Music Lessons in Oxford, PA

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Keyboard

Great music lessons are a mix of solid technique building and fun application of those skills. I always spend the first few lessons getting the student familiar with the basic technique of the instrument, and then quickly move on to duets, improvising, sight reading, solos, etc. that tie in with the current technique studies. Music can also be heard or read, so I try to strike a balance between reading music/theory and learning/improvising by ear. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Piccolo Oboe

In my opinion, I believe in the four "T" s. The student must generate a robust tone, that's their signature. Then comes technique, fluid technique is vital. Thirdly, is good sense of time, you can't perform without it. Lastly is taste, a student must acquire an acute sense of musical taste. These four principals are essential for all levels of music performance. Once a good foundation is established, the student will have the tools he needs to take on any musical challenge. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar Double Bass Music

Especially for upright bass, technique and proper muscle use is of utmost importance. Ensuring a student will not injure themselves immediately or with continued practice would be covered first especially for beginners. After proper technique and comfort is established, we learn scales, sight reading, solo or duet pieces selected by ability, as well as any thing the student shows interest in learning. Also important to me is instrument maintenance! Cleaning your bass, bow hair, and properly humidifying the instrument. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Ukulele

As a teacher, I have taught private lessons, small and large jazz groups, concert bands, and in a classroom situation. I believe that being a part of diverse musical ensembles is essential to musical education. Many core concepts can be found in any style of music, and playing with as many people as you can find in many situations helps to make you the best possible musician you can be. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Bass Guitar

I have several tools that I use to get students playing music.  One of my favorite tools is the Music Flashcards made by Bastien.  Rather than teaching notes using an acronym like "every good boy deserves fudge" to teach notes, I use landmarks which get students to see the relationship between notes and allow them to read music with fluidity and ease.  I pair these flashcards with Music Tree book 1 and feel that they compliment each other very well. Read More

Instruments: Piano

My general course of action for students is to teach the essentials through the Faber book series. As well as learn songs and do theory/aural exercises from the Faber books, I like to use online music theory games for my students to practice skills like note identification. I also like to assign students songs outside from the Faber books that they know and love, to further fuel their passion for learning piano! Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar

I thoroughly enjoy seeing students progress, and the main ingredient in progression is practice! I try to make sessions memorable and keep the content engaging so that students can carry that with them throughout the week. I find if students aren't engaged in what the current task is, they will find it difficult to move forward and progress through their learning process. The main way I do this is by finding a tangible goal that a student can achieve week by week or month by month and having that be their motivation. Read More