Music Lessons in Oaklyn, NJ

Instruments: Voice

I teach every student at their own pace. There is never any pressure and I always acknowledge and praise their efforts and accomplishments. Once I get to know the student and their motivation, inspiration and desires, we build a better understanding of each other. I am very personable, creative and I can always adjust to an individual's needs. I love music just as much as my students do, so the more time we spend helping each other grow and be musical, the easier it is to feel the support and energy come alive during our time together. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Bass Guitar Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard

I begin with building a strong foundation with the basics; -counting -internalizing the tempo with your feet -isolating limbs -basic grooves We then graduate to novice material; -performing songs with hits and breaks and form -reading lead sheets and counting -internalizing tempo with grooves -3/4 meter -blues/shuffle/swing patterns For intermediate; - we learn 4-way coordination -review reading skills from books such as stick control, syncopation and and 23 drum rudiment etudes -we will learn three camps -we will work on advance songs with hits and develop comping and soloing Advanced; -we will learn the rudiments ritual -we will learn to ready drum sheet music - we will learn jazz Melodies and common improvisation for jazz and Rb shows -we will learn odd time meters, metric modulation and imposition - we learn advanced grooves from different regions Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ Keyboard

I generally start each lesson by asking the student 1) what went well in their practicing and 2) if there is anything they found difficult. If they mention an area of difficulty we focus on that before making any attempt to play the piece through. I make the lesson a partnership in which we work together toward the goal of accomplishment. Once this has been realized, we then treat the piece as a finished product. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I like to create lessons geared towards each individual students needs. I work out of a few different books depending upon skill level. I try to gear the lessons towards the style of music the student likes while also teaching different techniques for a wide variety of music. I like to use rudiments and stick control as warm up exercises and then also teach different grooves and rhythms through song. for beginner students I will teach drum kit basics like setup. tuning and how to replace drum heads etc as well. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Music Acoustic Guitar

Prior to starting the formal lessons with the student, I like to understand why they want to play that particular instrument and the type of music that they enjoy. I also ask them about their musical experience. For example, can they read music, did they play any prior instruments, etc. Furthermore, to monitor each students' progress, I keep a lesson sheet that records what we worked on, what has been assigned, and any pertinent notes about the lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar Double Bass

I have experience as a private instructor beginning with my time in Washington, DC as a student at Howard University. I have run instrumental petting zoos/clinics at local schools and have assisted with doing sectional work with an extra curricular jazz band at Temple University. I believe that a teacher must be flexible in their approach, passionate in their respective craft, and unwavering in their commitment to engage each student. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Helping a student develop his or her own musical voice is my ultimate goal, so crafting our lessons in a way that helps achieve this is how I approach teaching. I believe that students learn best in a nurturing environment where they can feel free to experiment and be free from judgment. I help students define a goal and work towards it in a relaxed but confident and consistent manner. Read More