Music Lessons in Forest Lake, IL

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium Tuba

The most important thing that I can teach a student is good habits. One of my first teachers always said "I'm not here to teach you to play the trombone, I'm here to teach you how to practice the trombone." That has esentially been my teaching philosophy since then. The half hour to an hour that I would be spending with a student each week is not enough time to turn them into a great trombone player, so the most important thing to do in lessons is to teach them how to practice the instrument when I am not in the room with them. Read More

Instruments: Piano

With beginning and intermediate students, I work a lot with Faber and Faber's Piano Adventures and with the Alfred method. However, I am open to other methods if the student has a preference. With advanced students I strive towards a variety of repertoire. If they are classical players, I will make sure to eventually cover something Baroque, Classical (Mozart, Haydn, etc.), Romantic, and something modern, as well as all the gaps in between. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching experience dates back to my time in high school, as I taught group guitar lessons with the Franklin Community Education and Recreation Department as well as private guitar lessons from 2011 to 2013. In both of those environments, I typically taught children ages 6 to 12, most of whom were beginners on their instrument. I found these lessons inspiring and enlivening; witnessing the sense of curiosity and wonder my students had as they began to make their first sounds made me excited to teach and to grow with them each week. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I work with all of my students on the fundamentals of clarinet playing - proper embouchure, good posture, strong air support, etc., and I’ve compiled a strong bank of exercises and warm-ups (some that I’ve written myself) that cover all the major areas of playing an instrument (tone, technique, articulation, rhythm, etc.). When a student has a good grasp of the basics, there is nothing they can’t play! Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I began teaching when I was still a student at Northwestern University. When I graduated in 1986 with an MM degree I began to pursue it full time which took me to many different middle/high schools in the area. I also taught at Lake Forest College as well as Saint Xavier University. In addition, I have also taught many beginners over the years. Other teaching experiences include group lessons, sectionals, master classes, and playing for patients in the oncology wing at Sherman Hospital. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I've been playing drums for 48 years. I'm still enjoying the playing of drums, and searching for new knowledge on how to play better. I've toured and performed with great musicians. I've had the great opportunity to be a drum set clinician for Sabian Cymbals, Maxwell Drums, Aquarian Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Trick Dum Pedals. Teaching a large group of drummers is great fun but I really enjoy the one on one interaction between student and teacher. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

With nearly 25 years of music-related experience and more than 15 years as an instructor, I have taught a multitude of students, young and old, and within a broad age range and abilities. Moreover, I have worked with the United Way of Santa Barbara in the summer of 2014 as a guitar instructor and was instrumental in developing a guitar program with the City of Pismo Beach in 2013. While working in Pismo Beach, my dedication to the students, most of whom were young children, compelled me to reached out to music instrument vendors and successfully solicited for donations of instruments and equipment to the city’s music program. Read More