Rachel Sullivan

I taught general music and guitar at a middle school in Montclair for twenty years and still play in a folk duo at local coffee shops. After my mother picked up the ukulele at seventy eight and refused to put it down, I started teaching more older adults, and it has become my favorite kind of lesson.

The ukulele is my top pick for beginners. Four strings, soft on the fingers, light on the lap. We learn three chords on day one and use them to play songs you know, from Beatles tunes to old campfire songs. If you would rather play guitar, I bring one sized to your hands. I write chord charts in large print and mark them up with your own notes.

I have lived in Montclair since 2001 and you can often find me at the Montclair farmers market with my dog. My husband says I own too many instruments. He is right, but I am not stopping.