About Ben

I have been a performing Guitarist and Bassist for 24 years. I Began to study bass privately at 14 and began to study guitar privately at 15. I attended the University of Pittsburgh and Studied Jazz guitar with Joe Negri and Improvisation and Big band arranging with Dr. Nathan Davis. During my Studies at the University of Pittsburgh I was awarded the Mellon Jazz performance scholarship and graduated with departmental honors.  After graduation, I moved to Philadelphia and began performing and teaching privately. During this period of time I performed hundreds of shows with a wide range of small ensembles and taught thousands of private lessons. I next moved to Austin Texas performed and toured with various groups and acted as music director for the Garrett Lebeau band While continuing to teach privately. I then moved back to Pennsylvania to act as program director for the adult music program Uptown Music Collective. As a program director I developed a specialized curriculum, conducted workshops, gave music theory lectures, and organized performances in the community for the ensembles that I trained. I am a patient and goal oriented teacher and I have strategies for beginners, Intermediate, and advanced students alike. I am the most versed in Jazz, Rock, and Blues guitar but I am proficient in all styles. I am moved by a wide range of music and I aim to broaden a students scope not just as a player but as a listener.  I recently began to study Lap steel guitar not only for fun but also continue my pursuit of musical mastery and to strengthen my relationship with what it means to be a beginner.