312-789-4185
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24 Years
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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Chicago . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Voice Violin Clarinet Ukulele Recorder Fiddle
The first band I have been in was when I was twelve years old, playing clarinet in my local bandshell. I have performed in a large variety of settings including the NIU Wind Symphony, NIU Wind Ensemble, NIU Chamber Group, NIU Huskie Marching Band, and NIU Sinfonia. I also played clarinet with the Kishwaukee Concert Band, DeKalb Municipal Bandshell, and was principal clarinetist and ringer of the Illinois Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
My teaching style involves a more personal level. For example, finding out what the student enjoys listening to, what their motivations as well as what their priorities are. The student will, for the most part, control the direction of their skill. I will show, by example, how amazingly useful music theory is as well as how to understand a piece of music just by listening to it. By understanding aural skills, the will be able to identify components of each song or sequence of notes just by hearing it. Read More
Instruments: Piano
I am flexible and I adapt my method to the student. I like to start students out with learning scales right away. If you can learn the scales, it makes learning new songs so much easier. Plus, they are great excercise for building agility. I also like to use a book called "A Dozen a Day" which includes more excercies for building agility and helping students master more difficult levels of music. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Synthesizer Keyboard
For piano, I use the Faber, Snell, Alfred and Marlais methods to the end of Level 6. These would include a lesson, technique, theory and performance books. Dozen a Day is included along with Czerny and Hanon in later levels. For voice, the younger students use Patterns of Sound, with scales, theory, performance and diaphragm exercise are included. Older students start with the the Liebling lesson book after a scale testing is done to see what range they sing in. Read More
Instruments: Piano
I have been teaching for about 14 years. I have taught in several schools, but I'm only teaching privately now. Read More
Instruments: Piano
I require my students to put in the work to make these lessons a worthwhile investment, but I think the most important thing is to retain the joy of taking piano lessons. I don't want practice to feel forced, however I do think there is a certain amount of will power that goes along with learning a skill. Therefore, I require students to do a time minimum of practice appropriate for the age and skill level. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Synthesizer Recorder Electric Violin Double Bass Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe
My teaching style is very involved and incorporates playing for the student, playing with the student, and having the student play on their own. Creating a safe environment where the student is comfortable making mistakes is vital, because making mistakes is a vital component to learning how to play an instrument. I take each student at their own pace and cultivate growth through technical mechanics of the instrument as well as philosophical ideals about what it means to be a musician. Read More
Instruments: Piano Organ
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
I generally audition a student and have them either sight read a composition or play something they have done in the past. Afterwards, we talk about basic musicianship and technique requirements. The student needs to know something about a composer and why that composer composed in a certain style, the period the composition was composed, and a brief analysis of what's happening in the music. If there is a specific theme that is worth mentioning, I will have the student give me their ideas and why a particular composer chose that theme.
When will I start to see results?
I recommend that a beginning student take at least three months to see how they like the piano and give them a chance to explore diverse styles. Not every beginning student will aspire to be a classically trained pianist. You may have someone who likes popular, rock and roll, jazz, and even the more contemporary. Three months is a fairly good indicator if a student likes what they are doing and plan to continue. Piano competitions are encouraged as part of their educational development and this is set up by age levels in communities.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I had two piano teachers in music that inspired me years ago when I started in music school. Before starting college, a lady at my home church in West Virginia prepared me for my audition at West Virginia University before finishing high school. I memorized and played the "Sonata Pathetique" by Beethoven which I did all three movements of the work. The entire music department at the university heard my audition and afterwards was told my artistry was wonderful and that came from Herman Godes who was my principal teacher.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
It was my mother who encouraged me to learn the piano which began at age 6. Besides playing the keyboard, I was a gifted singer as well and received voice instruction in a local boys choir and did that until age 14. All through junior high and high school, I was selected as an accompanist for the choirs and received the musicianship award upon graduation from high school. Then through my college years, I was fortunate to study with some of the finest teachers in the world who were world class artists.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Spend at least 30 minutes a day for small children focusing on technique, sight reading, simple solo pieces, and basic fundamental theory. For more intermediate and advanced, anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour. I remind students not to focus on too much at one time. Divide up the session into segments and spend most of the practice on styles and techniques.
Occasionally, I may introduce a recording of a piece and have the student listen and then give me feedback on what they heard and how it should be analyzed.
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Piano lessons in Chicago to students of all ages and abilities.
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