Music Lessons in Olmsted Falls, OH

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My first steps into teaching were as a camp counselor at a local music summer camp in Shaker Heights from 2008-2012. During that time I had a few students who were just beginning to play saxophone and clarinet. Those experiences coupled with phenomenal teachers throughout high school inspired me to pursue a bachelor's degree in Music Education at Ithaca College. During my collegiate years I continued honing my abilities and knowledge of all the instruments I play while also studying music theory, conducting, and composition along with researching pedagogical approaches. Read More

Instruments: Voice

My approach to lessons differs significantly from student to student. After initial skills and/or vocal health assessments, I choose repertoire and books for them based upon their abilities, age, and musical interests. While I think that vocalises and technical exercises are important to the learning process, I believe it is essential for students to be singing and playing music that they are passionate about at all times. In this way, they can learn to love the process of improving. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I practice radical empathy in all things, but especially with my students. I believe kindness helps us grow; fostering a positive environment and relationship with my students is important to me, because it is important for their development as musicians. I believe in a holistic approach to teaching an instrument, nurturing and working on body, mind, and soul—a healthy and happy musician is a good musician! I encourage students to fall in love with what they do, and to advance at their own pace. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

For entry level students such as children, I will teach them out of a method book to get them started. They will learn all the fundamentals the proper way to hold the instrument and tuning. And once they have improved to the point where have the ability to learn songs they will be taught the songs they will love to play. For intermediate students, they will be taught how to read chord changes and music theory to able to write their songs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Flute

I am a very kinesthetic teacher. We move around the room a lot during lessons because piano, flute, and voice should be an extension of music that is first heard in the mind (inner hearing/audiation), so note playing/singing is not merely a muscle memory. We sing, tap, or clap 90% of music we learn before we attempt to play it on an instrument or sing it resonantly. Thinking through a vocal line and anticipating the high notes and the openness needed in the body/throat and the breath support needed will help the student discover an unknown freedom and give them tools to help transfer this into other songs. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I had a great guitar teacher myself when I was first learning and so I have always known how important it is to get started correctly. I graduated with a degree in fingerstyle guitar performance and so I know how to perform and teach numerous acoustic guitar styles but I can still plug in the electric guitar and have fun rocking out. Music is an endlessy enriching activity that will bless people's lives forever and I love to help people discover what the guitar has to offer them. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

My experience starts when I was attending college. I started working at a private school in the great Cleveland area teaching both clarinet and saxophone. I stayed at that school for the next 15 years practicing my craft of teaching. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent basis is one of the fundamentals I try to teach my young students. My goal for my students is they not only learn the instrument in lessons is that they also have a good time while practicing. Read More