ONLINE LESSONS AVAILABLE
Learn and Love the Guitar!
Greetings Everyone ! Thank you for stopping in !
Whether you are interested in taking guitar / bass lessons with me, or if you are considering hiring one of my professional bands … or maybe you just want to have a listen to some of my recordings, I hope you enjoy my site and I would love to hear from you.
-Tommy
The Gift of Music is for Everyone
Everyone is different. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, advanced player, a professional or just playing for your own enjoyment, my lessons are customized to you. No matter what age or level of experience, my whole purpose is to help you achieve the joy of playing music.
This is such a great time to learn, when the brain is really on fire and the passion for music and dreaming are strong.
Besides the obvious enjoyment of playing music, learning an instrument at this age has so many benefits, building confidence, self-esteem, instilling team work, and eventually the thrill of playing in front of an audience. But most importantly, just to have that personal outlet, even in the privacy of their own room. Again, every one is different and so are the rewards of playing music!
Maybe you played in your younger years, or have always wanted to try. Now that you are settled down you want to bring the joy of playing into your life… YES! You deserve it, and it’s never too late
I, myself, am on the never-ending quest to learn guitar. I have reached out to many other advanced guitarists to gain more knowledge, so do I extend my knowledge and skills to other advanced guitarist.
Besides the many years of experience playing, one of my greatest strengths is my extensive knowledge of music theory and how it is applied to the guitar
Whether it is gaining a better understanding of advanced harmony as applied to the guitar, chord scale relationships, soloing over complex chord changes, expanding on finger style techniques, building a bigger vocabulary of blues and rock riffs, etc. I would love the opportunity to share any and everything I know with you.
Please call 732-254-4444 for more info
or to get started
About Tommy
Just to give you a little background about my musical history and experience…
I started playing guitar at the age of 6 when I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, and I knew right then and there what I wanted to do with my life. (Along with being a star quarterback, race car driver, 007 spy, ….. yea, I dreamed big!)
I was blessed to have parents who encouraged me to play, bought me my first guitars, sent me to lessons, along with my older brother and sister who introduced me to the greatest music, Pop, Rock, Blues, Motown, Woodstock, the works….
While I consider myself to be mostly a Rock / Blues guitarist, I have had the great privilege of studying Jazz and Classical from several master guitarists throughout my life, as well as many years of experience, from playing with friends in garage bands up to performing at great venues with top professional musicians.
So, one of the ways I get to pay back my mentors is by paying forward the knowledge bestowed on me. Teaching music, helping others to bring this gift to light is one of the best things I do with my life and it brings me great joy.
Though I have taken lessons from many guitarist in my lifetime, too many to list, I am so grateful to have studied with these following New Jersey Legendary guitarists; Mike Santiago, Harry Leahey, Ted Dunbar, Lou Melia, Vic Juris. Each one brilliant in their own right as musicians and the best as teachers. They taught me not only to play guitar but also to teach in a fun positive atmosphere. I also had the pleasure of attending courses at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
It is important for me to mention that though I am very knowledgeable and educated with music theory, reading, etc., as any accomplished musician will tell you , “ Using Our Ears Is The Most Important Tool We Have “. Getting down to business and learning all the great Rock and Blues riffs from our guitar heros is invaluable.
I am a combination of being self taught as well as being taught!
That is really an important concept to grasp. When I teach, I am very in tune with not just spoon feeding information to my students but to encourage them to explore, create, be themselves and not just a clone of me, yet, I am always willing to share any and everything I know.
TAKE A LISTEN
Here are some samples of Tommy playing with some of his various professional bands and projects. To book Tommy or one of his bands, call or email today!
Click on the links below to view performances by Tommy in some of his various projects. To book Tommy or his bands, call or email today!
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TESTIMONIALS
“I have taken guitar lessons on and off with Tommy for two years…like most adults who have attempted to learn to play an instrument, my schedule is EXTREMELY hectic…what i have appreciated most about working with Tommy is his ability and willingness to work around my job and family commitments…beyond that, Tommy is genuinely passionate about his music and teaching his students, and it shows from the first lesson…Tommy is someone who will teach you not only the basics of learning guitar, but he will also teach you an appreciation for music…i hope that i am able to work with Tommy again in the future…i would recommend tommy to anyone interested in learning to play guitar…” – David J.
“I started taking lessons with Tommy at about 11 and I am currently 17. Tommy has taught me so me so much about what it means to be a great musician. He has geared me through the beginnings of learning the guitar when I first started and made it an easy and enjoyable experience . He has so much patience and really knows how to teach, let alone play. I have learned a huge amount of information (music theory, improvising, sight reading, etc.), all the essential information that help you with playing. He has taught me how to play various styles such as rock, blues, jazz, country, and has really given me inspiration and motivation to peruse music. Tommy is so dedicated to teaching and has spent so many hours helping me get better, and recently prepare me for my journey to Berklee College of Music this past summer. He is currently helping me prepare for my music college career. I highly recommend Tommy for lessons because he is one of the best out there. I would not be where I am today with out him” – Scott T.
“I studied with Tommy several years ago while working as a high school music teacher. I was new to guitar, but had a good background in theory, etc. Tommy’s knowledge and methods for teaching theory are what really put him ahead of other teachers I’ve encountered. Tommy uses the guitar as a means to teach MUSIC, not just how to play the latest radio hit in a garage band. Further, Tommy’s knowledge about how to get the most out of the peculiarities of the instrument really helped me translate my musical experience to the guitar and still guides me in my playing several years later. I’m not studying with Tommy right now, but definitely plan to return once my life allows for it again.” – Gabe O.
“Tommy was one of the best teachers I’ve had in all my 21 years of living. I started taking lessons when I was 12 years old all the way up until I left for college. He taught me more than just music, he helped me grow as a person. All the Mel Bay sheet music was worth it in the end. He helped me find my own style of guitar playing that fit me and I actually understood music theory. And not to mention, I got to play with him and his band and take my own guitar solo! Very very cool. I would highly recommend learning guitar with Tommy!” – Julie C.
“I’m a singer-songwriter who has worked with Tommy in an effort to improve my guitar playing to abet my songwriting and my live performance. Tommy has been invaluable in helping to get me where I want to be. He’s also helped me to do things that are fun, like learning covers. Great guy, great teacher.” – Greg A.
Contact Tommy
Get in touch with me today!
Are you ready to get started playing the guitar? Give me a call today and we can schedule your first lesson. Flexible lesson times are available.
Address:
Tommy Aboussleman
23 Shetland Rd
East Brunswick, NJ 08816