Stu Pender

[Pender Sound Studio]

CONTACT

stu_pender@me.com

CALENDLY

Scheduling & Availability

PAYPAL

Payments

INSTAGRAM

@pendergram

PERSONAL


PRESS

COLLABORATION


PRESS

UPCOMING EVENTS


PAST EVENTS

LEARN

Music Lessons

EXPLORE

Sound Sessions

LISTEN

Being Sound on Substack

EXPLORE

Being Sound on Substack

This is Being Sound. A publication dedicated to listening.

Each edition presents new sonic material, unraveled as a community-centric listening journal. We explore sound and music through different modes of listening and expression — inspiration, prompts, tutorials, sheet music, and more.

LEARN

Sound Sessions

Connect with your inner sound. Sound Sessions are a 1:1 space that supports creatives of all backgrounds to develop the skills needed to get in touch with their inner generative creativity, and bring sonic visions to life.

Scheduling & Availability on Calendly

CREATE

Custom Projects

Craft your sonic world. I offer a custom-crafted music composition and production service for artists and brands who have a creative vision that they want embodied in the world of sound and music.

For a quote, reach out to me at stu_pender@me.com.

MUSIC LESSONS

Connect with your inner musician. Whether you’re a beginner, hobbyist, or professional, 1:1 music lessons are designed to help you deepen your musicianship, unlock creativity, and bring your unique sound to life.

My primary instrument is the guitar. I also work with students on the ukulele, music software like Ableton Live, and other instruments upon request.

YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY

If you're looking for a way to develop your musical skills and explore new creative potential, 1:1 music lessons provide a personalized space to transform your inspiration into a clear path to bringing sounds to life.

Music lessons are designed to meet you where you are:

  • For Beginners → Lay a strong foundation in technique, theory, and ear training to build confidence and fluency.
  • For Intermediate Musicians → Break through plateaus with personalized guidance in improvisation, songwriting, and creative exploration.
  • For Advanced Players → Deepen your artistry with nuanced techniques and styles, advanced theory, and professional insights from a touring and recording musician.

EXPLORING TOGETHER

  • Solid Foundations → Build skills in technique, theory, ear training, improvisation, and more—rooted in top music conservatory training.
  • Personalized Curriculum → Lessons are guided by your unique interests and musical aspirations.
  • Mindset Shifts → Overcoming self-limiting beliefs and discover what truly resonates with you.
  • Structured Guidance → Receive clear direction and accountability to ensure steady progress.

MY APPROACH

Our approach will be rooted in non-judgmental evaluation, celebrating your progress as we move from inspiration to playing music together. I aim to share anything helpful that I've learned along the way—from my music conservatory trining and career as an internationally touring, performing, and recording artist.

WHAT YOU'LL RECIEVE

  • 1:1 Music Lesson → Tailored to your goals, available via Zoom or in-person in New York City.
  • Session Recording → Revisit key moments anytime to support your practice.
  • Curated Resources → Sheet music, notes, articles, or exercises to guide your learning.
  • Complimentary Access to Being Sound → a growing community & publication.
  • Follow-Up Support → One week of follow-up support to answer questions and integrate what you’ve learned into your practice.

LESSON OPTIONS

Available over Zoom or In-Person in New York City. I reccomend starting with a 60 minute lesson to start, and deciding what feels right from there. For optimal progress, lessons can be scheduled on a weekly basis.

  • 30 minutes → $50 (Zoom only)
  • 60 minutes → $100
  • 90 minutes → $150
  • Group Workshops → Group workshops and custom sessions are also available—contact me for pricing and availability.

READY TO BOOK?

Ready to bring your music to life? Book your lesson today.

Any questions? Feel free to send me an email.

Scheduling & Availability on Calendly

SOUND SESSIONS

Listening Beyond Music. Sound Sessions are a unique space for individuals, creators, and professionals to explore the transformative potential of sound—at the intersection of music, science, health, and technology.

WHO ARE SOUND SESSIONS FOR?

Whether you’re a healer, artist, educator, or leader, Sound Sessions are tailored to help you integrate sound into your life or work.

  • Healing Professionals & Caregivers → Therapists, mindfulness practitioners, sound healers, and palliative care providers using sound to support emotional regulation, stress relief, and meaningful transitions.
  • Educators, Content Creators & Innovators → Teachers, podcasters, and app developers using sound to enhance learning, design immersive audio experiences, or create engaging content.
  • Creative Professionals → Musicians, writers, producers, and gallery artists exploring sound for inspiration, breaking creative blocks, or creating multisensory experiences in spaces like restaurants or exhibits.
  • Collaborative Environments → Groups and leaders in corporate, creative, and community settings using sound-based practices to foster cohesion, improve focus, and promote mindfulness.
  • Everyday Listeners → Individuals curious about sound as a tool for relaxation, mindfulness, and personal growth, discovering simple practices to enrich daily life.

WHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE

  • Explore Tools and Techniques → Work with tools like tuning forks, binaural beats, soundscapes, bi-lateral techniques, vocal toning, deep listening, and field recording to deepen your connection to sound.
  • Creative Exploration → Break through creative blocks with tools like improvisation, generative workflows, and Ableton Live.
  • Practical Integration → Leave with actionable practices that you can immediately incorporate into your work or daily life.

WHY SOUND SESSIONS?

Each session is personalized to your goals, offering a blend of practical tools, creative exploration, and science-informed insights to help you integrate sound into your life, work, and practice. My approach is rooted in my experience as an artist, drawing from my music conservatory training, over a decade as an internationally touring musician and recording artist, and certification in integrative sound and music practices.

  • Tailored to You → Sessions are customized to your unique needs, whether you’re exploring sound professionally or personally.
  • Expert Guidance → I bring over a decade of experience as an internationally touring professional musician, a BA in Jazz Studies, and certification from the New York Open Center’s Integrative Sound & Music Institute.
  • Holistic Growth → Unlock creativity, adapt to stress, and transform your personal and professional life with actionable tools.

WHAT YOU'LL RECIEVE

  • 1:1 Sound Session → Tailored to your needs, available via Zoom or in-person in NYC.
  • Session Recording → A recording of your session for reflection and continued learning.
  • Curated Resources → Tools, exercises, and sound materials to support your ongoing journey.
  • Complimentary Access to Being Sound → a growing community & publication.
  • Follow-Up Support → One week of follow-up support to integrate what you’ve learned into your practice.

OPTIONS & PRICING

  • 60 minutes → $100
  • 90 minutes → $150
  • Group Workshops → Custom-designed for your team, group, or organization. Contact me to discuss pricing and availability.

READY TO BOOK?

Discover the transformative potential of sound. Begin your journey today.

Any questions? Feel free to send me an email.

Scheduling & Availability on Calendly

JOHN D.

"I had such a good experience taking guitar lessons with Stu. He was awesome from day one. Not only did we learn some bucket list songs I've always wanted to know, he gave me some etudes to work on which really improved my guitar playing. We would then dissect the songs that we learned in terms of chord progression and structure which helped my songwriting immensely. In fact, it wasn't only his guitar lessons that impressed me. His all-around knowledge of productions tools (Ableton, etc.) along with his mixing skills helped me translate some of those song ideas into finished products."

SAM B.

"I really enjoyed working with Stu and would 100% recommend his lessons to anyone looking to learn more about guitar and music theory. I loved all the repertoire work and the exercises he put together, and felt way more confident about my playing after we worked together. I also learned about so many interesting artists and techniques that I still return to."

JONATHAN B.

"Stu Pender is an awesome guitar teacher! I've learned a lot about music theory and guitar technique from him, which has improved my playing immensely. He's also very flexible which works with my busy schedule. I highly recommend him if you're just starting to play or are more advanced!"

SCOTT H.

"Stu is a such a wonderful guitar teacher! His flexible approach to lessons have made it easy to stay passionate about learning new things on the guitar. My lessons with him have taught me more than just how to play chords and scales-he's helped me truly understand the music I love on a deeper level." — Scott H.

ABOUT STU PENDER

Stu Pender, Chicago-born musician and recording artist, weaves elements of jazz, ambient, hip hop, and pop songwriting into orchestrations for the guitar, voice, and computer.

A founding member of the hip-hop collective Poetic Thrust, Stu has also worked various roles in the studio with artists Yoh, Cartoons, Topaz Jones, Carlos Niño and Laraaji. Sharing the stage with artists Allison Ponthier, Photay, Elijah Wolf and Maggie Rogers, he's showcased his talents as an internationally touring guitarist, at The MoMA PS1, United Nations, The Beacon Theatre, and many more.

Stu’s debut full length album, Stillness In Motion was released in 2021 on the Youngbloods label, earning acclaim from Los Angeles’ KCRW and Apple Music.

Stu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies from SUNY Purchase in 2015. He completed a certificate training for sound in the healing arts with the New York Open Center's Sound & Integrative Music Institute in 2022. He is a senior instructor at Tunelark.

He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.