Music Lessons in Lakeville, MN

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am straight-forward with my students. I address the issues right away and reference the correct methods. I will explain the answer until the student understands. I will take my time to explain the issue and get creative until we both are on the same page. I value "having confidence in yourself" and use cheerleading statements to bring out their inner-confidence. Some books I currently use or reference with my students include: "Totally Interactive Band Bible", "Music Success in Nine Weeks", "Fast Track - Chords & Scales for Guitar", "The Bass- a comprehensive approach book 1", Total Guitar". Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I start out the students first lesson giving a brief intro on my background as a musician. I then talk to the student to see what their goals as an upcoming musician are. I focus my lessons on the students skill level, goals among others. I incorporate music theory, ear training, learning to improvise over changes. For beginners I start with basic Melodie’s line Star Wars. Clapping rhythms keeping time using a metronome. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Euphonium Mallet Percussion

Additionally, I like students to work on solos with piano accompaniment, although I don't require it. I am also a big fan of using duets to build listening skills and fluidity (and most students think duets are fun!). For piano lessons, I have experience with a variety of methods; each has its strengths and weaknesses. If a student is already using a particular method, we can continue with that if it seems to be working well. Read More

Instruments: Piano

It is often difficult to choose just the right method book for each student. I most often choose the Alfred series for both beginner's and adults, as I like how in that series the student not only develops the necessary skills but also learns about how music works. I also like very much the Piano Town series and have used it with success. For more intermediate and advanced students, I strive to get a sense of the type of music and pieces the student enjoys the most and try to assign their repertoire accordingly. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My earliest musical memories were of Led Zeppelin, Guns 'n' Roses, and Jimi Hendrix. When I started taking guitar lessons at eleven years old, I pursued the powerful distorted guitar riffs from my classic rock idols. After learning about jazz in high-school, I began to seek out knowledge of every genre of music. McNally-Smith helped me tremendously. I joined a wide range of ensembles, from blues to indie-rock, classical to gypsy jazz. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I have been teaching Guitar and Bass off and on for the last 8 years, and have seen many of my students become great musicians in their own right. One thing that I have come to understand is that everyone has different ways of learning, and my main goal is to understand how the student best absorbs information and try to package that in a way that is easily digestible. My family is very musical and I grew up playing many different instruments, and I vividly remember how frustrating the learning experience can be, especially if you don't gel with your teacher. Read More