Music Lessons in Hartford, IL

Instruments: Piano Organ Keyboard

My teaching experience goes back to college when I would help out non-piano playing music students for their piano class. (Yes, if you go to school for music, you have to learn some piano, no matter what!). I've also taught students as young as 7, and I was a piano and band instructor at Columbia College Chicago's Blues Camp, which is for students ages 6-18. I was also a keyboard instructor at School Of Rock before having to leave due to touring with Nick Moss. 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: Guitar Bass Guitar

I started playing guitar at the age of ten. Inspired by numerous classic rock musicians, I began to develop an immense passion for the guitar. However, I was only able to play guitar by ear early on in my development. So although I had a basic technique, I had no real understanding of how to create music or what is often considered the language of music. Finally at the age of 16, I took lessons from a local teacher who introduced me to scales and theory. Read More

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: 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: 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