Music Lessons in Thornton, PA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Synthesizer Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Acoustic Guitar

I began playing piano for church choirs in my hometown. During my college years, my private lessons experience began when I would give pointers to my fellow music majors who had to pass piano proficiency as part of their degree requirement. Furthermore, I am from the school of thought of concentrated practice. I help students identify the length of time they can concentrate without exhausting their attention. I always want students to have in mind the goals they want to accomplish in taking lessons such as recitals, competitions, showcasing and/or enrichment. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Electric Violin

During my middle through high school years as a performing arts student, I began teaching to the younger grades because I loved filling my time with music performance and education. I was honored to perform at various venues on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts, such as the Kimmel Center. I have performed with the Curtis Institute of Music, Temple University's orchestra, the All-City Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as multiple performances with the conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

My teaching philosophy follows the belief that musical understanding and maturity are easier to discuss once the student is able to execute a variety of technical details. I often say that technique is teaching a student how to make ten shades of blue, but musicality is deciding which shade of blue to use. Musicality can be more subjective than technique, although there are certain guidelines for each period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, etc.). Read More

Instruments: Guitar

For children I tend to teach songs by The Beatles as standard curriculum, as well as learning to read music proficiently. The things tend to be non-negotiable unless the parent informs me otherwise. For teens and pre-teens reading music is optional as well as the types of songs you wish to learn or the theory you wish to learn. That's just a general overview, along the way we learn all types of riffs, vamps, chords, scales, etc., to which we follow my standard development method, but never neglecting your own personal interests in music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Conga Djembe

I believe every student is unique and will need to improve in different areas for different reasons. Every student will have a specific taste in music so I always to try design lessons based on the music style they enjoy most. I will also introduce new music to keep them inspired. But, in general I have found the best teaching style is to both agree on a list of songs to learn. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Music Keyboard Electric Guitar

For beginner students, I often begin with the foundations of the instrument. For drums, we would be practice the rhythmic subdivisions (quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes) and slowly work them into grooves that they can easily start to pick out of their favorite songs. When the fundamentals have been established, we can learn more advanced grooves, dissect songs together, and learn how to improvise and write our own drum parts. My biggest focus as a teacher is to help the student discover the music that they want to learn and make so that they can develop their own unique voice. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Mandolin Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

When teaching classical piano, I use technique books like Hanon, Pischna for advanced beginners and intermediate. Material can range from Bach, Beethoven, Schumann etc. Contemporary methods usually from an approved song book or possibly a show tune. All students will learn from the previously method technique books. Beginners we will use some method book like Alfred or something similar. Guitar: Mel bay or something for sight reading. Wolfhardt for intermediate students. Read More