Music Lessons in Downers Grove, IL

Instruments: Drums

For beginners, after we learn the basics of the instrument, I employ a repertoire-based instruction model that has students bringing their favorite songs to me. I use this repertoire to teach important concepts, all while the students learns what they want to learn. As a student transitions into intermediate drumming, I start to introduce some technical exercises that will allow the student to grow into their own style and express themselves. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I use the bel canto method when I teach singing: simply put , beautiful vowel-based singing! This goes for all ages. I use standard warm ups such as those based on Estelle Liebling, as well as more non traditional methods such as those in CoreSinging and the Funky n Fun series. Overall I believe voice to be very customizable as a discipline and make sure each student gets what they need at every lesson- whether it's additional help with confidence in their ear if they are newer or more song polishing if they're more advanced or intermediate. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet

I am not a teacher of "cookie cutter" lessons. I like to consult with parents and students before preparing an individually-tailored lesson plan for each of my students. It's my goal to engage students through music they already love, and (at the same time) introduce them to new music ideas and musical concepts/challenges. Building early repoire between teacher and student is crucial to building a working knowledge for performing music later on. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium

The point of music is to have fun creating art, sharing that gift, all while learning a skill that not many others are able to learn, but here are so many other benefits from what you learn that can be utilized for the rest of your life. These lessons include, but are not limited to discipline, work ethic, focus, problem solving, compassion, historical knowledge, and countless others. I am aware that not every person I teach will continue playing music for the rest of their lives, but if I can instill some of those above stated principles into my students, then that is a success in my book. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Music Keyboard

Not every person is going to become a musician, as we all have our own passions and dreams. I want my students to find joy, acceptance, and relief from music, not dread and loathing. I like to ask questions such as "How did playing this passage make you feel? or "What is this piece of music mean to you?" Every piece of music elicits some response from us, and I fully believe that recognition and further development of that response can change the way we perceive music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I don't teach out of method books. I will write notes during the lesson and give them to the student, and sometimes give them websites to look up or other resources I feel would be helpful. I like to teach the student how to play songs from bands that they like, or whatever else they are interested in. I find that not having a book allows us the freedom to take the lessons in any direction that we want, without having to follow a set path. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

Im a 25 year old graduate of Iowa State University, with a bachelors degree in World Languages and Cultures. From January 2012 until May 2013, I studied guitar and Contemporary Writing and Production at the Berklee College of Music.When I was 13 years old, I started taking weekly percussion lessons. Not long afterwards, I picked up the electric guitar, and was eager to teach myself. Since then, my musical interests have expanded to include arranging and production. Read More