Piano Lessons in Calverton, VA

Instruments: Piano

Music is, inherently, a performing art, a poetic mode of expression and communication. Thus I firmly believe that all pianists, including professionals, enthusiasts, and novices, not only benefit and grow from the experience of public performances but also deserve such opportunities to play for others and be listened to. I challenge and encourage all my students to participate in semi-annual studio recitals and make the preparation an integral part of my teaching. Read More

Instruments: Piano

Lessons are at each students pace. Supplemental materials are studied according to the musical taste of the student. The materials reinforce concepts learned in the lesson book. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

For beginner students I will utilize either the "Alfred's Basic Piano Library" or "Faber - Hal Leonard's Piano Adventures" with the particular books selected to fit the student's age and skill level. I also enhance lessons by integrating scale pattern practice as well as exploration with simple boogie-woogie bass patterns; encouragement to sing and play where the lessons provide such an arrangement; and tinkering creating very simple melody lines and lyrics. Read More

Instruments: Piano

For the youngest students, I begin with Music for Little Mozarts or John Thompson method books and a lot of music related games. Flash cards assist with retention of musical terms and notes. I also provide worksheets to help reinforce what the students learn. Later I add exercises to help with rhythm and agility. Older students I begin with John Thompson method books or Bastien method books, theory books, and exercises. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet

My master's degree in trumpet performance at the University of Denver included a teaching assistantship: I taught trumpet lessons, coached brass quintets, trumpet ensembles, and more. I had a private studio in Denver and again in Cleveland, where I was before relocating to DC. In Cleveland I taught full-time and ended up with over fifty private students. My students there received such honors as entrance into the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Youth Wind Symphonies. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I start all of my beginning students in John Thompson Book One as it provides a great base to build on. After that lessons become very personalized to the student's learning styles as well as their individual goals. Adult beginners I supplement with Faber. I aim to get all of my students playing "real" music very quickly without sacrificing solid technique and fundamentals. I tend to spend half of a lesson on drills and half working on songs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Also an avid performer herself, Adrienne has toured with the New York Harlem Productions company of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, appearing as the Strawberry Woman in important European venues including the Komische Oper Berlin. She has sung in Carnegie Hall and appears on the Grammy Award winning CD “Songs of Innocence and Experience.” Perhaps her most noteworthy performance was singing for President Obama at his second term Inaugural Prayer Service. Read More