Piano Lessons in Manayunk, PA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice

As a student, I would dread the idea of a boring practice, therefore as a teacher, I do all I can to make lessons engaging and useful. I believe that music should be approached holistically and with an open mind rather than trying to force one method to work for everyone, so I strive to tailor my methods according to the needs of each of my students. With that in mind, I usually start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements for young students, and our lessons will consist of playing from the book, as well as working on crucial skills like ear training and improvisation. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I am a creative and enthusiastic teacher who believes that music is for everyone.  Whether you are a child or a teenager or an adult, whether you are experienced or learning for the first time and whether or not you believe you have "talent", music is for you because music is a quality of human expression.  I was provided traditional, classical training in piano from my earliest years, developing excellent technique and an ability to express myself at the piano that I love to share.  I expanded and deepened my understanding of music further with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music History and Theory at Swarthmore College where I also continued to hone my performance skills.  After that, I had a wonderful adventure as a medical doctor with a speciality in family medicine until music called me back again in the summer of 2002.  One thread that is common to both careers has been my consistent love of teaching which I now understand as my true calling. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola Fiddle Keyboard

My teaching experience dates back to my college days, as I began teaching private lessons part time 18 years ago, and have been consistently teaching students in my home studio for the last 5 years. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the key points I like to emphasize for younger students, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for the instrument. I've also found that a combination of classical and modern music can go a long way in helping students enjoy the piano and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. Read More

Instruments: Piano

Making lessons fun is my top priority, and I show that learning the basics and the fundamentals can be fun, if it is done correctly. For beginning students, I use John Thompson's books. Students progress through Bastien, and Burgmuller, before moving on to graduated solo repertoire. Intermediate and advanced students will work on core Classical and Romantic period piano works, while building dexterity and fluidity by playing scales, chords, and arpeggios. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute

For Beginners who are just learning how to read music, I usually start off with Faber's method, there is a version for adults as well as children. This seems to progress at a very suitable speed, comfortable yet still challenging, and has proved to be quite effective in getting basics down. Once my students have become familiar with the fundamentals in these books, I move them on to repertoire according to their individual goals or needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Conga Djembe

Playing the Drum Set requires strength in a few key areas. Hand to Hand Coordination, 4 limb interdependence , rhythm vocabulary and Timing. No matter what your skill level is we'll always need to maintain it. The saying is, "if you don't use it you lose it". No matter your skill level I believe it's important to understand what it takes to maintain the physical performance on your instrument. That's why I encourage students to memorize songs and exercises. Read More