Billy R.

Bass, Guitar, Songwriting

Billy started teaching individual lessons in guitar shops and then on his own when his guitar teacher, renown recording artist and luthier, Eric Schoenberg, moved to Boston and left him his students. That’s when he began bringing lessons into people’s homes which he has been doing for nearly 30 years. He developed his own curriculum for teaching songwriting and guitar while teaching at a summer rock camp in Westchester from 2000 to 2005 and then created and directed his own summer rock school program.

During the last 20 years, Billy has produced nearly 60 concert events for his classes in both high schools and also produced recordings of the students doing their own songs and collaborating with fellow students. These shows and recordings were highly acclaimed by the students’ families, fellow students and faculties of both schools.

Billy’s experience touring with his bands and performing, writing and recording with many of his heroes in the world of rock, blues and country music was and remains the greatest education he could have imagined and informs his approach to teaching in many ways. Jamming onstage with B. B. King at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2002 in Switzerland was one of many highlights.

Billy says, “I learned early on, when I took my first guitar lessons, how not to teach from my first teacher who lacked patience and understanding. A year later when my second teacher wanted to know what I wanted to learn and helped me achieve that, I learned how to offer that same fun and excitement I felt under his wing to my students.” Patience with a passionate love of music and knowledge are the foundation of Billy’s approach to his students of all ages. The main goal is always to inspire that same passion in his students.