Piano Lessons in Gibbstown, PA

Instruments: Piano Voice Music

For all beginning students who are children, but also adult beginners, I like to focus on vocal warm-ups and exercises to ensure that they develop the fundamentals of healthy singing. After getting to know the student's voice a bit, I believe that coaching solo vocal repertoire is essential to building vocal technique and confidence in performing ability for many different situations. When assigning vocal repertoire, I first like to find out what sort of music the student is interested in and also what their goals are in taking voice lessons and assign repertoire accordingly, but I also like to begin with songs from Schirmer's 24 Italian Songs and Arias book to strengthen basic breath support and a vocal line that is connected to good breath support. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For young beginners, I like to use the Faber and Faber series. They do a wonderful job incorporating reading, listening, and writing into the curriculum. I also think creativity is a huge part of music. I love asking students to write their own songs. When I play their compositions on the piano, their reactions are priceless! For older beginners, advanced students, and voice students I use a similar approach but with supplemental materials. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

I will use whichever book students are using for their band class in addition to Rubank books. I will begin by teaching fundamentals using these books, then I continue to teach solo repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Viola Ukulele Music Acoustic Guitar

As I said before in my experience, I am a certified Suzuki violin teacher by the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and it is for that reason I principally use the Suzuki Methodology. However, I know every student is different. It is for that reason that I apply differently to each of them. I encourage my students to work toward different goals that we set up in the beginning of their lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

It is very easy today to record lessons and send students home with different songs to play along to. Drums are much more fun when you play with other musicians and one way to do that is with recordings. Again there is room for me to bring music to the student, but also room for the student to bring something to me that they want to learn. Also a great opportunity to show the similarities between and differences between these two events. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Synthesizer

As mentioned my teaching methods are as follows. Beginners in Piano - Scales, proper fingering positions and usage, posture and accurate knowledge of reading music. Beginners in Drums - Proper usage of drumsticks, demonstrate the two postions of holding the drumstick, knowledge of basic rhythm patterns, proper height and angle of drum or practice pad, and most importantly, the study of the 26 standard drum rudiments for proper playing developiment. Vocal Techniques: Proper breathing support, demonstrating the difference between using the breath and using the throat when singing, encourage student to record their lessons for accurate practice and knowledge of hearing themselves sing, (approved by student's preference). Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Once upon a time, one of my co-workers asked me to show her how to play some songs on the guitar. I can't remember exactly what those songs were, but I think it was Led Zeppelin, or something like that. Having never taught a lesson in my life up until that point, I reluctantly agreed, and later that week, she arrived at my front door with guitar in hand. As the lesson went on, I had a couple of "Aha" moments! Read More