Music Lessons in Ballou, IL

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin

For beginning students (pre-Suzuki), I like to take material from different method books and even write my own songs. This way, each student has their own, individualized curriculum to help with technique or material that they find to be difficult. Once the student has a good grasp of the fundamentals, I like to use Suzuki books. I like to use the Suzuki method for younger beginners because it can be more challenging to learn to read notes, but I encourage note reading for older students. Read More

Instruments: Voice

New students should already be able to read music well enough to pick out a melody on a keyboard/piano. I believe in giving the student considerable freedom in choosing music that will not only benefit them technically, but inspire them. The first few lessons are spent in assessing the students voice: range, voice type, technical strengths and weaknesses,etc. The new student is also encouraged to bring in some music they already know. Read More

Instruments: Voice

Teaching voice is something that I believe requires highly personalized lesson plans, and so there are books for which to acquire basic theory, note-reading, and sight-singing, but usually, lessons must be repertoire based, and conceptual. Students usually have an idea of certain songs they would like to learn, and I believe it is very important to enable them to sing what they like to sing. However, I will also suggest repertoire that they are unfamiliar with, or initially uncomfortable with to broaden their musical knowledge and appreciation, and also to address certain skill sets. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Saxophone Clarinet Recorder Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

My passion is teaching. It's my profession, as well as my hobby (I am a Volunteer Sunday School Teacher). My main goal in music lessons is to make the experience enjoyable for the student -- I'm not very strict when it comes to progress. In my opinion, a student should genuinely enjoy playing their instrument because progress inevitably follows. I love to do risk-free trials because the student and the teacher need to have a certain rapport for the lessons to be fully effective. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute

I currently go to school at Nazareth College and am in the graduate program in creative arts therapy and am an intern at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, IL. I have worked with older adults with alzheimer's, adults with mental health issues, hosptialized children and adolescents, and survivors of stroke. I plan to work in a medical facility as a music therapist once I graduate from school. As a result of my music therapy practice, I am very proficient in piano and guitar and can teach beggining and intermediate students on these instruments. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

Recently returned from Japan, I served as Co-Principal Clarinetist of the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra since 2011. With 3 nationwide tours, I performed all over Japan, appearing regularly on the nationally televised program "Daimei no Nai Ongakukai" televised nationally. In 2010 I earned my Master of Music degree at the University of Southern California, studying with master teacher Yehuda Gilad. Orginally from Orland Park, I studied with my childhood idols in the Chicago Symphony. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ

George teaches from the Hal Leonard Piano Series and focuses on sight reading, technique, theory, and performance. For advanced students, he encourages performance, ensemble playing, and group competitions.I have also used other piano methods that includes the Royal Conservatory Piano Series, the Suzuki Method for piano, and Piano Adventures by Nancy and Randall Faber. For technique, I use the Keith Snell Series for scales and finger exercises, the Hanon Series, and Carl Czerny. Read More