Music Lessons in Portage, WI

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Djembe

With both piano, percussion and drum instruction I cover things such as technique, reading, music theory etc. I work out of a variety of books depending on the student's level of experience and interests. In regards to technique there are a variety of things that I cover including the mechanics of the body, posture, hand and arm positioning and a variety of techniques depending on what the music is calling for. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I began teaching private music lessons a decade ago as an undergraduate music student. Working at a community music school, I volunteered to teach piano lessons and lead the choir. I fell in love with teaching and after receiving my Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance, I began teaching private lessons and directing the commercial vocal ensemble at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville. While working at Trevecca, I taught many different genres of music to music majors, music minors, and elective students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I've been singing, playing drums, and piano for the past twelve years. I've received formal training in voice and drums, so if you want really solid technique and discipline, these are my two strongest areas to deliver. I learned how to play guitar and bass because whenever my bandmates were out of town, I couldn't record anything, so now I can be my own band! Because I couldn't afford lessons for five instruments, I had to settle with teaching myself. Read More

Instruments: Voice

My teaching style stems from my experience as a professional singer. I’ve been in GRAMMY award winning groups and performed in plays, musicals, and choirs all around the world AND I’m still performing. Some teachers tell you what to do or how to sound, but they don’t have any idea what it’s like to live a performer’s lifestyle. They have a single way to teach all voices and all types of singing without concern for your individual needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Djembe

My goal is teach you to be able communicate (improvise, listen and respond) through a 3-step process, which includes; 1. Imitation: Listening and Learning lines by ear, Transcribing solos. Absorbing a player’s feel, articulation, and time. 2. Assimilation, which means ingraining these stylistic nuances, harmonic devices, and lines that you’ve transcribed into your musical conception. Not just mentally understanding them on the surface level, but truly connecting them to your ear and body. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I like to start beginning students with a combination of sheet music and by rote teaching. If a student comes to me with method books or other materials, we will start with those and I will suggest other materials as appropriate. I often have more advanced students work through various scales books and Rose etudes, and whatever other type of music interests them. I utilize duets often in lessons to work on sight reading and blend, tuning, and leadership. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Mandolin Electric Violin Fiddle

During my year at North Carolina School of the Arts, I studied under Kevin Lawrence, a prestigious student of Ivan Galamian. Under his guidance, I was first instructed in the Galamian method of violin playing, which is what I recommend first and foremost to students. In theory and playing across various string instruments, Galamian's methods developed violin playing in the twentieth century, which are what I continue forward, using new techniques and technology in the twenty-first. Read More