Piano Lessons in Riva, MD

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I will start with basic books that teach you the bare fundamentals of music, the notes, fingering, etc. If you already know the basics we will go into a more advanced teaching plan. Depending on your skill level and what you want to accomplish in terms of style and technique I will base my lesson plan accordingly. I will base what I teach you according to your musical influences, passions, styles you want to learn, and who you would like to become as a musician overall. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet

I love music. Music changed my life growing up. I was a very shy kid and music taught me how to connect with others from various backgrounds. I think that music is one of the most powerful forces on our planet. Being a teacher is amazing because I get to share those experiences with my students. I graduated in 2004 with a Bachelors of Music with a focus on Jazz Studies. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Flute Synthesizer Music Keyboard

My formal teaching experience began at East Carolina University in my undergraduate years. I had the opportunity to work as an instructor for the Jazz Track at the ECU Summer Music Camp for four years before I moved on to graduate school at Peabody Conservatory. Additionally I've taught many private lessons in North Carolina and York Pennsylvania. I am proud to say my students have received honors including first chair in NCMEA All-District Jazz Ensemble as well as the ECU School of Music Scholarship. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning piano students, I use a combination of books from Alfred's, Faber, John Thompson's. At the same time, I emphasize proper finger technique, shape, and position. For more advanced piano students I prefer exercises from Hanon, Czerny, and Bartk. For beginning guitar students, I prefer Mel Bay books. However, for guitar students I also use a much more individual and custom approach for learning how to get a good sound out of the guitar through proper hand position, finger placement and pressure, and string picking. Read More

Instruments: Piano

If there's anything I've learned over the years as a piano teacher, it's that every student develops and progresses at his or her own pace. My job, if doing it well, is to work with them, at THEIR pace, while at the same time, encouraging and pushing them forward. Just as some baseball managers are regarded as a player's manager, I like to consider myself a student's coach. That is, a teacher who is in the student's corner, supporting them, encouraging them, believing in them, no matter how much they may struggle, or how many bumps in the road they may face along their musical journeys. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar Organ Music Keyboard

My approach actively tries to preserve and cultivate the original passions of music that lead students to seek lessons in the first place. The material we focus on (which also serves as the vehicle for learning about music-in-general) will be determined foremost by the students' interests. Students who are especially conducive or committed to book-learning and linear structure will be accommodated as well, and we will be largely centering Mark Levine's model. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For my vocal students, I start with vocal exercises every lesson and allow them learn to vocal techniques through different vocal exercises. Then I work with my students on the repertoire that they are interested in or repertoire that can help them practice their weak spots. For my piano students, I use many different series (Alfred's, Faber, or some classic repertoire) depending on their level and age. For all students, I will also include music theory when I teach because the students will have a stronger foundation with all of these components, which will enable them to learn better, faster and even by their own. Read More