Music Lessons in Chicago Lawn, IL

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Music

Teaching is something I have always felt passionately about. I first started teaching at the age of 14, teaching martial arts to young kids nearly every day at my stepfather’s martial arts school. As I grew up and began taking music more seriously, teaching remained an important part of my life: as clarinet section leader in the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band in Hawaii, I was responsible for administering weekly lessons to other clarinet players in the band, and I also worked with several school music programs in Hawaii, developing and leading masterclasses for K-12 students. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Music

I find the learning process to be so fun as an educator, as I believe we learn life skills through challenge, goal setting, and accomplishments. What better way to learn how we are motivated and how we build work ethic than through a difficult instrument! To me, I understand every student is unique and so I don't just have 1 way of teaching. Each lesson is tailored to my individual student and I help them progress at his or her own pace. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet

I have been singing since I was 6, playing trumpet since I was 10, and I picked up guitar in my early 20's. I am now 49 and have taught voice, guitar, trumpet for over 7 years from my cozy home. I have been part of many musical ensembles (in many genres) in my 30 year career and have session work that's currently located in the Seattle Rock Roll museum. I have performed in varying capacities over 2,000 times in my career, and my emphasis is to help musicians prepare for live performances. Read More

Instruments: Flute Piccolo

For beginning students, I use standard method books, including Moyse, Taffanel-Gaubert, Rubank, and Suzuki. Once the student has demonstrated a sufficient grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce repertoire, always gauging their level so that I can provide them with a challenging and rewarding experience. For adults and intermediate to advanced flutists, I try to get sense for the student's level and how they are interested in growing, and tailor my methods and repertoire selections to that. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

Piano students: For younger beginners, I like to use the Alfred series. These are the books that I grew up on and I have used them in my own teaching. I like their use of multiple companion books throughout each and every level. For adult beginners, I like to use Alfred's All-In-One adult books, as they feature all of the key elements of the series for younger beginners, simply geared to a more mature learner. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Synthesizer French Horn Keyboard

I have taught music lessons both in college as well as for several years before that. I have experience coaching chamber groups, performing and running groups, as well as teaching both musical and non-musical subjects at a variety of levels, including one-on-one tutoring. I base all of my methods on proven cognitive research and fun yet rigorous hands-on experience. When I was younger, I experience many struggles as a musician, and had to work both hard and smart to overcome my more immediately talented peers. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I require my students to put in the work to make these lessons a worthwhile investment, but I think the most important thing is to retain the joy of taking piano lessons. I don't want practice to feel forced, however I do think there is a certain amount of will power that goes along with learning a skill. Therefore, I require students to do a time minimum of practice appropriate for the age and skill level. Read More