Hyllus blues and folk
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Lessons

Photo by Brian Geltner

Styles and Rates

I am available for private lessons, teaching both beginner-to-intermediate level harmonica playing and traditional pre-war blues playing on the acoustic guitar. Lessons are taught in-person or virtually by the hour. Please reach out via email for current rates.

I occasionally teach group classes on the harmonica. At time of writing (March of 2026) I’ll be teaching two 4-week classes at The Jalopy School of Music in Brooklyn, NY on Mondays from April 6 through May 4 2026 (skipping April 20): a true beginner class from 6:30-7:45 and a confident beginner to intermediate class from 8-9:15. Please register for these classes in advance. For more about The Jalopy School of Music, please visit their website.

Guitar Lessons

Guitar lessons are available for intermediate students as an introduction to the prewar (“country”) blues; or as true beginner lessons, including introduction to music theory, introduction to the guitar, lessons in reading musical notation and sight reading, introduction to fingerpicking, and learning basic patterns, shapes and chords on the guitar. These lessons will prepare the student perfectly to continue on to any style or even instrument of their choice; however, they too will be taught from the point of view of the country blues, and will be geared towards beginner and intermediate country blues performance. Taught correctly and with proper technique, acoustic blues is an excellent introduction to the study of music, particularly on the guitar, where it can be used to demonstrate first principles with great efficacy, as well as being a lot of fun to play. Educationally, it strikes the perfect balance between the thoroughness of classical training and the pleasure and modern sensibility of popular music.

Harmonica Lessons

For harmonica lessons it is recommended the student acquire a diatonic harmonica tuned to the key of C. There are several excellent makes and models of harmonica available, but for purposes of study, a Hohner 1896 Marine Band is to be preferred.