Music Lessons in West Woodland, WA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Trombone Bass Guitar Ukulele Recorder Orchestral Percussion Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students, I strive to teach the basics of music theory while learning the fundamentals of producing characteristic tone on their instrument. I typically start by working through the Essential Elements method book and introduce solos, ensembles, and orchestral excerps when appropriate. If the student is a part of a school or community ensemble, I work with the student on any pieces that their ensemble is preparing for performance. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar

My teaching experience dates back to my college days, as I began teaching part time while going to school. I took some time off to travel and focus on my performance career but have taught full time at The Guitar Store in Greenwood for the past 7 years.  I have played guitar professionally in the Seattle area for the past 12 years. My main genre is progressive rock, although I love Jazz, Pop, blues, Calypso and many other forms of music! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin

For adults, I always start off with the list of five: five songs and/or artists that inspire them. This gives me an idea of what they want to be learning in the coming months, and I create a path for them that leads that direction, from the very first step. We will spend a lot of time on the fundamentals (scales, chords, rhythm, sight-reading) but all in the interest of using these tools on the songs they love. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

I teach using a combination of the Pascale Method (a very good set of pre-written lessons for the very young student), I Can Read Music's rhythm exercises (goes along with the Suzuki books), Strings Fun and Easy, and Suzuki. In addition, I now start students in third position, which has proven to be so very beneficial to my students. During lessons, students should expect to receive a very firm foundation on which to lay their more advanced skills. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

First lesson: talk a bit about students' goals or if they don't know, or if they're just trying it out, it's all fine, and we'll go from there. I want to know what kind of music somebody likes and what gets them excited. Favorite songs can be goals for new students, so they can see results pretty early on. I had great teachers that showed me chords for my favorite Beatles and Beach Boy songs and that let me have fun while building up dexterity. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion

Proficiency in reading music is a top goal for my new students and we start to read music within the first few lessons. I balance working out of a book with listening exercises, playing along to songs and the occasional game or two. A typical 60 minute lesson run down: 5 minutes - check in from previous lesson and a warm up 15 minutes - beat/groove workshop - digging into a style and working on various drum beats in that style 10 minutes - technical piece that relates to the beats/grooves weve been working on and some exercises to improve technique 5 minutes - game or improvisation break, something to give our brains a rest 20 minutes - working on a song. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar Double Bass

My name is Jeff Gray. I am an upright and electric bassist with over 30 years experience playing and 20 years teaching music. I am a highly distinct and diverse musician and teach from beginner to advanced levels. Main styles include rockabilly slap, jazz/gypsy jazz, Americana, country, western swing, classical, bluegrass, surf, jump blues and many others. I am extremely knowledgeable in music theory and teach sight-reading skills. Read More