Piano Lessons in Beltsville, MD

Instruments: Piano Cello Double Bass Keyboard

My teaching style revolves around the interest of the student combined with my overall experience with one ultimate goal being that the student will develop the tools to teach themselves along the way. I like to use relevant recordings to play along with as well as simply recording the student and playing it back during the lesson. I will keep a written log of our progress and will have it available for the student as a reference as well as encouraging them to do the same. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ Music Keyboard

The goal is to supply students with the tools and the knowledge to be successful and also to facilitate an environment of growth. As we progress through lessons, I will challenge students with weekly and even monthly goals. I've realized every student has a different way of learning, and the methods will cater to the individual. For instance, students who learned mostly by ear can learn about theory. We can begin by identifying whether a scale is major or minor, but first we need to know that major generally sounds brighter/happy and minor usually sounds darker/sad. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Keyboard

Prior to studying at Peabody I toured professionally with various jazz ensembles, including competing for first place wins at the Reno (Nevada) Jazz festival for two years. At Peabody I studied with Fernando Laires and later, Robert Weirich where I excelled in contemporary music and difficult avant guarde performance ensembles. I was also a frequent guest performer for the Peabody Camerata Ensemble under director Gene Young. In the mid 90s I created the Bachelor of Music curriculum for the Maryland Bible College. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Flute Synthesizer Music Keyboard

As an instructor, my job is to give the student every opportunity possible to discover their passion for music. The first lesson is always about providing a safe relaxed tone and finding out where that student's progress is. Not establishing an accurate assessment of their progress can be very destructive because it could cause me to come off as either too demanding or condescending. Depending on what their level is, I will design a custom curriculum to bring their weaknesses to the same level as their strengths. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Cello Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Every lesson plan I make is customized to a student's interests, learning needs, and age. I combine a combination of technique focus and repertoire learning in each lesson. As students progress, their plans are updated to reflect their growth as a musician. I like to involve students directly in the goal planning process and keep them regularly updated about where they are on meeting their goals. Furthermore, teaching sustainable, healthy, and effective practice techniques is a core part of how I teach. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. I not only use books, but videos, lots of exercises to use when at home and formal presentations. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Keyboard

I typically begin my lessons with a 30 to 45-minute session to introduce music theory and the chosen instrument. For beginner students, I use a combination of the James Bastien and Alfred's Basic methods to teach foundational music theory. Based on the student’s instrument of choice, I supplement these lessons with additional materials tailored to practice and performance. For adult students, I prioritize their interests, adapting my lessons to make the learning experience engaging, enjoyable, and relevant to their musical goals. Read More