Piano Lessons in Darnestown, MD

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar

I began teaching my senoir year of college. I have been working with students of all ages ranging from 5 to 70. I tend to specialize in the beginner and intermediate. I Believe a firm foundation mixed with exploration is the key to a succeful music experience. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ Music Keyboard

I discovered my love for music at an early age. Though I started in the children’s choir at church, I began playing the piano by ear at the age of 9. Formal training is due to Morgan State University, which I am scheduled to graduate December 2019. My favorite thing about music is the power it holds and the ability to share experiences and emotions. Teaching the arts is amazing to me because it allows an opportunity to empower another to creatively share their story. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet French Horn Oboe Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students I start with basics: learning how to hold the instrument, put it together, etc. Then when that is solid we learn a few notes. From there we go to the Rubank books. At the same time, we start reading music that I find appropriate for them. For adults, it depends on what they want to learn. Popular songs or songs they request. But I also push for technical mastery of the instrument so I push for knowledge of scales and then keep pushing with more challenging/fun pieces. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For young voice students, I usually start them off with the Giant Book of Childrens Vocal Solos, which has enough songs to last the first few years of learning to sing, and the Full Voice books in order to learn solfedge and some music theory. Once we have done some of the simpler songs that teach fundamentals, we then can add supplemental pieces (classical, folk, appropriate pop). For teens and adults, both piano and voice lessons are tailored toward goals and interests. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar Organ Music Keyboard

My teaching methods focus on building on the fundamentals of embodied proficiency with music (not just how to "read what's on the page", but first how to feel and delve into what's happening with all the moving parts and their many relationalities). For both children and adult students, before getting into structures and representations, the starting point will be the embodied feelings and experiences of and around music. In the first lesson, even my absolutely-beginner students will be having fun jamming, exploring and applying newly-learned things before we even talk about what a major scale is. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute Recorder

Methods are tailored around the individual needs and goals of the student. Fundamentals in music theory are balanced with repertoire and lessons focus on developing practice skills that the student can use outside the lesson. The Suzuki method is ideal for beginning flute students, particularly young students. This approach allows students to become comfortable holding the instrument, producing a solid tone, and training the ear, before introducing notation. For beginning pianists, the Bastien series works well in terms of breaking down repertoire into manageable pieces and marking students' progress in early study. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard

I have been teaching students private voice and piano for 6 years. Encouraging a consistent schedule is one of the key points that I like to emphasize for younger and new students. This will help students progress and gain a passion for the instrument. I've found that a combination of different genre's, such as classical and modern day music, can help students enjoy the piano/voice and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. Read More