Music Lessons in Kingston, WA

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone

I am a professional musician and composer who plays a variety of instruments in a huge variety of styles. I enjoy and have experience composing and performing a huge range of styles, from jazz to classical, from rock to latin, and from electronic and ambient to avant-garde chamber music and experimental music. Naturally, I enjoy teaching all of it as well. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

As a guitar teacher, I don't emphasize note reading early on, unless that is desired, in which case there's few good books we can work through. But I found learning how to play yankee doodle over and over was a lot more tedious and frustrating, then getting that initial feeling of "I can play a song! This is what it feels like to play music!" that I got from learning songs early on. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I usually find it is in the best interest of myself and my student to begin with familiar repertoire and then to expand as we become comfortable and adventurous. A lesson might include any of the following: Warm-ups/breath work/agility Vocal improvisation via line, phrasing, syllables, dynamics etc. Ear-training/sight-reading using common modes/scales/chord progressions/solfege/interval recognition Basic piano grips for practice accompaniment Performance etiquette education: calling tunes, counting off, knowing a form etc. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin

Back then I didnt have the skills to play my pieces the way I envisioned them sounding. I didnt get it! Id been taking lessons for years... but I couldnt make my violin sound sad and melancholy or make the piano sound excited or happy. I realized I didnt know how to APPLY all the techniques and skills Id been practicing my whole life! Whats the use of learning something if you cant do anything with it? Read More

Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar

For students who have played an instrument prior to our lessons, I try and shape a curriculum entirely based upon the specific goals of the student, and I rarely use text books although I use a lot of exercises and educational material when appropriate.  I feel learning to play and transcribe songs and solos to increase a students self reliance and confidence is my most important job.  Most students come to me looking for structure so I try and provide a clear path to their goals. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Acoustic Guitar

When working with younger children, I use the Children's progressive method for guitar and for the older students I use the Hal Leonard guitar method books 1, 2 and 3. As my students progress, I supplement the lesson with songs that my students enjoy and want to learn. I also focus on ear training to help students musically hear what they are playing. Whether it's voice, guitar, ukulele, trumpet or recorder, hearing the music inside and being able to internalize the music is very important to becoming a well rounded musician. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I have been teaching privately part time for the past 4 years working with students in grades K-12. My main goal in lessons is for my students to not only succeed at a new skill once, but to be confident in their ability to repeat their success in practice at home and at our next lessons. I encourage positive feedback and positive "self-talk" as a means of boosting self-efficacy. I think an important part of learning is goal setting and outlining specific, achievable steps to reach that goal so that progress can be tracked and the process of learning can become less ambiguous. Read More