Music Lessons in Riverdale, IL

Instruments: Trumpet

For beginning students I would focus on their posture and breathing. It's easy to start with bad posture and breathing when you are just starting out and if kept, it will be incredibly hard to get into having good posture and breathing techniques. Then we would focus on exercises that their band teacher or I gave out, and we would work on scales. For more advanced players I would start to use excerpts from the Arbons book. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

While living in Japan I had the opportunity to present masterclasses in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, teaching using only Japanese language. This experience taught me the value of words, and also the importance of ensuring that students are able to comprehend all discussed material. Last year, I was invited to teach a masterclass in Seoul, Korea, working with Choongheon Lee, Principal Clarinet of the CheongJu City Symphony. Throughout my teaching career, I have had students succeed in All-District Band, All-District Orchestra, All-State Honors Band, and some to continue as Clarinet Performance Majors. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I started teaching private voice lessons in 1984 during my junior year at Oberlin. While at Yale, I was awarded a teaching assistantship (1986-88). Since then I have maintained a private studio of voice students in Chicago. Ive had experience both with students who love classical music to those who sing musical theater, spirituals, choral singers, etc. I love teaching and nothing is more gratifying than hearing a students progress. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

For individual study, I use a number of diverse methods, depending on the needs and goals of the student. Beginner students will start with the Hal Leonard Beginner series, focused on mastering the fundamentals. Once a students has mastered the foundational technical scales, arpeggios, articulation; and understanding of time and tempo, we can proceed to augmenting the classical studies with jazz studies. For more intermediate - advanced students, we continue with the Hal Leonard series and augment with the Paul DeVille Universal Method for Saxophone, Klose 25 Daily Exercises, Voxman Selected Studies Books, and transcriptions of Bach (Cello Suites) and Taffanel (Flute Studies). Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

The student will learn music theory and of course also how to sing or play the piano. I always use a combination of what the student needs and also what the student wants to play.For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I began teaching bass in high school to elementary and middle school students. In college, as my knowledge of music theory expanded, I began teaching guitar and voice as well. Students need not be able to read music to study with me, although if we begin a professional relationship, know that I use much theory and classical techniques in all styles of playing on both guitar and bass. I'm currently teach jazz music the most, but I have found that covering more styles as a teacher reminds me of how connected the world of music really is and I'd love to get back into teaching rock, classical, funk and other styles of music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am an instructor and performer who specializes in teaching drum set methods, rudiment training and independent mobility exercises based off of Hal Leonard's "Drum Set Methods" book. Not only do I teach the fundamentals but I cater to what each particular student wants out of a lesson. If a student wants to learn how to play a rock beat or a particular song, we will learn the necessary skills to get to the point to where they leave their lesson confident and capable of their abilities! Read More