Piano Lessons in Monroe, WI

Instruments: Piano Djembe

My goal is teach you to be able communicate (improvise, listen and respond) through a 3-step process, which includes; 1. Imitation: Listening and Learning lines by ear, Transcribing solos. Absorbing a player’s feel, articulation, and time. 2. Assimilation, which means ingraining these stylistic nuances, harmonic devices, and lines that you’ve transcribed into your musical conception. Not just mentally understanding them on the surface level, but truly connecting them to your ear and body. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I really enjoy seeing my students enjoy learning music as that brings me back to my memories of learning. I find it is important to allow students to work at their own pace so they will not become frustrated and lose interest in what I am teaching them. With that I feel it is important to take as much time as the students needs in order for them to grasp what they are being taught as I feel it will hurt them down the road later when they start to get into playing the music as it will get harder down the road. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon

It is important to me that each student progress at their own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. I make sure to always acknowledge accomplishments to help fuel the student's desire to progress and make them eager to learn more. By finding out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar

I have taught from both the FJH and Berklee series of guitar and theory books. My lessons revolve around three parts: 1- Lessons from books of the appropriate level. We choose a book that suits the student, and there are weekly assignments from the book. 2- Theory work, usually focusing on the Blues form. My teaching of pop, rock, country, folk, etc. all goes back to the blues form. The music theory work also supports the students growing musical knowledge. 3- The student's choice of music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Synthesizer Keyboard

I first started teaching when I was 17 years old. Then I went to college for training into this area of teaching. I was also involved with the Bradley University Chorus. Some of my teachers included Ralph Nielsen, father of Rick Nielsen of the group Cheap Trick, Mary Weyhrich, Marilyn Cade, and Jan Wanach. My school provides opportunities for two recitals, Christmas caroling, music scholarships and I am the Rockford Founder of the Carnegie Hall National Voice and Piano Exams. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Organ Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

Ray has been hailed by Opera News as, "terrific!", the New York Times praised, "Ray C. was effectively cast...a solid professional with vocal elegance." The Taconic Press acclaims him as, an exceptional voiceleaving audiences cheering" with his performances being, ardent and utterly convincing." The New York Sun said of his stage craft: Ray C. makes the most of it, combining savvy stage business with a warm voiceexpertly straddling that razor thin line between parody and poignancyscored a direct hit." While the Berkshire Review simply calls him, "...Perfect!" His travels have led him to make appearances with Grandview Opera (General Co Artistic Director), the Light Opera Company Of Salisbury (General Artistic Director), Prelude to Performance (Associate Conductor), Amore Opera (Principal Conductor), the Opera Orchestra of New York, New York Grand Opera, Connecticut Opera, Connecticut Concert Opera, Greater New Britain Opera, Berkshire Opera, Bardavon Opera, Jacksonville Lyric Opera, Opera Ischia (Italy), Bronx Opera, New Rochelle Opera, Amato Opera, Bleecker Street Opera (Associate Conductor), Regina Opera, Long Island Opera, the New Britain Symphony Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Staten Island Philharmonic, the Belleayre Music Festival, American Opera Preview, in collaboration with artists and staff of the Metropolitan Opera, at Carnegie Hall, Bechstein Hall, Merkin Hall, Symphony Space, and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

As our time together continues, my goal for the student is that they become more self-sufficient (as is age-appropriate). For example, a teenage/adult student who has been taking lessons for a year will lead the lesson more than a beginner student; they will understand my warm up system and will arrive at the lesson warmed up and arrive with goals and questions prepared. This is because my goals for each student surpass their ability on their instrument: being a good musician means taking responsibility for one's practice. Read More