Riley V
Instruments: Guitar, Drums, Bass Guitar, Harmonica, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk

I began teaching lessons while in high school to friends and other students of varying ages. Having taught in several music shops, I currently teach students from my house or in their own homes, which is why Musika was an attractive company for me. My background in music and teaching spans a diverse set of styles, and I try to encourage students to broaden their musical horizons by introducing them to music they may not have otherwise heard. At the same time, students have to be motivated to play the music presented to them, so as much as possible, I try to give them the agency to help develop a lesson plan.

My primary goal with students is to give them the tools and inspiration to enjoy music, and love playing their instruments. I have always placed a strong emphasis on the necessity of the foundations of music, but I try to do it in a way that is fun and palpable, and especially for young students. I have been fortunate enough to have lessons from excellent instructors, and I try to borrow my favorite methods from each of them. Since everyone has a different method of learning, I try to identify those, and adjust accordingly. For visual learners, I encourage them to develop their sight-reading skills, but also find creative ways to work around ear training if it is difficult for them. Music is a life long journey, and since students will not be in lessons forever, I also make an effort to give students the tools to become their own researchers. A skillful researcher will never stop learning, and to me, those are the best musicians.