I encourage (but don't force!) my students to learn theory. If taught well and learnt patiently it can be fun and satisfying, like learning a new language or how to crack codes. It can add new dimensions to musical understanding , and can be a fount of creative suggestion.

​I feel that the best way to learn theory is in the context of learning an instrument or voice, but I'm willing to teach it as a discipline in itself, for people sitting exams or just curious.

"I  started  to  have  an  interest  in  learning  the  guitar  in  my  forties .   I  think  I  was  lucky  to  have  Chris  as  an  instructor .   He  is  a  talented  pedagogue  who  knows  how  to  support,  encourage,  guide,  and  shape  one's  interest .  I  started  as  a  'blank slate'  music-wise  and  now  after  working  with  him  for  a  few  years,  I  feel  I  am  able  to  understand  and  practice  such  concepts  as  harmony,  melody,  and  scales .   I  have  managed  to  learn  to  read  music  and  understand   some  music  theory  as  well ,  which  has  made  me   appreciate  and  enjoy  music  more .  Chris  is  also  quite  a  music  encyclopedia  and  often  provides  insightful  cultural   references  which  help  me  appreciate  the   intersection  between  music  and  other   historical  and  cultural  realities ."

​-  Cata Fecor,  adult student