Learning your instrument is just the beginning.
Guitar - Piano - Musicianship
Personalized guitar, piano, and musicianship lessons on Cape Cod for students of all ages.
Learning your instrument is just the beginning. My goal is to help you think like a musician.
Every student comes to lessons with different interests, experiences, and goals. Some want to play their favorite songs. Others hope to build a strong musical foundation, prepare for auditions, write their own music, or simply rediscover the joy of making music. Whatever brings you to lessons, my teaching is tailored to your individual goals while building the skills that will serve you for a lifetime.
Originally from Martha's Vineyard, after graduating Harvard with a degree in music, I've spent much of my professional career in New York and Los Angeles as a composer, performer, arranger, and producer. Those experiences continue to shape the way I teach, connecting technique with creativity and helping students understand not just what to play, but why music works.
The most rewarding part of teaching isn't watching a student master a piece or improve their technique—it's watching them become confident enough to explore music on their own. My goal is to give every student the understanding and confidence to keep learning long after the lesson is over.
“Besides Four Seas, my kids don’t miss anything about the Cape quite as much as their music lessons with Jesse. I’m so happy that Jesse ignited a love for piano and guitar in my kids, and they’re excited to continue lessons with him next summer. My kids truly loved it, and Jesse is a gifted teacher.”
— Alice, parent of two students
I began playing guitar at five and piano at nine, learning songs by ear and developing an instinctive understanding of how music works. I later studied both instruments with Berklee-trained musician Will Luckey. At Harvard, I studied composition with Elliott Gyger and Nicholas Vines and musicianship with John Stewart, whose teaching lineage extends back to Nadia Boulanger—the legendary mentor of Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, Daniel Barenboim, and Quincy Jones.
Since then, I’ve worked across nearly every part of music—performing as a guitarist, keyboardist, and singer, including on Broadway; composing and producing for theater, film, and television; and arranging, orchestrating, and preparing music for other artists.
I bring that complete musical perspective to every lesson—helping students develop their ears, understand what they play, and grow into confident, well-rounded musicians.
Selected Clients & Projects
Bruce Springsteen · Adam Guettel · David Yazbek · G. Schirmer · The Secret Life of Bees · Lempicka · SpongeBob SquarePants · Finding Neverland · Godspell · Mozart in the Jungle
Professional Experience
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The introductory lesson is a chance for us to meet, talk about your musical interests and goals, make some music together, and get a feel for how I teach. For students with previous experience, it also gives me a chance to hear where you are and think about what we might work on together. There’s no obligation to continue.
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I teach children, teens, and adults at every level—from complete beginners to experienced musicians looking to deepen their skills.
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Lessons are held at my home studio in Centerville.
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A typical lesson is 45 minutes. 30 and 60 minute lessons are options as well. I recommend weekly lessons.
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Weekly 45-minute lessons are $75, billed as monthly tuition based on the number of lessons scheduled that month. Tuition reserves a consistent weekly lesson time. Other lesson lengths, scheduling, or payment arrangements may be available depending on the student’s needs. The introductory lesson is free.
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Not necessarily. If you’re just getting started and aren’t sure what instrument or equipment you need, I’m happy to help you figure out an appropriate option before you make a purchase.
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My background is diverse, spanning rock, pop, blues, jazz, folk, musical theater and classical music but I build lessons around what my students are most interested in.
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Musicianship is the collection of skills that helps you understand and participate in music—not just reproduce notes. It includes listening, rhythm, musical intuition, creativity, theory, improvisation, and understanding how music fits together. The goal is to help students become independent, thoughtful musicians.
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I will encourage students to learn this skill as a part of their musicianship training but the ability to read music notation is not required.
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Consistency matters more than marathon practice sessions. I help each student develop a realistic practice routine based on their age, schedule, and goals. Even a short period of focused practice several times a week can produce meaningful progress.
FAQ
