Music Lessons in Wayland, OH

Instruments: Drums

I teach musical skills through the use of contemporary music while enforcing traditional concepts. I love to share the joy of playing drums with students of any level or age! For beginning students who are children, I start with some simple rhythmic concepts and some easy sight reading. When they have established some fundamentals on the set, I can teach them how to play a song that they love or different grooves that they will enjoy playing. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

During my experience teaching clarinet to students representing a wide spectrum of abilities, either at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Interlochen Arts Academy, or Cleveland School of the Arts, I have always strived to elicit a strong work ethic and joy for the process of music-making. Having been exposed to various methods of teaching the clarinet, it surely helped me throughout the years; having students from all over the World brought even greater spectrum to the approach that I have already been taking. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Flute

I am a very kinesthetic teacher. We move around the room a lot during lessons because piano, flute, and voice should be an extension of music that is first heard in the mind (inner hearing/audiation), so note playing/singing is not merely a muscle memory. We sing, tap, or clap 90% of music we learn before we attempt to play it on an instrument or sing it resonantly. Thinking through a vocal line and anticipating the high notes and the openness needed in the body/throat and the breath support needed will help the student discover an unknown freedom and give them tools to help transfer this into other songs. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Lessons are kept upbeat and positive with an emphasis on continuous progress and positive reinforcement. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

For young beginners, I usually start with simple note reading so that they can begin playing tunes right away. When children realize that they can play "Happy Birthday" or "Jingle Bells" after just a couple of lessons, their interest level increases. For older students, I tend to ask "What does playing the guitar look like to you? What do you imagine yourself doing when you ponder it?" This gives me the best idea of what direction we can plan for. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I teach a combination of Rote and verbal, conveying my ideas while playing as an example. I realized my passion for music when I was teaching forty clarinetists during a band camp. They caught on to my personality and knew I wanted the best for them. This ultimately drove them to be better musicians. In a perfect world, I would rather teach the rest of my life without being paid and be able to support myself but unfortunately that is not how the world works. Read More

Instruments: Voice

My goal as a teacher is to show students the joys of singing and playing music, while instructing them how to be technically proficient and vocally healthy. Through the process, I encourage singers to appreciate what their strengths are and to recognize their weaknesses as challenges. I like to focus on one technical issue at a time, building upon the current strengths without overwhelming the singers. In essence, I drive my students to improve and set attainable goals so that they can approach singing and playing in a smart, healthy, and happy way. Read More