Hi! I am a musician, songwriter, music producer and teacher currently based in Philadelphia. I studied music at Yale University, where I fronted multiple bands as a singer and guitarist and was a member of the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, an internationally touring a cappella group. Though at the time my background was mostly in rock, punk and musical theater, in college my interests really started to expand as I studied sound engineering, music theory and composition. I’ve now produced records and worked with artists in a wide range of genres, including pop, jazz, classical and hip-hop, and I love studying and helping my students master the particular techniques that define their favorite styles.

My priority as a teacher is to help students gain the skills and confidence to make music that feels fun and relevant to them. Every student is different, with their own natural strengths and their own sense of where the joy is in making music. I try to build my lesson plans around recognizing and reinforcing what’s unique and sounding great, while steadily building towards the student’s particular goals.

When did you begin singing, and why?

I started singing in musicals when I was in middle school. Even though I had always sung around the house, it was around that time that I first remember feeling like I might actually be a “singer”. But it wasn’t until a few years later that I really became obsessed with it. I was heartbroken over a girl, so every day I would come home from school and look up the chords to songs and sing until I went hoarse. Those little home jam sessions meant a lot to me and inspired me to start singing in bands and learning more about vocal technique.

What other instruments do you play, and what is your experience with them?

I love playing guitar, it’s my main writing instrument and the first thing I grab when I get home from a long trip. I’ve been playing since I was 12 and have experience in rock, jazz, folk, metal and classical styles. I’ve also been playing saxophone and piano since elementary school, and enjoy bringing them into various projects that I’m working on.

What are your personal goals as a musician?

My goals are to keep writing records that feel meaningful, performing with like-minded musicians and finding the joy in making music.

Do you have a memory of a time when a musical concept or technique really clicked?  Something you’ll remember forever?

A life changing exercise for me was using “funny” voices to find more relaxed and comfortable ways to make different sounds. I had been having a lot of trouble with tensing up when I tried to use vocal techniques like “twang” and “compression”. The first day my voice coach started our session with this “funny” voices warm up, I immediately noticed that I was feeling more free and having more fun than I had in a while. After that, I had some big improvements in my vocal range and I stopped being embarrassed about making some weird noises on the way to finding some great ones.

What is your favorite piece of advice from one of your past (or current) teachers?

There’s a piece of advice from one of my voice teachers that I try to live by. “Take inspiration from your musical heroes, but don’t try to sound like them.” 

I think one of the best things we can do as musicians is to notice when someone is doing something that resonates with us and to try it for ourselves. That’s how we grow into the musicians we want to be. But it’s equally important to focus on being the best version of yourself, and not get stuck in comparing yourself to others. You’re never going to sound exactly like your heroes, and that’s what makes you special!

What was your most challenging moment learning an instrument

I used to have a tendency to rush ahead when playing, and to be inconsistent with rhythmic patterns. For a long time I managed to skate by, but it came to a head when I was recording my first album. I realized that I wasn’t “locking in” with the metronome and my guitar parts weren’t going to sound right until I committed to specific strumming patterns for every section. 

At first it was really counterintuitive to re-learn my approach to playing rhythms, because I’d already been playing in a certain way for so many years. I felt like my playing was less “emotional” than it had been before. But once I got more comfortable focusing on the pulse of the music, I found that it added a whole new dimension to my writing and performing, and eventually became second nature.

What is your biggest musical achievement?

I’m really grateful that I’ve been able to achieve a range and confidence with my singing and guitar playing where I feel like I can really express myself. Music has always been a big part of my life and I feel like my journey as an artist has been linked to my growth as a person. More concretely, this past year I got to take my band Emo Daycare on tour to promote a new record release, which was a dream of mine since I was a kid. I’m so glad my journey with music has allowed me to meet and collaborate with so many wonderful people!

Favorite thing about teaching?

It’s exciting to become part of a student’s musical journey! There are so many reasons to make music and so many different places to find joy in the process. I really appreciate the opportunity to learn what inspires a student and to help them identify and master the tools that will allow them to reach their goals. My hope is to support students in nurturing a fulfilling lifelong musical practice.

What is a piece of advice you would like to share with anyone learning music?

Remember that there are two parts to learning anything in music. The first is the part where a new technique is so hard that playing feels like “work”. The second is the part where you’ve mastered the technique enough that it becomes part of your self-expression, something that feels natural and makes you feel better. When you’re really getting lost in learning a technique, don’t lose sight of that second part! It’s the north star for how and why we improve.