"I love sharing my passion with folks who are just as passionate - It's about bringing joy to people, and passing the music down." 

With over 25 years experience teaching music, Brian offers Banjo, Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele and even Mountain Dulcimer lessons to students of all ages and skill levels! He teaches privately and in classroom settings, as well as online. In his time, Brian had learned directly from highly regarded Bluegrass and Old-Time music masters, and he carefully passes their wisdom on to his students. He is well versed in both Bluegrass (3-Finger/Scruggs) and Old-Time (Clawhammer & 2-Finger) styles of playing the Banjo, and most would say he is quite the source for Old-Time Southern Appalachian tunes on the Fiddle. He has also been playing Guitar and Mandolin for most of his life. An award-winning musician, first taught by his parents, and then directly from highly regarded banjo players and fiddlers throughout Southern Appalchia, Brian's connection to the music is certainly one of tradition.

Brian's teaching style is based on the way he learned to play, which emphasizes the understanding of the 6 T's: Tuning, Timing, Tone, Taste, Technique & TAB. He believes there are two halves to learning an instrument: 1) Practice the lesson's instructions everyday for the following week, and 2) Listen to what you want to learn, religiously. In music, you must train often to obtain a musical ear and develop the muscle memory that will ultimately create the bond needed to play your instrument. The overall goal is to help his students get started in building a repertoire so they can join jam sessions, and even to the point where they are playing in a band. 

Brian teaches at the Vestal Museum, his home studio, online, public and private classrooms, festivals, and music camps throughout the world. He has been a cultural ambassador in the countries of China, India, United Kingdom, Ireland, Bulgaria, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Holland, and Latvia as an official U.S. Banjo and Fiddle music representative.

To find information about his sensory musical program for all ages and skill levels, go to this link:

Hands-On Folk Music and Instrument Program