Rich Tarpinian is a guitarist, teacher, composer, arranger and band leader. His enthusiasm for the guitar is contagious. As a teacher, he strives to move students from "sounds to songs". Whether you are a beginning student who has never picked up a guitar or an intermediate student that needs to work on specific areas, Rich will patiently guide you along your musical journey.
Rich has been playing guitar for over 30 years. He began his studies in 1978 at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY and continues to have a seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He attempts to quench that thirst through personal study, listening to recordings and attending the performances of New York and Philadelphia guitarists. Rich seeks out private sessions with guitarists such as Paul Mehling, leader and founder of Hot Club of San Francisco, for expertise in particular jazz styles. Although personally attracted to jazz from the swing era through bebop including finger style jazz bossa, he has a great appreciation and understanding of other guitar styles, as well. Since moving to New Jersey, Rich has studied with jazz guitarist Jerry Topinka who has performed with many notables including Les Paul. His most recent study has been with jazz guitarist, composer and arranger, Coleman Mellett, who performed with the Chuck Mangione Band.Rich has taught at Golden Age Guitar Center in Westfield, NJ and is currently on staff at Lou Rose in Edison, NJ. He is currently accepting guitar and bass students for his "private studio" in Lawrenceville, NJ. He offers instruction at beginning and intermediate levels. If you are considering guitar lessons, please check out Rich's Studio Policy and give him a call at 609-647-4442 for a free consultation.
A SPECIAL NOTE TO PARENTS: We require that the adult, who accompanies the young student to the lesson, wait in our small waiting area until the lesson has been completed. From the waiting area, you will be able to listen and observe the lesson from a comfortable distance. Please be aware that we are unable to accommodate other children in the waiting area.
STUDENT COMMENTS:"Rich is a patient and enthusiastic teacher and I enjoy learning from him. One of the best parts for me is I am not just learning how to play the bass I am also learning how to make music." Ben B. - Lawrenceville, NJ"Here are the words that come to mind when I think of Rich: genuine, unassuming, unpretentious, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, flexible, patient, dedicated, and just an all around nice guy. Adding these characteristics to the accomplished musician that is Rich adds up to make one outstanding teacher. He enthusiastically shares his knowledge, and makes it exciting to learn. His flexibility, if not a unique ability, is certainly a rare one for a teacher. It enabled Rich to mold a program around my learning style and personality. He's the real deal and true quality. I would certainly recommend Rich to anyone who is looking to expand their musical knowledge, and guitar or bass musicianship." Jim L. - Brick, NJ"Rich is a great guitar teacher and a fantastically gifted guitarist. It is tough to find both in one person. He is able to take his encyclopedic knowledge of music theory and relay it in a manner that I am able to understand. I was a beginning guitarist when I first started with Rich and he has helped me improve my fretwork to the point where I can now do things that I never thought I would be able to. My time with Rich is enjoyable and I always walk away feeling like I've learned something new, and that he always has something to teach me. He seems to have a 6th sense where he will slow down when he sees that I'm having trouble grasping a new concept, and approach it from another angle. I hope to one day play on the same stage as him." Clarence J. - Lawrenceville, NJ"Richard has put a lot of careful thought into applying chord and scale theory to the fretboard. This translation has enabled Richard to develop an extensive collection of practical fretboard "tools" that allow the student to readily apply chord and scale concepts to the guitar. Richard easily gets these points across to the student with an engaging teaching style." Jeff G. - Trenton, NJ
Rich Tarpinian is a guitarist, teacher, composer, arranger and band leader. His enthusiasm for the guitar is contagious. As a teacher, he strives to move students from "sounds to songs". Whether you are a beginning student who has never picked up a guitar or an intermediate student that needs to work on specific areas, Rich will patiently guide you along your musical journey.