Music Lessons in Willernie, MN

Instruments: Trumpet

I like to begin students in the Arban's Conservatory Method book, it is a very thorough book with a lot of examples of most technical things a student should work on. It is a very comprehensive book that doesn't focus on anything in particular but covers everything well. I then like to move into books that focus more on different aspects of playing such as Charlier, Vizutti, Brandt, and Orchestral Excerpt books meant for Smphony auditions. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

With a new student I always start by getting to know their abilities and experience with the drums or any other musical instrument up to this point and then go from there. With someone starting out with no experience I begin with basic match-grip technique, striking the drum, and some basic counting to get the fundamentals down. I generally use George Lawrence Stones Stick Control for the Snare Drummer to introduce various sticking patterns and the upstroke/downstroke concept. Read More

Instruments: Violin

For beginners, particularly children, I use the Suzuki method due to the emphasis on learning the instrument before learning how to read notes. I do this in part because, regardless of method, listening to experts play pieces that you are working on is a big part of string playing, and the Suzuki method has become standardized enough that the beginner and intermediate pieces have readily available recordings. Once a baseline of the instrument is established, I add outside repertoire and workbooks. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar

My loveof music began at a young age through playing piano, percussion, and guitarand continued to grow throughout my years of schooling. I graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in May of 2013 with my Bachelor of Music degree with a Concentration in Music Composition. I have since been spreading my knowledge of music throughoutmy local community through teaching, playing, and composition. I have released twomusic albums, one in 2011 andthe other in 2013,in which Iplayed percussion, drum set, guitar, bass guitar,keyboard, and sang while also recording, electronically programming,composing, and producing the albums myself.I have been building my studiofor over eight years and have acquired many pieces of equipment that help me teach, compose, play, and produce music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba

My philosophy in teaching is that a good understanding of the foundation of music and the instrument will lead to self sufficiency in learning. I aim to teach my students not just to be dependant on myself as the instructor, but to be able to problem solve and learn on their own if they run into a question and an instructor is unavailable. I regularly practice sight reading with my students and keep them critically thinking about their music and what makes it up. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

For beginning students, I like to focus for the first few weeks on playing scales and songs without written music, and I continue to incorporate learning by at any level. When I begin using written music I use the Accent on Achievement or Essential Elements method (I am also comfortable with other standard elementary methods and would be happy to use whatever method a student's band director is using), which is a good place to start whether or not the student already reads music. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

After we figure out what you want to learn, I'll help you develop your skills so that you can play rock, blues, jazz or even learn how to solo. I believe that all my students have the ability to express themselves to some degree on the guitar, my goal is to help them as best I can, using my experience and knowledge of the instrument. Read More