Guitar, Ukulele, Piano, and Voice Instructor

Sam has been a musician and music teacher in the folk-rock-pop-Americana tradition for over 20 years. He toured nationally and internationally as a multi-instrumentalist and as a singer-songwriter, wrote and recorded several albums, worked as a studio session player, and honed a deep repertoire of cover songs.  He has taught thousands of private lessons to hundreds of students of many ages and abilities, always emphasizing fun and flexibility along with diligence and discipline.

Sam is one of those guitarists who can’t resist learning new instruments: he has performed, recorded, and taught lessons on piano/keyboards, bass, drums, violin, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and voice in addition to acoustic and electric guitar.  His teaching philosophy is engagement-oriented and focused on fun while building skills and knowledge. He loves helping students wrap their heads around music theory and finding that sweet spot between “knowing what they are doing” and surrendering to the groove of the music.

The foundation of Sam’s musical world was laid in childhood with piano lessons and near-constant classical music on the radio. He started playing electric guitar in high school and became heavily involved in jazz band, choir, and theater while also writing songs and starting rock bands. He began gigging professionally while in college earning his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

Beyond musical pursuits. Sam recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Portland State University, and is currently working on a Masters in Data Science from Willamette University. Sam also enjoys climbing, cats, calisthenics, coffee, chess, and probably things that start with other letters too.