Music Lessons in Crete, IL

Instruments: Voice

I found myself teaching at a very young age, being hired as the accompanist for the Dominican High School Summer Theatre Camp. These campers ranged in age from 5-14. I have accompanied for the past six summers, and I eventually held the title of Lead Music Teacher. At school in Chicago, I did some vocal coaching of my peers. I have experience in teaching and coaching both musical theatre repertoire and classical repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I always held passionate teaching as the key to passionate artists. My teaching career began early, while I was still a university student, teaching privately. Later I was the Clarinet instructor at Carl Sandburg High School and A.A. Stagg High school. In Los Angeles I was again a private instructor, but also a faculty member at the Beverly Hills Conservatory of Music. The variety of students and locations provided valuable lessons in tailoring my teaching to the needs of student. Read More

Instruments: Piano

For 5 to 6 year old beginners, I create an individualized lesson plan based on observing the student's learning style, strengths and weaknesses as well as personality. For the first 4 or more lessons, this includes my own big-note, large-symbol work sheets and simple songs. Next, and with older or more advanced students, I use a combination of lesson, technique and performance method books (Faber, Bastien, Hal Leonard), a scale/chording book and adjunct material consisting of songs the student wants to learn such as pop/rock, movie themes, holiday and theme music, and classical, to maintain interest and enjoyment. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Keyboard Djembe

For every instrument I teach, I always focus on tone primarily. To have whatever instrument the student is learning, be it drumset, piano, or voice, it is of utmost importance to me to have them re-sounding the whole body of the instrument with confidence, and with passion. When we start from this place, I then work on rudiments/scales, and aim to endow students with basic vocabulary, so that they may become fluent on their instruments. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have always been passionate about music and feel no greater joy than sharing this passion with my students and friends. I began playing guitar around 2003 while I was a freshman in high school. Throughout my high school years I have attended summer music camps in Green Bay, WI then at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduation I attended McNally Smith College of Music where I majored in Guitar Performance. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard

As a student who has struggled with learning disabilities in my own educational career, Im blessed to have the knowledge and capacity to help each of my students find the way they learn best. Every student has their own way of connecting with music. For a beginner, I find it most important to bring this connection to life, and help the student turn it into a passion for music. Once a student truly loves to play, they will work infinitely harder. Read More

Instruments: Drums

First and foremost, I teach to the comfortable speed of the student. Learning skill and permanent muscle memory is much more important that covering as much material as possible but then not grasping the concepts and motor skills. My main teaching style approaches beats and patterns in the simplest of actions, making sure the student is comfortable with those actions, then combining actions together, step by step as the student progresses until the student has the full understanding of the beat. Read More