Music Lessons in Curtis Bay, MD

Instruments: Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

I have been teaching private lessons since 2011, during my time in college. I have taught a wide range of insturments ranging from woodwinds like clarinet and flute to brass insturments like trumpet and baritone. I encourage a regular and consitent practice schedule, since it tends to help students progress and gain a passion for their insturment.All of my stuents are encoraged to participate in any esemble and solo competitons that are available, so that they can gain new and exciting experiences. Read More

Instruments: Ukulele

With a beginner student, I start with the basics. We learn how to properly hold the instrument and how to tune the strings. From there, the students will learn the fundamentals of finger placement and basic strumming. Once the student feels comfortable, we start to learn different chords and scales. At this point, students will begin learning songs with basic chords. Once we get past this stage the lessons become more tailored to the individual student and we begin to learn and play music that the student is interested in. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Melissa started teaching during her senior year of college when she took her first vocal pedagogy course. Teaching has been an important part of her schedule ever since. Over the years, she has taught privately, through various community schools, through several national companies, and she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Illinois State University for two years. Thus, she has experience teaching all ages and skill levels. Her students have ranged from beginners to university music majors, from age 3 to age 72. Read More

Instruments: Piano Cello Double Bass Keyboard

My teaching style revolves around the interest of the student combined with my overall experience with one ultimate goal being that the student will develop the tools to teach themselves along the way. I like to use relevant recordings to play along with as well as simply recording the student and playing it back during the lesson. I will keep a written log of our progress and will have it available for the student as a reference as well as encouraging them to do the same. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Even my beginner students have been able to compose their own tunes using a few simple chords and some basics in rhythm and meter that I have taught them. Moreover, it is their idea for lyrical content and the mood of the song that really pushes their learning into an accelerated pace. From what I have observed in my students, songwriting, which includes singing, playing, and keeping time seems to be the most enjoyable, immersive, and rewarding avenue of learning music. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

For the past decade I have been performing with the U.S. Navy Music Program in places like Australia, Japan, Costa Rica, New Orleans, and Norfolk, Virginia. I've been a featured soloist on clarinet and saxophone with concert bands, jazz bands, rock groups, and brass bands. Before joining the Navy I taught band and woodwind classes for a public school in Northeast Ohio, and I'm excited to begin working with students in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

Students that work with me start with a free 30 minute consultation either at my studio or over Skype. The student and I meet, I ask a lot of questions, and then at the end of the session I provide the student with a long-term and short-term curriculum plan. If, after the consultation, the student decides to take a slot, I provide them with an assignment to complete before our next lesson. Read More