Music Lessons in Black Diamond, WA

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

I start most beginning students (and evaluate more advanced ones) on snare drum or practice pad. This is a central instrument to the percussion family and most techniques used on other percussion instruments are based on sound snare drum technique.  I like the Alfred Drum Method book for students just starting out regardless of age as the ability to read and understand written music is important no matter what stylistic path one follows. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My lessons are well structured and prepared. We'll have a weekly lesson planner that outlines and monitors the practices and explains the focus for the week. Planning is not opposed to spontaneously having fun which is a core part of playing music. Planning helps you have fun as you enjoy your success and see how you improve.-Lessons always have a huge hands-on part: We play songs together, jam over chord changes or try to play a melody by ear. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe

I have been teaching percussion lessons since 1994. Along with my full teaching studio, I also perform regularly and coach the Tacoma Youth Symphonies and Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestras. I have also taught within the Auburn (WA) and Tucson (AZ) public schools as a percussion and music specialist, at The University of Rio Grande (OH) as an affiliate faculty member, at Ohio University and The University of Arizona as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, at Interlochen Arts Camp (MI) as the All-State percussion instructor, and at New England Music Camp (ME) as a faculty member. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I also place an emphasis on learning what I can about my students in non musical settings so I can best learn how to communicate with them so they feel comfortable and successful. Many students feel comfortable talking through concepts and techniques while others prefer detailed written instructions in a take home journal. I give all my students the opportunity to work on new and difficult things in the safe atmosphere of a lesson to ease potential frustration in their in home practicing. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I like working with students in a way where our love of music is the center of our attention, as such musicality is always the goal. For beginner students who’d like to sight-read, I like to start with the Alfred Modern Guitar Method 1 and supplement that with the Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method, Grade 1, or Frederick Noad’s Solo Guitar 1 if we’re learning classical guitar. Alternatively, if the student wishes to take a route in which he/she does not sight-read musical notation, I like to start with basic picking technique, proper guitar positioning, reading tabs and chord diagrams. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

My teaching style when helping out others is being laid back but also making sure that what we assign is being worked on. One thing that I have noticed in myself is that if I try to take more than I can handle, I set myself up for failure so making sure whatever we are working on is enough to keep you practicing until the next time we meet. I also love seeing anyone succeed so when that happens we make sure to be supportive but also make sure if something doesn't sound quite right we take some time to address that and see what we need to do so that next time you come, we are acing the material! Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Keyboard

Hello! My name is Freddy, and I am a professional trombonist and composer from New York City. To tell you a bit about myself, I graduated Berklee College of Music with a Master's in Film Scoring ('15). I also recently finished touring with Grammy award winning artist Alejandro Sanz, and am currently working at SkyMuse Studios in Seattle, WA, under the tutelage of Ron Jones (Family Guy, Star Trek: Next Generation, DuckTales). Read More