Teacher Profile: Kylan Hillman
About Kylan Hillman
Born in Hopewell New Jersey, Kylan is a guitarist, music educator, electronic musician and composer. Kylan began taking guitar lessons from local teacher Shaun Quigley at the age of ten after playing the popular video game, Guitar Hero 3. Inspired by rock and metal bands like Dragonforce, Metallica and Alice In Chains, he played in multiple bands like The Fax Machine Situation and Vine Street throughout high school where he gained experience playing original music in front of live audiences. He also studied with Russell Chell who introduced him to jazz artists like Wes Montgomery and Charlie Parker as well as technical guitar virtuosos like Steve Vai and Guthrie Govan. This began a lifelong fascination with jazz guitar and improvisation which Kylan still practices to this day.
Kylan began his academic career at Mercer County Community College where he studied composition with Mark Jurcisin. Once Kylan was introduced to composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Arnold Schoenberg, Bela Bartok and Alfred Schnittke, he knew that he wanted to compose contemporary classical music and bring his wildest ideas to life with orchestral instruments. He also studied piano for two years with Josh Wilson where he learned to play pieces by Beethoven, Chopin and Schoenberg. Kylan than obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in composition at Montclair State University studying under Marcos Balter and Aaron Helgeson. It was during this time that he became interested in creating electronic music and released multiple albums under the name Manglephonica. Kylan also began gigging professionally with rock cover bands like Guy Smiley and Ready Set Go.
As a guitar and piano teacher of over ten years, Kylan believes strongly in a student-led approach where students are encouraged to find their passion for music while also giving them the fundamental knowledge they need to pursue their goals. He believes that the best way for students to improve is by unlocking their love for music and establishing a lifelong enjoyment of learning. Kylan guides students through the fundamentals of their instrument and teaches music theory through the use of exercises and, most importantly, songs that are relevant to the history of their chosen instrument and the student’s interests.
Kylan firmly believes in everyone’s ability to learn an instrument and in the power for music to transform a person’s life for the better. Through careful instruction, Kylan strives to open student’s minds to new possibilities and encourage them to bring out the best in themselves through creative expression.