Music Lessons in Ottawa Lake, MI

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I choose music that will help students in many different areas. Students need some music that will help them work on fundamentals: long tones, slurs, articulations, and scales. Students also need to play music they enjoy. All of my students, in addition to the fundamentals of good playing, bring in music that is enjoyable to play and that they like. It is a good balance when practicing. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Drums Bass Guitar Recorder Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style is laid back with the full intention of moving forward in both technique and enjoyment. Each Lesson is geared toward the Goals we agree on as Student and Teacher. Depending on age and experience, I set goals at 3 months or 6 months. It is crucial to allow the student to learn at his or her own rate. Again, I strive to find the Creativity in the Student and to see how that can be developed as quickly as possible, especially if they are interested in songwriting, singing, composition, or simply doing their "own thing". Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Viola Bass Guitar Synthesizer Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Lute Electric Violin Fiddle Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I take the great things about the Suzuki Method and use them (fun, creativity, by-ear learning, group jams). Then I take the things I don't like about the method and disregard them (pre-established repetoire, no composition or improv). I teach kids how to concentrate, how to teach themselves, how to ignore distractions, and the philosophy for joyful performance without nervousness. The result has been that I have trained hundreds of children to have fun playing music well, plus four of my child students have become national acts. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Recorder

When it comes to students, regardless if they are professionals or beginners, I use Arban's Method; that is for the trumpet since it contains several application practices that strengthen students in terms of technique. I teach world wide classical compositions. As for the recorder instrument, I give application practices that give students felxibility while using their hands. I teach classical compositions depending on what is suitable for each student taking into consideration that students age and level Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet Drums

I am currently a Senior Music Education Major at Eastern Michigan University. I am a saxophonist in the EMU Wind Symphony, EMU Big Band, EMU Saxophone Ensemble, EMU Jazz Saxophone Sextet, Stone Tower Saxophone Quartet, Krangerson Duo, REMIX, and Funkwagon. I have also marched Quads for Impact Percussion, and the EMU Drumline. I also play drumset in several jazz combos. Music is such a huge part of my life and it has taught me so many life lessons and values that I hold dear every day of my life. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

I started teaching private lessons during my undergraduate degree at Northern Michigan University. I partnered up with the local middle and high school to teach one on one lessons as well as group sectionals. For the year and a half that I taught this groups of trombonists I learned a lot about how to cater my teachings to each individual student, as not everyone learns in the same ways. I have done marching band, concert bands, orchestras, jazz bands, funk groups, brass bands, trombone choirs, and even rock groups over the 15 years I have been playing the trombone. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer Keyboard Electric Guitar

My lessons will be pretty focused on music theory so that, in time, the student will be able to make their own music with ease. For new beginners, I'd likely ask which song they wanted to learn. And then I'd teach it to them, while also explaining scales, how to build chords, and the theory used in the song. Because my favorite part of playing music is improvisation, that's my go-to goal for the student, but I'm always willing to adjust my teaching methods accordingly. Read More