Piano Lessons in North Riverside, IL

Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard

Like most music teachers, my passions started with performing myself, and then using those experiences to educate my students. I have be a part of several operas, musicals, choirs, pop and Jazz ensembles, and each experience taught me tactics that I would not have learned anywhere else. I then paired my performing knowledge with my knowledge of education and with that I have successfully taught choirs, bands, vocal a capella ensembles, classrooms, musicals, pit orchestras and many many voice and piano students from ages 5-63! Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Music Keyboard

My philosophy with teaching my students is that they should learn in an environment where they truly feel that they are not only retaining information that I provide, but are gaining insight as to how to develop their own sense of creativity and problem solving skills. I envision my students’ learning by acquiring pieces to their tool belt, bits at a time. They then take this kit out into their own lives, uniquely building their own future into whatever passions they pursue further. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard

My senior year of high school I received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, and I volunteered for City Music, where I helped prepare kids for their college auditions. This is how I developed a love for preparing students specifically for college auditions/music conservatories. Since graduating from Berklee I have begun teaching locally in Chicago, preparing students for auditions at music conservatories, as well as teaching theory, ear training and other skills needed for musicianship at the professional level. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I like to rely both on method books and insights I have gained over the years. I believe that a student's familiarity with all the major and minor scales is an important goal to arrive at as soon as it could be achieved. Just about as important is a steady rhythm. So, I stress this too. When my student reaches a satisfactory level, I invite him or her to participate in a recital. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Keyboard

My teaching style is technical and yet open ended. I stress knowing scales, chords, inversions like the back of your hand to enable you to put them together just as we put the English language together. Letters become words which become sentences which become paragraphs which become stories. Keys become scales which build chords which build progressions which build phrases which build songs. Knowing this language of music, one can freely express what they hear in their mind outwardly to their audience. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

The student will learn music theory and of course also how to sing or play the piano. I always use a combination of what the student needs and also what the student wants to play.For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I typically divide my lessons into quarters so that the first part is just scale work. The second part is scale patterns and technique. The third portion is prepared materials, and the final portion is listening. I bring an Ipod with close to 750,000 songs on it for kids to choose pieces featuring their own instruments for inspirational purposes. I find that listening can be just as informative as pressing down keys:) Read More