Introduction: I’ve been playing music of every style and genre for over 23 years and teaching for 15. My musical curiosity has led me to perform and record with singer/songwriters, pop, rock, funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and fusion bands, both originals and covers, as well as, pit orchestras, guitar ensembles, Celtic traditional bands, and worship ensembles.
I was born in Costa Rica and my family emigrated to the United States when I was 3. I grew up just north of Washington, DC in Maryland. When I was 7, I started playing the saxophone and singing. At the age of 13, I picked up my first guitar and taught myself to play using the internet and YouTube videos. In Highschool I decided I wanted to be a musician so I took music theory, piano, and guitar classes, and student conducted the string orchestra as a way to make music not only a part of my day to day, but the majority of my day every day. I would then get home and play guitar for an additional 6-8 hours. It was safe to say I was hooked. From there I went on to major in music at Frederick Community College and then transferred to Towson University where I received a Bachelor of Music with a focus on jazz/commercial performance.
Despite the formal training I received in college, my approach to teaching is more like how I taught myself the guitar, by listening to and playing along with, my favorite songs. My goal is to make music as enjoyable to my students as it is for me. In the past, I have taught at the Bel-Air School of Music, three Music and Arts locations in Maryland, and The Bullis School in Potomac, MD. Currently, I teach private lessons and coach both a Middle School Rock Band and a High School jazz/funk fusion band at The Dwight School.
In the pursuit of making music as enjoyable as possible, I do my best to make sure my students are having fun and are learning what they want to learn. While I may be the one steering the ship, it is each student who ultimately decides where we are going and what we are learning. I also do my best to ensure that my students all understand that music is an art and a form of expression, communication, and collaboration and not a competition. While we are always trying to get better and better, that should never get in the way of enjoying the act of making music.
Lessons will be conducted virtually using Google Meets.
Rates:
$40/ 30-minute lesson
$65/ 45-minute lesson
$80/ 60-minute lesson
Lessons are purchased in monthly packages with a set recurring time each week.
