Music Lessons in Rillton, PA

Instruments: Piano Organ

I listen the music which the student has been practicing. Then, I guide him/her to make corrections and enhancements.  I use positive reinforcement to strengthen those parts of the performance, and suggest and demonstrate correct concepts.  Then, after hearing the piece again, decide whether review the assignment or move on.  Playing duets with the student is often part of the process. Doing that helps them feel the true meaning of the music; and also helps make up for a pianist's ordinarily lack of group playing because he usually practices alone. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute

Through this, I learned what is the most effective ways to get through to a person and what methods resonate best with them. I then switched to Music Education where I learned and refined many of my teaching skills. During this time I had to teach others how to play various instruments and found that when teaching creating an environment where the student is free to make mistakes and learn from them is key, after all, we learn far more from our failures than from our successes. Read More

Instruments: Piano Music

Over the past 13 years, I have taught piano, music theory, and music composition to a diverse group of learners, including school-age children, college students, and adults of distinct backgrounds. From 2014-2018 I received the Graduate Teaching Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, where I led piano courses for non-Music majors, and held weekly recitations and office hours for required courses for Music majors. This encompassed instruction in counterpoint, musical form, harmonic analysis, training students on dictation and sight-singing, as well as providing help with digital audio software. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Ukulele Recorder French Horn Piccolo Orchestral Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe

My students describe me as passionate, creative, interesting, and fun! After getting my bachelor's degree in music education from University of Maryland, I taught general, band, and strings in Montgomery County in Maryland. Then I taught ukulele, keyboard, drums, guitar, band, and choir in Dayton, Ohio. Now I am excited to teach lessons in Pittsburgh. While my main instrument is saxophone, where I teach all levels, I love to teach beginners on a variety of instruments, from voice and piano to keyboard and djembe! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I most often use "the Guitar, Phase 1," by Wm. Leavitt, published by Berklee Press. For this interested in Classical guitar, I use the Christopher Parkening Guitar Method, Vols, 1 2, and Segovia Scale Patterns. For those interested in Rock, Jazz or Blues styles, I generally use "A Modern Method for Guitar, Vols. 1, 2, 3" by Wm. Leavitt, published by Berklee Press. For adult beginners or intermediate / advanced students, an hour lesson is recommended. My approach will vary depending upon the goals and background of the student. Read More

Instruments: Violin

I do a lot of demonstrations and use analogies from the realm of physics to describe the violin technique. I do focus on Musicality and musical phrasing. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I have been teaching since 2006 and have had students become music educators and amateur musicians. I have students performing in PMEA district band, honors bands, HS marching bands and community bands. I work with clarinet and saxophone students of all levels, and beginner piano students. When students are interested, I can provide performance experience through a few recital opportunities. I am constantly exploring new teaching techniques and finding ways to best reach my students individually. Read More