“My son Rocco is starting his fourth year of guitar lessons with Braden. We couldn’t be more pleased with the incredible growth that Rocco has shown since he first started taking lessons. Braden not only teaches technique but musicality. Rocco is not only learning to play but sing as well. Braden has really drawn out Rocco’s ability to be a performer and makes his lessons (and recitals) a lot of fun. Braden is a patient teacher and shares his love of performing music to Rocco. Definitely recommend Braden if you’re looking for a teacher.”
“Braden was my guitar teacher from 8th grade to my senior year of high school– my skills as a musician were shaped in such an important way. In terms of learning and applying music theory, performance, and experience in different genres, I feel that I’ve become not only a more experienced and intelligent musician, but that I’m more open minded and willing to discover new things. I definitely developed different interests musically over my time as his student, and he always has been so good at helping develop my skills in whatever it may be. Braden is well-rounded to say the least, and his skills in many different genres taught me so much. He has helped me develop my knowledge of guitar gear including pedals and maintenance, which are such important skills. Towards the latter end of our time we dove into jazz, which I would recommend greatly. He gives great listening suggestions, and not only does it help increase theory skills but it changes the way you think as a musician. I really appreciate what this has brought for me musically, and something I appreciate is that Braden helped me apply the skills learned here in context with other types of music. I feel that I’ve developed a great relationship with both him and music, and I can’t wait to continue my musical journey with the skills he has taught me!”
“Both my daughters (9 & 10)have been taking piano lessons from Braden Palmer since 2014, and have had wonderful experiences. He has taught them how to read, and understand music. He has instilled accountability in practicing, which they respect. He has shown great patience when working with my ADHD daughter. The lessons are at the end of the day, and for my ADHD kid- the meds have worn off. She has good days and bad days, but Braden has always treated her with the respect he expects and doesn’t put up with nonsense. He understands the challenges in dealing with an ADHD kid who cannot sit still too long and has never complained. He has seen her interest in changing to the Guitar and has communicated the benefits to the girls playing different instruments. He has seen this could be a way they learn at different paces and one is not significantly better than the other, which would avoid feelings of inadequacy. He sees the strengths in both girls and encourages them to be the best they want to be! I highly recommend Braden, and I am certain, if he is around until college, he will be in our lives..”
“Braden is exactly what I was looking for in a guitar teacher. His enthusiasm and patience made for an inspiring and comfortable environment. He made lesson plans according to what I was interested in but also to what I needed to learn in order to become a better all around guitar player. He has an impeccable ear and is very specific when suggesting exercises to help with a particular area I was having trouble in. I will be taking more lessons from Braden in the near future and I highly recommend him for students of all ages!”
“Braden is the best music teacher I have ever had. I’ve known Braden for nearly 14 years now (since I was 9). He has been with me every step of the way in my musical life since, from absolute beginner to performing arts high school to professional performer and band leader. I can recall as a child feeling like Braden was my “bandmate” in lessons, even though the chasm of musical proficiency was (and still is) so vast. He managed to be simultaneously an awe-inspiring instrumentalist and a patient/kind friend and collaborator. He is a naturally gifted teacher and a true pleasure to work with. I’ve had many teachers since, but Braden was the first (and most important) musical teacher I’ve had – hard to find the words for this kind of gratitude. What better gift to give than the gift of Jazz? It’s a gift that keeps on giving.”
“Braden has been a real inspiration and support for my daughter – he has nurtured a broad range of skills, encouraged her to try new things, and talked with her about music-related subjects (such as bands/musicians, public schools with good music programs, websites, etc.). He has been very accessible and flexible for me, as a mother – willing to reschedule and work on specific challenges we might request (such as how to audition for public schools). I have recommended him many times and continue to do so enthusiastically.”
“Great teaching lessons. Enjoyed every bit of it: the technique suggested and the basics of the music language…In about 10 sessions only (and a few homeworks) I learned enough to play the ukulele and bass without getting lost in the middle of a song while playing for kids (lots of them in the crowd would follow their own rhythm lol) Thanks Braden not only for the knowledge, but also for the patience and good vibe!”
