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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Kirkland . 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 Synthesizer Music Keyboard
When I teach teenagers or adults I usually start with Alred’s Basic Adult Piano Course Book, as well as a music theory book that is suited to the student. I like Alfred’s series for the young beginner as well, but have also used the Bastien series. For voice students I use a warm up book and a sight singing book. My students keep a music notebook of the week’s assignments in which I also make music theory notes and explanations. Read More
Instruments: Piano
I am a motivated classically trained piano instructor who enjoys working with students of all ages, who before teaching was a performer as a very young student. I changed from performance to graduate with a B.Mus. degree in teaching, musicology and performance. I have been teaching for over 30 years either in High or Elementary Schools. For the past 14 years I have had a successful piano studio. Successful because most of my students have stayed with me from grade 1 until going into college. Read More
Instruments: Piano Violin
Although I have a classically trained background, I understand that some students don't respond well to the traditional" Suzuki style learning. So, I like to assess a student before recommending books and or repertoire for them or their parents to purchase. I plan unique lesson plans for each student based on several determining factors including level of playing, age, learning curves, learning styles, what their goals for lessons are, and how much practice time they want to commit to per week (which is usually a different number to students than it is to parents). Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice French Horn Music
In the same genre, I have taught and coached pianists and pit players to adopt the nuances of musical theatre music. In the classical world, I have coached chamber music, solo and group improvisation, jazz combos, choral ensembles, solo vocalists, and piano soloists. When I was an undergraduate, I took courses in choral, woodwind, string, percussion, and brass pedagogy. I find teaching music to be an act of listening deeply and responding from my gut, my experience, and my heart. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
I am a local PNW artist and educator with a passion for both classical and modern music. I believe that in order to call oneself a musician, you need to be able to appreciate all forms and sounds throughout musical history. My goal is to bring high caliber training to my area, but most importantly to foster a life long passion for music and the arts. Alongside repertoire, I also teach music theory from beginning to advanced. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums
I've been teaching music, in some capacity, since I was 17 and captain of my highschool's drumline. In college I taught drumset lessons to students of all ages and in graduate school I taught a music theory course for 5 semesters as well as classical percussion to 6th - 8th graders. Getting to know my students, what they like and don't like, what they read and listen to, is one of my favorite things and I think it really helps engender a life long passion for music when a teacher takes a personal interest in the students lives. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Double Bass Keyboard Acoustic Guitar
I'm a musician to my core. I have love music since before I played it. I always like the bass guitar even though I couldn't play one (yet) and I really wanted to play bass once I heard Stanley Clarke play his bass guitar. I was blown away and I had to learn how to play bass guitar, which I did. I have traveled and performed around the world because of music. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Clarinet Bass Guitar Organ Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Double Bass Keyboard Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
Unfortunately I never chose a primary instrument. I chose piano at age six because there was a piano in the house. I chose clarinet in fifth grade but it did not become a primary instrument because I wanted to play in jazz band in high school and played bass because that was needed. Bass was my primary professional instrument up to about 1990 when I started playing guitar and mandolin professionally. Then when I studied to be a church musician I was back to playing piano and added organ. In essence I have become a jack-of-all-trades on instruments. I don't recommend having such diversity because it keeps one from mastering a specific instrument; though I do enjoy playing all the instruments I have chosen.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
When I first started at the church I currently work at the congregation was not a singing congregation. Now they are a great singing congregation and I believe that my accompaniment approach is a key part to that singing.
Another accomplishment that is important to me is that the gypsy jazz band I played in for several years played on the main stage of North America’s largest gypsy jazz festival. A great moment.
I also am always glad when I run across a former student that is still playing and tell me how much it enriches their life.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
A clarinet student became the winner of the state solo/ensemble contest.
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
On guitar the hardest thing is to learn to read music without tablature. Because some pitches can be played in multiple spots it can be challenging to know where to play the notes when reading. In some instances one might have two or three solutions before one settles on the best choice.
Another challenge with guitar is to play rhythm well, particularly when using a plectrum/pick. One needs to play so that it sounds smooth and does not drag.
The third challenge is to play with good tone whether using fingers, fingernails, fingerpicks or a plectrum.
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
On piano I build my lessons around the John Thompson method and supplement it with other materials to give a balanced foundation of many eras and genres.
On guitar, if a classical beginning is chosen, I use the Noad method or the Christofer Parkening method.
For other fingerstyle approaches I use Hal Leonard’s Guitar Workshop series for Fingerstyle guitar supplemented by appropriate materials from Oak Publications.
For bluegrass based material I primarily use Osk Publications.
If the student desires to learn gypsy-jazz I use books by Michael Hortoeitz.
25 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 Kirkland to students of all ages and abilities.
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