Music Lessons in Collinsville, IL

Instruments: Guitar

All music can be broken down into three categories: melody, harmony and rhythm. I tend to explore everything we do by observing how the given material utilizes one of these three elements (with rhythm being chief!). I love to instill the ideals that I have learned from my mentors into my own students. All guitar students are taught to think as musicians and not just as guitar players. I often think back on some of Miles Davis's famous words, "If it sounds right, it is right!". Read More

Instruments: Piano

Looking back over my recent careers -- including positions in the public relations, marketing, writing and editing fields -- THE most rewarding has been teaching and performing piano. Some former students are enrolled at prestigious colleges, conservatories and universities. Others are pursuing degrees in medicine and higher education. Read More

Instruments: Voice

Meet the student where they are at and take them where they want to go. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments help fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

 As mentioned before, we'll work on any material the student needs to work on for class, and supplement with additional material that is challenging, interesting, and works to grow the student in the proficiency and knowledge. The student identifies where they want music to take them and the teacher shows them how to get there. Lessons are where breakthroughs are made, when students are eager and motivated to learn. From beginners to advanced students, there's always something to be learned! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Keyboard Classical Guitar

Each lesson starts with technical exercises, follwed by repertoire. Each student does theory during the lesson with twenty questions at the end. During this time, I do all review theory material. Difficult passages are marked with a "P" chart. They have to play the difficult part four times and get a "P" for each perfect playing. Every fifth time they have to repeat from the beginning to integrate the difficult part with the rest of the song. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Bass Guitar

I started conducting private lessons while in college. I taught multiple high school age students with varying degrees of experience, making an interesting case of approach in my own teaching style. I have been able to incorporate what I have learned in my own lessons as a student into my lessons as an instructor. In turn, teaching in a smaller setting has helped with clearing some struggles in my own playing. Read More