Bruce has been teaching Jazz for more than twenty-five years. He sees his own musical journey as a process of discovering new things and finding his own voice, and feels that he able to inspire others in their musical development. He combines a deep knowledge of the jazz tradition with a kind and empathetic disposition, and an intuitive sense of his students’ musical needs.

 

Temple University Philadelphia, PA
Bruce has been on the faculty of Temple for more than a decade, teaching alongside jazz program director Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Ben Schacter, and many other fine musicians. The students are steeped in the Philly tradition of deep groove, and are immensely talented and dedicated.

 

PRIVATE SESSIONS

Bruce teaches private piano lessons 

Jazz composition and small-group arranging.
He also coaches ensembles, including a Monk ensemble 

and one playing his own septet compositions.

 

Currently on private lesson roster:
The New School University,

New York City.
City College University,

New York City.

 

MASTER CLASSES AND SEMINARS
Berklee College of Music, Boston
New England Conservatory, Boston
Hamilton College, NY
University of North Carolina
Piano seminar, Akita, Japan
Cadiz, Spain
Valencia, Spain
Tokyo, Japan

 

PAST FACULTY POSITIONS
Berklee College of Music, Boston (1985-’88)
Long Island University, Brooklyn campus (1990-’96)
Queens College, New York City (2006)

 

PRIVATE STUDIO
For more than twenty years Bruce has been giving private lessons in his studio in Brooklyn. His students have included musicians from the U. S., Japan, Europe, and South America. They have ranged from professionals to amateurs with a love of music.

 

MY  TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

"I feel that teaching, at its essence, is about encouraging people to find their unique musical voices, and to help them develop a deep and authentic connection to their music and instrument. I feel that learning jazz should be joyful, fun, and inspiring; and I encourage students to practice things that develop their imagination and creativity, while avoiding things that are rote and mechanical.

 

We live in an age of information – real books, methods, and theory. While much of this is useful, I encourage students to still learn things the old-fashioned way – by using their ears. In the lessons we do singing and ear-training as well as playing, and we keep good rhythm and phrasing in mind in everything we do.