lessons

• [Steve’s] teaching style is fun, encouraging, and entertaining. – Pam
• Steve clearly has a high level of mastery of music, and is able to share that with students on whatever level is appropriate for them. Steve is the perfect combination of professional and super chill. – Jill
• Our one son was more interested in keyboard than guitar and Steve was easily able to switch and teach him keyboard.  Steve lets my 8 year old sons determine the pace and even pick the songs they want to learn.  This makes it interesting for them and not frustrating.  Yes, the lesson is very interactive with my son working with Steve to pick which music to work on.  He has an great relationship with my twins.  We are very pleased with the quality of lessons that Steve provides.  He works so well with kids.  If I had the time to take lessons I’d take them with Steve!  – Julie
• Steve is very welcoming, encouraging, non-judgmental, everything you would want in a teacher. – Susan
• He was from the outset engaging and enthusiastic in the songs that he chose for our class to perform and in developing our musical skill on the uke. He brought a number of pop classics and current songs in increasing chord complexity as the weeks advanced, even tailoring practice scales of notes and chords to improve ones playing ability. – Charles
• It was demonstrated at each class that [Steve is] calm, confident, skilled and very versatile about all three – instrument, songs, technique. – Maureen
• Steve is a very good teacher. He is pleasant and upbeat, reliable, knowledgeable, and helpful. He was always punctual, communicated clearly, and laid out a good lesson plan as far as moving us along at a reasonable pace goes. I learned things from Steve about playing the ukulele (Bad Cats Eat Frogs) that I could apply to the piano (understanding the white and black keys) that I never learned from my piano teacher. – Helen

Steve teaches all ages individually and in groups.  His passion for music is contagious! Over 25 years teaching and performance experience, graduated from Musician’s Institute (GIT) in Hollywood, and placed as Finalist in the 2014 MASC songwriting contest, Steve is a music instructor with wide ranging knowledge and advanced songwriting/technical ability.  His music base is well-developed and wide-ranging to provide personalized instruction.

• Encouraging and patient
• Dependable, personable, positive, with strong communication skills
• Acoustic and electric guitar – Beginner to advanced
• Ukulele – Beginner to intermediate 
• Bass – Beginner to intermediate
• Percussion, found sound, and theremin – Beginner
• Song and lyric writing, arranging (accompany other instruments and aid in songwriting development)
• From young exploratory through advanced concepts of guitar technique such as:
  • theory,
  • modal playing,
  • ear training,
  • composition,
  • improvisation,
  • note reading and/or tab,
  • alternate and open tunings,
  • rhythm & lead, finger style,
  • transposing, and
  • capo, ebow, prepared guitar, slide

Steve has been teaching remotely since March 2020.  In person lessons may soon be available again in the Washington, DC DMV area.  References available upon request.

Contact Steve Here