Ben Sher

My main  goal as a teacher is to connect with you  musically! I work with you to develop a curriculum focused  on  your musical interests while simutaneously  learning and understanding the  instrument more deeply. We'll work with music that you are really connected to and use it as a launch pad to develop skills; working towards making  you a more  confident and independent musician.  

I've released five recordings as a leader on BGI Records, exploring contemporary jazz, Brazilian music, and rock-jazz. My recordings feature artists including pianists Fred Hersch, Kenny Barron, and Bruce Barth, drummer Mike Clark, and saxophonist Donny McCaslin.

I've also toured and recorded internationally with a variety of artists and projects. With the group Ballin' the Jack, I explored the early music of Duke Ellington and performed at festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Berlin Jazz Festival. My other projects have included international tours, musical theater, and collaborations spanning jazz, rock, Brazilian music, and traditional Irish music.

These experiences have given me a broad perspective on music and the many different ways guitarists can develop their own sound.

I work with students at different experience levels, from beginners learning the fundamentals to experienced players looking to deepen their understanding of harmony, improvisation, and style. Over the years, I've developed several courses of study that provide structure while remaining flexible enough to address each student's interests.

Fretboard Harmony

Learn how chords, scales, and harmony fit together across the guitar neck. This course helps players move beyond memorized shapes and familiar patterns toward a deeper understanding of the instrument. It's especially useful for rock and blues guitarists who want to expand their vocabulary, understand chord relationships, and navigate the fretboard more confidently.

Reading Lab

Develop your ability to read music and follow charts while learning material you can actually play and enjoy. Reading is an often-neglected skill for guitarists, but it opens up new musical opportunities and makes it easier to learn songs and play with other musicians.

Jazz Lines and Improvisation

Expand your melodic vocabulary and learn how to build compelling solos. We can explore scales, modes, phrasing, and the language of improvisation through a range of styles, from Charlie Christian to Grant Green, Pat Martino and beyond, adapting the material to your current level and musical interests.

Jazz Piano and Musical Understanding

For pianists who are comfortable reading music but want to become more independent, we can work on developing the ability to play, understand, and create music without relying entirely on written notes.

Lessons are individualized, and we can also work directly on the songs, artists, techniques, and musical challenges that matter most to you. My aim is to help you build skills you can use in real musical situations—and to make the process engaging and rewarding.