Dakota W
Instruments: Piano, Music
Styles: Classical, Pop, Rock, Blues, Country, R&B, Gospel, Opera, Hip Hop, Soul
Dakota W
Instruments: Piano, Music
Styles:
Classical, Pop, Rock, Blues, Country, R&B, Gospel, Opera, Hip Hop, Soul
Where I Teach:
My Studio
Ages Taught: 8-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
Course Work: Antelope Valley College
Awards:
President List
Overview:
I am a dedicated instructor who loves working with aspiring, learning pianists and sharing my joy for music. I began studying Piano and music theory through private instructional piano lessons at nine years old. I continued my musical journey outside of lessons throughout the school as I was in numerous music and piano courses throughout my education. I attended College at Antelope Valley College and continued my musical studies through AA-T's music program. I have had the opportunity to perform ever since I was a little boy. I began performing for Catholic Mass in the church at ten years old, and I was the lead pianist for six years. I was also the piano accompanist for most of my school functions, in addition to spending all of my free time growing up playing Piano and studying music theory. Music and Piano have brought incomparable joy throughout my life, and I look forward to working with you to achieve your musical goals!
EXPERIENCE
My teaching experience is from 2016, when I first began administering piano lessons full-time. I have been consistently teaching students for the past five years. I believe it is essential to encourage consistent practicing regularly, as this is one of the critical points of being a successful musician and pianist and successful in my classes. I have also discovered that changing the repertoire studied in class helps motivate students to continue and maintain variety in the classroom. I teach three different courses, Music Theory I and Piano I, and Piano II, and I take my craft and the classes I teach very seriously. I am a very dedicated and passionate instructor, and I expect my students' same drive and dedication from my students.
METHODS USED
For beginner students (Piano I), I utilize "Alfred's Basic Adult All-In-One Piano Course: Lesson, Theory, Technic" (Bk1). For my intermediate and advanced (Piano II) students, I use Alfred's Basic Adult All-In-One Course Bk2: Lesson, Theory. Once the student demonstrates an understanding of the fundamentals, I will introduce the appropriate repertoire for their first semester piano performance. All of the assignments for Piano I will either be provided by the instructor or be assigned from your book; this book is a requirement for Piano I. In addition to Piano, I also instruct a Music Theory I course. The book that I utilize for this course is "Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: Complete Self-Study Course." (These books are a requirement for this course **All of these books can be purchased through Barnes and Noble). I have found these books to be an excellent and practical way to teach Music theory, Piano I, and Piano II, and I have been using them since day one. Moreover, the instructor will provide all Assignments, Examinations, and Quizzes to the student. The fundamental of success in my class is attendance; missing class sessions will only set you back musically; therefore, attendance is worth 10% of your overall grade in both courses. Lastly, I utilize a paid grading software titled JupiterEd. I have used this phenomenal grading software for a long time; the Gradebook provides accountability for the student and effectively tracks student progress (both the Student and Parent have access to their own portal to check grades, announcements, and attendance). Additionally, this is where I input all of the student's assignment grades, examinations/quizzes, classroom performance/participation grades, attendance, and send out announcements regarding our classes and any upcoming performances and/or musical repertoire we are working on. This software provides Student and Parent Portal access; the instructor will provide login credentials.
LESSON STYLE
There is no better feeling than witnessing a student develop a passion for music! Therefore, each student must progress at their own pace. This is encouraged by setting realistic goals for my students during each lesson. It is important to acknowledge accomplishments as this helps fuel a student's desire to progress and makes them more eager to continue learning. In conclusion, it is about working one-on-one with the student, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and helping them grow as pianists and musicians at their set pace.
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