Music Lessons in Fairmont Heights, MD

Instruments: Drums

Steve is originally from the Binghamton, NY area and began studying drums at the age of 12 with local jazz musician Tony Monforte. He participated in the All State Orchestra and was placed on the Pro-Mark Honor Roll for young, up-and-coming drummers. Steve received a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY where he studied with Gordon Stout, Steve Brown, and Robert Bridge. He was selected to participate in the Henry Mancini Institute where he worked with some of the leading jazz, film, and classical musicians and composers from around the world including Terence Blanchard, Bud Shank, Christian McBride, and Jerry Goldsmith. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I use Bastien Piano Basics for young and older beginners, as well as supplemental books from Alfred Piano and Hal Leonard. For intermediate students, we begin building a repertoire together of pieces the student enjoys and plays well. I try to find a nice balance between classical, traditional, and popular music. For voice I use the Little Singers series for kids and supplemental books of songs from Hal Leonard. These songs include Disney favorites and other classic songs such as "Puff, the Magic Dragon". Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I love watching my students develop a passion for music! I encourage students to practice regularly and to persevere toward specific goals. It is my philosophy that taking lessons alone will not develop the musicians skills, but through consistent practice, perseverance, and patience, a student will be able to see real progress and eventually achieve their goals. No dream is achieved overnight! Some of my favorite moments during my four years of teaching thus far have been seeing my students achieve their goals, whether they are landing the lead role in a musical, being accepted into the top choir at their school, receiving high marks at contests, or something as simple as performing in their first recital, having a break-through moment with a new technique during lessons, or memorizing their first foreign-language piece. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Nothing is more important to me than seeing my students develop their passion for drums and music in general.I think its essentially to go at his/hers own pace. And encounrage each to reach their goal for that lesson. Acknowledging when the student is progressing, attentive and eager to keep on learning. I can successfully accommodate to each of the students wants and needs and vice versa their desire to learn the most of what I can teach them and the rest is learned along the way by practice, listening to music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Banjo Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

 In essence it helps to build basic musical vocabulary using skills they already have, but may not know that they have them.  For intermediate, advanced, and older students in general I have a more flexible approach that is based upon their goals or lack thereof.  For all students I always emphasize knowledge of music theory and real life application of their musical education toward realizing their own musical goal or dream, as humble or as grand as it may be. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Learning to play an instrument is an endeavor that does not always yield immediate results. I like to encourage my students to look back on all they have accomplished and to set goals so that they are motivated to keep moving forward. Positive reinforcement and figuring out what gets the student excited are keys to their success. It can be a particular song, activity, or even just a set routine that can make a student really open up and be willing to learn all that they can get their hands on. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

My position began in November 2018 and ended in mid 2019 as the demand of my tennis instruction services needed to take precedence at that time. An additional music instructor position in which I am involved is that of ballroom dance instructor at the Lord Fairfax Community College in Warrenton. My wife and I have taught very successful and well attended Level 1 and 2 ballroom dance classes there in the fall and early winter semesters there for the past 5 years. Read More