Music Lessons in Sandbridge, VA

Instruments: Piano

I find that the most rewarding aspect of being a teacher is watching a student develop a stronger passion for music than they had to begin with.Students are encouraged to make manageable goals for each lesson so that they can feel a sense of achievement throughout the entire learning process. The smaller goals keep the students motivated constantly enabling them to become a better musician. By focusing on the process of learning, students are learning a set of skills that will enable them to learn pieces quicker and allow for a more rewarding end product. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

In high school I was fortunate to work with some local jazz musicians. One was a famous jazz guitarist named Lenny Breau. We had an artist in residence program with composer/ drummer Steve Grover and he was a big influence on me along with Dick Demers. I have performed in symphonies. I have done many Broadway musicals playing in the pit. I have played in many bands. Before I moved to Virginia I was living in Maine and playing in 5 bands. Read More

Instruments: Violin

Although this is my first official teaching job, I began teaching back in 2011 during my freshman year of high school. I had the pleasure of conducting and teaching both concert and chamber orchestra. I then became a student assistant my senior year and was able to do one-on-one's with the younger students. I encourage my students to go home and practice their scales. They are the key to the perfect bow hand/movement, structure, and agile finger movement. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Recorder Euphonium

I began teaching trumpet privately 44 years ago. Over the years I have added voice, beginning piano, trombone, euphonium,and recorder to my studio. I encourage each student to practice several times a week for as long as they can. I find that some students like to practice in one sitting, whereas others prefer to practice for 10-15 minutes before taking a break and then returning. I convey to each student that working at your craft for 10,000 hours will make you an expert. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

As the kid who always had a knack for useless facts, and an insatiable sponge for a brain needing to know how and why the world works- I have always been someone to share a little know how, and I know how to instill these things in an exciting way- whether it be a subject I've spent years filling my head with almost useless facts about things like the weird world of quantum physics, or my silly excitement in important, yet otherwise useless facts that might make ya think. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

The first opportunity I had to teach someone trumpet was during my junior year of high school. There was a freshman saxophone player who decided to switch to trumpet, so my band director had me teach her. Ever since then, I have been studying different pedagogical techniques for both trumpet and music in general. My belief is that, in order for a student to have the most success, they must set a goal for themselves. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Music

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Adrian J. is a rising Junior Viola performance major at the Eastman School of Music Studying under Professor George Taylor. Adrian began studying viola in his freshman year of highschool at McCallum Fine Arts Academy under Martha Carapetyan; he later went on to study at the Interlochen Arts Academy in his senior year under the teaching of Renee Skerik. Adrian has performed for and studied with esteemed performers and teachers such as Jeff Irvine, Lynn Ramsey, Masumi Rostad, Elias Goldstein, Yzak Schotten, Charles Castleman, Csaba Erdely, Karen Ritcher, Michael Ouzounian, JoAnn Falletta and more. Read More