Some of my students have said nice things about my teaching. Here's a few samples:
- Brad Amidon (Guitar, Drums, Composition, Theory)
- "Miles Davis called organist Jimmy Smith "the eighth wonder of the world."
Had Mr. Davis met Frank Singer, I'm sure Miles would have made his list "one longer".
Frank Singer is, quite simply, the best it can get.
Encyclopedic knowledge of instrumental techniques and theoretical principles wedded with a common sense approach to applying these principles in real world situations make Frank indispensable for the beginning student as well as more experienced musicians looking to "stretch themselves".
In the short time I studied with him I compiled literally years of practice materials (I'm not through them yet).
Frank will go as slow or as fast as you are able until you feel comfortable with the material you are working on.
Proof of the success of Frank's methods are as close as his
CD's,
posted videos,
and live performances.
Truly phenomenal!!"
- Jonathan Beam (Drums, Guitar, Vocals, Piano)
- "Frank Singer taught me both drums and guitar. We also did a few vocal and piano lessons when I broke my arm.
Now, having been an active musician for years, I find myself remembering things Frank taught me everytime I perform, record, practice, or write music.
For instance when I record vocals, sitting or standing I am always having a good posture - Frank taught me that a good open posture to sing is always going to help you sing.
Frank also taught me that it didn't matter being the fastest soloist on guitar or drums, (or) meant you were good, especially in context of a band. But rather that knowing your part, slowing down the tempo to ingrain it into your muscle memory, and being on the beat were the best things you can do for your own playing, and in support to your fellow musicians.
Creatively Frank enabled me by saying once, 'There's no wrong note to your song, if it's right to you.' That wasn't to say don't know the key, the chords, the scales, the timing, but don't let those things dictate or write your song, your write your song, and let your voice come through."
- Eric Brewer (Drums)
- "You were one of my first music teachers and an inspiration in my choosing music as a career.
Although it wasn't even guitar I took from you, I was inspired to learn several instruments from those early lessons,
go on to study music in college and ultimately, wind up as an instructor myself.
To now be able to say that at the age of 23 I get to share the same stage with you is an honor."
- Raymond Buyce (Guitar)
- "A highly skilled guitar player with his own band, Frank is also highly trained in musical theory – how it all works.
He makes use of his skill and experience to structure the sequence and content of lessons efficiently.
Your assignments will be short and sweet but crucial to your success.
It works!
He has taken on this 80-year-old mediocre guitar player and helped me to boost my skills by several levels in a process that I’ve enjoyed enormously.
Should you choose to come along on the journey to improved guitar playing a lot of effort will be required but Frank’s unfailing faith in you will go a long way toward providing the self-confidence necessary.
I’d say, 'Try it, you’ll like it!'. You might even earn something similar to my wife’s gushing praise: 'Oh Ray, I could even recognize that music you’re playing.'"
- David Calabrese (Piano)
- "Frank Singer is a highly educated and talented musician.
He tailors his lessons to fit each student according to their personal experience and skill level.
Being proficient on guitar, piano, bass and drums, Frank can not only teach a student to play solo guitar or piano, but can also teach that student how interact with other musicians if his/her goal to is to play in a group situation.
I have been taking advanced jazz piano and theory lessons from him for about a year and a half and he has helped me tremendously in my playing, comping and soloing."
- John Fowler (Guitar)
- "Where are you at in your understanding of music theory, your current skills
with the guitar, and where do you want to go?
These are some of the areas
of inquiry and assessment that Frank Singer explored with me, a new
student, during that critical first meeting.
And depending upon what I wanted to accomplish, Frank created the music instruction road map that was tailored to what I wanted to see, do, hear and experience.
Sure, behind it all is Frank's vast knowledge of music and methodical teaching approach
that he used to help me develop the necessary tools to make the trip, but I
decided the musical places I wanted to visit and the speed I wanted to
travel.
At all times I felt that the instruction that I received was created just for me.
And when there was something I wasn't clear about, Frank always
took the time to help me connect the dots through his patient explanations,
real world examples, and his personal music experiences."
- Joseph Frisina (Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Composition, Theory)
- "Your teaching has brought my understanding of music to a level I never thought I could reach.
Your method of teaching has enabled me to play with professionals.
The songs you teach me always provide real time examples of the exercises we practice.
More than just the method, your patience and inherent understanding of people and their individual needs as a student set you apart from any other teacher I have studied with.
I can’t help but think of all the time you spent slowly working through my phrasing on Charlie Parker’s, “Confirmation”.
Apart from learning how to solo more effectively, one of the most valuable skills I have taken from you is rhythmic comping.
Now when I view a chord chart I see it much differently and many of substituted chords that give that hip jazzy sound I have been searching for all these years just come naturally as if it were no more than a simple bar chord I mastered when I first started playing.
In the nearly five years we have worked together you have taught and are continuing to teach me jazz and effective improvisation.
You have prepared me for solo, duet, trio and combo gigs.
You play with me in my rock band and record on my albums bass, keys and guitar and whatever is necessary to make the song complete.
You have given me invaluable tips on recording, signal purity, processing and production.
You pass on nuggets of wisdom that you have accumulated over a lifetime of remarkable achievement; academic, professional, personal and otherwise.
I am lucky to have the privilege to be your student.
However, I feel even luckier to be your friend.
I feel I have made a lifelong friend in you over the years we have studied.
You found a way to simplify all the complexities and intricacies of music and harmony.
You said: “A player has four choices: go up, go down, stay the same or play nothing”; simple yet profound.
