Richard M.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. I received my Masters from the Manhattan School of Music. I split music into skill three categories: Facility, Literacy, and Artistry.

Guitarists need to have physical facility on their instrument. They must be able to play at different speeds, make stretches, shifts etc. Just like an athlete practices their motions, guitarists must develop physical dexterity.

Literacy entails reading music and understanding musical vocabulary. Musicians can communicate to each other easily if they have a firm grasp of the written language of music. Once the student has mastered these concepts, we dive into artistry. How do we use our newfound physical dexterity and intellectual knowledge? To give sounds emotions — loud, soft, broken, connected, sweet, sour, powerful, timid, growing, decaying. This is the most personal aspect of music making, and varies with the individual.

In your opinion, what is the right way to teach and what do you do in your lessons that makes you a good teacher?

After my students have a working knowledge of the instrument, I teach to their stylistic interests.

How many years have you been teaching music lessons?​

I’ve been teaching for 5 years.

What are you most proud of in your musical career?​

I’m proud I played guitar and drums in the musical Lonesome Traveller with guest artist Peter Yarrow from Peter, Paul, and Mary.

What’s the best compliment you have ever gotten as a music teacher?​

I helped one of my students perform in a student chamber ensemble at Carnegie Hall. Her family thanked me for preparing for her audition and adjusting the music for her ensemble, because it didn’t originally have a guitar part. With my help, she is the first and only guitarist in one of the most prestigious chamber music school programs in NYC.

What country have you travelled to that you like the most and why?

I’ve only been outside of the country once. I visited Mexico as a middle schooler. I would love to go to Tokyo, Japan.

What languages do you speak?​

English

If you could perform with any musician (alive or dead), who would it be and why?​

Anyone in The Strokes. I love their hard hitting, gritty New York sound.

Do you have any interesting or unusual hobbies? If so, tell us about it.​

I love to read old Russian novels.

What are you currently listening to on the radio, iPod, iTunes, Spotify, etc.?​

Thundercat