Music Lessons in Kirkland, WA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

As a musical teacher, I believe one of the most important goals is to learn to have fun while you practice. If your goal is to become a serious musician, many hours of practice is key but that cannot happen if you don't have the drive and motivation for it, so you must first enjoy what you are doing. I have always found that young children give up on their instruments too quickly because they find it to be too tedious or even boring. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

Most of my students have never played drums before studying with me. With beginners I believe it's most important to learn a good technique for striking the drums as well as introducing the student to fundamental rhythms and musical practices. Many students want to learn to jam immediately and that's great. I suggest learning some basic reading as well as playing by memory and improvising. It is also fun and beneficial for beginners or advanced players to play drums to recorded music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have a Master in Education and a professional teaching certificate. I taught in middle and high schools. Currently, I am teaching Computer Science at a Seattle High school. I am regularly performing as a professional guitarist in various Jazz Bands, e.g. JazzHands, Random Guys I compose, perform and produce music for film tracks and cues in my own recording studio "Edgar Sounds" Read More

Instruments: Voice Music

I have maintained a private voice studio for over 38 years teaching adult singers, beginners to advanced and I've helped hundreds of people find their singing voice or overcome voice challenges as well as personal challenges. I created a Washington State 501(C)(3) nonprofit for amateur adult singers and actors that included 3 choirs, a vocal jazz ensemble, voice workshops, vocal jazz workshops, and a theatrical troupe. I've also conducted other community and church choirs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola

For younger students who are beginning, I usually start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. This book has great materials for setting up the violin and bow hold, reading notes, rhythm and other musical markings, and introducing basic music theory such as time and key signatures. Also, this book incorporates the foundation of all musical learning, scales and arpeggios, into fun exercises that are enjoyable for every student.For older students who have more experience, I have a range of etudes from Sevcik to Kreutzer that can futher develop and solidify a good foundation of technique.For musical training, I use solo repertoire from Suzuki and other sources that are appropriate for each student's level so that he/she can be healthily challenged musically and technically while feeling accomplished during performances. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For just about any instrument, a key approach of mine is to teach students how to play the songs they love - and then the musical building blocks that make up said songs. Then, I teach the rudiments, patterns, and music theory behind those building blocks, and teach the students to be able to figure this all out on their own in the future through ear-training. I tend to like the Essential Elements series for band instruments, the Alfred books for piano and guitar, the Real Book for a wide variety of jazz repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Flute

I have completed two pedagogy training programs. During my graduate studies at the Longy School of Music, I took a two semester sequence of pedagogy coursework which included teaching two high school students under the supervision of a Longy flute professor. I also participated in the Teacher Training Program at the Boston Flute Academy where I taught workshops to adults and junior high students on sight-reading and intonation, and masterclasses to advanced junior high and high school students. Read More