Music Lessons in Cottage Grove, WI

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Synthesizer Recorder Electric Violin Double Bass Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe

For beginning students, I usually start by creating a strong foundation in the student's mind of why they want to learn how to play an instrument and what goals, if any, they initially have for themselves. I then utilize this to help create individual based lesson plans that are driven by the inner workings of the student's mind. I incorporate music theory into every instrument at every skill level because I believe it to be something that is extremely important to understand and that not a lot of students are exposed to before they get to college. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele

My teaching dates back to my early career as a gigging musician. If there were to be a rehearsal before a show, I would show my bandmates how a certain song were to go. Eventually, I decided to do some private guitar teaching gigs besides making a living as a gigging musician. My first teaching gig was for one of my cousins whose son wanted to learn guitar. After a couple of lessons with him and he eventually lost interest in learning guitar. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet

For all beginning students, I usually will take a lesson or two to assess where the student is at regarding music, depending on (if any) previous experience with music, e.g. piano lessons, etc. For trumpet students, I am not beholden to any one instructional method book. Usually, I will select whichever one I feel the student will be most successful utilizing. A couple of examples of method books I use are Standards of Excellence and Student Instructional Course. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Flute

Each student should progress at their own paceone that instills passion, and makes them enjoy practicing, and love coming to lessons. Since every student is unique, every approach is unique. By trying to find out what inspires students I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs and get them "fired up" about music. I love to give the student a sense of accomplishment that expands into all areas of their life. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Music lessons were one of my favorite activities growing up and continue to be for me as an adult. I want to give my students the same joy that I have for music, regardless of what their goals are. In the first lesson, I ask every new student what their goals area. That is how we start working together. For instance, if I know that a student is hoping to audition for a school production in a few months, I want to make sure that I include performance preparation in our lesson. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Mandolin Electric Violin Fiddle

I first began teaching while at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This was the first time I learned that a student can make remarkable progress at an instrument, given the right encouragement and direction. Since moving to Madison, I have begun teaching at Heid Music, and have been gradually growing a studio on the three instruments I teach. The problem with this studio, however, is that studio availability is somewhat limited, and so it has become more practical to turn online to find more students. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

If someone does a technique wrong for 7 months, it willprobleytake me 17 to fix it and break the habit. I use several books for my students but two of my favorites are both written by Louie Bellson. "Modern Reading Text in 4/4 time" and "Modern Reading text in odd-time" - They are different books than most use, and I use them especially for my jazz students but I have fount them to be invaluable. Read More