Music Lessons in Dixmoor, IL

Instruments: Violin Viola

My first teaching experience dates back to High School when I had the opportunity to coach elementary orchestra students. As a student at University of Colorado at Boulder and DePaul University, I completed String Pedagogy courses which covered all the different elements of teaching from how to manage a private studio to instructing your students. Currently, I teach a group of ten kindergartners at Skinner West Elementary School. This has been the most rewarding and challenging part of my teaching career thus far. 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

Cultivating a love of learning, and a love of music, is the most important part of any lesson. One can be the most masterful and technically skilled musician, but if he/she hates to play, we will never hear the beautiful music. I believe that above all else, students really need to develop a love for learning, and the teacher has a unique qualification and responsibility of developing that love. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I normally use my own material I'll bring to lessons. I'll usually create a lesson plan that'll focus on all basic fundamentals that are goal-focused, while incorporating songs that'll help reinforce those mechanics! I like to keep lessons fun by bringing music that students enjoy. I also try to encourage and motivate my students to do that from an artistic point of view. I think every human being understands and feels the music in his own different way and my purpose is to unlock and educate this feeling through my lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Ukulele Recorder Music Keyboard

I have had a desire to be an educator since I was in second grade. The first music ensemble I directed was a men's choir at Huntley High School in Huntley, Illinois. I proceeded to direct worship choirs and bands at Carthage College for my four years at Carthage. After Carthage I became the music teacher at Fratt Elementary School in Racine, Wisconsin where I taught general music and directed the annual fourth and fifth grade musical. Read More

Instruments: Drums

My teaching experience dates back to my Sophomore year of college when I was asked to come back to my local high school (of which I only attended two years before transferring to study music exclusively at the Chicago Academy for the Arts) to help instruct the indoor winter percussion ensemble and outdoor marching band ensemble (drum line and front percussion ensemble). There I gained a great amount of experience working with passionate students and was able to help them achieve their individual goals, as well as overall ensemble goals (ex. playing as a unit). Read More

Instruments: Voice

I break up lessons into three parts - warmups/breathing exercises, learning a song, and acting the song. Warmups prepare the voice to sing without any strain. I also implement vocal exercises during warmups where we work on range and quality. During the first lesson with the student, I get to know what they want to work towards in terms of repertoire and suggest a few pieces. We will typically add one or two songs per week in order to build a solid repertoire. Read More