Bio

Matthew Rotker-Lynn is a professional guitarist, educator, and active member of New York City’s jazz community. His performance experience includes appearances at many of the city’s leading jazz venues, including Smalls, Cellar Dog, The Django, The Roxy, Cafe Bohemia, and Ornithology.

Throughout his career, Matthew has performed alongside respected musicians such as Steve Davis, Alex Claffy, Joe Farnsworth, Pat Bianchi, Willie Jones III, David Wong, Ken Fowser, Brian Charette, David Kikoski, Jon Davis, Jason Tiemann, Sean Smith, and Mike LeDonne.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Matthew moved to New York City to study Jazz at the City College of New York, graduating with honours. During his studies, he learned from leading musicians including Peter Bernstein, Steve Wilson, Lage Lund, and Ray Gallon while establishing himself within the New York jazz scene.

Now based in Astoria, Queens, Matthew brings his experience as a working musician into lessons that help students develop practical skills, musical confidence, and their own individual sound.

Teaching Info

Lessons shaped around your musical goals

Matthew’s lessons are tailored to the interests, experience, and ambitions of each student. Whether you want to strengthen your fundamentals, explore jazz improvisation, write your own music, or prepare for a performance, lessons provide clear and constructive guidance towards your goals.

Students can explore:

• Guitar technique, tone, and sound
• Jazz improvisation and musical vocabulary
• Aural skills and ear training
• Music theory and harmony
• Composition and songwriting
• Repertoire in jazz, pop, rock, blues, and R&B
• Performance preparation and stage confidence
• Artist development and musical direction

Develop as a complete musician

Lessons can extend beyond guitar technique to help students understand how music works. Matthew incorporates theory, composition, listening, and music appreciation where appropriate, enabling students to make more informed and creative musical choices.

His approach is designed to help students develop:

• Stronger technical foundations
• Greater confidence when improvising and performing
• A better understanding of harmony and musical structure
• More focused and productive practice habits
• An individual sound and creative identity

Learn from an experienced working musician

Matthew draws on more than five years of professional experience in the New York music scene. Students benefit from practical, objective feedback on their playing, sound, technique, and performance readiness—not simply exercises taught in isolation.

Lessons are available for students aged 10 to 70 and can be taken in Astoria or online.