Piano Lessons in Boring, OR

Instruments: Piano Voice Synthesizer Keyboard

My desire is to bring your musical goals into focus through education and creative participation. I believe piano instruction should be geared to the student, fun and casual, yet challenging and inspiring. I also believe patience and encouragement are essentials to a great lesson experience. I teach sight-reading, music theory, improvisation and notation, and I'm comfortable in many styles, including classical, pop and rock. You will gain skills for ensemble playing, writing your own music, or simply playing for your personal enjoyment. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

For beginning students who are children, I like to start with Piano Adventures by Nancy and Randall Faber. In addition to the method books to introduce music theory I incorporate musical games and flash cards. Keeping lessons fun and stimulating for young students I believe is vital to their growth. For older and more experienced students, I like to personalize my lessons to what the student is interested in while keeping lessons challenging and enjoyable at the same time. Read More

Instruments: Piano

For beginning students (children) I use the Piano Adventures books by Faber also with a notespeller and possibly some Hanon exercises. For beginner adults I use the adult beginner Piano Adventures, notespeller, and Hanon. So for any student there is a combination of music theory, finger exercises, and learning how to play and enjoy piano music. Once my student becomes more advanced I will encourage them to play short classical pieces such as a waltz or prelude, or a piece of music of their choice. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

With new students, my first goal is to surmise what they have learned thus far. I then "fill in the gaps" to get them up to speed, which depending on their skill level, can take one lesson or many lessons. For younger students who need more inspiration to be able to do that sort of catch-up work, I attempt to balance the fun with the learning. Learning instrument technique can be tedious, so I do my best to help my students be aware of their weaknesses and play to their strengths, to work smarter, not always harder. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola Fiddle

Festivals include International Celtic Colours Festival, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia;International Festival-Institute at Round Top, Texas; Aspen Music Festival and School, Colorado. Performance experience includes: Miami Symphony Orchestra, Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra, Chehalem Symphony Orchestra, Cape Breton Chamber Orchestra, Lafayette Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Reno Symphony Orchestra, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Newport Oregon Chamber Orchestra. Teaching experience includes: Miami Dade College, George Fox University, Davis & Elkins College, Indiana University, University of Nevada. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Synthesizer Keyboard

I can teach any skill level. If you are beginning with zero experience, the first thing I teach is middle C. It's the center of the universe as far as the piano is concerned. I also teach 'spider position', which is how the student wants to have their hands positioned. Intermediate students can dictate to me what they want to work on. If they just want to learn "Charlie Brown" I can teach that, or if they want a more regimented lesson plan I can do that as well.  I also have advanced students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Ukulele Electric Violin Fiddle Acoustic Guitar

I like to balance musical enjoyment and technical training in my teaching method. I like to see the students making new musical and technical discoveries each week. I encourage them to set goals such as performing in quarterly student recitals and to consider taking part in a Syllabus program that has advancing yearly goals. I use the Suzuki method especially with the younger students and encourage parents to become effective home teachers through coaching and printed materials. Read More