Music Lessons in Zion, IL

Instruments: Saxophone

I have been playing saxophone for over 20 years! I've been teaching private lessons since my college days at Eastern Illinois University. Since then I have gone on to teach High School Jazz Band, General Music and Orchestra at several schools in Chicago and it's suburbs.   Read More

Instruments: Trombone

I have a variety of method books, solos, and exercises to work with, but I like discovering the music that each student finds both challenging and rewarding rather than expecting every student to work on the same material. Read More

Instruments: Drums

My teaching experience has had alot of learning experiences for myself as well. Every student is different. You tend to learn things about other students playing that in some ways helps your own. Ive always emphasized listening to as many styles of music as possible. The more youre comfortable with as a listener, the easier it usually is to learn. The idea is to have a vast musical vocabulary so as not to limit yourself when it comes time to look for work either as a performer, a teacher, or a session player. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

As a teacher, I am most interested in helping students develop solid fundamental technique while discovering the joy of playing and mastering an instrument. I am very flexible in the use of method books, prefering to discover the individual needs of my students and tailoring instruction and materials to each individual. My teaching stresses the fundamental operation of the instrument (use of air, embouchure, posture, and hand placement) in order to unlock the student's full potential. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Music

To me, it is important that I meet each student exactly where they are at. Each student is unique and no two paths will be the same, so my instruction varies from student to student. Typically with the younger students, I do like to incorporate a lot of games, challenges, and rewards to help them find their motivation. For my older students, I encourage them by setting realistic goals and acknowledging their accomplishments, no matter how small. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music Keyboard

I continued teaching private lessons, while also conducting a high school youth choir in Chicagoland after moving to IL. After a few years my family and I moved to the greater Cincinnati area where I currently teach as a high school choral and drama teacher while serving as the theatre manager as well. I strongly encourage my students to learn to communicate with their music; while building strong technique and working on artistic expression, I want each student to be able to use music as a language. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

I will typically use the first lesson as an initial assessment of the student's personality and his/her skills. I ask the student what they would like to learn with the understanding that I will provide some of my own technical and theoretical knowledge. I like to create general lesson plans before each meeting so that I have some kind of outline to follow. I try to adhere to the student's progress timeline with the understanding that they need to be pushed a little out of their comfort zone if they want to see improvements. Read More