I teach ages 7 and up.

Yes! The best places to find my sample lessons and my friendly smile are TikTok and YouTube.

I do! If you’re interested in a group class with a couple of friends, I teach ukulele in groups of up to 4 at my Roncesvalles Village studio in Toronto. This is the ideal size group, and the ideal instrument for group music lessons. Classes will include singing, playing chords, picking melodies, reading music and having fun.

For ages 7-12, I recommend the ukulele. It’s smaller and less intimidating, plus it has nylon strings, which are easier on the fingers. Better for small hands, and easy to learn and build momentum. I’ve had a lot of success with students who transition from ukulele to guitar after a year or two. These two instruments are related to each other in their tuning, so it’s an easy switch to make once they’re ready!

GREAT TIP: ukuleles are cheaper, even when buying an electric ukulele (these sound just like electric guitars when amplified).

If you come to my studio, yes! I have plenty of guitars and ukuleles which you are welcome to use during the lesson. I do suggest either buying or renting an instrument you can practice on at home, but if you’re curious about lessons and don’t have access to a guitar or ukulele, feel free to come to my studio!

If you’re just starting out, there is no need to spend more than about $100 on a ukulele, or $300 on a guitar. I can definitely help you choose an instrument. Send me a message through my contact form at the bottom of this page and I’ll send you a few links to instruments I recommend.

GREAT TIP: ukuleles are cheaper, even when buying an electric ukulele (these sound just like electric guitars when amplified).

You’ll see progress by playing regularly. I recommend playing for at least 15 minutes a day. It’s just like exercising, and the more consistent your routine, the more improvement you’ll see.

On guitar, I primarily teach pop, rock, country, blues and jazz. I teach all levels of guitar chords, strumming techniques, fingerpicking, scales, soloing, and chord melodies. Teaching materials are sourced from my 13+ years experience of studying guitar, both privately and in postsecondary school.

On ukulele, I teach pop and traditional / oldies that are kid-friendly and lots of fun. (These songs are fun for teens and adults, too!) Topics covered are picking melodies, chords and strumming/singing, beginner and intermediate scales, and basic music reading. Materials are sourced from 13+ years of teaching ukulele privately and in groups in Toronto, and include methods developed on the east coast of Canada. These lessons are the perfect gateway to playing music on a stringed instrument for the first time.

Just yourself and your instrument! If you’re studying guitar, consider bringing a capo and a few guitar picks. But don’t worry about a notebook- I’ll be emailing you everything you need to remember after every lesson. Follow-up emails include personalized instructions, chord diagrams, scale diagrams, song sheets, links to my favourite online resources, and the occasional video recording from our class.

Yes! Every year, my students are invited to participate in virtual recitals where they can show off their skills to friends and family. Invite your grandparents to tune in from anywhere in the world!

My own music teachers have included:

• Lorne Lofsky (York University) – he played guitar with world-famous jazz pianist Oscar Peterson!
• Ted Quinlan (Humber College) – head of the renowned jazz guitar department at Humber College for 35+ years
• Emile D’Eon (Humber College) – country, blues and jazz guitar
• Joey Goldstein (Humber College) – jazz guitar
• Andrew Marzotto (Humber College) – contemporary jazz guitar
• Nathan Hiltz (Humber College) – jazz guitar
• Trevor Giancola (Humber College) – jazz guitar
• Dan Goldman – alternative, pop, classical and jazz guitar
• James Hill – one of the world’s best ukulele musicians

Your introductory private lesson is free. After that, I bill in segments of 12 weeks for 1x or 2x weekly private lessons at:

• $35 / half hour
• $47.50 / 45 minutes (most popular)
• $60 / hour (ideal for students aged 15+)

GROUP UKULELE LESSONS (up to 4 students):

• $30 per student / 45 minutes

Just fill in the contact form at the bottom of this page and I’ll return your message as soon as possible. We’ll set up our first session (free) and go from there.