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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Elmhurst . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Voice
For beginning piano students, I typically have them start with the Alfred series. Depending on their growth, we can move onto solo repertoire shortly thereafter. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute
My approach to teaching is very "person-centered"- in that I will adapt to the needs of the student. I do not have one stuanch approach in teaching music. I want to help students engage early on in "Music Experiences"- not just learning scales, but truly playing music with me, improvising, and enjoying themsevles. This sort of music work really formsm the bedrock of my music lesson and music therapy practice. Read More
Instruments: Piano Trombone Euphonium Music
For beginning students who are children, I typically start with a compilation of books that I have founded very helpful through my research in methods or etudes. There is a goal per lesson which should be aproached easily to practice. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Music Keyboard
The first time I began teaching music was shortly after graduating high school, and asking local band directors to get some experience with their summer band, and marching band programs. While studying music in college, I received further training in classrooms outside of music to further develop my skills. It was during this period I that began to find joy from one-to-one learning. While I intend to provide most of the educational material, I also encourage my students to bring what they want to learn as well for a well-rounded experience. Read More
Instruments: Piano Trombone
The methods I use to teach depend on a number of factors. For enrolled in beginner band at their school, I will use whichever method their school is using. If the school is not using a specific method, I use the Rubank method supplemented with my own materials. For more advanced players I assign various etude books, jazz play along books, and method books based on the students needs. I provide all the materials for my beginning piano students for the first few months, then assign method books based on the student's interests. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
For beginning piano students, I select a method book that will be best for the individual student. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for a recital performance. For voice students, I use the bel canto style of singing. Students will learn proper technique through vocal exercises and solo repertoire. We will focus on breathing, intonation, vowel formation, and posture among many other things. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar
My teaching experience began in the Chicago public and private schools in the 1970's. Wanting to have the ability to work with a student on a one on one basis, I went into business for myself as a private teacher. From 1976 to 2010 I taught music in a music store that I co-owned in the Chicago area. During that same period I worked with several universities with theMethods of Private Instruction in the area of Music Education. Read More
Instruments: Voice Drums
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
My first pride-worthy accomplishment was playing the third movement (Allegro) from the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with the school orchestra when I was a sophomore at LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts in New York City at age 15. My second major achievement was performing the first movement to Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik on double bass with a small string ensemble at a music camp in upstate New York when I was 16. For this I had to learn how to use a bow in only six weeks. As a drummer, my accomplishments are many. At 17 I was touring the with a jazz quartet and after many years of playing with a variety of contemporary bands that performed throughout New York, New Jersey and New England, I became a primary studio drummer in Boston with doubles on flute, trumpet and Flugelhorn. As a vocalist, I toured with Bobby McFerrin in a group called "Vocal Summit" with international appearances at major jazz festivals throughout Europe. I'm also proud of the five books I've written and published on vocal improvisation pedagogy.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I taught several students who have done very well as professional singers. Paula Cole began studying with me when she was 16. After graduating Berklee, Paula went on to sing backup for Peter Gabriel before becoming a solo entity. In 1998 she won a Grammy Award for the song "I Don't Want to Wait," which became the theme for the TV show, "Dawson's Creek." Chiara Izzi, a student from Italy, was awarded first prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition in 2011. Luciana Souza studied with me at Berklee College and won a Grammy Award in 2007 as a featured vocalist on a Herbie Hancock album entitled "River: The Joni Letters." Lalah Hathaway (daughter of Donny Hathaway) once sat in my improvisation class at Berklee and told me she couldn't improvise. After working with me for several years, Lalah eventually won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance with Snarky Puppy for "Something" in 2014. In 2015 she won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Jesus Children." She again won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the cover version of her father's 1972 hit "Little Ghetto Boy" in 2016. Lalah is now considered one of the best vocalists in jazz and contemporary music.
25 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Piano lessons in Elmhurst to students of all ages and abilities.
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