Music Lessons in Cascade, DC

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Keyboard

I also played piano for the Goucher college dance program and gave lectures on Music History, Music for Dance, and Rhythm in Music. Through the years I have had a variety of students: both beginners; and also advanced who went on to music school. I also teach beginning adults, most of whom wish to play chords, sheet music, or entertain family. I have performed some of the most difficult music written, including the Ives 1st Piano Sonata, and selections for Messiaen's "Vingt Regards sur l'enfant-Jsus". Read More

Instruments: Piano

It is my goal to ensure that students always have fun during lessons, and learn that making mistakes and growing from them is an important and rewarding part of learning a musical instrument. For beginning students between the ages of 3-14, I typically use Faber's Piano Adventures method book series. These books offer a well rounded introduction to music theory and performance, while also including fun and exciting songs that students can play over and over again. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning piano students, I use a combination of books from Alfred's, Faber, John Thompson's. At the same time, I emphasize proper finger technique, shape, and position. For more advanced piano students I prefer exercises from Hanon, Czerny, and Bartk. For beginning guitar students, I prefer Mel Bay books. However, for guitar students I also use a much more individual and custom approach for learning how to get a good sound out of the guitar through proper hand position, finger placement and pressure, and string picking. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Flute Recorder Piccolo Music Keyboard

In 2013, I graduated with a Bachelor's in Music from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts. I honed my craft of private teaching and also specializing in Balkan folk works, arranged for flute and secondary woodwinds. In 2019, I extended these skills over into Vocalism: singing, beatboxing, rapping, and spoken word. Ergo, my best work to date is an original composition called "LatinAmerica". There, I looped my original flute samples, singing, beatboxing, and minimal electronic effects onto my Boss Rolland RC 505 tabletop loop station. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

While achievement is important to me, I believe that developing long-term skills is a far more significant. I prefer to emphasize skill-building and retention, and always want to make sure the student is enjoying the process. I prefer to set realistic short- and long-term goals for students at each lesson, and acknowledge their accomplishments with a system of rewards. Additionally, at the end of each year, I encourage my students' participation in a studio-wide voluntary recital, which is intended to showcase their growth and development over the course of the year as well as afford them an opportunity to perform in public. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For beginning piano students I recommend Alfred, John Thompson, or Piano Adventures books. (If you already have books that you have used on your own r with aother teacher, I am happy to use those as well!) Additionally, I will choose a recital piece applicable to their level that the student will work on for a few weeks/ months at a time to be performed at their first recital performance. Read More