Thanks for checking out my profile! Music is my passion and I love to share it. I especially love working with beginners. Music can be challenging, but if you're ready to work hard I'll do my best to help you. It's a great satisfaction to see my students become better musicians and better people, through the unique challenges and rewards that music provides. I've taught 15,000+ hours of piano and guitar since beginning in 2009. My youngest student ever was 4, and my oldest was in his 80's! I strive to make lessons rewarding and fun, without sacrificing high standards. Every student should achieve their own potential in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. I'm proud that many students have stayed with me for years. I'm also proud of helping children who had been through other teachers and were close to quitting. With patience and enthusiasm, I reviewed any skills they were lacking. Within a few weeks the parents reported their kids were finally enjoying music and making progress. I don't teach specific styles. Instead, I use established methods to emphasize fundamentals in technique and theory. Master those, and they'll apply to any musical style. I've played music my entire life, starting with piano at age 7. I was an award-winning Classical pianist, but majored on guitar in college. I've played most styles of music, but my favorites are Classical, Rock, Pop, and Metal. (Yes, Metal; though I may not look it;) Outside of teaching, I'm an active professional musician and solo artist. Here's a review from my Google page: “James is a patient, respectful, kind, and very knowledgeable tutor. I took weekly lessons with James for over four months while we lived in the same city, and I can confidently recommend him to any person, regardless of age or skill level. He has an exceptional listening ability and knows just the right corrections and suggestions to help you improve during your individual practice. I went from a absolute beginner player without the ability to read sheet music to a slightly intermediate level with almost complete sheet music literacy. Thank you again James!” – J.Z Thanks for reading all this. I look forward to speaking with you!