Music Lessons in El Mirage, AZ

Instruments: Guitar Banjo Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I began teaching at the age of 15 at the Willowdale Conservatory of Music where I had the opportunity to tutor underclassmen as a way of paying my tuition. I managed to put myself through college as a single parent by teaching guitar and banjo out of my home and contracting with local community centers and schools for guitar classes. I moved to Arizona in 1987 to accept a teaching fellowship at ASU West while completing my Masters degree. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

For beginning students that are in middle or high school, I typically start them out learning snare drum technique, and reading rhythms. Fortechnique I will use standard exercises and rudiments, and for readingI will use "Syncopation for The Modern Drummer".If the student has a drumset then I will start them with some basic "Rock" beatsas a tool to help thembetter understand the subdivision of time, and form some independence.Most of my students move into Gary Chester's "The New Breed" as their first drumset book.After teaching for 25 years, I have developed a lot of my own lesson meterials, and I try to cater the lesson plans to both challenge the students and keep them having fun learning. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I am a unique teacher who realizes that not every student is the same, or wants to learn the same type of music in the same way. I almost consider myself more of a COACH than a teacher. Yes, I do teach, and I am classically trained. However, I am more suited for the beginning/intermediate/late intermediate student (13 years of age or older) who wants to learn NEW ways of playing and performing a variety of music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I have been teaching music since 1984, from private piano lessons for people of all ages to coaching voice and teaching beginning violin to college classes in piano and music theory. In the past two years, I have had the opportunity to present music clinics to elementary age children at the Tempe Public Schools through Kid Zone, the City of Tempe's enrichment program as a specialty instructor. I am currently in the teaching certificate program for Elementary Education through Rio Salado College. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For my piano students, I typically start beginners with the Primer Level Faber books. I love how this series guides the lessons but also leaves room for creativity and exploration. I feel that this discovery element of music is extremely important. As the student progresses, I give them the opportunity to choose songs that are interesting to them. I also introduce music from different genres in order to expose them to all kinds of music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Clarinet Recorder Bassoon Keyboard

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing my students having fun! My goal as an educator is to engage every student through fun games, activities, and chamber music no matter how much experience they have with music. Students are always encouraged to explore different styles of music. In order to track a student's performance and progress, they are required to have a journal. In their journals, they will keep track of their goals and evaluate themselves. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Trumpet Bass Guitar

For all students, I teach them exercises to strenghten their fundamentals and skills in the given instrument, and each lesson we practice the exercises to focus on improving their sound production, pitch finding, placement, and more.  We also learn songs that both the student and I choose and prepare for performance (when necessary).  Here are the books I work from for each instrument, but please note that I don't necessarily use these for every student, only when appropriate: GUITAR:  Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method (books 1 through 3) VOICE:  Master Vocal Exercises by Horatio Connell, and Sightsinging (Hal Leonard) BASS GUITAR:  Bass Method, (Hal Leonard, books 1 through 3) TRUMPET:  Essential Elements 2000, (Hal Leonard, books 1 through 3) Read More