Music Lessons in Plainville, CT

Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I begin my students with the fundamentals of music and the instrument. As we expand our musical knowledge, we also broaden our understanding of technique, because I strongly believe that every musician, no matter the genre they ultimately play, needs a strong foundation of musical knowledge and technical proficiency on the instrument. All the while I take into consideration what style the student is interested in. I try my best to incorporate the students interests from the beginning, and as the student reaches a higher and higher level, we work more concentrated in the direction of their interests.  Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

From my experiences teaching in classroom settings, I have come to realize the importance of setting short and longer term learning goals for my students and adjusting these goals together with them as we work towards reaching these objectives. Sometimes the goals are very specific, like mastering a particular concept, or practicing towards a specific audition, and some, more general, like developing certain techniques which then need to be further explored and practiced by the student. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ Music

I work with many free online resources - both for repertoire and for the teaching of music theory. I am also able to provide numerous options of method books for the student to pick from, for purchase. Finally, I am able to provide historical documents - particularly, keyboard treatises and methods - that famous composers used. In this way, I use my early music and music history interests practically in my teaching, grounding students soundly in well-established, historical, pedagogical traditions. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium

For students in a beginning band program, I will use whatever method book they are currently using. For students not in a band program I like to use the Rubank Method. To build upon those method books, I like using the Arban book and the Cimera phrasing studies. Because sight reading and ensemble playing are very important to my teaching style, every lesson will begin with a couple duets. It is my goal to help young students build the skills needed to master their band music without my help on it every week. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola

My goal is to make the student as independent of the teacher as possible. For this I help them form a foundation on which they can build for years to come. I teach reading music as well as playing by ear (a wonderful skill rarely taught on the piano). I teach my piano students music theory in the context of playing by ear, so they get an experiential idea of how music is made, including improvisation. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For piano students, I like to use Alfred's piano methods. I find that their methods for both kids and adults not only covers the basic fundamentals of music, but they are also able to make everything comprehensive and enjoyable. For guitar, I like to use Hal Leonard's basic guitar book for students focusing on popular music and basic guitar, and for classical guitar I like to use the Christopher Parkening Method. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

My methods are customized to each student's individual needs, skills, and interests. Before each lesson a student and I will go over what their goals are. During the lesson we will discuss their strengths and weaknesses, what they can do and what they need to improve upon and practice what they've chosen to learn. At the end of the lesson we will review what we've gone over and plan accordingly for the following lesson. Read More