Music Lessons in Penn Wynne, PA

Instruments: Piano

I started playing piano as a young child in a small beach town in Southwestern Michigan. I was always involved in church choir, bell choir and school choirs. From the time I was 15, I knew that I wanted to use music to help people. I began pursuing a degree in Music Therapy at Western Michigan University, where I studied piano with Lori Sims. Upon graduating with a degree in music therapy, I began working as a music therapist on an inpatient psychiatric unit where I worked for 9 years with adults. Read More

Instruments: Double Bass

For young beginners, I assess the best approach - be it a particular method book or writing out my own studies geared toward the individual. From the first lesson, proper bow technique is emphasized, helping the student get a pleasing sound in the first lesson. For older students (teens and up), I teach to their goals and interests, welcoming and encouraging their input. Communication is vital. I also give listening assignments to help introduce students to varied repertoire - orchestral, chamber, and even vocal. Read More

Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar Double Bass

I believe in tailoring music lessons to the individual students needs. This usually involves speaking with the student in the first lesson/lessons to find out what specifically they want to learn or improve. Once I've figured this out, I begin to find repertoire or create exercises that challenge this student in the respective area of focus. With younger students, I prefer to make an executive decision to begin with method books and then ease into more relevant material when the student is comfortable with their instrument. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

Seeing a student progress instrumentally and theoretically is extremely rewarding and what I hope to accomplish through teaching. Setting goals throughout the lesson process is fundamental to a student progressing at their own pace and recognizing those goals will fuel their motivation to continue and prosper at their instrument. This is why students who know what they want to get out of their instrument in advance will have an advantage. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Euphonium

For beginning students, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements as well as my own individual exercises written specifically for each student's needs as they develop. After they have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire and etudes for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in as well as where they are at in their musical development and proceed accordingly. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

I have taken private lessons since I was in fifth grade, but really only found my love for trumpet when I got to the end of my high school career. It was after spending time in marching band and concert bands that I decided I wanted to teach music for a living. I pursued that love in college and started teaching privately once I was in school. I have been teaching private lessons since then, and performing professionally for the same amount of time. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching experiance has been mainly one one one. I've never given group lessons mainly because you can't totally focus on the student when there are several people involved. The best teaching/learning situation is the individual lesson where the focus is on one person. All my lessons are with one individual. More than one creates distraction and breaks the contenuity of the learning experiance. My experiance has been with grade school students, College age, middle aged and also senior citizens. Read More