Players learning a complex approach to harmony for the first time tend to second guess themselves as they try new techniques at improvisation.
You taught me the best way to overcome that natural players’ anxiety with the only rule in music: “if it sounds good, its right”.
Thank you for everything."
- Louise Garrelts (Guitar, Theory)
- "It is such a privilege to be able to study the guitar with an artist of
Frank's caliber. He knows ALL the theory and technique, imparting it with wisdom
and humor. He also relays the "tricks of the trade" garnered from over
thirty years of making a living as a professional jazz musician. He's not just a
music teacher, he's a guru."
- Adam Hausman (Saxophone)
- "Frank Singer is an excelent teacher.
I learned many useful skills from him and was able to apply it while playing.
The lessons tied together very well, and progressed at the right pace."
- Alice Hudder (Saxophone, Composition, Theory)
- "Frank is an amazing musician, composer and educator.
His teaching style is very natural and humanistic.
Frank can quickly assess a student’s skill level,
understands your goals and aspirations,
and sets up a path to get help you reach them.
I started playing saxophone later in life
with a goal of playing and improvising jazz.
After 3 years of basic instruction at a music shop,
I was really struggling to learn jazz theory.
Frank quickly and efficiently got me on a path to not only learn theory
but apply it directly to my solos.
As I learned more about jazz saxophone,
Frank inspired me to dig deeper into the music
to fully appreciate the structure and harmony.
His incredible knowledge base of the history of music,
music theory, composition, and musicianship
coupled with his natural story-telling style,
weave together to make lessons enjoyable and memorable."
- Matt Hudson (Guitar, Theory)
- "Frank singer is one of those rare educators that is effective at all
levels. Beginner students as well as professionals seeking development can
benefit from Singer's instruction to make their lives more musical. Frank's
inter-disciplinary knowledge can often put lessons in a greater context that
inspires the student to imagine the infinitude of music. In other words,
Frank is the type of teacher that creates life long learners of many of his
students. Frank is also unique as a teacher because his performance
experience is so vast! Singer has performed as a guitarist, keyboardist,
saxophonist, and percussionist in genres ranging from jazz to high life and
blue grass to reggae. His rigorous performing schedule gives depth to his
instruction that is truly one of a kind. Frank's
solo jazz guitar CD
is all
the testimonial you should need!"
- Jim Lynch (Guitar, Theory)
- "I've been a performing guitar instrumentalist for forty some years.
I played everything form Renaissance lute pieces to Joplin rags, Mississippi blues to new age jazz.
I've been working weekly with Frank for about one and a half years now.
I find myself somewhat emarrassed by the fact that I used to describe myself as a "musician".
Frank is a true musician and has guided me to levels of competence that I would not have thought possible before I started working with him.
I can honestly say that there is not a musician out there that could not benefit from spending some time with Frank.
On line or face to face, he will make you a better player.
He's a world class player and a top notch teacher.
You can quote me on that."
- Leslie McAlister (Piano)
- "Frank prepared me for my first year at Berklee College of Music. I was a classically trained piano player with zero jazz and blues background. Frank took me on and began creating a notebook of reference material that I could use during my journey as an emerging musician and songwriter. The notebook consisted of basic jazz and blues theory, chord progessions, jazz and blues scales, and a basic overview of goods that helped immensely as I began the path to music land. Though I don't play as much as I used to, if any, Frank gave me the confidence needed and the open-mindedness to embrace the fabulous complexity of blues and jazz theory! Loved every minute with Frank. He is a wise man, equipped with the patience and knowledge to help students grow and evolve into the next level of a successful musician."
- Mike Monroe (Guitar)
- "The few years I spent with you taught me more than I ever expected. It
is not only easier for me to pick up new songs but now I understand the
structure and am able to lay down my own solos.
When you told me at the beginning of it all that it is like feeding
the kitten, you were not lying. I picked up my book a few months ago and
am starting to do it all over again. It is like reading a story for the
second time and now I am finding it easier to express myself through my
guitar.
I am now playing very often and even playing out. Our band "Train wreck",
just 2 guitars, have been busy all last summer with a gig almost every
weekend and a few winter gigs. I am trying to do different things during
solos seeing that my band mate does not do solos. Needless to say the
kitten is getting fat."
- Tom Pastore (Drums, Piano, Composition, Theory)
- "If you want to learn to play fluently and freely with your instrument,
there is no need to look anywhere else.
You put in the effort over time with Frank as your teacher
and he will have you doing things you thought were impossible
six months from now.
For the more advanced musician,
Frank is your personal musical pain point remover.
He tailors his teaching to the individual
and weaves into his instruction an enormous depth of experience and knowledge.
He adds decades of stage and recording experience
to his mastery of several instruments including
guitar, piano, drums, bass, saxophone, voice and more;
Frank knows his craft.
From beginner to advanced professional,
Frank can and will teach you everything you can absorb.
He has the patience of Job and is a good natured and positive instructor
who really cares about you learning and your growth as a musician.
He is an expert technician and he teaches only proper technique
to maximize efficiency while reducing risk of injury."
- Patrick Traphagen (Bass Guitar)
- "Frank's enthusiasm for music is contagious! I left every lesson excited to
learn. His breadth and depth of music history, knowledge and theory is
amazing--truly a pleasure to learn from."
- Pete Slivinski (Guitar)
- "Frank's experience as a working musician and his encyclopedic knowledge of music theory make him a great teacher.
His enthusiasm and high energy style shine through in every lesson."
- Tim Wickham (Piano)
- "If you want to know about playing jazz, call Frank!"