Music Lessons in West End, MA

Instruments: Guitar

I like the Hal Leonard Guitar Method series, for guitar. I also use scales, picks, fingerstyle methods, and backing tracks to help get the students up to speed on a song or a riff they'd like to learn. It's important to understand the background of music, so I tend to also teach students the structure of a 12-bar blues progression and relate it to songs of yesterday and today. This enables students to get a well-rounded introduction to understanding timing, tempo, basic theory/progressions, improvisational ideas, and more! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar

I have found, especially for beginner and younger students (I.E. friends and family members I have taught), it is best to first see where they are in ability to play the instrument. From there, we work on correcting bad habits that develop from being self taught, things such as poor picking technique, finger placement, hand placement, minimal understanding of rhythm and basic theory concepts. Then we discuss what the student would like to learn, and after a solid foundation of basic concepts has been developed, I can create more personalized lessons from there! Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

I am new to the teaching aspect of music, however, I will be attending UMass Amherst in the Fall to get my Teacher's License. I am interested in private lessons because it offers a more personal one-on-one experience in which I can shape the curriculum specifically to the student's needs and desires. Read More

Instruments: Flute

I have developed my own system and materials for introducing the fingerings and reading music in a methodical way. I write my own simple exercises and songs. I use the Wagner book and a duet book, and appropriate solos depending on the interests of the student. I customize the lessons and go where the student's needs and interests are. Popular songs can be good as solos, and some studnets really enjoy playing Handel, Telemann, and Bach. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

My teaching experience has showed me that there is no one "correct" approach to learning guitar or any musical instrument for that matter. There are certainly valuable techniques that can be adopted by every student to help them progress, however each student presents their unique personality and tastes in music. In order to help bring out the student's musical "voice" on his or her particular instrument, my approach to teaching will vary. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I have been teaching piano lessons since I was in middle school and now have built 10 years of experience in piano instruction. Encouraging regular practice and a consistent schedule is one of the key points I like to emphasize in all students; as it leads to steady, tangible progress visible to both the students and the parents. During my time at Central Michigan University, I was employed by the school's Community Music School where I would teach five students a semester through the university. Read More