons in Oak Bluffs. I hold a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Music Education, Music Performance and Education) from Plymouth State University (NH). Get in touch today to learn more.
About Me
I am a year-round resident of Oak Bluffs and I live in the Campground in the same house that my grandparents and parents have owned since the early 1970’s. I have lived and worked in both MA and NH at institutions of higher education before settling here on the island.
My passion is education. I have played the piano since I was a young boy and have played all over the world, including the US, Russia, Africa, Asia and western Europe.
Over the past 25 years, I have taught at the college level – Business Computers, C# programming and various graduate level technology classes. In the music field, I have taught piano, played professionally and accompanied many musicians and performance groups.
Who I teach
At this time, I am accepting a very limited number of private piano students who are interested in starting piano lessons or continuing their study of music performance, theory and practice. I currently have slots open for four students and encourage interested students of all ages to pursue their musical interests.
How I teach
Learning piano has to be fun and rewarding. There are many approaches and systems devoted to piano education and I believe that the choice of how to approach piano lessons needs to be highly personalized. What are your goals as a piano student? Do you want to learn the classics? Do you want to play in a rock or jazz band? Do you want to play in church or accompany other musicians? Do you want to be a pit band musician? Do you hope to teach some day? Or, do you simply want to learn piano and see where it takes you? During your lessons, we may touch on some of the following topics:
Musicianship
Sight reading
Technique
Performance
Sight singing
Theory
Music Technology
How you learn
In order to improve as a musician and pianist, obviously you will need to practice. We will discuss your ability to practice and perform so that your progress continues. What musical environment do you live in? Do you have family members who will participate with you? Perhaps you have a sister or brother or parent who loves to sing and you can accompany them? Perhaps you’re in a band and want to learn more about chord structures? Maybe you want to hammer out some of the classics or compose your own music? Let’s find your musical passion together.
Cost of lessons
One-hour lessons are $80 / week and are held at my home in Oak Bluffs. Forty-five minute lessons are $60. If you require lessons at your home on the Vineyard, we can discuss the additional transportation and time expense involved.
My studio
My Yamaha baby grand is in the living room of my cottage in the Martha’s Vineyard CampMeeting Association (MVCMA) campgrounds. There is plenty of daytime parking during the off-season. During the summer, you may have to hunt for a spot, so arrive a little early. My traditional baby grand has headphones, so one can play electronically without bothering the neighbors. It is possible to attach two sets of headphones, (student and teacher) if the time of day requires it. I also use the iPad app, ForScore so that all my music resides in PDF format. I’ll be happy to discuss the use of music technology with you.
Next steps
Send me an email and tell me your name and cell phone number and best time to reach you. I look forward to hearing from you.
