History
While I started my teaching career in high school, I formerly put out my shingle after the formation of my world music band, Ancient Future, in 1979. For my M.A. thesis, I wrote a book on the rhythms of Africa, Bali, and India that was published in 1985 and has been used at music schools worldwide, including the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston. I taught at the Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco for more than 20 years, and have been teaching in Marin County since 1980.
Specialties
I've been teaching online since 2011, so I'm well prepared for music lessons in the age of COVID-19. I've continued to develop new ways of working online such as browser based multitrack recording, which allows for collaboration on personal music projects and student/teacher duets. When it becomes safe again, I look forward to in person lessons at student's homes in the North Bay, music stores in Marin and Sonoma, and a soon to be completed recording studio in Cloverdale. I offer private guitar, bass, ukulele, sitar, charango, mandolin, and other fretted instrument lessons, record production, music theory, rhythm training, repertoire for all instruments, and group classes. I cover all styles, including rock, jazz, folk, classical, flamenco, and world music forms such as Indian classical music. To enhance rhythm skills necessary for all performers, I offer a training program based on the captivating rhythms of Africa, Bali, and India that requires no instruments. I work with students of all ages, from young children to senior citizens. I help students reach their own personal goals in music, whatever they may be, through a lesson plan customized to the student's needs. I'm very patient, and my students have fun and make progress towards their goals. Some have gone on to have careers in music, and for many, music is a wonderful oasis in their lives.