“I have been taking lessons from Braden for over 5 years. I started with no guitar background and am now writing and recording my own songs and performing live at local open mics in NYC. This is a huge accomplishment for me given that I have a very demanding work schedule and many social obligations! This is because Braden has been so accommodating to my schedule and helps me set attainable goals each week that are specific to my musical endeavors so that I don’t waste any time. He is always completely professional, but what I really appreciate about Braden is his fun personality and laid-back teaching approach, so I never feel stressed out or bored. In addition I have seen Braden play at multiple gigs around NYC and am inspired to be working with a truly gifted working musician.”
“Both of my stepdaughters (9 and 13) have been taking guitar lessons with Braden since 2011, and they’ve had a wonderful experience with him. He has taught them to read music, instilled a sense of responsibility about practicing in them (which is itself a miracle), and has helped them to overcome their hesitations about playing in front of others. Braden is a phenomenal teacher, and both girls respect him highly and really value their time with him. When we had to make decisions about which activities to stay committed to this year, both girls fought hard for lessons with Braden, both because they enjoy guitar, and because they thought that the mentoring relationship they had built with Braden was really valuable. He gives them a lot of flexibility in choosing to play songs they like, while also steering them towards things they can manage. He is also very generous with his time, and has been endlessly gracious about managing our changing schedules. Our girls have done a wide range of after-school activities, and Braden is easily the best teacher we have ever encountered. I can’t recommend him highly enough.” from ParkSlopeParents.com
“Our 7 year old daughter has been taking lessons with Braden for about 6 months. He is a patient and understanding instructor and we have already seen improvements in her technique. In addition, he has gone above and beyond just teaching her by helping us get a (free) hand-me-down childs’ sized guitar as her original one was too large. Braden is also very flexible with scheduling and conflicts when they arise. Our daughter looks forward to her lessons and enjoys what she learns. So far we have been very pleased!”
“My 10-year-old son has been taking guitar lessons from Braden for 2 years and he’s had a great experience. He’d never taken any music lessons when he started, so Braden taught him to read music, recognize the different chords, keep time, etc. He’s not just learning to play 4-chord rock songs but really learning individual notes and getting a great basis for further musical education in addition to having fun playing the guitar! Braden is extremely patient and willing to work with my squirmy boy. He’s also a great musician himself and we’ve had fun going to see him play with his swing band at Two Boots. He organizes recitals for all his students twice a year and it’s also been fun to see what the older kids are learning — very motivational for my son. I would recommend Braden highly.” from ParkSlopeParents.com
“Braden is an exceptional guitar teacher, and his guitar playing is top-notch in a wide variety of styles. Not only has he mastered the guitar as an instrument, but he was a great teacher to someone who never had a lesson and acquired years of bad habits. Braden’s ear is sharp and he finds a great balance between encouraging and challenging his students. Highly recommend if you are looking to learn guitar correctly or take your skills to another level.”
“Besides being a talented musician with diverse styles in music (rock, blues, classical, and jazz), Braden is unbelievably amazing with children! My son (15), who only played the Guitar Hero video game before, has liked him from the beginning over two years ago. He practices consistently, is always excited about the lessons, and always strives to learn more. Braden has even helped him form a band by getting him together with another one of his students. Braden has worked with their band, and has helped them prepare for shows and with writing songs. Further more, with Braden’s help, my son has learned patience and humility, two skills that have helped him outside of his musical studies. For all these reasons, I would highly recommend Braden Palmer to anyone who not only wants to learn how to play the guitar, but who also wants the opportunity to become a great musician!!!” from ParkSlopeParents.com
“I took beginner mandolin lessons with Braden this past summer, and found him to be friendly, patient, knowledgeable, and encouraging. I appreciated that he let me bring in tunes that I was interested in working on, while being a stickler for proper technique, and practicing “correctly”. I learned a lot, and feel inspired to continue playing. Highly recommend!”