Electric Guitar Teachers

Jason holds a Masters degree in Music Education from Hofstra University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Audio Engineering/Music Business from Five Towns College.

His performance experience includes playing guitar and bass in pit and jazz bands, as well as his own band. He has also sung in college choruses, and produces/engineers music for artists at a home studio. In the past five years, he has written and recorded seven albums of original material.

Jason has experience teaching in public schools and is certified in Orff-Schulwerk with a background in choral/instrumental studies. He has prepared students for competitions including NYSSMA.

His main belief is that music education is central to developing a child’s aesthetic, experiential and cognitive skills. It enhances the capacity to feel emotion, bridges gaps between cultures and language, offers us alternate ways of thinking and allows us to express what words cannot.

Inspired by the bands Boston, Heart, and KISS, as well as the huge variety of music heard at home due to music loving parents (his dad is an operatic tenor), John picked up guitar at 10 years old, was playing gigs with his band at 14, and teaching at 16. Along the way, he has had many outstanding teachers, including world-class guitar virtuoso George Bien, who he met while attending Five Towns College. Now with 30 years teaching under his belt, John is able to bring students of any level, and/or background to their musical goals.

On a personal note, John LOVES to teach! Through this enjoyment, and a wealth of experience, he personally ensures that each and every student quickly gains the skills to make music, while having as much fun as he does! He makes sure to bring everything he’s gone through as both teacher and student, and closely relates the success of his students with his own success. (He also loves dogs and cats, so no worries if you have pets! They might even make a new friend!)

Michael has been playing guitar for over 10 years, with experience in classical, rock, pop and metal. In May of 2016, he received his Bachelors of Arts in Music with Honors from Hofstra University. Throughout the time at Hofstra, he studied various aspects of music, including advanced levels of harmony, ear training, music history, keyboard harmony, and performance practice. Michael studied classical guitar at Hofstra, and performed in Hofstra’s classical guitar ensemble and university choir.

He has been performing in bands of various styles for over 8 years. Currently, Michael performs and composes for a Long Island based group named Consonance, a progressive metal band incorporating jazz and pop influences. Consonance performs regularly at various popular Long Island venues, as well as Brooklyn, NYC and out of state. In addition to his performing experiences he currently works at The Paramount, a popular 1,500 music venue in Huntington.

Michael is an active performer and teacher of guitar, as well as a composer. His playing experience ranges from classical guitar, chamber music, jazz big bands, rock/funk and jazz fusion. Michael studied classical guitar at C.W. Post under the direction of Professor Harris Becker, and Jazz Guitar under Professor Mark Marino. While attending Post, Michael performed in numerous recitals and master classes, and was also the resident jazz guitarist of the C.W. Post Jazz Band as well as the school’s Renaissance music consort. He has performed at the Long Island Guitar festival throughout the years. Some of the world-renowned classical guitarist Michael has played for include: Manuel Barreuco, Sharon Isbin, Carlos Dominiconi, and Benjamin Verdery. Michael’s versatility, knowledge, and proficiency of a wide range of styles of music make him a sought after performer and teacher. Besides classical music, Michael is fluent in jazz, rock, blues, and world music styles among others. He has composed recordings for such corporations as Harman International Group, and performed on local TV. In 2014, a classical work for violin and guitar that Michael composed was premiered at “A Midsummer Music Dream / Songe d’été en musique” in Quebec, Canada. Michael is currently an active performer and guitar/bass instructor in the Long Island, NY area.

Michael has been at the helm of String Sound Studios since 1986. Mainly a guitarist, he is also well-schooled in bass guitar, piano, and some woodwinds. He is considered by his peers to be a talented multi-instrumentalist with skills on 5-string banjo, ukulele, and mandolin. While at Five Towns College, Michael studied with master musicians Peter Rogine, John Dewitt, and Donna Olson. Michael insists on being eclectic and shares a deep understanding of jazz, rock, blues, and classical music with all his students. Michael has a world view of music which includes Latin, eastern, and western elements that show up in his arranging.

Over the years, many of his students have been accepted into music colleges and are actively involved in the music industry today. Michael is also an ace transcriber, arranger, and extremely knowledgeable in using music software such as Sibelius to arrange and compose music for the ensembles at our Setauket studio. For over 30 years he has been guiding students in NYSSMA, All-State, recitals and college auditions. Michael’s influences range from Bach to Larry Carlton, and he has played with numerous bands as a freelancer over the years. He is in the midst of a finger-style solo guitar project and involved in private and ensemble music instruction.

Along with possessing a strong musical prowess, Michael and his family are very involved with ice skating and ice hockey.

Born in New Hampshire, Thayer began studying guitar at age 7 and continued for the next 20 years. After graduating from Berklee College of Music with a BFA in Performance in 2013, Thayer settled in NYC where he has been a professional working musician. His track record includes such achievements as: three solo instrumental guitar records in three years, private events as a solo guitarist, musical theater pit work on multiple instruments, and video/audio recording sessions. Thayer is a versatile guitarist, able to play in many different genres. He is a gifted composer, strong sight reader, passionate instructor and chart maker as well.

Thayer says, “I have had the pleasure of playing in a vast variety of musical genres and situations within the music business. Using the guitar as my creative voice and outlet, it has offered me lots of versatile experience, plus a unique hands-on education.”