Piano Lessons Fairfield County, CT

Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

My goal as a teacher is to instill a passion for music and encourage each student to become their personal best. I find that it is important to get to know each student's goals so that we can work towards them as a team. I am constantly pushing my students forward, but I make sure to take the time and remind them where they came from. It is easy to get caught up in how far one still has to go to reach their dreams, but I find that if students remember how much progress they have already made, it really helps to motivate them!

Instruments: Piano, Synthesizer

My preferred method of teaching for beginner students is my own adaptation of the Thompson method with strong emphasis on theory and technique. A study of intervalic relationships, chords and progressions combined with terminology, sight reading, ear training and form will provide the student with skills which will allow them to play any style and genre of music they desire. Although the Suzuki method seems to be popular today, I have discovered many short comings of this pedagogical approach and often renders a good pianist limited in their capabilities as a well rounded musician.  I thereby, eccentially, have combined these two methods of teaching. 

Instruments: Piano, Trumpet

Private Teaching Studio, Greenwich, CT, 2008-12 - Taught students ages 10-16, focusing on audition preparation, solo repertoire, and endurance. Faculty, Youth Orchestra Program, Washington, DC, 2009-11 - Created complete curriculum for 8 levels of trumpet classes, encompassing required method books and solo literature, scales, rhythmic meters, technical skills, and jury material; this curriculum is now officially used as the trumpet program for DCYOP. Brooklyn Philharmonic Brass Quintet, Brooklyn, NY, 2007-08 - Presented concerts to children ages 10-18 demonstrating the capabilities of brass instruments and introducing a range of musical styles including Baroque, Classical, Dixieland, and jazz. Education Intern, New York Philharmonic, New York, NY, 2004 - Collaborated with the School Partnership Program’s outreach concert series to inner-city schools. Published an article in The Teaching Artists Journal, Fall 2004 issue discussing the unique program.

Instruments: Piano, Organ, Accordion, Keyboard

My basic teaching philosophy is "If a student can't learn the way I teach I will teach the way they learn". It's a personalized approach. For children I typically start with John Thompson's Teaching Little Fingers To Play as a basic piano lesson book. When the student starts progressing to the point where they can play fairly well I try to explore others books and songs that may interest them and keep them motivated. For teens and adults that are just starting I love using Alfred's All In One Piano Course. This book covers piano lesson materials, music theory and technique (exercises). Adults tend to progress pretty quickly and when they do I will give them supplementary music based on what they most love to play. Many adults have had lessons as a child and return to the piano to study with me. And in that case I'll give them a quick refresher course and move them into what they really want to play as quickly as possible.