Piano Lessons in Gapland, DC

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Flute Recorder Piccolo Music Keyboard

In 2013, I graduated with a Bachelor's in Music from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts. I honed my craft of private teaching and also specializing in Balkan folk works, arranged for flute and secondary woodwinds. In 2019, I extended these skills over into Vocalism: singing, beatboxing, rapping, and spoken word. Ergo, my best work to date is an original composition called "LatinAmerica". There, I looped my original flute samples, singing, beatboxing, and minimal electronic effects onto my Boss Rolland RC 505 tabletop loop station. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I never want to pressure or overwhelm a student with too much information or expectation, because instead of the instruction being seen as a challenge, it is interpreted as an unenjoyable command, and that discourages the student from practicing to meet their goals, instead of motivating and inspiring them. What I find works best is relating lessons to popular current music, further exploring the bridge of dynamics that make up the songs that the student enjoys. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

While living in Denton, Texas, I started teaching private voice and piano lessons near the end of my Master of Music studies in Vocal Performance in 2019. I was an independent contractor at three different music institutions at the time, and I taught lessons to over 30 students during the first year. Then, during the Covid pandemic, I moved to Northern Virginia and started my own private teaching business, Hannahs Music Studio, in Fall 2020. Read More

Instruments: Piano

For children under the age of 6, I start with Music for Little Mozart, which is a fantastic introduction to music and piano playing. For children older than 6, I generally start with Bastion's Piano Basics because the music is very engaging and the music gradually increases in difficulty. I also add in music outside the method book in order to provide music that interest them and to focus on specific challenges. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar

My approach varies depending on the student's skill level and chosen instrument, but for beginners I always try to get them familiarized with their instrument: teaching them the basics of reading music and how to navigate the different keys (or strings, etc.). From there I start teaching various musical concepts, the rudiments of music theory, and begin introducing them to different styles of music. When the student is advanced enough, I start having them run through my own custom designed technique and skill drills, and have them start selecting music that they would like to perform on their own. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ

The foundation of my teaching is based on listening, which sounds simple. But, it's not always easy! The awareness needed to listen mindfully will set the foundation to enable students to make informed musical decisions on their own. Additionally, practicing is an art form in and of itself, and it's much more than playing pieces over and over again. Practicing efficiently requires listening, of course, and problems solving skills. In addition to presenting the fundamental skills of music making, I address the aspects needed to make informed decisions. Read More