Music Lessons in South Roxana, IL

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I consider a number of variables when determining what and how to teach guitar to a student. First, I have to know what kind of music the student enjoys. Next, I need to know what level guitar player they are. If Im teaching a beginning guitarist, I will typically spend a majority of the lesson utilizing fun methods to build basic technique. If a student doesnt have a technical foundation, it may not benefit them to present them with music theory in the beginning. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Recorder Euphonium French Horn Music Keyboard

For young beginner students (Ages 3-7) I typically start them with the Music for Little Mozart Series (4 books total). I pair that with fun music games, rhythm practice, listening activities and other misc. activities. At this age it is difficult for them to sit at the piano bench for the whole lesson so we only spend about half the lesson (but split up) at the piano and the other half learning basic music concepts through games. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

All music can be broken down into three categories: melody, harmony and rhythm. I tend to explore everything we do by observing how the given material utilizes one of these three elements (with rhythm being chief!). I love to instill the ideals that I have learned from my mentors into my own students. All guitar students are taught to think as musicians and not just as guitar players. I often think back on some of Miles Davis's famous words, "If it sounds right, it is right!". Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music Keyboard

My teaching experience dates back when i was just in kindergarten. I was always the one to teach all the kids in the class everything. It continued in my life as i got older. Teaching has always been within me. I love seeing other progress within there self. My teaching style is mostly hands on techniques. I'm always looking to bring new students of all ages to teach. I also work with composing and reading sheet music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Classical Guitar

Each lesson starts with technical exercises, follwed by repertoire. Each student does theory during the lesson with twenty questions at the end. During this time, I do all review theory material. Difficult passages are marked with a "P" chart. They have to play the difficult part four times and get a "P" for each perfect playing. Every fifth time they have to repeat from the beginning to integrate the difficult part with the rest of the song. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I began teaching during pedagogy classes at the University of Illinois. I've continued to teach piano whenever possible during other careers. (I also have a degree in journalism and communications, so I've worked as a writer, editor, public relations director and related fields). It's important that students have fun while learning, and I attempt to engage them as much as I can in endeavors they enjoy. I love seeing laughter and joywhen someone masters amusicproblem which with they previously struggled. Read More

Instruments: Piano

We always had a piano in the house when I was little. I started showing interest in the piano when I was about 3. At 6, my parents enrolled me at the St. Louis Institute of Music, the premier school for being a music student. The school taught students K-12, and had an accredited 4 year college. Most of the teachers in the preparatory school had graduated from the college, and were well respected musicians in the city. Read More