Music Lessons in Thornton, PA

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I structure my lessons in the same way I structure my own personal practice. I usually start off with a few technical exercises, then cover some theory, and then work on repertoire. How much time goes in to each category will depend on the student. A beginner tends to need more time on technique, whereas someone who has an audition or recital coming up will spend most of their time on repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Flute Recorder Piccolo Music

For beginners, I start with the basics of sound production, and move onto reading music and basic songs shortly after. I try to teach things both visually and by ear, so that the student does not feel that they have to wait to play fun music until they are advanced enough. I believe in a strong base of music theory (scales, arpeggios, understanding intervals), so that the student can use their musical knowledge in many subject areas. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

As a teacher, I know that every student is different and learns differently. So I determine through lessons how each student learns best and set goals that each student can attain weekly. I mark off lines that students pass in their book and give a happy face, or a kind of positive acknowledgement, when he or she passes the whole page. I am very persistent with students and will not breeze over something they really need to know. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I knew that I wanted to be a teacher before I ever touched a guitar. Growing up in a family of school teachers allowed me to see the broad spectrum of the educaGonal process, from designing lesson plans to filing report cards, and I quickly realized that a teacher doesn’t stop working when the bell rings. Teaching history out of a textbook is one thing...teaching a student to hear the color of an altered dominant chord is a totally different beast. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

A beautiful sound is the beginning of the creation of beautiful music! I find it most important to do work on a student's sound in the beginning stages of playing. To achieve the foundations of a good sound, playing pitches (beginning with A on alto) on the mouthpiece alone will develop the student's sound from the beginning as well as lay the foundations for a good embouchure. Doing this brings awareness to the students use of air by showing him/her the muscules used within and around the oral cavity in order to produce an optimal sound on the saxophone without developing bad habits that could be detrimental to a student's health. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums

My methods are in service of the cultivation of interest. Mainly I want the student to focus on learning how to play the music they want to play. The key to cultivating interest is to nurture the social, communicative and fun elements of playing music; associating the laughter and exhilaration with learning. I'm a self taught musician - I know that music is intuitive enough to learn without getting overly text-book about it, and I think focusing too much on the book at an early age can turn away potential musicians. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

I enjoy teaching private lessons and helping students discover their niche and their full potential. I graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree (magna cum laude). I've performed as lead/solo trumpet with the Blue Lake International Jazz Orchestra on their month-long tour of Europe in 2010. I have performed with the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra and many smaller ensembles. I'm currently pursuing my Master of Music in trumpet performance at Temple University and am studying with David Bilger, principal trumpet of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Read More