Music Lessons in Wickenburg, AZ

Instruments: Guitar Voice Drums Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching method is a give-and-take. The more the student is able to put into the lessons the more I will be able to help them out. We will focus on learning some fundamental concepts and learning songs from artists the student loves. Each week the student will be assigned something to work on depending on their skills and then there will be a check in the next week to see how they did and how much or how little they worked on that task. Read More

Instruments: Flute Piccolo

I encourage regular practicing, setting goals, and holding students accountable for preparing materials for their lessons and/or for band at school or any other ensembles they may be involved in. I encourage my students to play beyond their lessons, such as school or outside ensembles. If I get enough students, I would love to put together a flute choir as well, as playing with other musicians helps to develop the ear for sake of tone flexibility, balance, and as well as intonation. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola

As students progress at his/her own pace I try to keep them moving forward with realistic goals and encouragement. One important consideration I keep in mind is choosing the right music for each student according to developing skill levels. If the music is to easy, a student could become bored and unchallenged. Should the music become to difficult too soon, the student may become discouraged. Having said that, I will allow the student to try some "challenging" music, and allow them to progress and work up to a new level of playing. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

I began teaching private lessons about 25 years ago, after I had been hired to work with the drumlines for two different high schools. My first student was in one of the drumlines that I taught, and my second student was referred to me by the band director of another school, after seeing my drumline in competition. Since then, I have taught more students than I can count. Most students have been middle and high school age, but I have had lots of fun teaching students as young as 5 years old, and adults who always wished they had learned to play the drums.I have found that the best way to motivate students is tostart by teaching themto play the kind of music they like most, and then introduce them to other styles later.Lessons are always fun, and catered to the student's needs. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet Bass Guitar

For all students, I teach them exercises to strenghten their fundamentals and skills in the given instrument, and each lesson we practice the exercises to focus on improving their sound production, pitch finding, placement, and more.  We also learn songs that both the student and I choose and prepare for performance (when necessary).  Here are the books I work from for each instrument, but please note that I don't necessarily use these for every student, only when appropriate: GUITAR:  Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method (books 1 through 3) VOICE:  Master Vocal Exercises by Horatio Connell, and Sightsinging (Hal Leonard) BASS GUITAR:  Bass Method, (Hal Leonard, books 1 through 3) TRUMPET:  Essential Elements 2000, (Hal Leonard, books 1 through 3) Read More

Instruments: Flute Harp Recorder Piccolo

The advantages of private lessons over in-class tuition are legion. All children learn differently, no matter how old, and if I can recognize the student's specific needs - be it confidence, focus, a goal - the classes can be tailored to meet individual needs. Another advantage is rate of progress. In class the faster learners can lose interest as the slower struggle to keep up. All can arrive at the destination but not all take the same path. Read More

Instruments: Piano

Once a lesson plan has been established with a student, I progress them through each lesson with specific goals. My goal is to infuse the student with understanding but also wonder and awe as to how music is created. There is always something worth praising in a student, and I am always sure to do that in our lessons after every performance. I always make sure we discuss (1) what did we like about that performance, and (2) what are things we could do to make it better. Read More