Music Lessons in Sunray Battlecreek Highwood, MN

Instruments: Violin Cello Viola

THE DOUNIS METHOD - The secret of being a truly great string player is to make the instrument an extension of the body not vice versa. This is accomplished by using your native instincts which are strongest when you are a child, but can be rediscovered later. When all technique is based on these instinctive movements then the expression is released. Your creative potential is unlocked. This kind of playing conveys a natural musical authority because it is completely based on your own musical impulses. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

With a new student I always start by getting to know their abilities and experience with the drums or any other musical instrument up to this point and then go from there. With someone starting out with no experience I begin with basic match-grip technique, striking the drum, and some basic counting to get the fundamentals down. I generally use George Lawrence Stones Stick Control for the Snare Drummer to introduce various sticking patterns and the upstroke/downstroke concept. Read More

Instruments: Piano Clarinet

I believe in finding its own method for each student. Sometimes it takes a lesson or 2 to understand the student's motivations and find a path to make learning and playing an instrument enjoyable, fun and productive and progressive at the same time. For clarinet beginners, I start with Fred Weber's method book which has pretty simple melodies and is easy to follow and understand and all kids very enjoy it. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My earliest musical memories were of Led Zeppelin, Guns 'n' Roses, and Jimi Hendrix. When I started taking guitar lessons at eleven years old, I pursued the powerful distorted guitar riffs from my classic rock idols. After learning about jazz in high-school, I began to seek out knowledge of every genre of music. McNally-Smith helped me tremendously. I joined a wide range of ensembles, from blues to indie-rock, classical to gypsy jazz. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello

Cello is my main instrument, but I have also been teaching piano, guitar, and violin for years. I love teaching and the variety of finding the approach that works best for each individual student. On a personal note, I was married in 2010 and had my first child, a boy, a year later. I live in Northfield but commute up to the Eden Prairie/Chanhassen area for lessons every Monday. I am also open to giving lessons at people's homes who are close to Highway 35 on the way to or from the Cities. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe

My teaching style is very focused on the student's desire to learn what they want. Very early into taking on a new student, I try to find what/who inspires them. Doing so allows me to tailor my teaching to each individual student. I also like to have 3 main "small improvement" objectives for each lesson. There's improvement on what we did during our last lesson, improvement during the lesson with something new I will introduce, and improvement for our next lesson with something I will give to the students to work on themselves after our lesson. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I begin with an assessment of the student that starts with the student explaining to me his or her background and personal goals/reasons for taking voice lessons. From there, I take the student through simple exercises where assess the students ability in the fundamentals of, postural alignment, breath support, resonance, articulation, and vowel constancy. Based on the students' ability I devise a regimen of vocal exercises designed to strengthen areas of weakness. Read More