Music Lessons in Ironsides, MD

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Synthesizer Banjo Ukulele Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Djembe

During his time in school, Mike performed in a number of different groups. He has played in situations as varied as Orchestra, Big-band, African Drum Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Combo Jazz Groups, Gamelan Orchestra, Afro-Cuban Ensembles, and Mallet Ensembles. He also performed in freelance rock, jazz, jam, and improvisational groups. Mike began playing at age 7 on both piano and drums and started performing at age 14. Later he studied voice in college and picked up the banjo as another instrument to have in his repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Piano

My teaching experience really started With the DC Youth Orchestra Program as a cellist. Assisting the cello teaches with summer sessions. I also assisted at NC A T State University Orchestra. I mentored student teachers with string ensemble. Currently, I am Assistant to the Minister of Music at The Greater First Baptist Church of Washington DC. There my duties vary, from preparing the choir (teaching), playing piano and pipe organ; assist with the selecting of music for morning service; staging musicial presentations. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

When I work with children, however, I focus primarily on ear training and music theory, knowing that those skills will help them out so much more as adult musicians than prematurely trying to learn advanced techniques. In voices lessons with children, I limit my technique-talk to breathing and vowels. (Of course, for those kids who have no concept of what their head voice is, we work on that, too.)Other than that, we focus heavily on solfge, learning to read music, developing a sense of rhythm and internal pulse, and other musicianship skills. Read More

Instruments: Piano Cello Double Bass Keyboard

My teaching style revolves around the interest of the student combined with my overall experience with one ultimate goal being that the student will develop the tools to teach themselves along the way. I like to use relevant recordings to play along with as well as simply recording the student and playing it back during the lesson. I will keep a written log of our progress and will have it available for the student as a reference as well as encouraging them to do the same. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Also an avid performer herself, Adrienne has toured with the New York Harlem Productions company of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, appearing as the Strawberry Woman in important European venues including the Komische Oper Berlin. She has sung in Carnegie Hall and appears on the Grammy Award winning CD “Songs of Innocence and Experience.” Perhaps her most noteworthy performance was singing for President Obama at his second term Inaugural Prayer Service. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. By trying to find out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs. Read More

Instruments: Flute Piccolo

I'm a freelance musician in the DC area who is passionate about music and loves working with students interested in learning to play the flute. This past May I graduated from the Greatbatch School of Music, Houghton College with a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance. As a DMA student at the Catholic University of America, I perform regularly with the CUA orchestra. Read More