Music Lessons in East Vandergrift, PA

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

For beginning and intermediate clarinet and saxophone students I like using the Yamaha Advantage books or the Belwin Series. I like to use these lesson books and supplement with solo and duet material. I always encourage my students to bring in material they'd like to work on, from school band music to popular tunes they are intereseted in learning. I think it is important for all aspiring musicians to collaborate with others and make sure to play along with students in our lessons. I ask my students to plan their practice time each week, as I know how busy we all are! Read More

Instruments: Trombone

For beginning students, I like to build a good foundation. I start with breathing exercises and a little mouthpiece buzzing. Then move on to a beginning book with helpful exercises as well as writing my own to tailor to the student's individual needs. I will begin to introduce solo repertoire once the student has a solid grasp on fundamentals and always encouraging them to keep practicing those key elements. I also like to incorporate anything the student might be interested in to keep the student engaged and excited to practice between lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ

I listen the music which the student has been practicing. Then, I guide him/her to make corrections and enhancements.  I use positive reinforcement to strengthen those parts of the performance, and suggest and demonstrate correct concepts.  Then, after hearing the piece again, decide whether review the assignment or move on.  Playing duets with the student is often part of the process. Doing that helps them feel the true meaning of the music; and also helps make up for a pianist's ordinarily lack of group playing because he usually practices alone. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching lessons started back in high school, playing with the schools jam band. I'd give lessons for 20-30 minutes on scales, chords, circle of 5th and so on. After graduating high school, I moved to Los Angeles to continue musicianship. Giving private lessons in Hollywood I began to see the power of passing music along. I will never forget when I had one of my first few students bring a new song to me and played it all on his own. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

Some people strive to play like their guitar/bass heroes and to know all there is to know about music and music theory, while others just want to entertain themselves, their friends and family. Let's face it, nobody decides to learn a musical instrument just so that they can play scales...you want to play songs! Read More

Instruments: Piano Music

Over the past 13 years, I have taught piano, music theory, and music composition to a diverse group of learners, including school-age children, college students, and adults of distinct backgrounds. From 2014-2018 I received the Graduate Teaching Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, where I led piano courses for non-Music majors, and held weekly recitations and office hours for required courses for Music majors. This encompassed instruction in counterpoint, musical form, harmonic analysis, training students on dictation and sight-singing, as well as providing help with digital audio software. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice

I teach because I love it. My style of teaching largely aims to deepen the student's appreciation for the arts and to impart my own love of music onto them. Read More