As a guitarist, drummer, bassist, mandolinist, pianist, lutenist and singer, I have been performing, and teaching music for over 10 years. I am a graduate of Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music, Summa cum laude, as a Bachelor of Music with a degree in Classical Guitar Performance, and I hold two master’s degrees in both Musicology and Classical Guitar Performance. I have studied guitar for over 10 years with the head of the guitar program at Temple and local composer/performer Allen Krantz. My experience in performance includes playing mandolin with the Temple Orchestra for Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet as well as Respighi’s Feste Romano under the direction of Luis Biava. I have also performed guitar and mandolin with the Philadelphia Orchestra for The Lord of the Rings Symphony, mandolin with the Pennsylvania Ballet for Stravinsky’s Agon, and again for Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and mandolin with Orchestra 2001 for Tan Dun’s Circle of Trios. In summer of 2007 I played mandolin on Romeo and Juliet with The Royal Ballet at Philadelphia’s Mann Music Center. Along with extensive performances on guitar, mandolin and lute in the tri-state area, I also have experience playing in groups of widely varying styles on guitar, drums, bass, piano, and voice. I am currently employed at Germantown Friends School (GFS) assisting choirs, teaching music history, advanced music theory and as an instructor for guitar, bass, and piano. In spring of 2008, I toured with the American South playing guitar with GFS choir, playing in such cities as Atlanta, Memphis and New Orleans. I also manage a private teaching practice.

Teaching history, philosophies and approaches:
I have been teaching instrumental music privately for about 15 years. My feeling about teaching is that there is no one way to teach. Not all students respond to the same method. I have been very successful over the years molding a teaching style to fit each individual student. I also feel the development of the ear is extremely important. Likewise, a clear understanding of the harmonic underpinning of music is essential to learning any instrument–not enough emphasis is placed on this.

A note to all students:
All students, regardless of instrument or chosen texts, should own a blank manuscript book as well as a music stand. Guitar, mandolin and lute students should own a footstool as well.