Piano Lessons in Semora, NC

Instruments: Piano Clarinet Recorder Bassoon

I use a mixture of my own custom lesson plans as well as working from a book if the student is a beginner. I use different books for different instruments but I don’t like to rely on them completely as all students learn at different rates and have different strengths and weaknesses. So sometimes I will source more music or activities from elsewhere or miss pieces or sections out. Read More

Instruments: Piano Clarinet Music

While at Eastern I studied with Christopher Howard, a member of the United States Coast Guard Band. I have also spent summers at Brevard Music Center and the Philadelphia International Music Festival, studying with Steve Cohen, David Blumberg, and Ricardo Morales, as well as working as the production intern for the Hartford Symphony Orchestras Talcott Mountain Music Festival. In my time at Eastern, I won the New England Intercollegiate Band Festival Solo Competition, as well as receiving multiple awards from the music department, including the 2019 Undergraduate Creative Activity Fellowship, and the 2020 Outstanding Honors Thesis Award for my project, Leonard Bernstein and the Twentieth Century Crisis of Faith. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I strive to make my students as passionate about music as I am! I encourage students to try their best and reach they accomplishments. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student reach their personal goals. I use my own methods and the students desires to create a personal lesson plan. I realize each student has a different learning style so I will always asses the best way to teach them using a variety of materials. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music Djembe

I create my own lesson plans (and some materials) specific to each student. Some standard books I use are Alfred's Drum Method book 1, The New Breed, Portraits in Rhythm, The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary to name a few. The books are necessary for developing music literacy, however I remind students that the pages don't make sound!!! Developing a discerning ear is paramount in my approach. Therefore we do a lot of listening and I engage students in dialogue for them to develop a personalized mental image of what they are trying to play. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion

For beginning drum students, I typically like to start with the Percussive Arts Society sheet of rudiments to ensure a solid technical background as the student progresses. After that, we move on to simple reading and other drumming fundamental concepts including limb coordination, fills, phrasing and articulation, etc. With older students, I find it helpful to try and begin with what they are interested and comfortable in playing. This allows me to find connections and build lesson plans specifically for the individual. Read More

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

Cyndi emphasizes note reading, rhythm, technic and theory at every lesson to prepare students to ultimately learn independently.  Building confidence is key factor in music lessons. Each student is unique.  Everyone has their own learning style, appreciation for music, coordination and goals. In the 1:1 lesson, the teacher has the responsibility to meet the students' unique learning style for the best results. Having conducted research in The Mozart Effect in graduate school, Cyndi firmly believes that music increases spacial ability which leads to better math skills and increases intelligence/apptitude in children. Read More