Music Lessons in Cedar, MN

Instruments: Guitar Voice

I tailor my lessons to each individual student and go from where they are at to build off of that and expand their skill set. For more advanced students I encourage them to keep themselves challenged by choosing to learn songs that are of increasing levels of difficulty as they advance. This often includes songs that are in other languages. Another challenge opportunity I encourage them with is to learn a song that pushes their boundaries and is different in some way from songs that they typically perform. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

With a new student I always start by getting to know their abilities and experience with the drums or any other musical instrument up to this point and then go from there. With someone starting out with no experience I begin with basic match-grip technique, striking the drum, and some basic counting to get the fundamentals down. I generally use George Lawrence Stones Stick Control for the Snare Drummer to introduce various sticking patterns and the upstroke/downstroke concept. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My earliest musical memories were of Led Zeppelin, Guns 'n' Roses, and Jimi Hendrix. When I started taking guitar lessons at eleven years old, I pursued the powerful distorted guitar riffs from my classic rock idols. After learning about jazz in high-school, I began to seek out knowledge of every genre of music. McNally-Smith helped me tremendously. I joined a wide range of ensembles, from blues to indie-rock, classical to gypsy jazz. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Organ Synthesizer Music Keyboard

I teach with a very casual approach. It's not a science or math class. ( I guess it actually is in all regards ). Different student have different needs. I believe in finding out a students wants. I had a younger student who wanted to Zeppelin on the Alto. "Okay" So I showed the student exactly what to do. He had no knowledge of music but I knew that if he enjoyed it, he'd keep playing and playing. Read More

Instruments: Cello

Holding the position of assistant principle cello of the New York Youth Symphony for two years, I have performed in Carnegie Hall seven times both with them and with my quartet. I have freelanced and played numerous gigs in NYC both with chamber ensembles and with such orchestras as Ensemble 212. Being an active performer, I have given frequent solo recitals in Lefrak Concert Hall and Sundin Music Hall in St. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My primary objective in my teaching is to use the multitude of different musical styles within my arsenal to help each of my students find what type of music they are most interested in learning, and to be the best resource I can to help them achieve his/her musical goals. My beginning students generally work out of the Standard of Excellence Book 1, and then graduate to a combination of the Rubank Intermediate/Advanced Methods combined with a mixture of various jazz methods (Jamey Aebersold, Jim Snidero, etc.) as well as a variety of pop/folk/movie theme collections depending on the interests of the individual student. Read More