Music Lessons in South, VA

Instruments: Piano

I began teaching piano when my mentor gave me several opportunities to teach her students and she guided me through the art of piano pedagogy. I began teaching independently after I attended community college in order to pursue a career in music. I encountered students with a variety of learning styles, which allowed me to discover how to be flexible with my teaching style in order to fit the student's needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola

My main goal is to create a positive, productive and enjoyable learning experience for my students. In my lessons, I am helping my students to learn not only the particular technique or element but some aspects of music history as well as composers' background and important facts about musical styles. Each semester I have a recital for my students where they can share their progress and excitement about the lessons and music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I have been playing professionally for the past 33 years in different musical situations from Jazz Festivals, Broadway Musicals, Session Recordings, as a Show band Musician on Ships etc...And have taught numerous students who have gone on to various fields of musical endeavor.I also released my debut cd in 2011 "The Long Road Taken" with my own group the RDP Project which is available in Itunes, CDBaby and 10 other digital distribution sites. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Synthesizer Banjo Ukulele Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Djembe

It is this experience, that gives Mike an edge and understanding of what it takes to not only succeed in an academic setting but also in a 'real world' situation. Studying under great teachers himself, has given Mike the tools to design lesson plans specific to the student and be attentive to each students needs. Being a teacher of close to 25 years of all ages, he understands what it takes to make lessons fun, engaging, and all around great musical experience's that keep his students motivated and excited to get better on their instrument. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Steve is originally from the Binghamton, NY area and began studying drums at the age of 12 with local jazz musician Tony Monforte. He participated in the All State Orchestra and was placed on the Pro-Mark Honor Roll for young, up-and-coming drummers. Steve received a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY where he studied with Gordon Stout, Steve Brown, and Robert Bridge. He was selected to participate in the Henry Mancini Institute where he worked with some of the leading jazz, film, and classical musicians and composers from around the world including Terence Blanchard, Bud Shank, Christian McBride, and Jerry Goldsmith. Read More

Instruments: Voice

For beginning students I stress the importance of reading music, so I heavily work on their rhythmic and melodic vocabulary. I am not set on a particular methods book because I am a firm believer that all students learn differently and some methods work better for some than others. I like to be adaptive in my teaching and mold my lessons to fit the needs of each individual student. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

The most important elements of my teaching style are patience and consistency. It takes time and a great deal of repetition to become a good musician, as my own experience attests to. I encourage my students to set goals that start small and gradually increase over time, and are consistent with their time commitment. I am very flexible, and can adapt to each student's particular needs with ease. My methods are best demonstrated in person though! Read More