Music Lessons in Gladstone, OR

Instruments: Drums

Trained in a competitive drumline environment, I have an eagle eye for ways to rapidly improve students' techniques and rudimental abilities. I pass this wisdom on to my students in a much more comfortable, low pressure environment than the world of drumline, however. My passion in teaching lies in finding those moments where students discover that the amazing techniques they want to learn are much more achievable and within reach than they even thought! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I like the aphorism by British guitarist and educator Robert Fripp "We begin where we are". It means to me that at any given point we are all beginners. So if we come with an open mind to explore and learn something new, perhaps what it could be challenging might become easier if we apply the right mind set. So if we are learning a scale...perhaps we begin with a note at the time, then add a second and third, so on, until we have all eight notes or sixteen. - Slow down: If you want to play fast you gotta be able to play it slowly with accuracy and precision. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Synthesizer Keyboard

I remember teaching my first lesson about 15 years ago. I was very nervous! However it was smooth sailing after that.  I grew up attending Harmony Road Music School, and they recently offered me a job, but I passed on it to focus more on my own lesson practice. I've worked for Beacock Music, Margie's Music School, and subbed at others, as well as had many of my students for 10+ years. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

My lessons are all about fun! I see what you can play already, what you like to listen to, and I adapt to how you learn best. I pick songs that you enjoy that are also going to teach you how to play the drums! At the same time, I'll introduce exercises that relate to what we're playing that will transfer to other songs. I push my students to the limit but it works really well and I've seen my students grow quickly!-Knowing the basics and technique is important, so we go over that every lesson. Read More

Instruments: Drums

My first expirence teaching started back in high school with working indivisually and in group sessions with the drumline. I worked with all sections of the battery (quads, quints, bass drum, snare) on perfecting technique, levels between sections, theory, ect.  After High School, and part way through college, I started giving indivisual lessons on the drum set studying a vast variety of genres and techniques Read More

Instruments: Voice Saxophone Clarinet

I'm a musician first and foremost.  This means that it is not my 'job', it is my life!  The first concert that I produced was when I was 16 years old, and it featured the legendary jazz clarinetist Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd.  Since that time, I have been performing, conducting, producing concerts, composing music and teaching students.  I have performed with a wide variety of classical and jazz and pop musicians: from The Brubeck Brothers, Diane Schuur, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Melissa Manchester; to the Oregon String Quartet and Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

I enjoy giving my students control over their own learning process at times. This means that I will sometimes provide them choices within the context of what I am trying to teach them. I also make lessons fun by performing duets with students to take a break from the daily material. I also emphasize site-reading in every lesson to develop this much-neglected skill. All of these techniques are designed to keep the student mentally engaged because it is only then that they will truly be learning as much as possible. Read More